Susanne Sundfør began her rise to fame in her homeland in 2005. That year she toured the country opening for English singer/songwriter Tom McRae, and in 2006 she joined Madrugada on tour, performing their song "Lift Me," a duet the band originally recorded in the studio with singer Ane Brun. Late in 2006, she digitally released her debut single, "Walls," which would climb to number three on the Norwegian singles chart. It was the same position her debut self-titled album took on the album charts when it was released in 2007. The live effort Take One followed in 2008 -- the same year that her debut won the Spellemannprisen for Best Female Performance. Sundfør accepted the award with some hesitation, stating her work represented her as an artist first, and a woman second, bringing into question whether the Norwegian Grammy board was acting archaically with such gender-specific awards. Two years later, her album The Brothel would climb to the top of the Norwegian album charts thanks in part to the success of its title track. Jazz keyboardist Christian Wallumrød and members of Jaga Jazzist appeared on her 2011 effort, the all-instrumental A Night at Salle Pleyel. In 2012 she released the single "White Foxes" along with the album The Silicone Veil. She ended the year collaborating with Morten Myklebust on the track "Away," along with electronica duo Röyksopp on their single "Running to the Sea."
In 2013, Sundfør collaborated with French electronic band M83 on the Oblivion soundtrack, and later that year her back catalog was released in the U.K. for the first time. She went on to make her production debut for Bow's Each Other record. By 2014 she was set to release her fifth studio album, which was preceded by the single "Fade Away." Ten Love Songs went on to become a commercial and critical success for Sundfør upon its release in 2015, and saw the record appear in many year-end "best-of" lists. Following that record's release, she spent time traveling the world, and her follow-up record reflected the different environments and politics she encountered, along with the anxiety felt by many due to an ever-changing world. Music for People in Trouble was released in 2017, with the track "Undercover" as the lead single. The ten-track record also featured a guest appearance from John Grant on its last song, "Mountaineers." In 2019 Sundfør issued the accompanying concert LP People in Trouble: Live from the Barbican, which was recorded in London the year prior. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi
Can You Feel The Thunder
Susanne Sundfør Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was not mine
I saw him fall
To the white sand
In Pamplona
There was a matador,
a king
Every heartbeat was a scream
Wish I was there
Wish I was there
To turn the blade
To wipe his tears
To shield his bones
And let the lightning gore my soul
But nobody covers for a matador
"Oh I am merely human,
My body covered in buttons
Can you feel the thunder
when I bow and arch the veil?"
The stars are dull
Arching the sun
It's getting late
They've chained the moon
Now bet your coins
Tapando la cara con la muleta
The sun never rises on a matador
"Oh I am merely human,
My body covered in buttons
Can you feel the thunder
when I bow and arch the veil?"
Kneel, kneel
Spoliarium
A place to heal
Kneel, kneel
To the angels in high heels
The lyrics of "Can You Feel The Thunder" are heavy with emotional intensity and vivid imagery. The singer describes watching a matador fall to the white sand during a bullfight in Pamplona. Despite not having any personal connection to the matador, she expresses a desire to be there to shield him and wipe his tears, even if it means sacrificing her own soul to the thunderous energy of the moment.
The chorus repeats the mantra "Oh I am merely human, my body covered in buttons" - a reference to the traditional costume of a matador, adorned with gold embellishments down the front. The singer seems to be commenting on the fragility of human beings in the face of danger and violence, and the superficiality of the costumes and symbols that we use to protect ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
He was not mine
The person being sung about did not belong to the singer
He was not mine
Reaffirming that the subject of the song did not belong to the singer
I saw him fall
The singer witnessed the subject of the song falling
To the white sand
The subject of the song fell onto white sand
In Pamplona
The location where the subject of the song fell onto white sand
There was a matador, a king
The subject of the song was a matador, who is often thought of as a king-like figure
He swung the muleta
The matador swung the red cape, called a muleta, to taunt the bull in the ring
Every heartbeat was a scream
The energy and tension in the bullring was palpable, and every beat of the matador's heart was felt
Wish I was there
The singer wishes she had been there to help the subject of the song
Wish I was there
Reaffirming the singer's desire to have been there to help
To turn the blade
The singer wishes she had been there to stop the matador from being hurt, possibly by turning the blade of the bull's horn away from him
To wipe his tears
The singer wishes she could offer comfort to the matador while he wept, perhaps after being injured
To shield his bones
The singer wishes she could have protected the matador from injury, specifically to his bones
And let the lightning gore my soul
The singer is so moved by the situation that she is willing to put her own soul at risk
But nobody covers for a matador
The matador is alone in the ring and does not have anyone to protect him
"Oh I am merely human, My body covered in buttons Can you feel the thunder when I bow and arch the veil?"
The matador recognizes his own mortality and vulnerability, and is asking if others can feel the excitement and energy in the bullring
The stars are dull
The background and surroundings are not as interesting as what is happening in the bullring
Arching the sun
The sun is setting; the phrase "arching the sun" is a poetic way of describing the sun's movements as it sets
It's getting late
The time is passing quickly and the situation is becoming more urgent
They've chained the moon
The night has fallen and the moon is no longer visible
Now bet your coins Tapando la cara con la muleta
This is a phrase often used to encourage betting on the outcome of bullfighting matches
The sun never rises on a matador
The life of a matador is dangerous and uncertain; there is no guarantee that he will live to see another day
"Oh I am merely human, My body covered in buttons Can you feel the thunder when I bow and arch the veil?"
Repeating the matador's earlier statement about his own vulnerability and asking if others can feel the excitement
Kneel, kneel
The singer is calling for humility and attention from the listener
Spoliarium
This may refer to the painting Spoliarium by Juan Luna, which depicts the aftermath of a gladiatorial fight in ancient Rome
A place to heal
The singer is suggesting that this painting could be a source of healing for those who see it
Kneel, kneel
Repeating the earlier call for humility and attention
To the angels in high heels
The singer is perhaps suggesting that those who watch and appreciate bullfighting are like angels who are able to stay above the violence and appreciate it from a distance
Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.