Now it’s one thing for an artist from Copenhagen to enjoy success at home and in a few adjacent countries. But the release of Too Many Roads saw the seven-piece combo fronted by singer and guitarist Risager gaining widespread notoriety in the U.S. and being invited to play in locales as far away as Mumbai, India. The album took home the Danish Music Award as the Top Blues Album of 2014 and also earned Germany’s illustrious “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik,” but perhaps even more impressively, it was selected as one the year’s best by Britain’s influential The Blues magazine, right alongside international stars like Robert Cray, Walter Trout and Joe Bonamassa. Clearly, Risager and his mates had taken their exhilarating mix of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll to the next level.
Early in 2015, Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado celebrated that triumph by returning to one of their favorite nightspots – the Harmonie in Bonn, Germany. They would treat local fans to a one-of-a-kind spectacle, hitting the stage as a ten-piece mini-orchestra. After Thomas Ruf of Ruf Records introduces this deluxe edition of the band – including a three-man horn section and backing vocalists Ida Bang und Lisa Lystam – the colossal sound of Risager’s semi-hollow body spearheads the all-out attack of opening number “If You Wanna Leave.” He and his Black Tornado are off to the races…
The succeeding 100-minute concert, captured on CD and DVD for the newest addition to Ruf’s Songs from the Roadseries, shows off every facet of this unique conglomeration of musicians. There’s the sinuous funk of “Paradise” and the furious boogie of “The Straight and Narrow Line” (featuring big-time playing by piano man Emil Balsgaard and saxophonist Hans Nybo). There’s the twin-guitar blues of “Too Many Roads” and the rough-and-tumble attitude of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Ride.” There’s the chilling “China Gate” and the dark drama of “Long Forgotten Track.” Finally, the band whips the crowd into frenzy with their ultra-groovy take on the classic “Baby Please Don’t Go” and the timeless party anthem “Let The Good Times Roll,” the latter track showcasing the talents of lead guitarist Peter Skjerning. The funk workout “Opener” and the charming “I Won’t Let You Down” (performed as a duet with Lisa Lystam) offer some welcome after play.
More than anything, Songs from the Road shows that the success of Too Many Roads was no fluke. Thorbjørn Risager and his highly skilled accomplices have perfected a spicy blend of musical ingredients. The hundreds of shows they’ve played during the past few years have them running like a well-oiled machine. More great things can be expected of them in the future – but until then, we have this brilliant document of a band that is quietly revolutionizing the way we look at the blues.
The Black Tornado band
Thorbjørn Risager – leadvoc, gtr
Emil Balsgaard – keys
Peter Skjerning – gtr,voc
Kasper Wagner – alto-/barythonsax
Hans Nybo – tenorsax, voc
Peter Kehl – trumpet, perc, voc,
Søren Bøjgaard – bass
Martin Seidelin – drums, perc, voc,
The Tornadettes (guest appearance on “Songs from the road” and on special occasions!)
Ida Bang – voc
Lisa Lystam – voc
BAND FACTS
● Nominated for a British Blues Award 2014 & 2015
● Winner of the Danish Music Award 2013 & 2014
● The band was founded in 2003 and 5 of the band members have been there
since the start.
● In 2005 their cooperation with Annika Westman started who has booked
more than 700 concerts for them in 21 countries.
● Songs From The Road is their 10th album in 10 years!
Love Turned Cold
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
SHOT DOWN IN THE HEAVY RAIN
BLOOD RUNNING WILD
YOU LET ME DOWN AGAIN
IN THE COLD, COLD NIGHT
TRUE LOVE'S ALL DEAD AND GONE
CAN'T TELL RIGHT FROM WRONG
GOT NOWHERE TO GO
CAUGHT UP IN THE POURING RAIN
MY HEAD SPINNING 'ROUND
WHAT IS THIS GAME WE'RE PLAYING
DRAGGING ME DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
SOME WHERE OUR LOVE TURNED COLD
BROKE DOWN AND DIED
FINE YOUNG LOVE HAS NOW GROWN OLD
IN THE WINK OF AN EYE
The song "Love Turned Cold" by Thorbjørn Risager is an emotive and melancholic ballad that speaks about the ending of a relationship. The lyrics start with a vivid image of being shot down in the heavy rain, accompanied by the feeling of blood running wild - this suggests a deep emotional wound caused by the painful breakup. The singer expresses disappointment as their partner has let them down again in the cold, cold night, demonstrating the sense of betrayal and hurt they are feeling.
The lyrics then refer to the idea that true love is dead and gone, and the cold winds now blow, symbolizing the absence of warmth and comfort in the singer's life. The confusion and hopelessness are palpable when the singer admits to not being able to tell right from wrong and having nowhere to go. In the chorus, the singer recounts how they got caught up in the pouring rain, and their head was spinning around, questioning the game their partner was playing that is dragging them down. Altogether, this suggests the singer's struggle in processing and making sense of what led to the end of their relationship.
The last verse confirms that something has changed between the couple, and their love has turned cold. The love they once shared has broken down and died, presenting a poignant image of a relationship that has reached its end. The final line of the song "Fine young love has now grown old in the wink of an eye" signifies that the romance that used to seem so promising and new has quickly turned into something old and tired, emphasizing the speed at which love can fade away.
Overall, the song evokes strong feelings of sorrow, regret, and disappointment, portraying the complex emotions that one might face when dealing with a failed relationship. The imagery employed in the lyrics helps to convey the pain and anguish that the singer is experiencing, making it a relatable song for anyone who has gone through a similar situation.
Line by Line Meaning
SHOT DOWN IN THE HEAVY RAIN
My heart was devastated by your sudden and unexpected departure
BLOOD RUNNING WILD
I am experiencing intense emotional pain and turmoil
YOU LET ME DOWN AGAIN
You failed to live up to my expectations once more
IN THE COLD, COLD NIGHT
I feel alone and abandoned in a dark and unforgiving world
TRUE LOVE'S ALL DEAD AND GONE
Our once passionate and sincere love has now perished
NOW THE COLD WINDS BLOW
I feel the chill of loneliness and sorrow blowing through my soul
CAN'T TELL RIGHT FROM WRONG
I am confused and lost, unable to distinguish truth from lies
GOT NOWHERE TO GO
I am trapped and directionless, with no clear path forward
CAUGHT UP IN THE POURING RAIN
I am overwhelmed and engulfed by my own emotions
MY HEAD SPINNING 'ROUND
I feel dizzy and disoriented, unable to focus on anything
WHAT IS THIS GAME WE'RE PLAYING
I am questioning the purpose and nature of our relationship
DRAGGING ME DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
You are pulling me deeper and deeper into a dark and negative spiral
SOME WHERE OUR LOVE TURNED COLD
At some point, our love became distant and unfeeling
BROKE DOWN AND DIED
Our relationship fell apart completely and irreparably
FINE YOUNG LOVE HAS NOW GROWN OLD
Our once youthful and vibrant love has turned old and lifeless
IN THE WINK OF AN EYE
Our love died suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: EMIL OLIVER BALSGAARD, KASPER MICHAEL WAGNER, MARTIN SEIDELIN, PETER J SKJERNING, PETER WEIENDORP KEHL, SOREN BOJGAARD, THORBJORN RISAGER
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