In her home country of Denmark, she's well known for her collaboration with the lead singer of the band TV-2, Steffen Brandt. She won a Steppeulv and a Danish Music Award in 2004 for her album, Notes, and the award for best female vocalist at Danish Music Awards 2006.
In September 2008 Tina Dickow was awarded the Kronprinseparrets Kulturpris and 500,000 DKK by Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
Internationally she may be best known for her collaboration with the English duo Zero 7 on their second album, When It Falls.
Being known as Tina Dico internationally, she performs in Denmark under her real name, Tina Dickow.
My Mirror
Tina Dickow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I wait for your look to judge and define me
I'm just a thin shell breaking in your palm
Starving for substance, identity
I am not afraid of this act of mutual creation
I take from you as you take from me
Like nervous hands reaching out for each other
Your eyes can tell no lies, I am what you see
You're my mirror
Everything I do I see in you
You're my mirror
In your eyes I hide
You're my mirror
What you see is what you're giving me
You're my mirror
In your eyes
As I turn around to leave, still in your spell
I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the window by your bed
What an odd surprise to bump into myself like this
I can see right through myself to the flowers on your lawn
And the empty space before me swallows everything you give
I turn back to your look to find peace in your eyes
I'm nothing without you, I'm hollow without you
You're my mirror
Everything I do I see in you
You're my mirror
In your eyes I hide
You're my mirror
What you see is what you're giving me
You're my mirror
It's in your eyes
I find in his look an insecurity childishly submissive
I say foolish things I do strange things for attention
He finds within me some kind of unfamiliar hardness
He sees both the child and the cynic
Everyhing I hold inside of me
Everything I'm hoping I can be
You're my mirror
Everything I do I see in you
You're my mirror
In your eyes I hide
You're my mirror
What you see is what you're giving me
You're my mirror
It's in your eyes
The song "My Mirror" by Tina Dickow portrays a person who is completely consumed by their desire to be validated by someone else. The opening lines of the first verse describe a person who feels vulnerable and fragile, almost like they are at the mercy of someone else's judgment. They are willing to take in whatever the other person thinks and feel responsible to be perfect. The person is looking for approval and identity in the eyes of someone else, giving up a bit of their own autonomy in order to gain it.
The chorus is where the main theme of the song reveals itself. The person sees the other as a mirror, reflecting all their actions and thoughts back to them. The other person has taken on the role of defining their identity and shaping their world view. Everything they do is measured against the other person’s expectations; they have lost a sense of who they are without them. The second verse delves deeper into this theme by continuing the metaphor of the mirror. The person sees their reflection in the other's eyes and finds a "hollow" version of themselves. In other words, they see that they are nothing without the other person, and feel their sense of self dissolving into nothingness.
Line by Line Meaning
When I feel your eyes on me I fall to my knees
I become powerless and submissive when you look at me.
And I wait for your look to judge and define me
I seek validation and acceptance from you through your gaze.
I'm just a thin shell breaking in your palm
I am fragile and vulnerable in your presence.
Starving for substance, identity
I am seeking fulfillment and a sense of self through my connection with you.
I am not afraid of this act of mutual creation
I am open to the idea of us shaping and defining each other.
I take from you as you take from me
We both influence and impact each other.
Like nervous hands reaching out for each other
Our connection is tentative and anxious, yet we still reach out.
Your eyes can tell no lies, I am what you see
Your gaze sees me as I am, there is no deception or pretense.
You're my mirror
You reflect and reveal parts of myself to me.
Everything I do I see in you
My thoughts, feelings, and actions are reflected back to me through you.
In your eyes I hide
I feel protected and sheltered by your gaze.
What you see is what you're giving me
The image of myself that you reflect is what I receive and internalize.
It's in your eyes
The truth of our connection is revealed through your gaze.
As I turn around to leave, still in your spell
Even as I try to break away from you, I am still under your influence.
I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the window by your bed
I see a glimpse of myself, separate from you.
What an odd surprise to bump into myself like this
It is a strange experience for me to see myself in isolation.
I can see right through myself to the flowers on your lawn
I feel transparent and exposed in my solitude.
And the empty space before me swallows everything you give
Without your presence, everything you have given me feels meaningless and empty.
I turn back to your look to find peace in your eyes
I seek solace and comfort in your gaze.
I'm nothing without you, I'm hollow without you
I feel empty and incomplete without our connection.
I find in his look an insecurity childishly submissive
I sense a vulnerability and neediness in his gaze.
I say foolish things I do strange things for attention
I act impulsively and erratically to gain his approval and validation.
He finds within me some kind of unfamiliar hardness
He sees a strength or resilience in me that surprises him.
He sees both the child and the cynic
He perceives both my vulnerable and guarded sides.
Everything I hold inside of me
My deepest thoughts and emotions.
Everything I'm hoping I can be
My aspirations and dreams for myself.
Contributed by Declan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.