It was Neneh Cherry who first pointed Titiyo in the direction of performing, encouraging her to sing and prompting her, too, to seek out musical directions that Swedish pop had rarely visited in the past. By 1987, Titiyo was fronting her own band, performing rare groove covers on the Stockholm circuit before signing to the local Telegram label in 1989. She also sang background vocals for a range of Swedish artists, including Army of Lovers and Jakob Hellman.
The title of Sweden's Queen of Soul might not seem one of modern music's most coveted crowns but, in Sweden itself, there is little doubt that Titiyo not only merits all the acclaim lavished by her homeland, but that international acclaim has already demolished borders across much of Europe too.
Titiyo scored her first hit that June, when Talking to the Man in the Moon climbed to number six on the Swedish chart. After the Rain reached number 13 in November and the following summer brought Titiyo's self-titled debut album. It reached number three and also brought her to the attention of American audiences, via a well-received Arista release. An imminent breakthrough, however, was placed on hold when Titiyo withdrew for two years to raise her newborn first child; it was September 1993 before she resurfaced, with a cover of Aretha Franklin's Never Let Me Go a number 25 Swedish hit.
This Is Titiyo, her second album, followed in 1993. Featuring guest appearances from both of her parents (Titiyo's mother is an accomplished pianist), the album spun off further hits Back and Forth and Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming and, even before Titiyo made her London début at the Astoria in February 1994, garage remixes of several tracks were established club favourites.
Over the next two years, Titiyo's activities were largely confined to guest work. She appeared with the Blacknuss All Stars (It Should Have Been You) and Stakka Bo & the Flesh Quartet ("We Vie"), and duetted with sibling Eagle-Eye Cherry on a track from the Best Laid Plans movie soundtrack, "Worried Eyes." Her own next album, Extended, finally arrived in late 1997, a self-produced/composed epic highlighted by the hit single Josefin Dean.
As usual, another lengthy silence followed the album's release, a four-year gap that was finally broken in 2001 by Come Along. Recorded with the songwriting team of Peter Svensson (the Cardigans) and Jocke Berg (Kent), and produced by Tore Johansson, Come Along received a U.S. release (through Lava) in August 2002.
After a lengthy hiatus, Warner Music released a greatest hits album named Best of Titiyo in 2004, which included a few new songs. One of these songs, Loving Out of Nothing , charted within the top-20 in Sweden in early 2005.
In spring 2008, Titiyo was asked to contribute vocals to Kleerup's single Longing for Lullabies (Feat. Titiyo). Released in April 2008 in Scandinavia, the single has since reached the top 20 in Denmark and top 10 in Sweden.
Titiyo released her fifth album, Hidden, on the Swedish independent label Sheriff late 2008. The album mainly feature self-penned material but also results of collaborations with the likes of Kleerup, Moto Boy, and Goran Kajfes of Oddjob. So far videos for Stumble to Fall and Awakening have been released.
My Heart Won
Titiyo Lyrics
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From the dead
Coming back straight, straight into my head
You were coming back straight, coming back straight
From the dead, into my head, into my head
I fought my heart
But my heart won
But my heart won
You're a man on a mission
A missionary man
A man out of time
And time is out of hand
You're a man on a mission
A missionary man
I'm part of your plan
I guess I'm part of your plan
I raised with time
But time won
I raised with time
But time won
I fought my heart
But my heart won
I fought my heart
But my heart won
I should have known better
Should have known better
I should have known better
You're a man on a mission
Coming for my soul
Becoming my shadow
My footprints in the snow
You're a man on a mission coming for my soul
Hunting me high, hunting me low
I fought my heart
But my heart won
I fought my heart
But my heart won
I fought my heart
But my heart won
I fought my heart
But my heart won
Should have known better
Should have known better
I should have known better...
The lyrics of Titiyo's "My Heart Won" seem to be about a person who had previously abandoned the singer, described as coming "back straight from the dead" and "straight into my head". Despite the singer's efforts to fight her feelings for this person, she ultimately admits "I fought my heart but my heart won". The subject is portrayed as a man on a mission, described as a "missionary man" who is "coming for my soul" and "hunting me high, hunting me low". The singer regrets not knowing better and falling for him.
The song's opening lines suggest that the subject has a tumultuous past or has gone through some major strife, coming back "straight from the dead". The repetition of "coming back straight, coming back straight" is both an allusion to this journey, as well as a rhythmic device that adds to the song's driving beat. The line "straight into my head" speaks to the emotional impact the subject has on the singer; even if this person is not physically present, they are still occupying her thoughts.
The repeated chorus of "I fought my heart, but my heart won" similarly encapsulates the internal struggle the singer is having. Despite trying to resist her feelings, she ultimately succumbs to the allure of the subject. The contrast between "fighting" and "winning" suggests a sense of inevitability; even though the singer knows it's not in her best interest to get involved, she can't help but give in.
Overall, "My Heart Won" is a song that explores the complicated nature of desire and attraction. It suggests that even when we know something is bad for us, we may still be powerless to resist its pull.
Line by Line Meaning
You were coming back straight, coming back straight
From the dead
You returned from a figurative death in my life
Coming back straight, straight into my head
You were coming back straight, coming back straight
From the dead, into my head, into my head
Your return was so impactful that it's all I can think about
I fought my heart
But my heart won
I tried to resist my feelings but ultimately gave into them
You're a man on a mission
A missionary man
A man out of time
And time is out of hand
You have a clear goal and are driven to achieve it, but time is working against you
I'm part of your plan
I guess I'm part of your plan
I realize that I have a role in your mission, whether I want it or not
I raised with time
But time won
I tried to keep up with the inevitable passage of time, but ultimately lost the battle
You're a man on a mission
Coming for my soul
Becoming my shadow
My footprints in the snow
You are so focused on your mission that you are becoming a constant presence in my life
You're a man on a mission coming for my soul
Hunting me high, hunting me low
You are relentless in your pursuit of your goal, making it hard for me to escape your grasp
Should have known better
Should have known better
I should have known better
I regret my decisions and realize I should have been more aware of the situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOAKIM BERG, PETER SVENSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind