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.
Right Or Wrong
Titiyo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm getting, oh, so tired
You need to slow down
You're spinning me around
You're playing with fire
You're a good, good liar
I need to hold on
'Cause if loving you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
I just wanna be right by your side
You're playing with fire
Make me go, go higher
I need to hold on
I've gotta be strong and I gotta fight
If loving you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
If loving you is wrong
I don't wanna be right
I just wanna be right by your side
And I need a reason to believe you
And you need a reason to receive me
I really hope I'm wrong
I don't wanna be right
In Titiyo's song "Right or Wrong," the singer is addressing a lover who she feels is playing with fire by constantly taking risks and behaving in a reckless manner. She expresses her exhaustion with the situation and the need for her lover to slow down, while admitting that the thrill of being with him is also taking her on a wild ride. Titiyo's lover is also a good liar, though, which makes it difficult for her to trust him completely. Despite this, she finds herself unable to resist him and expresses her willingness to fight for their love, even if society deems it wrong.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna be right," which showcases the ultimate dilemma that the singer faces. She is torn between her desire for the excitement and passion of her relationship, and the societal norm that deems it improper. The final verse includes the vulnerable admission that she needs a reason to believe in her lover and hopes that she is wrong about him, demonstrating the conflicting emotions that come with loving someone who is unpredictable.
Overall, "Right or Wrong" is a song that explores the complicated and often painful experience of loving someone who is not good for you, but who you cannot help but be drawn to. Titiyo's soulful voice and emotive lyrics capture the heartache and confusion that come with being caught in a dangerous and passionate love affair.
Line by Line Meaning
You're playing with fire
You are taking a big risk that could lead to harmful consequences.
I'm getting, oh, so tired
I am feeling fatigued and drained from these circumstances.
You need to slow down
You should take a break and handle things at a more manageable pace.
You're spinning me around
You are causing confusion and disorientation in my life.
You're a good, good liar
You are adept at deceiving others and bending the truth.
I need to hold on
I must find a way to maintain my footing and stay grounded.
I've got to be strong, I've gotta fight
I need to summon inner strength and bravery to overcome this situation.
'Cause if loving you is wrong
If the way I feel about you is deemed unacceptable or inappropriate,
I don't wanna be right
I am willing to go against societal norms or expectations to follow my heart.
I just wanna be right by your side
I want to be with you and support you through thick and thin.
Make me go, go higher
You are causing me to feel high or elated.
And I need a reason to believe you
I require some evidence or assurance that I can trust you.
And you need a reason to receive me
You may have doubts or reservations about my presence or involvement in your life.
I really hope I'm wrong
I want to believe that my instincts or perceptions are incorrect.
I don't wanna be right
I want to disregard the truth of a matter in exchange for the hope or fantasy of a positive outcome.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOAKIM BERG, PETER SVENSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind