Her father, the musician Anders Östman, scored a Swedish number one hit in the 1970s. He opened a music store after he stopped touring. Anders Östman introduced Tove to guitar when she was a child, but she preferred the piano, being encouraged by her piano teacher grandfather.
Her mother Anna, a former dancer and ballet instructor, is the manager of a ballet academy and enrolled her in dance classes at an early age. Tove has a younger and an older sister. Tove Styrke began performing as a vocalist in a local jazz band in her high school years. She also modeled for various publications.
Styrke was discovered by Anders Bagge during his tour for Swedish Idol 2009. On this competition, she performed songs by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, The Killers, The Sounds, David Bowie, Elvis Presley, U2, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Katy Perry, Sandi Thom, Eurythmics, Russ Ballard, Ted Gärdestad and Bobby Darin. She finished third in the competition, after Calle Kristiansson and the winner Erik Grönwall.
After this contest, she was signed by Sony Music in December 2009. In June 2010, Tove released her first single "Million Pieces", written by Adam Olenius of Shout Out Louds and by Lykke Li.
In 12 November 2010, she released her debut album Tove Styrke. The album has been produced by Patrik Berger, Lotus & 2manyfreckles, Peter Ågren, Janne Kask and Paw. Most tracks have been written by Tove Styrke, Patrik Berger, Peter Ågren and Janne Kask.
The second single, "White Light Moment", charted at number 5 on the Swedish top singles chart and has been certified gold. In January 2011, Tove Styrke won the "Best Newcomer" award at P3 Guld.
At the end of February 2011, it was released High and Low EP which included "High and Low (2011 Remake)" and another five remixes. In April 2011, Styrke featured in an IKEA commercial, where she performed the Swedish lullaby "Byssan Lull".
On 19 August 2011, the single "Call My Name" was released on digital download. The song has peaked to number 28 on the Swedish Singles Chart. "Call My Name" has been nominated for "Best Song of the Year" at P3 Guld.
In September 2011, the Swedish band Caotico released the single "Brains Out (with Tove Styrke)". She also appeared on "Brains Out" music video.
In 23 November 2014, the EP Borderline has been issued. In 8 June 2015, she released her second album, Kiddo.
Official site: http://www.tovestyrkemusic.com
Borderline
Tove Styrke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They set head fire
Pull the plug sire
I'll spit fire
Gents of the empire
Strangle my desire
Pull the plug sire
I'm borderline happy and I'm borderline sad
I'm borderline good and I'm borderline bad
And I can't get rid of tingling fear
You'd sort me out if my head gets clear
I live my life in shackles but I'm borderline free
I used to be blind and I still can't see
And I won't get around to a change of mind
As long as nobody breaks my stride
Tricks of the empire
Make happy kids aim higher
Higher up they wet fire
Fools of the empire
I went to school in the empire
Learnt the rules from a brat sire
I be a fool of the empire
'Til I break loose spread fire
Burn it down
I'm borderline happy and I'm borderline sad
I'm borderline good and I'm borderline bad
And I can't get rid of tingling fear
You'd sort me out if my head gets clear
I live my life in shackles but I'm borderline free
I used to be blind and I still can't see
And I won't get around to a change of mind
As long as nobody breaks my stride
I'm borderline happy and I'm borderline sad
I'm borderline good and I'm borderline bad
And I can't get rid of the tingling fear
You'd sort me out if my head gets clear
I live my life in shackles but I'm borderline free
I used to be blind and I still can't see
And I won't get around to a change of mind
As long as nobody breaks my stride
Tove Styrke's Borderline is a complex and layered examination of personal identity and the societal pressures that shape it. The lyrics evoke images of an empire ruled by the boys and gents who hold power and suppress individual desires. The singer spits fire in response to their attempts to strangle her desires and live her life in shackles. She is both happy and sad, good and bad, unable to escape the tingling fear that comes with living on the borderline.
The chorus repeats four times, driving home the theme of being stuck in a state of limbo. The singer is stuck between feeling free and being bound, blind and seeing, happy and sad. She longs for someone to sort her out and help her get her head clear.
Throughout the song, there are references to tricks of the empire, learning the rules from a brat sire, and fools of the empire who aim higher. These lines speak to the pressure to conform and succeed in a society that values power and dominance. Ultimately, the singer declares that until she can break free and spread fire, she will continue to straddle the borderline and resist the forces trying to contain her.
Line by Line Meaning
The boys of the empire
Referring to men who hold power and control within society.
They set head fire
These powerful men ignite a desire to succeed and achieve greatness.
Pull the plug sire
The singer feels held back and constrained.
I'll spit fire
I'll rebel against those holding me back.
Gents of the empire
The powerful men in society.
Strangle my desire
These men hold back the singer's ambition and dreams.
And I'll spit fire
The singer will rebel to regain control of their own life.
I'm borderline happy and I'm borderline sad
The artist experiences emotions that are in conflict with each other.
I'm borderline good and I'm borderline bad
The artist feels like they are constantly walking a fine line between right and wrong.
And I can't get rid of tingling fear
The artist experiences anxiety and uncertainty.
You'd sort me out if my head gets clear
The singer hopes that someone will help them find clarity and direction in their life.
I live my life in shackles but I'm borderline free
The artist feels trapped by society's expectations, but still has a small sense of freedom within themselves.
I used to be blind and I still can't see
The singer has gained some understanding but still feels lost and unsure.
And I won't get around to a change of mind
The singer is stubborn and resistant to change their ways.
As long as nobody breaks my stride
The singer will continue on their path, as long as no one interferes or holds them back.
Tricks of the empire
The tactics and manipulations used by those in power.
Make happy kids aim higher
These tactics inspire people to strive for more and better themselves.
Higher up they wet fire
The more someone achieves, the more they are controlled and held back by those in power.
Fools of the empire
Those who are used and manipulated by those in power.
I went to school in the empire
The artist was raised and educated within this society.
Learnt the rules from a brat sire
The artist was taught the cruel and manipulative ways of those in power.
I be a fool of the empire
The artist feels like they are being used and manipulated by the powerful.
'Til I break loose spread fire
The singer will rebel and fight back until they are free from this control.
Burn it down
The artist is ready to destroy the oppressive system and start over.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAN KASK, TOVE STYRKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iinkwell_
Lyrics:
The boys of the empire
They set head fire
Pull the plug, sire
I'll spit fire
Gents of the empire
Strangle my desire
Pull the plug, sire
And I'll spit fire
I'm borderline happy, and
I'm borderline sad
I'm borderline good, and
I'm borderline bad
And I can't get rid of a tingling fear
You'd sort me out, if my head gets clear
I live my life in shackles,
But I'm borderline free
I used to be blind,
And I still can't see
And I won't be around to change your mind
As long as nobody breaks my stride
Oh-oh ,oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh,
Oh-oh ,oh-oh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Tricks of the empire
Make happy kids aim higher
Higher up, they wet fire
Fools of the empire
I went to school
In the empire
Learnt the rules
From a brat, sire
I be a fool of the empire
Till I break loose,
Spread fire
Burn it down
I'm borderline happy, and
I'm borderline sad
I'm borderline good, and
I'm borderline bad
And I can't get rid of a tingling fear
You'd sort me out, if my head gets clear
I live my life in shackles,
But I'm borderline free
I used to be blind,
And I still can't see
And I won't be around to change your mind
As long as nobody breaks my stride
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm borderline happy, and
I'm borderline sad
I'm borderline good, and
I'm borderline bad
And I can't get rid of a tingling fear
You'd sort me out, if my head gets clear
I live my life in shackles,
But I'm borderline free
I used to be blind,
And I still can't see
And I won't be around to change your mind
As long as nobody breaks my stride
The end .
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