After winning the Swedish contest, he went on to win the title at the MGP Nordic competition in which participants from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland competed.
After 1 year from winning the MGP Nordic title, he took part in Metro Music Challenge again with his own composition "Life" coming second. Producer Johan Åberg seeing the potential started a musical cooperation. After the song "Boys Don't Cry" was leaked on the Internet, a number of international record company affiliates contacted him with Universal Records Sweden eventually signing him in September 2010.
He toured the United States, Britain and Continental Europe. He is also well known for his cover of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" after Perez Hilton posted the video on her website. Munther has also participated in SVT's Bobster program entitled Humorgalan as part of charity for UNICEF in May 2010. There he sang "My Generation" together with Peter Johansson, Rock-Olga and others. Ulrik has also been involved in SVTB's Sommarlov hosted by Malin Olsson. He has also appeared in Allsång på Skansen and Lotta på Liseberg festivals in Summer 2011.
On 24 August 2011, he released his self-titled debut album Ulrik Munther that went straight to #1 on the Swedish Album Charts on its week of release. The album was recorded in Stockholm, and part in his own home. He appears with Caroline Costa in a single entitled "Je t'ai menti" which is the French version of "Kill for Lies". Released on 19 December 2011, it entered the French Singles Chart in February 2012. On 21 December 2012, the music video for his single "San Francisco Says Hello" came out on YouTube which was filmed in San Francisco earlier that the month. It also received more attention when Perez Hilton posted it on his Twitter page three weeks later.
In 2012, Ulrik Munther participated in the second semifinal of Melodifestivalen 2012 with the song "Soldiers". He was among the two winners of the night, managing to get to the contest's final, that took place on 10 March 2012 at the Globe Arena in Stockholm. Loreen with her song "Euphoria" won not only the Melodifestivalen but the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 as well. Munther and "Soldiers" finished 3rd overall in the Melodifestivalen behind Loreen and runner-up Danny Saucedo.
In 2013, Ulrik Munther participated in the 4th semi-final Melodifestivalen 2013 on 23 February 2013 in Malmö, Sweden singing the song "Tell the World I'm Here" co-written by Munther with songwriters Thomas G:son and Peter Boström. Munther again finished 3rd overall in the Melodifestivalen behind Robin Stjernberg and Yohio.
On October 27, 2014 released Ulrik the single "I do not know how to do." A song that arose in cooperation with Jonas Gardell. A music video was launched at the same time. He also assisted in the gala "Together for cancer," and performed his single "I do not know how to do" the same day.
In 2015 he won the Swedish Guldbagge Award for Best Actor in the movie ''The Here After'' (Efterskalv). Magnus Van Horn’s movie (Poland/Sweden/France) follows the fate of troubled 17-year-old John (Ulrik Munther) after he is released from a detention facility into the custody of his father in a rural Swedish community that cannot forgive his terrible crime. It’s an absorbing study of three generations of male rage and emotional disconnection.
In 2016 Ulrik is actively involved in the aid project 'SOS Barnbyar Sverige' (SOS Children's Villages Sweden).
'En resa för livet' (A Journey of Life) is a musical television documentary series in which viewers follow four Swedish songwriters and artists dedicated their life's journey into one of the world's poor areas. Andreas Carlsson, Lotta Engberg, Ulrik Munther and Kristin Amparo traveled to Rustenburg in South Africa. For two weeks, they met children living in vulnerable environments whilst actively participated in the SOS Children's Village work.
Ulrik Munther released together with friends the single 'Until We Meet Again' in January 2016. 'Dig A Little Deeper', Ulrik's solo single, was out at the same time.
Artists and distributor Sony Music will donate their royalties and proceeds to SOS Children's Villages. 'En resa för livet' was sent in spring 2016 by Swedish TV4.
In 2018, Ulrik ended his record label and manager, moved from Stockholm to Gothenburg to write, produce and release his music on his own. A bold and courageous decision but something that was crucial to Ulrik feeling happy and creatively satisfied.
The first hit that was independent was the single Before which was released in March 2018. The song has proven to be a statement that Ulrik manages to stand on his own legs and that as an artist you can succeed even without major record label giants flapping your neck.
Before was followed up in April by the EP Are you alright? and a smaller tour of the same name was made in Sweden and Norway. Last summer, some gigs were made, including a successful one at the Frizon Festival with his eminent band under the leadership of the chaplain Isak Nygren.
Ulrik does a few gigs this summer and chose GF as one of them. We are very happy about this. Welcome to the Gulbrannafestivalen, Ulrik Munther!
Complete released works (2009 - 2016)
Singles
En vanlig dag - 2009 (Melodi Grand Prix Nordic junior singing competition)
Life - 2009
Boys Don't Cry - 2010
Born This Way (Lady Gaga cover) - 2011
Moments Ago - 2011
Sticks And Stones - 2011
Je t'ai menti (Kill For Lies) feat. Caroline Costa - 2011
The Box - 2011
Soldiers - 2012 (Melodi Grand Prix Nordic junior singing competition)
Fool - 2012
San Francisco Says Hello (T&M: Martin Ekman/Ulrik Munther) - 2012
Tell the World I'm Here - 2013
Requiem - 2013
Jag vet inte hur man gör - 2014
Nån gång - 2015
Dig A Little Deeper - 2016 (SOS Barnbyar Sverige: En resa för livet)
Until We Meet Again - 2016 (SOS Barnbyar) feat. Andreas Carlsson, Kristin Amparo and Lotta Engberg
Before - 2018
Say Goodbye - 2018
Albums
Ulrik Munther (2012)
Rooftop (2013)
Allt jag ville säga (2015)
Are You Alright? EP (2018)
Sticks and Stones
Ulrik Munther Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah yeah
Oh oh oh
Just another day
Same in every way
Doing what i should do
What other people say
Charge of my own faith
I know it's not too late,
it's not too late,
it's not too late
Eh Eh
Yeah yeah
Oh oh oh
Well you can break my bones
With sticks and stones
But you can't hold me down
I think it's time i break
The rules you make and make some of my own
I'm taking all your flaws
Your sticks and stones
Your sticks and stones...
Mistakes I have made
Cut me like a blade
But what really kills me
Is the madness i've obeyed
So to save my soul
I'm taking all they stole
I'm breaking my parole,
I'm letting go,
I'm letting go yeah
Eh eh
Yeah yeah
Oh oh oh
Well you can break my bones
With sticks and stones
But you can't hold me down
I think it's time i break
The rules you make and make some of my own
I'm taking all your flaws
Your sticks and stones
Now I’ve got to go my way
No I won´t betray the confidence
I´ve placed in the things I have to say
So I´m walking tall and maybe I will fall
But I never wanna crawl it´s gonna be my call.
Well you can break my bones
With sticks and stones
But you can't hold me down
I think it's time i break
The rules you make and make some of my own
I'm taking all your flaws
Your sticks and stones
Your sticks and stones
Ulrik Munther's song "Sticks and Stones" is about the idea of breaking free from the chains of conformity and embracing one's own beliefs and desires. Munther speaks of living a life under the influence of other people's expectations, feeling as though he's obeying the madness that surrounds him. He acknowledges the mistakes he's made but also sees the need to break free from the rules others have imposed as a means of attaining self-fulfillment.
Due to societal pressure and influence from others, Munther feels constricted in his life, but he believes it's time to take charge of his own faith. He feels it is never too late to turn his life around and become the person he wants to be. He is tired of living a life that is in line with what other people say and is now determined to make his own way. The chorus of the song seems to be a statement of rebellion, where he claims that other people can break his bones with sticks and stones, but they cannot break his spirit.
In the second verse, Munther acknowledges his mistakes, which have cut him like a blade. However, he recognizes that what has really hurt him is the madness that he has obeyed. He wants to reclaim what has been taken from him and break his parole by breaking free and moving forward. He acknowledges that he may fall, but he never wants to crawl, and he knows that it will be his call.
Line by Line Meaning
Just another day
Another usual, mundane day
Same in every way
No different from the others
Doing what i should do
Doing what is expected
What other people say
Following others' opinions or instructions
I think it's time i take
I believe it's time to act
Charge of my own faith
To take control of my own destiny
I know it's not too late,
I am aware that there is still time
it's not too late,
There's still a chance
it's not too late
I can still make a change
Well you can break my bones
Physical harm can be inflicted
With sticks and stones
Using primitive weaponry
But you can't hold me down
Won't let you bring me down
I think it's time i break
It's time to defy
The rules you make and make some of my own
To reject established norms and create my own principles
I'm taking all your flaws
Acknowledging others' shortcomings
Your sticks and stones
Their methods of trying to hurt me
Mistakes I have made
Errors I've committed
Cut me like a blade
It hurts intensely
But what really kills me
What hurts most
Is the madness i've obeyed
Is following irrational beliefs
So to save my soul
To rescue myself
I'm taking all they stole
Taking back what is mine
I'm breaking my parole,
Defying set expectations
I'm letting go,
Releasing the pressures
I'm letting go yeah
Letting go completely
Now I’ve got to go my way
Going my own path
No I won´t betray the confidence
Won't disappoint my own beliefs
I´ve placed in the things I have to say
The trust I have in my own voice
So I´m walking tall and maybe I will fall
Confidently moving forward, even if I may fail
But I never wanna crawl
But never surrender
it´s gonna be my call.
It's my own decision to make.
Your sticks and stones
Others' attempts to harm or criticize me
Contributed by Mia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Coraleeha974
J'adore!!!!!! Tu as une voix magnifique!!
inam95
Kjempebra, Ulrik! Gleder meg veldig til albumet ditt :D Sangene dine er bra, og tekstene gir mening. Stolt av hvor langt du har kommet nå!
gsmsupermickan
Sjukt bra låt och du är som vanligt helt underbar i den :) Älskar din röst och dina ögon <3
jaja8045
He should be known in all Europe at least. He is really amazing.
Kathryn Neve
<3 Love this so much <3 Ulrik your songs are so much better than whats in the charts at the moment :D
Heida
I LOVE this song!!!! He's such a great songwriter OMG
Nalaa
Min favorit låt den hära! Fortsätt med det du gör du kommer komma långt!! Älskar dig Ulrik Munther <33
John Kenney
Your a great singer Ulrik always enjoy all your songs, not one song I don't like. look forward to hearing your new song. Your an inspiration got me into playing guitar and writing again. Thanks
Marine F.
Il est juste parfait et j'adore cette chanson tout comme sa voix ! :D
Evia
This is what music, music videos and musicians should be like. Ulrik's a big inspiration to me and I love him for being that. ;)) And the way he randomly lies on a ventilator is cute =)