Born and raised in Helsinki to a Hungarian mother and Finnish father, Valo began his career playing bass and drums in various bands around the city. In 1991, he co-founded and became the lead singer and main songwriter of HIM, which would go on to become one of the most successful Finnish bands of all time and the first to receive a gold record in the United States. Outside of HIM, Valo has collaborated with various other bands and artists during his career, including Agents, The 69 Eyes, and Apocalyptica. In 2020, Valo embarked on a solo career under the moniker VV. His debut album Neon Noir was released in 2023.
Known for his deep, crooning, baritone voice, Valo was found to possess the eighth-highest vocal range of any known singer in popular music by VVN Music. He is also the creator of the heartagram, HIM's trademarked symbol, which has achieved great popularity outside of the band's fanbase. Valo has received several accolades in the music industry and has been regarded as a sex symbol by several publications.
On his twentieth birthday, Valo created the heartagram, which would eventually become the symbol for HIM. A combination of a heart and a pentagram, it is meant to represent the juxtaposition of "the soft and the hard, the male and the female, the yin and the yang". Musically, the heart represents the softer side of HIM, while the pentagram conveys the heavier elements of its sound. Valo has called the heartagram his greatest creation. He noted in 2013: "There are a lot of people who have heartagram tattoos now. Kat Von D has one, Steve-O has a dickagram, which is like a heartagram but ends with a dick. It's started to have a life of its own: there are a lot of people who have them who don't actually know what it was, don't relate it to the band, and in that sense, I consider that to be my greatest achievement. So it'll be nice to have it on my tombstone. And it'll be nice to see where it's going to go next."
During his solo career, Valo has used a variation of the heartagram with two extra lines forming the moniker VV. Regarding the symbol, Valo jokingly stated: "Artistically speaking the main difference between HIM and VV is the extra line in the heartagram, but what an exquisite line it is!".
Bittersweet
Ville Valo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a shadow is cast on devotion
She's the one that I adore
Queen of my silent suffocation
Break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Bittersweet
I won't give up, I'm possessed by her
I'm bearing a cross, she's turned into my curse
Break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Bittersweet, I want you (how I wanted you)
And I need you (how I needed you)
Oh, break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Bittersweet
The lyrics to Ville Valo's song "Bittersweet" speak to the experience of being caught in a difficult, painful love affair, and feeling unable to let go of the person who is causing that pain. The singer notes that he is "giving up the ghost of love" and that his devotion is cast in shadow; he is clearly struggling with the idea of moving on from this relationship, even as it causes him immense suffering. The woman he loves is depicted as the "queen of [his] silent suffocation" - both a source of comfort and pain in equal measure.
The chorus of the song repeats a plea for release from this bittersweet situation, as the singer is "lost in the arms of destiny" and yet still can't let go of his love. The last verse, in particular, seems to highlight the idea that he feels trapped in this relationship, even though he is aware that it has become a curse for him. The repetition of the lines "break this bittersweet spell on me" and "lost in the arms of destiny" create a sense of desperation and longing, but the final word of the song - "bittersweet" - reminds us that even though the singer is struggling, this relationship is still something he perceives as both good and bad, sweet and sour.
Overall, "Bittersweet" is a powerful statement on the nature of difficult relationships and the emotions that come with them. Through Ville Valo's evocative lyrics, we get a sense of the complex feelings that come with loving someone who may not be good for us, and the struggle to find release and freedom from those emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm giving up the ghost of love
I am letting go of my love
And a shadow is cast on devotion
My love is overshadowed by doubt
She's the one that I adore
She is the one I love the most
Queen of my silent suffocation
She suffocates me with her presence and I cannot express myself
Break this bittersweet spell on me
I want to break away from these mixed feelings
Lost in the arms of destiny
I feel like I am stuck in a predetermined path
Bittersweet
My emotions are a mixture of sadness and happiness
I won't give up, I'm possessed by her
I cannot let her go, I am consumed by my love for her
I'm bearing a cross, she's turned into my curse
My love for her has become a burden on me
Bittersweet, I want you (how I wanted you)
I am filled with conflicted emotions regarding my love for her
And I need you (how I needed you)
Despite everything, I still need her in my life
Oh, break this bittersweet spell on me
I am pleading to be freed from these emotions
Bittersweet
My love for her is both beautiful and painful
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LAURI YLOENEN, VILLE VALLO, EICCA TOPPINEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pr0met3o
I'm giving up the ghost of love
And a shadow is cast on devotion
She is the one that I adore
Queen of my silent suffocation
Break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Bittersweet
I won't give up
I'm possessed by her
I'm bearing a cross
She's turned into my curse
Break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Bittersweet, I want you
Oh, how I wanted you
And I need you
How I needed you
Oh, break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Break this bittersweet spell on me
Lost in the arms of destiny
Bittersweet
@Sir_SugarBeard
Anyone here in 2023? 🖤
@kaspies8150
Hey bro shut the hell up
@ilianabogdanova584
Always
@spalingerevgeniya8835
Almost 2024, forever ❤
@soizicleroux1118
Oui, cette chanson et si magnifique !
@robynavalon6837
Duh!🤣🤣🤣
@DaisyJane0318
Listening in January 2024. Apocalyptica rocks! ❤
@Mystictoxinzz
I know 2023 just started, but this song still gives me goosebumps to this day.
@Jacek.Zubkowski
I think thats the best thing about music , time dosent matter . Good song like this one will stay good forever <3
@irismelodys6075
Relevant at all times