Sjowgren (pronounced "show grin") is an indie pop trio from San Francisco, … Read Full Bio ↴Sjowgren (pronounced "show grin") is an indie pop trio from San Francisco, California. The band, whose members prefer to remain anonymous, formed a musical project that focuses on songwriting and production.

Their journey began in early 2015 when Sjowgren uploaded a collection of self-recorded, guitar-based songs that were subsequently released as the Demos EP in June of that year. Shortly after, they unveiled their summery single "Seventeen," featuring a fully-realized band arrangement. The song gained significant attention after being featured in a commercial for an online marketplace in early 2016. "Seventeen" garnered millions of streams and attracted the interest of New York City label 300 Entertainment, distributed by Atlantic Records. The label officially released the track for digital download in mid-2016.

Sjowgren continued their musical endeavors with the single "Now & Then," which achieved success on streaming charts in early 2017. In 2018, the band returned with two stand-alone tracks, "Beginners" and "Better Off." They resurfaced in 2020, independently releasing the EP win'20.

Although Sjowgren's name may evoke a Scandinavian influence and their sound could be reminiscent of Nordic pop, the trio's indie pop style incorporates a retro-soul edge, primarily characterized by the unaffected alto vocals of their lead vocalist.

As a musical project, Sjowgren places a greater emphasis on creativity rather than pursuing widespread fame. They release their content through their own label, Long Time Friend Discount, and prefer to remain primarily behind the scenes, focusing on songwriting, production, and artistic direction.

Beginners
sjowgren Lyrics

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I been sleeping
Sleeping in all alone and the monsters stuck on
Yeah the monsters stuck onto me

I been sleeping
I been sleeping in alone
I'm drawing faces
And none of them I know

They said i could be anything that i wanna be
That i choose to be a millionaire
Ooo a billionaire
I'm just of use to this constant amazing
I won't be afraid of the ways that you play me around again
Mmm and around again

I can be anything i wanna be
A millionaire
I wanna be
Just a wannabe
I can be anything i wanna be
A millionaire
I wanna be just wannabe

I've been on the floor and it's a bad thing
Wanting it to go away
To set aside the fall
And I'll be dandy all along the way
I've been on the floor and it's a bad thing
Wanting it to go away
To set aside the fall
And i'll be dandy all along the way

How are you today?

And i wonder what I'm made of
Will i make it out alright
Will i make it out alright
And i wonder what I'm made of
Will i make it out alright
Will i make it out alright

I can be anything I wanna be
A millionaire
I wanna be
Just a wannabe
I could be anything i wanna be
A millionaire
I wanna be just wannabe

I've been on the floor and it's a bad thing
Wanting it to go away
To set aside the fall
And I'll be dandy all along the way
I've been on the floor and it's a bad thing
Wanting it to go away

To set aside the fall
And I'll be dandy all along the way

Overall Meaning

In "Beginners" by sjowgren, the singer expresses a sense of isolation and inner turmoil. They mention being alone, drawing faces they don't recognize, and feeling as though monsters are stuck onto them. The lyrics suggest a struggle with anxiety or depression. The line "They said I could be anything that I wanna be" shows a pressure to achieve success, specifically financial success, while feeling as though they are just a "wannabe." The repetition of the line "Will I make it out alright" also implies a sense of uncertainty and insecurity about the future.

Despite the dark themes of the song, there is a hint of optimism in the chorus with the repeated phrase "I can be anything I wanna be, a millionaire, I wanna be just a wannabe." It may suggest a desire to break free from the negative thoughts and create a better future for oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

I been sleeping
I've been disconnected and isolated from the world, detached from reality.

Sleeping in all alone and the monsters stuck on
I'm on my own and I'm struggling with my own inner demons and fears.

Yeah the monsters stuck onto me
I can't seem to shake off these negative thoughts and emotions that are constantly haunting me.

I'm drawing faces
I'm creating different personas and masks to put on for the world to see, but none of them are truly who I am.

And none of them I know
I'm not even sure who I am and what my true identity is.

They said i could be anything that i wanna be
People have told me that I have potential and can achieve anything I want.

That i choose to be a millionaire
But society has pressured me to strive for financial success and wealth.

Ooo a billionaire
And I'm tempted to believe that it's the only way to be happy or fulfilled.

I'm just of use to this constant amazing
I'm stuck in this cycle of always wanting more, striving for perfection and being caught up in the pressure to succeed.

I won't be afraid of the ways that you play me around again
I refuse to let others manipulate and control me for their own agendas or benefit.

Mmm and around again
But sometimes it feels like I'm just going in circles and can't escape from this toxic cycle.

I can be anything i wanna be
But ultimately, I have the power and freedom to choose my own path and destiny.

A millionaire
Even if it means going against society's expectations and never becoming a wealthy person.

I wanna be
I long for something more meaningful and authentic in life than just material success.

Just a wannabe
And I'm okay with not meeting everyone's standards and just being true to myself.

I've been on the floor and it's a bad thing
I've hit rock bottom and it's a painful and difficult experience.

Wanting it to go away
I wish I could just erase my pain and struggles and start over fresh.

To set aside the fall
But I know that I need to embrace my failures and mistakes as part of my growth and development.

And I'll be dandy all along the way
And even though life is tough, I will keep going and remain positive and optimistic.

And i wonder what I'm made of
I question my own strength and resilience in the face of adversity and doubt.

Will i make it out alright
But I still have hope and faith that I will overcome my struggles and come out stronger in the end.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: DON STEELE, MAIJA SJOGREN, SAM AHRENDT, TONY HOFFER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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