HANDAN STJØRNURNAR – Elin Brimheim Heinesen Music

(BEYOND THE STARS)

ARTIST: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
RELEASE DATE: Saturday, July 7^th, 2018

June 25^th, 2018, ELIN BRIMHEIM HEINESEN turned 60 years old. She celebrates her birthday with a party Saturday evening, July 7^th at Sjónleikarhúsið, the old theater in Tórshavn. On the same day she published a new album with her own music: “Handan stjørnurnar” (Beyond the Stars) which, despite Elin’s long music career, is her debut album as a soloist.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE:

OBS! Scroll down to read the lyrics while listening to the album.

ALBUM COVER:

SUCCEEDED AT LAST AFTER 30 YEARS

Elin dreamt for a long time of publishing a solo album only with her own music. Actually ever since NALJA was released in 1988, but not until 30 years later she realised her dream. The album “Handan stjørnurnar” is a selection of 12 songs never published before. Elin chose the songs among all the many songs she has written since she started writing songs as a young teenager.

Elin said to media, when she finally released her first solo album: “I’ve sung a lot but have just released two albums in my life up until now: NALJA, where half of the tracks were mine, and then “Yndisløg”, which weren’t my own songs. So, I’ve been dreaming of publishing my own album with my own music only.”

To the question, why she waited so long, she replied: “I just couldn’t afford it and have also been busy with so much else, so the music was always prioritised last. But”, Elin says, and continues: “Two years ago, I thought to myself: You are almost 60 years old now, so if you really want it to happen, it must happen now! It’s not okay to leave everything in the drawer where nobody has any use of it.”

SAVED MONEY FOR THE PROJECT

After many supportive encouragements from friends and musicians she has played concerts with in recent years, the idea grew stronger that her music was worth publishing. She promised herself to publish an album on her 60^th birthday at the latest.

She did’nt quite make it, but almost – more precisely, the album came out 13 days after her birthday, on July 7th in 2018.

Photos from the 60th birthday- and release party, Saturday July 7th, 2018:

“I found some of my songs, which I think most likely will be able to stand the test of times, and then I started to save money to have enough to pay for the music recordings.”

Now that she finally took the initiative, Elin wanted an album with everything she had dreamed of – choirs, strings, wind instruments, etc., so she knew that the music would be expensive to produce.

GOOD COOPERATION WITH FINNUR HANSEN

About half a year before the release she estimated that she had saved enough money, so she called Finnur Hansen to make an appointment in his studio.

“It’s about time,” he replied,” says Elin, laughing. “Finnur and I have worked together earlier. Among other things, Finnur has played concerts with NALJA, he was a sound engineer on the symphonic version of “Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð” and was also a sound engineer / producer on the album “Yndisløg” and we were always great at working together.”

They made an agreement to begin the first recordings in February this year with Finnur as sound engineer and co-producer. In addition, they have both taken turns to make arrangements for various instruments on the album.

“I wanted to produce my own album as much as possible and make arrangements for backing vocals, strings, wind instruments, etc.” says Elin. “But at the same time, I knew that Finnur has so much more experience with music production than I have, so of course I wanted to listen to his good advice as well. And besides, he is an extraordinary musician as well, so I would be stupid if I didn’t accept his creative input. We found a good work balance, I think, so we have made everything in full agreement. Finnur has been a fantastic contributor and a true music magician.

Live photos from the time in the studio:

GREAT RESPECT FOR THE MUSICIANS

Elin also contacted other talented musicians, many of whom knew some of her songs in advance because they have played concerts together in recent years. They were immediately willing to participate in the project. And then they started recording the basic instruments – drums, bass, guitar and keyboard. Then several layers were laid on top, such as lead and backing vocals, strings and wind instruments, etc. Part of the music is arranged and recorded based on scores while other parts are improvised. Elin explained what style she wanted the musicians to try to aim for, and then the musicians were given freedom to make their own interpretations with their own instruments.

“I have huge respect for these very talented musicians, so of course I allowed them to play the way they do best – so much better than I could ever do, so I’ve been very excited for all the musical gifts they have given me this way. But I wanted to have the last word in terms of the more general things, such as chord selection, style, rhythm, tempo, sound, etc. Finnur and the other musicians are extremely professional, all together, and have been really good at hitting the style and the atmosphere that I wanted.”

FOUND THE SAME IMAGE FOR THE ALBUM COVER

“I made a suggestion for an album cover myself with a drawing made by a couple of New Zealenders, who were in the Faroe Islands last year, drawing pictures. I contacted the graphic designer Hans Juul Hansen, whom I wanted to do the artwork. The strange thing was that before I showed Hans Juul my suggestion, he went after a drawing which he thought would fit the cover well. I was completely astonished when I saw that this was exactly the same drawing I had used in my suggestion – without him knowing it! It was probably meant to be that this particular drawing had to be on the cover.”

“Everyone that I have contacted and asked to contribute has been really positive and has committed a 100% to the project so it has been a pleasure to work with them all, and with the album as a whole throughout. I am extremely pleased that I can finally present the result – an album with the title “Handan stjørnurnar” (Beyond the Stars) with 12 of my own songs.

The album hits the market Saturday, July 7^th, 2018, but the public has already had the opportunity to hear two songs before that because on June 22^nd, the first single from the album, titled “Søti mín” was released. And the week after, on June 29^th, the second single was released, titled “Tú vart altíð har.”

HERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ALBUM

Elin Brimheim Heinesen wrote all the songs and all the lyrics. One particular song, “Kemur tú aftur”, was made together with Árni Jóhannesson, known as the lead singer of the band Punjab.

Elin also produced all the songs together with Finnur Hansen, in addition to making arrangements for different instruments, singing all the songs, playing guitar and singing backing vocals.

Finnur Hansen was sound engineer and mixed and produced with Elin and made arrangements for various instruments, in addition to playing keyboard, guitar, accordion, percussion and singing backing vocals.

Jan Eliasson frá Audioplanet ApS did the mastering.

Arnold Ludvig played bass and made the arrangement for wind instruments on “Søti mín”, Rógvi á Rógvu played drums and different percussions, and Rúni Eysturlíð and Leivur Thomsen played guitars of different kinds.

Angelika Nielsen and Jón Festirstein played violin and bratch and Tóri Restorff Jacobsen played cello.

Hentze Horns played on “Søti mín” – Johan Hentze played 1^st trumpet, Rúni Hentze 2^nd trumpet, Mortan Zachariassen played saxophone and Elspa Samuelsen played trombone.

Ólavur Olsen played horns, Ole Himmelstrup played saxophone and Andrea Hendriksdóttir played cross flute on other tracks.

In addition to Finnur and Elin, Malan Thomsen, Anna Maria Olsen, Kim Hansen and Karl Martin Samuelsen also sang backing vocals.

Hans Juul Hansen was responsible for the cover artwork. And Tim and Zoe from “31 Days In” in New Zealand, supplied the drawing of Bryggjubakki / Vágsbotn in Tórshavn on the album cover, while the Italian photographer Alessio Mesiano took the photo of Elin.

TRACKS

1. TÚ VART ALTÍÐ HAR
(YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE)

Listen here:

“I originally composed the music for this song when one of my grandmothers died. I started to write lyrics about missing my grandmother, but it turned out to be something else that came to mind. So I wrote new lyrics to the tune, which more broadly is about when a relationship breaks up, where you wish that it could all be different and that the relationship got one more chance. The love does not necessarily disappear even if two people find out that it just doesn’t work for them to live together.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

Lyrics and Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Sound Engineering and Mixing: Finnur Hansen
Music Arrangement and Production: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Mastering: Jan Eliasson, Audioplanet ApS
String Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Horns and Flute Arrangements: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Backing Vocals Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Lead Vocal: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Backing Vocals: Malan Thomsen, Finnur Hansen, Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Keyboard, Triangel: Finnur Hansen
Rhythm Guitar: Rúni Eysturlíð
El. Guitar: Finnur Hansen, Leivur Thomsen (solo)
Bass: Arnold Ludvig
Drums: Rógvi á Rógvu
Horns: Ólavur Olsen
Violin, Bratch: Angelika Nielsen
Cello: Tóri Restorff Jacobsen
Flute: Andrea Hendriksdóttir

ISCR DKBCA1803501

Song lyrics in Faroese:

TÚ VART ALTÍÐ HAR

Her ert tú, mín elskaði skattur.
Sakni teg so nógv, tí eg
kann aldri finna nakran betri.
Sá teg altíð standa og bíða,
hyggja eftir mær,
tá ið eg koyrdi heim, tí…

Tú vart altíð har
heima hjá mær.
Við eitt, so vart tú burtur.
Tað er so nógv, sum
eg vildi gjørt um,
men ov seint var.
So einsamøll tá har,
mær longdist eftir tær.

Torført er at greiða frá, hvussu
syrgin eg, tá var um teg,
og hvussu nógv eg ynskti, at eg
hitti teg og sá, at tú vildi
fyrigeva mær og
halda fast um meg. Tí…

Tú vart altíð har…

Translated to English:

YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE

Here you are, my beloved darling.
Miss you so much because I
can never find anyone better than you.
Saw you always standing there waiting,
looking out for me
when I drove home because …

You were always there
in my home.
Suddenly you were gone.
There is so much that
I wanted to change,
but it was too late.
I felt so alone,
when I missed you here.

It’s hard to explain how
sad I was about you,
and how much I wished we would
meet again and I’d find out that you had
forgiven me and you’d
hold me tightly. Because…

You were always there …

2. SØTI MÍN
(MY LOVE)

Listen here:

“Falling in love often inspires creativity. I wrote this slightly erotic song when I and my (then future, now former) husband had just moved in together. As you can see, we were pretty much in love back then.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

Lyrics and Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Sound Engineering and Mixing: Finnur Hansen
Music Arrangement and Production: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Mastering: Jan Eliasson, Audioplanet ApS
Wind Instruments Arrangement: Arnold Ludvig
Backing Vocals Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Lead Vocal: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Backing Vocals: Anna Maria Olsen
Keyboard: Finnur Hansen
El. Guitar: Rúni Eysturlíð, Finnur Hansen
Bass: Arnold Ludvig
Drums: Rógvi á Rógvu
1. Trumpet: Johan Hentze
2. Trumpet: Rúni Hentze
Saxophone: Mortan Zachariassen
Trombone: Elspa Samuelsen

ISCR DKBCA1803502

Song lyrics in Faroese:

SØTI MÍN

Søti mín,
muður tín
kyssir eymt mítt enni.
Góði mín,
hugur tín
flakkar, og eg kenni
andadrátt.
Veitst tú brátt,
tað er tær mær hugar.
Lurta nú,
hoyrir tú,
vindur úti suðar.

Einsamøll
her í høll,
halda um hvørt annað,
kinn mót kinn.
Uppøst sinn.
Eygu kaga, kanna.
Eygnabrá
hvíla á
hondini, sum kínir.
Bróstið mítt
andar títt.
Giti tankar tínar.

Translated into English:

MY LOVE

My love
your lips
kissing my forehead, tenderly.
My dear,
your thoughts are
wandering and I feel
you breathing.
Do you know,
it’s you I like.
Listen now,
can you hear
the wind blowing outside.

Alone
here in the hall,
we hold each other,
cheek to cheek.
Excited minds.
Eyes looking, examining,
gazing
resting on
the hand caressing.
My chest
breathing fast.
Guessing your thoughts.

3. LANDIÐ HANDAN STJØRNURNAR
(THE LAND BEYOND THE STARS)

Listen here:

“Many years ago, I went up to my parents’ attick to clean up. Deep down in an old cardboard box, I found the lyrics for a lullaby that I wrote when I was only 12 years old to a tune that was popular back when I was a kid. There was only one verse, but the lyrics somehow demanded a longer story, and I thought the lyrics were so sweet that I sat down to finish the story with some extra verses. A few years later I made a new tune to the lyrics in ‘latin’ rhythm, which I have always liked so much, ever since I lived in Southern Spain for a year as a 10-11 year old. It is, of course, this version that is included on the album.”
Elin Brimheim Heinesen

Song lyrics in Faroese:

LANDIÐ HANDAN STJØRNURNAR

Lítli vinur, legg teg nú at sova.
Dagur farin er og náttin nær.
Et nú breyðið, mamma hevur lovað,
áðrenn Hákun kemur eftir tær.
Hákun er ein pinkalítil drongur,
blakar sand i eyguni á tær.
Eygu detta saman, høvdið hongur
Skjótt tú sova skalt
– við lítla Snar.

Hákun dugir kynsturið at flúgva,
teskar gandaorð í oyra títt.
Telur um tað land, har álvar búgva,
har veðrið altíð er so fjálgt og lýtt.
Hákun flýgur teg til dreymalandið.
Stuttligt er hjá tær at koma har.
Bert Hákun hann er við, er eingin vandi
og mamma, pápi og
– so lítli Snar.

Hákun, mamma, Snar og tú og pápi
flúgva langt, langt upp um stjørnurnar.
Sveima dandandi i einum skápi,
upp um kantin darla føturnir.
Snar hann goyr, og tú og Hákun flenna,
tí at mánin kitlar tínar tær.
Eftir tykkum skýggini tey renna.
Eftir teimum renn-
ir lítli Snar.

Alt ov skjótt er henda ferð at enda.
Morgunsólin kagar inn til tín.
Áðrenn tú veitst av, fert tú at lenda
so bleytt í songini hjá tær, mítt skrín.
Snar er skjótur upp og kemur glaður
rennandi og goyr og sleikir tær.
Kom nú upp! Ein spildurnýggjur dagur
nú bíðar eftir tær
– og lítla Snar.

Translated to English:

Hákun knows the art of flying,
whispers magical words in your ear.
tells about the country where the elven people live,
where the weather is always so mild and warm.
Hákun flies with you to the dreamland.
It’s fun for you to be there.
As long as Hákun is there, there is no danger
and mother and father and
– also little Snar.

Hákun, mother, Snar and you and father
fly far, far beyond the stars.
Floating, rocking in a closet,
with our feet swinging over the edge.
Snar barks, and you and Hákun laugh,
because the moon tickles your toes.
The clouds run after you.
and after them runs
– little Snar.

All too soon, this journey is over.
The morning sun looks in on you.
Before you know it, you will land
so softly in your bed, my darling.
Snar is up quickly and comes happily
running, barking and licking you.
Get up now! A brand new day
is waiting for you
– and little Snar.

4. ÚTISTONGD
(EXCLUDED)

Listen here:

“I wrote this song when I was quite young, about two gay friends I had at the time. But it could just as well be about everyone who somehow feel that there is not enough room for them in the Faroe Islands. My gay friends were a couple and felt compelled to move from the Faroe Islands because they were afraid of society’s judgment and the reaction they expected to get if they dared to openly show their love for each other. At that time, society was not as tolerant of homosexuals as it is today, and they were not always treated well, so most homosexuals chose to move away from the Faroe Islands – often with sadness in their hearts and with a deep longing for their beloved homeland. But fortunately this has changed a lot for the better today.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

Lyrics and Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Sound Engineering and Mixing: Finnur Hansen
Music Arrangement and Production: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Mastering: Jan Eliasson, Audioplanet ApS
Backing Vocals Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
String Arrangement: Finnur Hansen
Lead Vocal: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Backing vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Keyboard: Finnur Hansen
Acoustic Guitar: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Rúni Eysturlíð
El. Guitar: Finnur Hansen
Bass: Arnold Ludvig
Drums: Rógvi á Rógvu
Accordion: Finnur Hansen
Violin, Bratch: Angelika Nielsen
Cello: Tóri Restorff Jacobsen

ISCR DKBCA1803504

Song lyrics in Faroese:

ÚTISTONGD

Veðrið er gott uttanfyri.
Luftin er támut og heit.
Børnini spæla á bønum
og í túninum í onkrari veit.
Fólkini ganga á vegnum
og eru so kát og so ber.
Men vit báðir inni her
liva í eini heilt aðrari verð.

Nei, eingin veit at siga,
hvar vit enda.
Nanana nana nananaaaa

Í Føroyum er helst gott at vera.
Vit vuksu og blómaðu her.
Tí kennist tað tungt at rýma
úr okkara vælkendu verð.
Men her er ei rúm fyri øllum.
At enda her gjørdist ov trongt,
og soleiðis er lívsins gongd.
Slík sum vit verða útistongd.

Nei, eingin veit at siga…

Vit vita ei, hvat okkum væntar,
men mugu ei fella í fátt.
Vit vita, at onkustaðni botnar,
men at leypa krevur dirvi og mátt.
Vit vita, at hóast vit enda
eitt stað, sum vit ei kenna til,
so fylgir sólin tó við,
ja, sólin er kortini við.

Nei, eingin veit at siga…

Translated to English:

EXCLUDED

The weather is good outside.
The air is hazy and hot.
The children are playing in the meadow
and in front of the house in a ditch.
People walk on the road
and are so happy and so bare.
But the two of us in here
are living in a completely different world.

No, no one knows anything about,
where we end up.
Nanana nana nananaaaa

It is probably good to be in the Faroes.
We grew up and flourished here.
Therefore, it feels sad to say goodbye
with our familiar world.
But there isn’t room for everyone here.
Eventually it got too cramped,
and thus is the course of life.
People like us get shut out.

No, nobody knows anything about …

We do not know what awaits us,
but we must not lose heart.
We know that we’ll touch bottom somewhere,
but jumping requires courage and strength.
We know that even if we end up
in a place we do not know,
the sun will follow,
yes, the sun is always with us anyway.

No, nobody knows anything about …

5. FRÍGGJAKVØLD
(FRIDAY NIGHT)

Listen here:

“Sometimes I get in a special mood when I come home after a walk in the city, uplifted and inspired by experiences. I once wrote this song after a fascinating city tour on a Friday night, where I watched the bustling life of the city and imagined the life stories that every single person that I watched had, and who – only by crossing my path this evening – unknowingly gave me inspiration to a song. This was the result.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

ISCR DKBCA1803505

Song lyrics in Faroese:

FRÍGGJAKVØLD

Fríggjakvøld fara fólk at síggja fólk.
Fólk fara út at síggja onnur, á ja,
síggja onnur eygleiða hvørt annað,
og tey eygleiða hvørt annað, á ja.
Fríggjakvøld, tey fara køld
út at verma hvørt annað.

Tey royna at spæla so líkasæl
og at látast, sum um tey hoyra til,
men als eingin veit,
hvat er rætt, og hvat er rangt,
og hvat hvør her í grundini vil.

Fríggjakvøld, onkur grætur, onkur flennir,
onkur berjist, onkur rennur, á ja.
Nøkur fitt fólk fjasa hvørt við annað.
Summi svíkja nú hvørt annað, á ja.
Fríggjakvøld, so einsamøld
tey uppøsa hvørt annað.

Tey royna at spæla…

Er kærleiki tað?
Kanska er tað tað.
Eg haldi, tað er tað.
Kærleiki er tað.
Ja.

Fríggjakvøld, tá fer ungdómur í býin,
ja, øll fara út í býin, á ja.
fyri’at leita, leita til hvørt annað
ja, øll leit’inn til hvørt annað, á ja.
Fríggjakvøld, øld eftir øld,
tey bert erta hvørt annað.

Tey royna at spæla…

Er kærleiki tað?…
Ja.
Tað er kærleiki.

Translated to English:

FRIDAY NIGHT

Friday night people go out to see people.
People go out to see others, oh yes,
see others observe each other,
and they observe each other, oh yes.
Friday night they go out freezing
to warm each other.

They try to act indifferent
and pretend they belong,
but nobody knows,
what is right and what is wrong,
and what who basically wants here.

Friday night, someone’s crying, others are laughing,
Some fight, others run, oh yes.
Some nice people flirt with each other.
Some fail each other, oh yes.
Friday night, so lonely
they incite each other.

They try to act …

Is love it?
Maybe that’s it.
I think that’s it.
Love is it.
Yes.

Friday night youngster go downtown,
yes, everyone goes downtown, oh yes.
to search for, searching for each other
yes, everyone is looking for each other, oh yes.
Friday night, century after century,
they just tease each other.

They try to act …

Is love it? …
Yes.
It’s love.

6. SPRETTANDI VÁR
(BUDDING SPRING)

Listen here:

“In my life I have loved a lot and intensely, both highly and deeply, so here is a song again about being in love – about being with your beloved out in God’s free nature in good weather in the spring, where the sun shines and everything sprouts and grows so merrily, and where the heart lies wide open and love is perfected.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

ISCR DKBCA1803506

SONG LYRICS

Song lyrics in Faroese:

SPRETTANDI VÁR

Sólin hitar teir grønkandi teigar.
Vit sita so eina á døggvátum bø.
Hvør tægr í mær mýkist, eg eri til reiðar
at drekka hin rúsandi kærleikans løg
saman við tær,
saman við tær.

Meg kína blídliga varligar hendur.
Eg gevi meg burtur í droymandi rús.
Í nasunum kitlar ein roykur kendur,
aldugras, vindur og blómubrús,
tí tað er vár,
tí tað er vár.

Tað himmalska dýpið ófatiligt kennist.
Vit stara og stara, men skilja tað ei.
Innan er okkurt, sum veksur og mennist.
Her birtist ein kensla, sum fótin eg steig
í aldingarð,
í aldingarð.

Sum flákrandi firvaldar burtur vit førast.
Tað svalandi lotið á hondum oss ber.
So spakuligt nærkast teir varrar og rørast
og gloppa sum rósur, tá niðunátt fer
og sólin sær,
og sólin sær.

Tú leiðir meg við tær í eydnulandið,
har ljómandi tónleikur fyllir mítt sinn.
Vit sveimandi hittast í kærleiksgandi.
Í hjørtu nú sníkir seg varliga inn
sprettandi vár,
sprettandi vár.

Translated to English:

BUDDING SPRING

The sun warms the green meadows.
We sit together on dewy grass.
Every fiber in me is outstretched, I am ready to
drink the intoxicating love potion
together with you,
together with you.

Gentle hands caress me.
I surrender to a dreamy drunkedness.
In our noses springs a familiar scent,
wavy grass, wind and flowers whistling,
because it’s spring,
because it’s spring.

The heavenly depths feel unimaginable.
We stare and stare, but do not fathom it.
Inside, something is growing and expanding.
An emotion arises as if we stepped into
the Garden of Eden,
the Garden of Eden.

Like fluttering butterflies, we are swept away.
The cool breeze carries us on its hands.
Slowly our lips approach, touching each other
and open like roses when the night is over,
and the sun is shining,
and the sun is shining.

You take me with you to the land of happiness,
where beautiful music fills my mind.
We meet floating in the magic of love.
In our hearts it gently creeps in,
the budding spring,
the budding spring.

7. ELLI
(OLD AGE)

Listen here:

“I wrote this song when I was quite young and went to highschool. The song was written to a poem I wrote about an elderly lady who was getting old and demented. I got inspiration i.a. by thinking of my own old grandmother. She could not sit passively and had to always have some knitting or needlework in her hands. In the lyrics, a doll is mentioned because my grandmother loved to knit and sew doll clothes – especially the Faroese national costume for dolls, which was fashionable at the time to have for decoration in the living rooms.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

ISCR DKBCA1803507

Song lyrics in Faroese:

ELLI

Morgunin døkkur og gráur.
Hon situr har boygd beinki á.
Fressurin, mjúkur og mjáur,
murrar í alski og trá.

Tankarnir tokutir snara.
Eyguni fjar og so kám.
Árini koma og fara,
hvørva í mjørkatám.

Stoppar sær holuta hosu.
Ketilin bríkslar við eitt.
Kløkkast í ørvitistosi.
Av nálini mundi seg meitt.

Tankarnir tokutir snara…

Komfýrurin sjóar og glintar.
Tekur ein fúnað hond
klodduta dukku og pyntar
so fína við hvítari rond.

Tankarnir tokutir snara…

Translated into English:

OLD AGE

A gray and dark morning
she sits bent over on the bench.
A cat, soft and supple,
purrs longingly in love.

The mind spins round and round.
The eyes are distant and dull.
The years come and go,
disappear in the fog.

Sews a stocking full of holes.
Suddenly the kettle whistles.
In uttering confusion,
she almost pokes herself with the needle.

The mind spins round and round …

The stove is simmering and clattering.
An aged hand takes
a ragged doll and dresses it
up with a fine white border.

The mind spins round and round …

8. VIT LIVA SAMAN
(WE LIVE TOGETHER)

Listen here:

“This song came to me once at night in a dream where I was dreaming of an ex-boyfriend who had his personal problems and therefore was not always so sweet to me. The relationship ended due to violence – something that often gave me nightmares afterwards. (OBS! In order for there to be no misunderstanding, this is not the man I later married). I so desperately wanted peace of mind, so I think that in this dream I have somehow tried to comfort myself by building a bridge between myself and what I perceived as a threat. Anyway, I woke up that morning with everything – that is, with both melody and lyrics in my head – and hurried to pick up my guitar and my four-track Fostex cassette recorder to record the song, so I would not forget it. The lyrics are basically also about something bigger than just a bad relationship – namely about freeing oneself from shackles, such as from anxiety, suspicion and prejudice. Everything that separates us humans, and which in the worst case leads to war. In fact, completely unnecessary, because deep down we’re all the same and no doubt have much more in common as human beings than we are aware of. Therefore, I asked the naive, very simple question: Why do we have to fight each other at all? I chose through the music to describe the desperation that I can sometimes feel when it seems impossible to reconcile with others. In this song, I have tried to be true to the 70s rock style, which I heard so clearly for my inner ear in the dream, and thereby also celebrate this genre, which is a big part of my musical baggage.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

Lyrics and Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Sound Engineering and Mixing: Finnur Hansen
Music Arrangement and Production: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Mastering: Jan Eliasson, Audioplanet ApS
String Arrangement: Finnur Hansen
Backing Vocals Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Lead Vocal and Backing Vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Backing Vocals: Finnur Hansen, Kim Hansen, Karl Martin Samuelsen (rockskríggj)
Keyboard: Finnur Hansen
Acoustic guitar: Finnur Hansen
El. guitar: Leivur Thomsen (solo)
Bass: Arnold Ludvig
Drums: Rógvi á Rógvu

ISCR DKBCA1803508

Song lyrics in Faroese:

VIT LIVA SAMAN

Eitt menniskja eg eri.
Eg megni ikki nógv.
Eg vil ei særa onnur,
so hví grevur tú hesa gjógv?
Tú kanska kanst meg skaða,
og eg veit, tú royna fert.
Tú fígginda meg sært sum,
men tað er tað, tú sjálvur ert.

Vit liva saman, tú og eg.
Hví so gera mær fortreð?
Rætt tú mær tína hond
og fylg mær á veg.
Latið okkum ganga síð um síð,
sama slag øll innaní.
Taka vit saman hendur,
vera vit frí.

Tín fíggindi er innan
í tær og ikki mær.
Tú spælir bara sterkur,
ein týðiliga sær.
Tað er tí tú ert so illur,
at tú næstan drepa kanst,
men tá ið tú fært valdið,
er tað veruliga tú, sum vanst?

Vit liva saman tú og eg….

Eg veit,
eg veit,
eg veit ei, hví
vit ei,
vit ei
gera okkum frí
og smoyggja leinkjurnar av,
eru bara menniskju í frið
so kom nú við.

Translated to English:

WE LIVE TOGETHER

I’m just a human being.
I am quite powerless.
I do not want to hurt others,
so why are you digging this ditch between us?
You might hurt me,
and I know you will try.
You see me as your enemy,
but that is what you are yourself.

We live together, you and I.
So why do you want to hurt me?
Now reach out your hand to me
and follow me on my way.
Let’s go side by side,
everyone is the same inside.
If we take each other’s hands,
we become free.

Your enemy is within
you and not in me.
You’re just pretending to be strong,
one can clearly see.
That’s why you’re so angry,
that you can almost murder,
but when you get the upper hand,
is it really you who won?

We live together you and I …

I know,
I know,
I don’t know why
we don’t,
we don’t
make ourselves free
take the shackles off,
and are just people at peace,
so come on.

9. HANN KEDDUR ER
(HE’S SO SAD)

Listen here:

“I wrote this song once when I was living with a man who due to illness ended up getting a depression. I felt so deeply sorry for him and wanted so much to help, comfort and relieve his mental pain, but I felt so helpless because nothing seemed to make any difference, no matter what I did. Where do you go with all your feelings of being useless? Yes, I have often used it as therapy to sit down to make music when life has thrown challenges at me and my loved ones and adversity has weighed me down. I did that this time too, and this was the song that came out of it.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

ISCR DKBCA1803509

Song lyrics in Faroese:

HANN KEDDUR ER

Hann keddur er.
Hann er so fyltur av
sorg, sút og harmi.
Og eg,
eg fái ikki hjálpt.
Eg vil fegin ugga hann
og birta álit á lívið.

Eg vóni, okkurt hjálpir
og lættir sálartrega,
so hann fær tíð at
ernast og
bert bíða eina tíð, tí so
fer alt seg at laga.
Eg vildi, at hann
aftur smíla vil.

Hann keddur er.
Hann er so harmur, hann
sær ongan enda.
Og eg,
eg fái einki gjørt.
Eg hond mína rætti út
og royni’at geva’honum treysti.

Eg vóni, okkurt hjálpir
og lættir sálartrega,
so hann fær tíð at
ernast og
bert bíða eina tíð, tí so
fer alt seg at laga.
Eg vildi, at hann
aftur smíla vil.

Men beint nú er hann yvirtikin
av beiskleika.
Men ein dag
verður tað
farið afturum og verður
alt gloymt.

Eg vóni, okkurt hjálpir
og lættir sálartrega,
so hann fær tíð at
ernast og
bert bíða eina tíð, tí so
fer alt seg at laga.
Eg vildi, at hann
aftur smíla vil,
smíla vil.

Translated into English:

HE IS SAD

He is sad
He’s so full of
grief, worry and resentment
and I
I can not help him
I want so much to comfort him
and instill in him confidence in life

I hope something helps
and eases his anguish
so he has time
to recover and
just wait a bit because then
it will all fall into place
I so want him to
smile again
smile again

He is sad
He’s so angry, he
sees no end to it
and I
I can do nothing about it
I try to reach out
trying to give him a little guts

I hope something helps
and eases his anguish
so he has time
to recover and
just wait a bit because then
it will all fall into place
I so want him to
smile again
smile again

But right now he is overwhelmed
by bitterness
But one day
it will be
over and then
all will be forgotten

I hope something helps
and eases this anguish
so he has time
to recover and
just wait a bit because then
it will all fall into place
I so want him to
smile again
smile again

10. KEMUR TÚ AFTUR
(WILL YOU COME BACK)

Listen here:

“I wrote this song at a songwriting workshop at the Faroe Islands Folk High School some years ago with Árni Jóhannesson, who was only 14 years old at the time. We sent the song to a song competition organized by Amnesty International’s Faroese branch. The song was not among the songs that won, but still deserved to be released, I think. The song is made to commemorate the Spanish prisoner of conscience Arturo Mora Saintz, born 1947. My mother, Maud Heinesen, who was a co-founder of Amnesty’s Faroese branch and active in the organization for more than three decades, was particularly attached to Arturo in the voluntary work to support and try to get prisoners of conscience released. Arturo was studying to be an engineer when he was imprisoned and tortured under the Franco regime from 1969 to 1972. The only reason for his imprisonment was that he had handed out leaflets protesting against death sentences over Basques. Maria José, his girlfriend, waited for him all these years while he was in prison. But the two were penniless when he was released from prison. They set out to save up for their wedding and in 1978 they finally got married, but only 18 days later Arturo sadly died in a car accident! Rarely has my mother cried so much as when she received the sad news about this tragedy. For the rest of her life, my mother kept in touch with Maria José, who later married another man and had two children. She and my mother met several times to great delight of each other. This story has always made a big impression on me, and therefore became the inspiration for the song. Because my mother helped organize several folk song festivals to support Amnesty’s work during her time on the board, especially in the ’70s, and because Arturo and Maria José were Spaniards, Árni and I decided to make the song in a style that is partly inspired by the folk singing tradition at the time, partly by 70s music in general and partly by Spanish folk music.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

Lyrics: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Árni Jóhannesson
Sound Engineering and Mixing: Finnur Hansen
Music Arrangement and Production: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Mastering: Finn Eliasson, Audioplanet ApS
Backing Vocal Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Vocals and Backing Vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Keyboard, Accordion: >Finnur Hansen
Spanish Guitar: Leivur Thomsen
Acoustic Guitar: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Half-acoustic Guitar: Rúni Eysturlíð
Bass: Arnold Ludvig
Drums: Rógvi á Rógvu

ISCR DKBCA1803510

Song lyrics in Faroese:

KEMUR TÚ AFTUR

Vit svóvu so søtt eina hásummarnátt.
Hurðin brast upp, og teir komu á gátt.
Sum óløgi svartklæddir menn skryktu teg
úr seingini, og fóru við tær sín veg.
Eg rópti og rópti og rópti og rópti,
men svar títt tað hvarv út í myrkrið.

Hvat hevði tú gjørt? Hví tóku teir teg?
Hví revsa teir okkum? Og hvat geri eg
nú uttan umsorgan tína?
Teir halda seg revsa teg og meg,
men hvat raka teir annað enn sjálvan seg
og ringu samvitsku sína.

Nú ert tú farin, og her er so stilt.
Lívið hjá okkum nú verður alt spilt.
Brúdleypið avlýst og børnini við.
Nær munnu teir fara at geva tær grið.

Eg bíði og bíði og bíði og bíði,
til tú einaferð kemur aftur.

Hvat hevði tú gjørt…

Tín svalandi skuggi var mín sálarbót.
Men nú er títt træ rykt upp við rót.
Nær kemur tú aftur,
ja, kemur tú aftur?
Manst tú hugsa eins nógv
um meg,
sum eg
hugsi um teg?

Eg bíði og bíði og bíði og bíði,
til tú einaferð kemur aftur.

Translated ito English:

ARE YOU COMING BACK

We slept so sweetly on a hot summer night.
The door was torn open with a jerk, and
black-clad men entered and tore you violently
out of bed and led you away.
I shouted and shouted and shouted and shouted,
but your answer disappeared into the darkness.

What had you done? Why did they take you?
Why are they punishing us? And what do I do
now without your care?
They think they’re punishing you and me,
but, in fact, what really hits them, other than they themselves
and their own bad conscience.

Now you are gone and it is so quiet here.
Our whole life is now ruined.
The wedding has been canceled, and also our future children.
When will they grant you amnesty?

I wait and I wait and I wait and I wait,
until you come back someday.

What had you done …

Your cool shadow gave me peace of mind.
But now your tree is uprooted.
When will you come back,
yes, are you coming back?
Maybe you think just as much
about me,
as I am
thinking of you?

I wait and I wait and I wait and I wait,
until you come back someday.

11. NÁTTARSANGUR MAMMUNAR
(MUM’S NIGHT SONG)

Listen here:

“I wrote this song one night when I had sat for a long moment looking devotingly at my immensely lovable daughter while she lay there so small and cute and slept her sweet sleep. I got such an urge to try to describe the huge love I felt for her, in addition to the great responsibility that comes with becoming a mother. The emotions ran away with me and this was the song that was the result of it.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

ISCR DKBCA1803511

Song lyrics in Faroese:

NÁTTARSANGUR MAMMUNAR

Mánalýsið skínir á títt andlit,
nú tú svevur djúpt í nátt.
Tú ert so elskulig, eg skilji ei,
eg eri mamma tín.

Eg vóni, at eg megni at vera mamma.
Nú tú veksur til, eg gera vil
tað besta, eg kann fyri teg.
Eg veit…

Tú fert at vaksa alt ov skjótt,
men tó eg vildi ei, tú ikki vaks.
Eg undrist á alt, tú skalt læra og siga.
Tað ótrúligt er.

Eg vóni, at eg megni at vera mamma.
Nú tú veksur til, eg gera vil,
tað besta eg kann fyri teg.
Eg veit… eg geri alt fyri teg.

Eg vóni at eg megni’at vera mamma.
Nú tú veksur til, eg gera vil
tað besta eg kann fyri teg.
Eg veit… eg elski, elski teg.

Translated to English:

MOTHER’S NIGHT SONG

The moonlight shines on your face,
now you sleep so deeply tonight.
You’re so lovable, I do not understand,
I am your mother.

I hope I can manage to be a mother.
Now that you grow up, I will do
the best I can for you.
I know…

You’re going to grow up way too fast,
but I do not want you not to grow.
I wonder about all you have to learn and say.
It’s incredible.

I hope I can manage to be a mother.
Now that you grow up, I will do
the best I can for you.
I know … I’m doing everything for you.

I hope I can manage to be a mother.
Now that you grow uo, I will do
the best I can for you.
I know … I love, love you.

12. MÍN VARÐI
(MY CAIRN)

Listen here:

“I chose to end the album with a love song that I wrote quite young in my late teens – and of course in love to up above both ears, as usual. The inspiration came after a cozy moment in a cottage with my then boyfriend. When I got home again, I sat down at the piano and tried to describe my feelings through music. I remember I shed a tear because I was so touched while sitting and playing the piano and singing in the living room, while the notes slowly formed into a song.”
– Elin Brimheim Heinesen

Lyrics and Music: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Sound Engineering and Mixing: Finnur Hansen
Music Arrangement and Production: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Finnur Hansen
Mastering: Finn Eliasson, Audioplanet ApS
Backing Vocals Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Strings Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Flute Arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Lead Vocal and Backing Vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Flute: Andrea Hendriksdóttir
Violin, Bratch: Jón Festirstein
Cello: Tóri Restorff Jacobsen
Keyboard, Accordion: Finnur Hansen
Guitar: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Bass: Arnold Ludvig
Drums: Rógvi á Rógvu

ISCR DKBCA1803512

Song lyrics in Faroese:

MÍN VARÐI

Á eldstaðnum brakar og brennur.
Tíni eygu eru perlur, so blonk og so fín.
Eg elski teg so, tá tú flennir,
og tú blunkar og brosar til mín.
Vit kenna hin bleiktrandi logan,
sum vermir okkum hjørtuni, fjálgt og milt.
Tú sært mína kvøl, mína tráan,
mína vón, sum er føgur og gylt.

Tú leiðir meg um skarðið
oman á grønan teig,
tí tú ert ein tryggur varði,
ið vísir mær fram á leið.

Tú spælir við fingrarnar varin
og fevnir mín nøtrandi kropp í nátt.
Mín stúran, mín ótti er farin,
og eg kenni, at alt er bert gott.
Tín nærvera fær meg at gloyma,
tá sorandi einsemi hóttir meg,
men nú í nátt kann eg droyma,
bara vita, at eg elski teg.

Tú leiðir meg um skarðið…

Translated to English:

MY CAIRN

The fireplace is crackling and burning.
Your eyes are pearls, so shiny and so fine.
I love you so much, when you laugh,
and you wink and smile at me.
We feel the fluttering flame,
touching our hearts, warmly and mildly.
You see my torment, my tears,
my hope, which is beautiful and golden.

You lead me over the pass
down to the green meadows,
because you are like an unshakeable cairn,
that shows me the way forward.

You play gently with my fingers
and embrace my trembling body tonight.
My worry, my anxiety is gone,
and I know all is well.
Your presence makes me forget,
when crushing loneliness haunts me,
but now tonight I can dream,
just know that I love you.

You lead me over the pass …

(BEYOND THE STARS)

ARTIST: Elin Brimheim Heinesen RELEASE DATE: Saturday, July 7th, 2018

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE:

ALBUM COVER:

SUCCEEDED AT LAST AFTER 30 YEARS

SAVED MONEY FOR THE PROJECT

GOOD COOPERATION WITH FINNUR HANSEN

GREAT RESPECT FOR THE MUSICIANS

FOUND THE SAME IMAGE FOR THE ALBUM COVER

HERE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ALBUM

TRACKS

1. TÚ VART ALTÍÐ HAR (YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE)

TÚ VART ALTÍÐ HAR

YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE

2. SØTI MÍN (MY LOVE)

SØTI MÍN

MY LOVE

3. LANDIÐ HANDAN STJØRNURNAR (THE LAND BEYOND THE STARS)

LANDIÐ HANDAN STJØRNURNAR

THE LAND BEYOND THE STARS

4. ÚTISTONGD (EXCLUDED)

Song lyrics in Faroese:

ÚTISTONGD

EXCLUDED

5. FRÍGGJAKVØLD (FRIDAY NIGHT)

Song lyrics in Faroese:

FRÍGGJAKVØLD

FRIDAY NIGHT

6. SPRETTANDI VÁR (BUDDING SPRING)

SONG LYRICS

SPRETTANDI VÁR

BUDDING SPRING

7. ELLI (OLD AGE)

ELLI

OLD AGE

8. VIT LIVA SAMAN (WE LIVE TOGETHER)

VIT LIVA SAMAN

WE LIVE TOGETHER

9. HANN KEDDUR ER (HE’S SO SAD)

HANN KEDDUR ER

HE IS SAD

10. KEMUR TÚ AFTUR (WILL YOU COME BACK)

KEMUR TÚ AFTUR

ARE YOU COMING BACK

11. NÁTTARSANGUR MAMMUNAR (MUM’S NIGHT SONG)

NÁTTARSANGUR MAMMUNAR

MOTHER’S NIGHT SONG

12. MÍN VARÐI (MY CAIRN)

MÍN VARÐI

MY CAIRN

ARTIST: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
RELEASE DATE: Saturday, July 7^th, 2018

1. TÚ VART ALTÍÐ HAR
(YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE)

2. SØTI MÍN
(MY LOVE)

3. LANDIÐ HANDAN STJØRNURNAR
(THE LAND BEYOND THE STARS)

4. ÚTISTONGD
(EXCLUDED)

5. FRÍGGJAKVØLD
(FRIDAY NIGHT)

6. SPRETTANDI VÁR
(BUDDING SPRING)

7. ELLI
(OLD AGE)

8. VIT LIVA SAMAN
(WE LIVE TOGETHER)

9. HANN KEDDUR ER
(HE’S SO SAD)

10. KEMUR TÚ AFTUR
(WILL YOU COME BACK)

11. NÁTTARSANGUR MAMMUNAR
(MUM’S NIGHT SONG)

12. MÍN VARÐI
(MY CAIRN)