ARTISTS: Elin & Kári
(Elin Brimheim Heinesen & Kári Linderoth Jacobsen)
RELEASE DATE MC: Wednesday, July 20th, 1988
RELEASE DATE CD: Monday, July 20th, 1998
The two man pop band “Elin & Kári” was formed in 1984, and in the summer of 1988 the pop duo published their only album called NALJA, which was to become part of legendary music history in the Faroe Islands. They both wrote, composed and arranged all the music, but Faroese wellknown music producer, Óli Poulsen, helped them produce, mix and master the album. The album was only available on MC and sold out after one and a half year. After many requests, the album was republished on CD’s in 1998, this time with a bonus track.
LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE:
OBS! Scroll down to read the lyrics while listening to the album.
THE ALBUM COVER – MC:
THE ALBUM COVER – CD:
ELIN & KÁRI MEET
In 1984, Elin met the Faroese musician and producer Kári Jacobsen at a party during the Olaj Days (Ólavsøka, the National Days of the Faroe Islands). Elin was 26 years old at the time, while Kári was only 16! Despite a ten-year age difference and different musical backgrounds, they discovered that their chemistry was strong. Kári had created a demo cassette tape with his songs and asked Elin to sing on some of them. Elin had also composed some pop songs on her own, and they found they had something in common. This marked the beginning of a collaboration that led to the release of the NALJA album in 1988.
Here is a picture of Elin and Kári from that very party where they first met.
A POPULAR ALBUM
In 1988, the now-legendary album “Elin & Kári: NALJA” was released with songs that turned out to become very popular, such as: Á tann deiliga Havn, Sjeikurin, Hygg at mær and Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð.
The NALJA duo, which consists of Kári Linderhoth Jacobsen and Elin Brimheim Heinesen, wrote, composed and arranged all the music on the album, while Óli Poulsen helped them with production, mixing and mastering.
There were 10 tracks on the album. Five by Kári Linderoth Jacobsen and five by Elin Brimheim Heinesen. More or less all the tracks have been hit songs, and have gotten a lot of airplay on Faroese radio stations. And still do. Almost all the 10 songs on the album are still being played on Faroese radio after all these years since the album was heard for the first time in 1988. Every Faroese knows these songs.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
So what does the word “nalja” mean, many people would like to know. “Nalja” is a Faroese slang-word. It is a contraction of the sentence – “Nei, eg lúgvi alt” (No, I’m lying) or “Nei, ordiliga” (No, really) – which means something in the line of: “I know it sounds ironic”.
In an interview at the time of the release, Elin & Kári were asked why they chose this title for their album, and they replied, that they wanted the album to somehow be an expression of their time – of the ruling trends.
“We live in a postmodern era, where words seem to be more and more emptied for meaning. Many words and expressions have been said so many times in books and movies that they have become clichés. So people nowadays have a hard time expressing themselves and their feelings, because when they want to express something that they really mean seriously – for example: “I love you” – they’ve become so afraid of it sounding like a hollow cliché, as if they don’t mean what they say, that it’s hard to even say those words. But if we say: “I love you”, and then say “nalja” right after, we can express, that we’re aware that those words – “I love you” – sound like a cliché. And thereby we can – in a weird, backwards way – get the message through anyway, that we actually meant what we said, even if we negated, what we just said… if you get what I mean. That is when the word “nalja” comes in handy. These paradoxes are typical for this postmodern time.”
Here is a photo of Elin, Óli and Kári from the Bløndal studio in Copenhagen:
The NALJA duo played live concerts many times in the late 80s and first in the 90s – e.g. at the well-known Sct. Olav’s Wake concerts – but then there was silence around the duo for 20 years. Elin & Kári had planned to release the next NALJA album in 1992, but just at that time the Faroe Islands were hit by a very serious financial crisis, and they did not manage to raise enough money for the production of the album. After this they got very busy with other things and went their separate ways. Therefore, the second album never came.
Photos of Elin & Kári in the paper Dimmalætting at the time, their album was released in 1988:
Photo of Elin & Kári in the paper 14. September at the time, their album was released in 1988:
During the nineties Elin & Kári experienced a growing demand for the NALJA album, which was quickly sold out after the release in 1988. People did not use cassette-players any longer, and the people that had bought the NALJA tape back in the late eighties had worn the tape down. Many people expressed to Elin & Kári that they would very much like to buy the NALJA album on CD.
And so, after many requests, it was decided to republish the NALJA album on CD in the summer of 1998 as a celebration of the 10 years anniversary of the album. The re-released album was published by the Faroese record company, TUTL. On the CD were all the old tracks + a bonus track.
Here is a translation of a text on the CD-cover (in the picture below):
“10 years have passed already, since we – Elin & Kári – released the NALJA album the first time in the summer of 1988. After only one and a halft year the album was sold out and has not been re-released since – not until now! The demand has been there all the time, so now we celebrate the 10 years anniversary by publishing the NALJA album again on CD with a bonus track! We thank everyone, who has been part of making this re-release possible. No one is mentioned – no one is forgotten…”:
Elin & Kári when the re-released the NALJA album on CD in 1998
THE NALJA BAND RE-CREATED
In 2012, 20 years after their last live performance, the organisers of Faroe Pride asked if Elin & Kári would support LGBT and play at the Faroe Pride concert that same year. They agreed, and so the two performed together again for the first time in 20 years with exactly the same line-up in the band that they played concerts with at their last concert they played in the 90s. Thus NALJA was re-created.
This very year, Faroe Pride achieved record attendance for the first time. The NALJA band played a very succesful concert for several thousand people, who had a great time, dancing and singing along to all the songs – young and old. Even youngsters who hadn’t even been born when the NALJA album was released in 1988.
To Elin & Kári this was pure nostalgia.
Here is a video recording from the NALJA band’s Pride concert in 2012:
Some of the Faroe Islands’ best-known and most talented musicians ususally play together with Elin & Kári at the concerts: Finnur Hansen on keyboard, Rógvi á Rógvu on drums, Arnold Ludvig on bass and Leivur Thomsen on guitar.
THEME ALBUM ON THE AIR TWICE
The NALJA release was a theme album on the Saturday night radio show ‘Plátubarrin’ twice, in 2015 and in 2024. Host Jákup Magnussen described the release as follows:
“It’s about a cassette tape from 1988, which was the most youthful Faroese pop album in the eighties. In addition, the songs have a broad appeal, described as popular. Well-known songs from NALJA include “Á tann deiliga Havn”, “Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð”, “Sjeikurin”, and “Livandi Ljós”.
Elin and Kári were respectively 26 and 16 years old when they met in 1984, and their good chemistry led to this release in 1988. NALJA is one of the most solid pop gems on the market, as the light songs are re-recorded by others, while choirs and orchestras add new nuances to the release in their own way.
The NALJA release was well received among people in the Faroe Islands in the late 80s – not only because it was a release with good catchy pop songs that people could dance to, but also because the release directly hit the spirit of the time back then. During those years, there was a somewhat revolutionary development in the mindset of the young population – a development that laid the foundations for the society we see today, where people have greater freedom to separate from the crowd and live multiple alternative lifestyles.
The NALJA release clearly had both a feminist and a ‘gay rights’ element, although Elin and Kári did not claim to have political intentions with the release. But there is no doubt that they stood quite alone and unique on the Faroese cultural scene as a woman and a gay man respectively, where Elin was also a composer and producer on par with Kári and Óli Poulsen, who handled the music mixes and drum programming, for example.
Both Kári and Elin programmed and arranged most of the music themselves before going into the studio. It was certainly not common to see women using computers to compose and arrange music like Elin did at that time in the Faroe Islands.
The time and environment in the Faroe Islands back then, viewed through today’s lens, were very male-dominated and homophobic. So, even though it was not the intention, we cannot overlook the fact that the NALJA release was quite unique in this area as well.
Elin Brimheim Heinesen and Kári Linderoth Jacobsen formed the NALJA duo, who in the late eighties created the most acclaimed Faroese release with youth pop in the eighties. For example, Kári himself called one of their hits, “Ansa eftir,” a “disco song in an urban style.”
There was influence from English bands like Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure, Howard Jones, and others, as well as other genres like rock, bossa nova, and jazz that influenced the work. They both wanted to create quality pop, as they have later stated. The typical synthesizer sound characterized the release significantly, one might say, but at the same time, it is very melodic and catchy, so it still holds up really well – and it also has something Faroese about it.
It was a cassette tape, released on July 20, 1988. Ten years later, the NALJA release became available again – this time as CD – with a bonus track – the song “Heimlongsul,” which describes the situation for Faroese people abroad who always feel an attraction towards the Faroe Islands, the people, the culture, and the nature.
Nine years ago, the release was the theme record of the radio show Plátubarrin. Back then, there was no conversation with a guest, whereas this show is a journey through the work and time with Elin Brimheim Heinesen.”
ELIN & KÁRI ABOUT NALJA IN TV
Here is an excerpt about NALJA from the documentary series in 13 parts “Minnist tú enn” (Do You Still Remember), which Suni Merkisstein made about pop history in the Faroe Islands. Five parts were broadcasted in Kringvarp Føroya (Faroese National TV) in 2010 and the rest in 2013. The story about NALJA was told in part 9 (from 7:26 to 19:55):
TRACKS ON THE ALBUM
1. Á, tann deiliga Havn (Kári Linderoth Jacobsen)
2. Sjeikurin (Elin Brimheim Heinesen)
3. Loyndarmálið (Elin Brimheim Heinesen)
4. Hygg at mær (Kári Linderoth Jacobsen)
5. Eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð (Elin Brimheim Heinesen/Jens Pauli Heinesen)
6. Ansa eftir (Kári Linderoth Jacobsen)
7. Livandi ljós (Kári Linderoth Jacobsen)
8. Eydnan (Elin Brimheim Heinesen)
9. Øgiliga væl (Elin Brimheim Heinesen)
10. Aftaná (Kári Linderoth Jacobsen)
11. Heimlongsul (Kári Linderoth Jacobsen/Elin Brimheim Heinesen)
TRACKS:
1. Á, TANN DEILIGA HAVN
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, instruments, arrangement: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Lead vocals: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen, Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Backing vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Saxophone: Allan Tyson
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISRC FRX871512203
Song lyrics in Faroese:
Á TANN DEILIGA HAVN
Tað er einaferð um árið, at Ólavsøka er
Tá liva allir føroyingar í aðrari verð
Úr øllum herðashornum tysja fólk til Havnar bý
Hýrurin er góður, og eingin spyr um hví
Um sólin kemur fram, er tað jú bara gott
men eisini er stuttligt, um tað verður vátt
Snapsin undir møttilin, so fara øll avstað
Sjálvt Effersøe á Vaglinum, hann er í góðum lag
Á, tann deiliga Havn
Ólavsøkuhavn
á, tann deiliga Havn
øll syngja, á, deiliga Havn
Fullir menn og prædikantar syngja hvør sítt lag
Fólk við barnavognum, fólk, ið detta av á rað
kappróðurin liðugur og hoyrdi tú hvør vann
Tivoli og poppkorn og onkur maka fann
Mest spennandi um kvøldið er at leita sær á fund
í ljósinum frá littum lampum finna sær eitt sprund
Onkur verður móður, onnur tíma ei heim enn
Ghettoblásarar og føroysk klæði, alt í senn.
Uououou
Á, tann deiliga Havn
Ólavsøkuhavn
á, tann deiliga Havn
øll syngja, á, deiliga Havn
Frøast kunnu øll um, at Havnin hon er vár
Ólavsøkusiðurin skal liva ár um ár
Onga aðrastaðni í hesi viðu verð
er hýrurin so góður, sum tá Ólavsøka er
Á, tann deiliga Havn…
Á, tann deiliga Havn…
Translated to English:
OH, THE LOVELY HAVN (TÓRSHAVN)
Once a year we celebrate Sct. Olavs Wake
at this time every Faroese lives in another world
The mood is high, and no one asks why
From every corner people rush to the town of Tórshavn
If the sun comes out, that’s just fine
but it’s also fun if the rain pours
Bring the schnapps under your gown and let’s go
Even Effersøe at Vaglið (bust on main square) is in a good mood
Oh, the lovely Havn (Tórshavn)
Sct. Olav’s Wake Havn
Oh, the lovely Havn
everybody sings, oh, lovely Havn
Drunk men and preachers each sing their song
People with strollers, people passing out in a row
rowing race has finished and did you hear who won
Fairground and pop corn and someone found a mate
In the evening it’s most exciting meeting other people
in the glow from coloured string lights finding a beautiful girl
Some get tired, others don’t wanna go home yet
Ghettoblasters and national costumes, all at once
Uououou
Oh, the lovely Havn
Sct. Olav’s Wake Havn
Oh, the lovely Havn
everybody sings, oh, lovely Havn
We can all be pleased that the Havn (Tórshavn) is ours
The Sct. Olav’s Wake customs shall live year after year
Nowhere else in this whole wide world
are people so happy, as we are, celebrating Sct. Olav’s Wake.
Oh, the lovely Havn…
Oh, the lovely Havn…
2. SJEIKURIN
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, instruments, lead vocal, backing vocals, arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISCR FRX871512204
Song lyrics in Faroese:
SJEIKURIN
Hon liggur har í seingini
við dýnu uppundir øs
Eg spyrji: Tú, hvat bagir tær,
tú gert meg heilt nervøs
hon svarar ikki fyrr enn eg spyrji
einaferð aftrat
so smílist hon so droymandi
og sigur: Veist tú hvat?
Tú skuldi hitt hann
Ein sjeik so fittan
Hann er lekrasta petti, sum finst her á jørð
Tað allarbesta
eg eri um at bresta
Um eg ikki skjótt síggi hann,
so verði eg ør
ja, eg verði púra ør
– so púra ør
Hon hoppar út út seingini
og dansar alt hon kann
í ørmunum ósjónliga
er dreymurin hon fann
Hon leggur ikki merki til mín,
tí hon er so glað
Hon dansar og hon syngur,
og eg sníki meg avstað
Tú skuldi hitt hann….
Translated to English:
LOVER BOY
She’s lying in her bed
with her duvét under her chin
I ask her: What’s the matter
you make me nervous
She doesn’t answer me before
I ask jer twice
Then she smiles so dreamingly
and says: Do you know what?
You should have met him
a guy so cute
he’s the most delicious piece (of ass) in this world
The best of all
I am about to burst
If I don’t see him soon
I will go crazy
– so utterly crazy
She jumps out of her bed
and dances diligently
in her arms, invisibly, she holds
the dream that she found
She doesn’t notice me
because she is so happy
She dances and sings
and I sneak out the door
You should have met him…
3. LOYNDARMÁLIÐ
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, lead vocal, backing vocals, arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Instruments: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISCR FRX871512205
Song lyrics in Faroese:
LOYNDARMÁLIÐ
Hvat er tað, tú hevur har í tínum lumma?
Er tað nakað, sum eg kann síggja nú
Um tú tímir, ja, so vís mær ella gloym tað
nei, nei, eg skal ikki noyða teg tú
Jú, eg veit, tú hevur tíni loyndarmál
og gott er, soleiðis má tað vera,
eg eri bara forvitin, eg elski teg
sjálvt um tú kanst vera sera
trekur
bara tú onkuntíð letur upp
Góði, sig mær nú, hvat var tað, sum tú hevði
eg vóni enn eg kann sleppa at síggja nú
kom nú vís mær, um tú vilt, á, alt í lagi
nei, nei, eg skal ikki noyða teg tú.
Jú, eg veit, tú hevur tíni loyndarmál…
Translation to English:
THE SECRET
What is it that you have there in your pocket?
Is it something, I could see now?
If you want to, please show me or forget it
no, no, I won’t force you
Yes, I know you’ve got your secrets
and that’s okay, that’s the way it is
I am just curious, I love you
even if you can be very
stubborn
if you just open up sometimes
My dear, tell me now, what was it that you had there
I still hope, you let me see it
come, show me now, if you want to, oh, okay
no, no I won’t force you
Yes, I know you’ve got your secrets…
4. HYGG AT MÆR
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, lead vocal, backing vocals, arrangement: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Guitar: Vilhelm Thomsen
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Jacobsen
ISCR FRX871512206
Song lyrics in Faroese:
HYGG AT MÆR
Eg livi væl og júst í løtuni
gangi eg oman eftir gøtuni
Eg havi eitt ítriv, eg íðki
eg fasadu mína fríðki
hvønn dag, síggja tit tað
Eg veit væl av, at allur býurin sær,
at eg veit av, at tey hyggja at mær
Hygg at mær – eg síggi so væl út
havi onga sút
Eg vil vera nummar eitt og liva feitt
Innaní eri eg ein annar, enn eg eri uttaná
Tað kanst tú banna uppá
Eg keypi javnan klæðir
tí einki mær bagir
Klippi hár og reinsi negl
og vaski hár og klippi negl
og elski míni spegl
Eg havi eitt ítriv, eg íðki
eg fasadu mína fríðki
hvønn dag, síggja tit tað
Eg veit væl av, at allur býurin sær
at eg veit av, at tey kanska øvunda mær
Hygg at mær…
Men av og á kann sjálvt eg
niðurtúrar fá
tí skortur min einaferð
við tíðini kanska loysnar frá
Translation to English:
LOOK AT ME
I feel good and in this moment
I walk down the street
I have a hobby that I practice
I beautify my facade
every day, do you see
I know, that the whole town sees
that I know, that they are looking at me
Look at me – I look so good
I have no worries
I want to be number one and live as cool as can be
Inside I am another person that I am on the outside
You can bet on that
I buy clothes frequently
because nothing is wrong with me
I cut my hair and clean my nails
and wash my hair and cut my nails
and love my mirrors
I have a hobby I practice
I beautify my facade
every day, do you see
I know very well, that the whole town sees
that I know that they perhaps envy me
Look at me…
But sometimes even I
can have a slump
because my mask will perhaps
detach one day
5. EITT DÝPI AV DÝRARI TÍÐ
Listen here:
Music, lead vocal, backing vocals, arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Lyrics: Jens Pauli Heinesen
Instruments: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Óli Poulsen
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISCR FRX871512207
Song lyrics in Faroese:
EITT DÝPI AV DÝRARI TÍÐ
So verður sagt av monnum
at lívið er markleys neyð
eitt dýpi av gráum døgum
og børn, ið biða um breyð
Kanska er lívið sorgarlag
kanska er lívið gott
og kanska eg ein skínandi dag
beri kenslu av myrkari nátt
Í nátt er luftin so rein og klár
bládjúp og ísandi køld
foldin hvílir í hvítari tøgn
og norðlýsið reisir sær tjøld
Og vit mítt er fult av tonkum
á ferð út á víðan veg
at finna á miðleysu náttargongd
tann vísdóm, ið uggar meg
Men ongan vísdóm eg finni
ið sigur tey sonnu orð
Sum bløðandi fuglar falla tey
aftur at hvítari for
Tó eg veit at dýrgripir finnast
og fjalast við gráan eim
tá gentur og dreingir spenna
sum folar í dans og gleim
Tá barmur mín spentur av undran
av eydnu, av tungari trá
av iva og sorgarløgum
Eisini, eisini tá
:,: veit eg at lívið er gáva
eitt dýpi av dýrari tíð
sum øll skulu valla ígjøgnum
rekast og villast inní :,:
Translation to English (singable):
A CHASM OF PRECIOUS TIME
So many people are saying
that life is eternal dread
a chasm of mournful moments
and children begging for bread
Life may well be a mournful song
Life may well be alright
And maybe I on a sunshiny day
remember a shadowy night
Tonight, the air is so pure and clear
deep blue and icy cold
Earth lies beneath a silent, white layer
and northern lights let their veils fold
my mind is so full of wondering
and travelling far in the blind
tonight, without heading or purpose trying
to heartening wisdom find
But there is no wisdom to gather
that brings out those trusty words
Like bleeding birds, they shatter right down
back on the snow-covered earth
But I know that treasures are buried
deep down in the ember’s gray
when girls and boys, unwearied
are dancing like foals in play
That is when my heart bursts with wonder
of yearn and deep melancholy
of doubt and of bliss and shudder
Even those moments I see
:||: see that this life is an offering
a chasm of precious time, you
were given to go through exploring
to drift and to stray deep into :||:
6. ANSA EFTIR
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, instruments, arrangement: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Lead vocal: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Rap: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISCR FRX871512208
Song lyrics in Faroese:
ANSA EFTIR
Tað er fríggjakvøld, og enn ein arbeiðsvika liðug er
sum eg vil gloyma og hava út úr míni verð
Men nú kann eg leypa út í eitt lív
sum eg haldi er betri uttan rættiliga at vita hví
Tað er fríggjakvøld, og eg lívið liva vil
At sita heima alt kvøldið, tað er eitt verri skil.
Men nú kann eg stuttleika mær og møta fólki – Á ja!
Og kanska eg kann finna ein mann og siga við hann:
Kanst tú koma heim við mær í kvøld
tí eg eri køld
tú kanst hita meg
eg eri góð við teg
Ansa eftir mær, alt sum tú kann
tí at eg teg nú fann
ver nú góður við meg
eg eri góð við teg
Tað er fríggjarakvøld – eg eri í býnum nú
dansi, hoyri tónleik, stuttleiki mær jú
Av og á hyggi eg rundan um meg
so kanska eg kann finna ein mann og siga við nann
Kanst tú koma heim…
Kann eg koma heim við tær i kvøld
– ti at tú ert køld
eg kann hita teg
og verða góður við teg – t-t-t-t-teg
Ansa eftir mær, alt sum tú kann
ti at eg teg nú fann – ja-ja-ja
ver nú góð við teg –
eg eri góður við meg
H-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-heim!!!
Translation to English:
BE CAREFUL
It’s Friday night, and another work week has come to and end
that I want to forget and get out of my mind
But now I can leap into a life
that I think is better, without really knowing why
It’s Friday night, and I want to live life
sitting at home all night, that’s a bad idea
But now, I can have fun and meet people – oh yes!
And maybe find a man and say to him:
Can you come home with me tonight
because I’m cold
You can warm me up
I care for you
Protect me, as best you can
because now that I found you
Be careful with me
I’ll be careful with you
It’s Friday night – I am in town now
dancing, listening to music, having fun
Occasionally I look around
Maybe I’ll find a man and I’ll say to him
Can you come home with me tonight…
Can I come home with you tonight
because you’re cold
I can warm you up
and be careful with you
Protect me, as best you can
because now that I found – yea-yea-yea
You’ll be careful with you
I’ll be careful with me
H-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-home!!!
7. LIVANDI LJÓS
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, lead vocal, instruments, synth-solo, arrangement: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Backing vocals, synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISCR FRX871512209
Song lyrics in Faroese:
LIVANDI LJÓS
Hyggi inn í eitt livandi ljós
meðan eg hugsi um teg
Login lýsir myrkrið burt
sum tú litar mína tilveru
so fulla av gleði
Hugsi um teg og síggi væl
fyri mær andlit títt
Smílið, tú gevur mær, eigi eg
tað nertir eitt hvat
onkustaðni djúpt inni i mær
Livandi ljós – tú ert ein partur av mini verð
Livandi ljós – tú um kærleika mín óvitandi er
Livandi ljós – eg ræðist tíðina, sum fer, tí
Livandi ljós – eitt ljós má slókna einaferð
Kanska einaferð, tá ljósið slóknað er
svari eg mær sjálvum við ugga
Neyðlovsn er og var
og eg vil tendra teg aftur
men eitt livandi ljós kann ikki tendrast fleiri ferð
Translation to English:
FLICKERING LIGHT
Looking into a flickering candlelight
while I am thinking of you
The flame takes the darkness away
like you colouring my existence
so full of joy
Thinking of you and I see clearly
your face in front of me
the smile you give me is mine
it touches something
somewhere deep down in me
Flickering light – you are a part of my world
Flickering light – you’re unaware of my love
Flickering light – I fear how the time passes
Flickering light – once a light has to go out
Maybe at one time, when the light has gone out
I will comfort myself and tell my self that
there is and always has been an emergency solution
I will light the candle again
but a flickering light cannot be lit several times
8. EYDNAN
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, instruments, lead vocal, backing vocals, arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Guitar: Vilhelm Thomsen
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISCR FRX871512210
Song lyrics in Faroese:
EYDNAN
Kom, kom, kom
Yndi títt er burtur
Tú hvarv í mjørkanum,
sum kom úr ongum
Kom, kom, kom
Aftur tú sum var,
Men sum ikki var
Sólarglottin lýsti upp
títt andlit
Eitt sekund helt eg
tú vart til
Men tað vardi bert
eitt lítið bil
Burtur
Burtur
Kom, kom, kom
Longsul mín økist
Men tú flákrar bert
sum ljós í vatni
Kom, kom, kom
Arga meg ei meira
Tú sum einki er,
men tó alt
Translated to English:
HAPPINESS
Come, come, come
Your beauty has gone
You disappeared in the fog
that came from nowhere
Come, come, come
back as you were
but weren’t
The sunbeam lit up
your face
For a second I thought
that you existed
But it only lasted
a tiny moment
Gone
Gone
Come, come, come
My longing grows
But you’re just flickering
like light in the water
Come, come, come
Don’t tease me anymore
You who are nothing
and still everything
9. ØGILIGA VÆL
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, arrangement: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Instruments: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Óli Poulsen
Lead and backing vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen, Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Saxophone: Allan Tyson
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
Song lyrics in Faroese:
ØGILIGA VÆL
Tú stóð og hugdi at mær so
Eg stóð og hugdi at tær so
At okkurt í mær fór á flog
Okkurt í mær fór eis‘ni á flog
Tú sá meg
Eg sá teg
Og tað var nóg mikið
Soleiðis gjørdust vit so væl
væl, væl, øgiliga væl, ja
Tú kom og bað meg um ein dans
eg kom og bað teg um ein dans
Og tað var gott tú tók ein kjans
tað var gott at eg tók ein kjans
Tú nart við meg
Eg nart við teg
Og tað ….
Vit prátaðu og vóru góð
vit prátaðu og vóru góð
Av tí vit vera aldrin móð
Av tí vera vit aldrin móð
Tær dámdi meg
Mær dámdi teg
Og tað …
Og mong ár gingu
tey gingu alt ov skjótt
men enn er smílið hjá tær
akkurát líka søøøøøøtt
søøøøøøtt
Vit eru bæði saman enn
Vit eru bæði Saman enn
Farin um tey 80 og ongar tenn
Skjótt 90 og bert handilstenn
Tú elskar meg
Eg elski teg
Og tað er nóg mikið
Og tí eru vit so
vææææææææææl
væl enn, grúuliga væl, ja…
Translated to English:
FALL IN LOVE
You stood there looking at me
I stood there looking at you
in a way that made something in me take off
Something in me also took off
You saw me
I saw you
And that was enough
That’s the way we fell in love, yea
felll in love, yea
You came and asked me for a dance
I came and asked you for a dance
It was good you took the chance
It was good that I took the chance
You touched me
I touched you
And that was…
We talked and got along
We talked and got along
We will never tire from that
We will never tire from that
You like me
I liked you
And that was…
And many years passed
they passed way to fast
but still your smile is
just as sweeeeet
sweeeeeet
We are still together, you and I
well over 80 and no teeth
Almost 90 and only fake teeth
You love me
I love you
And that is enough
That is why we’re still in love, yea
still in love, yea…
10. AFTANÁ
Listen here:
Music, lyrics, instruments, arrangement: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Lead vocal, backing vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Synth drums, mix, mastering: Óli Poulsen
ISCR FRX871512212
Song lyrics in Faroese:
AFTANÁ
Aftaná
tøgnin liggur tætt at mær
horvin eru øll andlit nú og láturin
Gott at sita soleiðis
og minnast aftur á eitt kvøld, sum er farið nú
Einsamøll
farið er hvørt menniskja
og eg siti, starandi og hugsandi
Kenslur og tankar nú mala runt í mær
spurningar krevja svar
Eg kenni okkurt fer frá mær
sleppur undan, út millum fingrarnar
Eg rovni og eg fanga tað vil
tó eg veit at, tað ikki ber til
Hesaferð
gjørdist kvøldið øðrvísi
enn eg hevði væntað tað
Eg var ikki búgvin til at kenna hesa nýskapan
– tó at veitslan var góð
Siti her
og fái ikki greiði á
um eg skal flenna ella gráta
inni í mær er alt ein fløkja
mær leingist eftir onkrum, sum eg
ikkl sjálv veit, hvat er
Eg kenni okkurt…
Vónaði, at eg var heppin
men alt gekst ei sum ætlað
Tó eri glað, um at hava teg hitt
tí at tú ert so fitt
Translated to English:
AFTERWARDS
Afterwards
the silence lies close to me
gone have all the face and the laughter
Good to be sitting this way
rembembering the evening that went by
Alone
every soul has left
and I sit here staring and thinking
Feelings and thoughts swirl round in me
questions demand answers
I feel as something leaves me
slips away between the fingers
I’m trying to catch it
though I know it is impossible
This time
the evening went differently
that I expected
I was not ready for this new development
– although the party was good
Sitting here
and can not figure it out
if I should laugh or cry
Inside me everything is a mess
I’m longing for something, that I
don’t know what is
I feel as something…
I hoped that I would be lucky
but nothing went as expected
But I am glad to have met you
because you are so cute
Bonus track: HEIMLONGSUL
Listen here:
Music, instruments, synth drums, arrangement: Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
Lyrics, lead vocal, backing vocals: Elin Brimheim Heinesen
Mix, mastering: Jacob Duus, Kári Linderoth Jacobsen
ISCR FRX871512213
Song lyrics in Faroese:
HEIMLONGSUL
Nú nærkast aftur tíðin har
vit fara øll at leingjast heim á klettarnar
Og ongin veit at siga nær
vit aftur kenna okkum fylt og mett av tær
Á, Føroyar, tú eigur og dregur okkum øll
noyðir okkum heim aftur til tini prúðu fjøll
Burt vit fara i eyst og vest
men heima man tó vera allarbest
vetur og vár og summar og heyst
vit vitja altíð aftur – um summarið flest
Vit goymdu teg i langa tíð
langt burtur, fjart í minninum, jú, gamaní
men nú vit hava summarfrí
vit tysja øll til oyggjarnar á bygd og bý
Á, Føroyar, tú eigur og dregur okkum øll
noyðir okkum heim aftur til tíni prúðu fjøll
Burt vit fara í eyst og vest
men heima man tó vera allarbest
vetur og vár og summar og heyst
vit vitja altíð aftur – um summarið flest
Kanska vit leggja púrt onki i
leggja onki i, nei, onki í
at tú ert beisk viðhvørt, tá ódnirnar
– tær leika í
ti vit vita væ1, at andlit títt skiftir lit hvønn ein dag
tú aftur verður glað,
føgur og blíð, áðrenn vit fara avstað
Burt vit fara…
Translated to English:
MISSING HOME
Now the time approaches again where
we all start to miss our home on the rocky islands
And nobody knows when
we will feel fulfilled and full of you
Oh, Faroe Islands, you own and drag us all
forces us to come home to your proud mountains
Away we go to the east and to the west
but home is best of all
winter and spring and summer and fall
we will always come back to visit – most of us in summer
We put you away for a long time
far, far away in our memories, yes, that’s true
but now that we’re let off for the sommer
we all rush to the islands, villages and towns
Oh, Faroe Islands
You own and drag us all
force us to come home to your proud mountains
Away we go to the east and to the west
but home is best of all
winter and spring and summer and fall
we will always come back to visit – most of us in summer
Perhaps we don’t care
we don’t care
that you’re bitter sometimes, when the storms
– they rage
because we know very well, that your face changes colours every day
you’ll be happy,
beautiful and kind, before we leave you again
Away we go…
