Young Swedish pop jazz singer and songwriter Fredrika Stahl’s 2nd album “Tributaries” got me initially disoriented and I couldn’t pinpoint what stands out in this new collection of songs. There seems to be a departure of style as this new album has a more fresh varied upbeat theatrical sound while her debut is more instrumentally driven in a Jazz way. To help you refresh on what her previous album sounds like, check out my YouTube video filmed during one of my oil painting sessions. I used “Game Over” as the soundtrack. I know I know, it’s not legal … but …
If my translation is correct (and if these are indeed French), “paroles, musiques, écrites, composé” would mean “words, musics, written, composes” in English. That means, according to the album booklets, Fredrika Stahl composes almost all her songs. No wonder, the memorable melody hooks and the light and girlie lyrics exist in both albums.
The difference, as I found out later, lies in the band. In her debut, “Fraction Of You”, she has a more traditional Jazz band set-up while in her 2nd album “Tributaries”, she brings in an array of Parisian horn and string musicians. Also, with more emphasis on electric guitars and drums, “Tributaries” does tilt toward the pop genre. Besides musical instruments, sound effects are used to transform some of her songs into something refreshingly different. Take “Oh Sunny Sunny Day”, it sounds exactly like a song coming out from a gramophone back in the 40’s or 50’s. Outstanding. In “One Man Show”, at one part, she sings with a whispering voice. Very seductive. Plenty of minor keys and half-notes and unexpected changes in the melody that prompt me to listen to the album again and again. Sample the slow track “The Damage is Done” if you have the chance and you’ll see what I mean.
Lyrically, it’s girlie, yes. But girlie with style. Check out the lyrics of “Irreplaceable”.
I want to be remembered as “one of a kind”
Unique and why not “out of her mind”?
I want to be special, unpredictable and absurd
I want to tell people the most aberrant things they’ve heard
:
None of my partners introduced me to their folks
Afraid that I might pull off some awkward jokes
And once we’ve split up they would alway say
That I’m not a girl to marry anyway
Below is the teaser music video of one of my favorite tracks “So High”. Don’t you find the lyrics … playful? The actual song delivery seems different from the album. A live recording perhaps?
Related Posts and External Site: Fredrika Stahl’s Debut – A Good Pop Jazz Album, My 8th Oil Painting – Battle Of The Ancient, Fredrika Stahl’s MySpace.
15 replies on “Fredrika Stahl – Tributaries – A Playfully Girlie Pop Jazz Album Now With a Different Sound”
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I love Fredrika too, she’s amazing !! 🙂
I’m French. I saw her in live and she’s very nice, cool and fun !
Bye
Guenièvre – Bonjour! How lucky you are to see her performs live!
Which album you like better? Her first one or this one?
Thank you very much for your answer 🙂 !
In fact, I prefer her 1st album , with a jazz band more… “classical” 🙂 But I like her new album too, especially “So High”, “Monumental Mismatch” and “Irreplaceable”.
What I love in Fredrika Stahl’s concerts, it’s the fact that she’s very “natural”, she’s very close to the public.
I love when she sang “Lovefool” from the Cardigans in a jazzy way !! It was very cool ^^
Very happy to join this discussion 🙂
Guenièvre – Oui! I love the playful side of her, which shines in the 2nd album. But I also like the 1st album which is more jazz driven, more music texture.
I wonder what her new album is going to be like. Have you heard her playing any new songs during one of her concerts? I think if Fredrika Stahl drops by my region, I would definitely watch her concert.
Thanks for dropping by. Bon Weekend!
I’ve heard a bossa nova (but I don’t remember the title :S) and I remember a jazz version of Lovefool (a pop song by the Cardigans !).
I’m sorry, I just remember that^^
She essentialy sang songs from her two albums.
I hope for you that Fredrika will come into your city ! Where do you live ?
Have a nice evening 🙂
Guenièvre – Yes, you are right. The Cardigans did Lovefool. I would love to hear how Lovefool can become a jazz version. Ha ha ha.
I live in Singapore, a small country in Southeast Asia. Do drop by one day!
Singapore ?! Oh great !!! 😀
Maybe Fredrika will go there ! 😉
Guenièvre – Hey, I hope you are still reading this thread. I am a HUGE fan of Mylene Farmer. Is she still in the showbiz? Is she releasing any new albums? Is she going to have a new concert?
My ex-client in Paris threw me a farewell party and they gave me a gift of Mylene Farmer’s LP. Because they know I am such a big fan. Sad to say I don’t get to watch the LP because I don’t have a player.
Oh well, the blog entry is here, written 12 years ago!
Fan of Mylene Farmer ?! Si interesting ! I was fan of her when I was younger (I saw her on concert, it was a great show!). She released a new album ! It’s called “Point de Suture”. Very special, but good.
Write you soon 🙂
Guenièvre – She has a new one?! I collect every one of her albums! Thanks for the info. I will order it online.
*Tears of joy*
Hey! 🙂 Thank you for this nice article! I love Fredrika’s music so very much and it’s always cool to find people with the same musical interests! 🙂 She’s pretty unknow here yet, none of my friends knows her… But I just found out she’ll give a small concert (for about 100 people only) not far from my homeplace next month and I’ve already got my ticket! I’m so excited!!! :-)))
Greetings from Polish girl living in Germany! 🙂
Barbara – Dionesque – Wow … you are going to watch her concert?! Awesome! I am sure you will enjoy it. Do take some pictures! If you can, share some with me to take a look! 🙂
One day I shall visit Germany or Poland. That would be very nice. Even better, if I could catch a concert of two there. Thanks for dropping by, Barbara.
Yeah, I’m going to her concert in exactely 3 weeks from today – I can’t wait! 😀 I don’t know if we’ll be allowed to take photos as it’s such a small concert but if it will be possible, I will surely take some pictures. 🙂 I usually publish my photos on Facebook so if you are member there too, you can find me under the e-mail address that I use here. The other concert I’m looking forward to (in 4 weeks) is the show of Vienna Teng, also in a small intimate venue. Do you know her music? She lives in the US but comes originally from Taiwan.
Cheers! 🙂
Barbara – Dionesque – Sure thing! I will add you via Facebook.
Nope, first time hearing Vienna Teng. I shall check our her music then. Enjoy the concert! Somehow you got me excited too! Lol. I hope Fredrika Stahl will release her concert in DVD one day. I will buy.