Sad Singalong Songs
🇳🇱 TOP 100#1
🇧🇪 ULTRATOP (V)#5
🇧🇪 ULTRATOP (W)#133
🇩🇪 OFZ. CHARTS#99
Platinum
Studio Album
10 tracks
38:36
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About the album
Sad Singalong Songs is an atmospheric and cinematic album built around restrained vocals, piano-led arrangements, subtle orchestration and a darker overall mood.
The album includes Birds, the song with which Anouk represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö in 2013. The song reached the grand final and finished ninth, marking the Netherlands' first qualification for the final since 2004.
Anouk announced the album herself on Facebook, sharing a preview of a new song called Stardust as a free download days ahead of the release, together with a note that it was not the song she would perform at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Released during Anouk's Eurovision period, the album quickly became a major success: it had already reached platinum status on the day of release and later entered the Dutch Album Top 100 at number one, Anouk's ninth number-one album in the Netherlands. 3FM named it Album of the Week.
Across its ten tracks, Sad Singalong Songs moves away from a rock-driven sound and focuses instead on melancholy, atmosphere, melody and controlled arrangement.
Several reviews described the record as dark, orchestral and filmic, with songs connected by soundscapes and a more unified mood than many of Anouk's earlier albums.
The visual side of the album also played an important role: the videos for Birds, Kill, Pretending As Always and The Good Life were directed by Dana Nechushtan and formed a thematically connected series.
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Singles
Tracklist
10 tracks · 38:36Click a title to view the lyrics
1
03:58
A. Teeuwe, T. Johansson, M. Gjerstad
Rule nr. 1: there will be no rules
Rule nr. 2: that's for you
Rule nr. 3: when in doubt there's the door
Rule nr. 4: tell me more
No lies, no tricks of any kind
Be true, love art, show insight
And I will absolutely love you
Rule nr. 5: make sure God's on your side
Rule nr. 6: it will never be fixed in the mix
Rule nr. 7: leave no space in between
And here's nr. 8: just be real not a make believe
No lies, no tricks of any kind
Be true, love art, show insight
And I will absolutely love you
When shadows appear
Show me the power to shine
Travel the world all around
Laying our troubles down
No lies, no tricks of any kind
Be true, love art, show insight
And I will absolutely love you
Rule nr. 2: that's for you
Rule nr. 3: when in doubt there's the door
Rule nr. 4: tell me more
No lies, no tricks of any kind
Be true, love art, show insight
And I will absolutely love you
Rule nr. 5: make sure God's on your side
Rule nr. 6: it will never be fixed in the mix
Rule nr. 7: leave no space in between
And here's nr. 8: just be real not a make believe
No lies, no tricks of any kind
Be true, love art, show insight
And I will absolutely love you
When shadows appear
Show me the power to shine
Travel the world all around
Laying our troubles down
No lies, no tricks of any kind
Be true, love art, show insight
And I will absolutely love you
2
03:49
A. Teeuwe, T. Johansson, M. Gjerstad
I look at the ground
Filled with lies
When you got lost
I got so lonely
Give it time
Don't move on
Let it dry
Time's passin' by so slowly
Borderline face
I'll keep it straight
No one knows
I only have dark days
New love no use
Pain in my face
Pretending as always
And these are the bright days
In my dreams I'll make you want me
One more time the sun will shine
They won't love you like I loved you
You still make me cry
Grief makes numb
Every day
How does it come
I get lost on a speedway
No joy or delight
Just put me to bed so I can shut my eyes tight
(Did you love him like you know you should)
I was in it for the long run
(Will you ever feel the same again)
There's no turning back 'cause my heart is long gone
(Did you love him like you know you should)
There's no turning back
(Will you ever feel the same again)
In my dreams I'll make you want me
One more time the sun will shine
They won't love you like I loved you
You still make me cry
Filled with lies
When you got lost
I got so lonely
Give it time
Don't move on
Let it dry
Time's passin' by so slowly
Borderline face
I'll keep it straight
No one knows
I only have dark days
New love no use
Pain in my face
Pretending as always
And these are the bright days
In my dreams I'll make you want me
One more time the sun will shine
They won't love you like I loved you
You still make me cry
Grief makes numb
Every day
How does it come
I get lost on a speedway
No joy or delight
Just put me to bed so I can shut my eyes tight
(Did you love him like you know you should)
I was in it for the long run
(Will you ever feel the same again)
There's no turning back 'cause my heart is long gone
(Did you love him like you know you should)
There's no turning back
(Will you ever feel the same again)
In my dreams I'll make you want me
One more time the sun will shine
They won't love you like I loved you
You still make me cry
3
03:23
A. Teeuwe
Isolated from the outside
Clouds have taken all the light
I have no control
It seems my thoughts wonder all of the time
When I try to live life without you
Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
If being myself is what I do wrong
Than I would rather not be right
Hopes turned into fear
And with my one wing I can't fly with sunrise
Embrace my dreams tight
And that's why
Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
Birds
To a place without fear with no moonlight
All I need are trees and flowers and some sunlight
Where memories are being made
And where the old one dies
Where love ain't lost
Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
That's why birds don't fly
Clouds have taken all the light
I have no control
It seems my thoughts wonder all of the time
When I try to live life without you
Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
If being myself is what I do wrong
Than I would rather not be right
Hopes turned into fear
And with my one wing I can't fly with sunrise
Embrace my dreams tight
And that's why
Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
Birds
To a place without fear with no moonlight
All I need are trees and flowers and some sunlight
Where memories are being made
And where the old one dies
Where love ain't lost
Birds falling down the rooftops
Out of the sky like raindrops
No air, no pride
That's why birds don't fly
4
03:31
A. Teeuwe, T. Johansson, M. Gjerstad
Time's ticking and it's crawling forward
Turns boys into men, it's awkward
The good life
A time to live and a time to die
A time to fall and a time to fight
The good life
Every word is just another lie
I wonder why I do even try
I'm wishing that someone was near me now
Letting me know I'm ok, that I'll survive
Take me back 10 years ago when I thought
I lived the dream my heart had been longing for
'Cause time does not forget what I was made for
So I follow the stars, without too many regrets
Tick tock so many changes
Going through all the stages
The good life
A time to hate, a time to love
Time makes me wait for God
The good life
Unknown future, it's scaring me
For now this is all that I can be
Instead of making a fast run
I'm tryin' to make this heart come undone
Take me back 10 years ago when I thought
I lived the dream my heart had been longing for
'Cause time does not forget what I was made for
So I follow the stars, without too many regrets
Time's ticking and it's crawling forward
It's the good life
Turns boys into men, it's awkward
The good life
A time to live and a time to die
A time to fall and a time to fight
The good life
Every word is just another lie
I wonder why I do even try
I'm wishing that someone was near me now
Letting me know I'm ok, that I'll survive
Take me back 10 years ago when I thought
I lived the dream my heart had been longing for
'Cause time does not forget what I was made for
So I follow the stars, without too many regrets
Tick tock so many changes
Going through all the stages
The good life
A time to hate, a time to love
Time makes me wait for God
The good life
Unknown future, it's scaring me
For now this is all that I can be
Instead of making a fast run
I'm tryin' to make this heart come undone
Take me back 10 years ago when I thought
I lived the dream my heart had been longing for
'Cause time does not forget what I was made for
So I follow the stars, without too many regrets
Time's ticking and it's crawling forward
It's the good life
5
03:28
A. Teeuwe, T. Johansson, M. Gjerstad
Walking through September rains unknowing
How you come around is that guilt still growing
As you slowly fade away
You were standing tall but that's the past
As many other things they do not last
Though I had to step away step away
I'm wondering are you lonely
Ever since you walked away walked away
It's so clear
'Cause when you're in the shower all alone
That's when you fall down
Not able to stand up again
At night as you're turning down the sheets
That's when you fear your mind
When it's tryin' to go back in time
You don't even know how it all started
Still beggin' for my love now we have parted
Though I had to step away step away
I'm wondering are you lonely
Ever since you walked away
Walked away
It's so clear
'Cause when you're in the shower all alone
That's when you fall down
Not able to stand up again
At night as you're turning down the sheets
That's when you fear your mind
When it's tryin' to go back in time
I'm wondering are you lonely
How you come around is that guilt still growing
As you slowly fade away
You were standing tall but that's the past
As many other things they do not last
Though I had to step away step away
I'm wondering are you lonely
Ever since you walked away walked away
It's so clear
'Cause when you're in the shower all alone
That's when you fall down
Not able to stand up again
At night as you're turning down the sheets
That's when you fear your mind
When it's tryin' to go back in time
You don't even know how it all started
Still beggin' for my love now we have parted
Though I had to step away step away
I'm wondering are you lonely
Ever since you walked away
Walked away
It's so clear
'Cause when you're in the shower all alone
That's when you fall down
Not able to stand up again
At night as you're turning down the sheets
That's when you fear your mind
When it's tryin' to go back in time
I'm wondering are you lonely
6
03:31
A. Teeuwe
Will you fly as fast and free as my love can
Tell me who you are just let me know
That one day you'll be shining your light on me
And I'll wait patiently inside the dark
C'mon love me I'm telling you I won't be far
Some days when I wake before the sunrise
Dreaming, wishing I could hold back time
That you might never have to live without me
And we can see our life in stardust written in the sky
I touch the sky every night and try to find the brightest star
You're waiting there for me so close but still so far
One day I will get my wish so I can face the day
Guess I've been waiting all my life for you
You'll be the one making my dreams come true
Some days when I wake before the sunrise
Dreaming, wishing I could hold back time
That you might never have to live without me
And we can see our life in stardust written in the sky
Some days when I wake before the sunrise
Dreaming, wishing I could hold back time
And you might never have to live without me
And we can see our life in stardust written in the sky
Tell me who you are just let me know
That one day you'll be shining your light on me
And I'll wait patiently inside the dark
C'mon love me I'm telling you I won't be far
Some days when I wake before the sunrise
Dreaming, wishing I could hold back time
That you might never have to live without me
And we can see our life in stardust written in the sky
I touch the sky every night and try to find the brightest star
You're waiting there for me so close but still so far
One day I will get my wish so I can face the day
Guess I've been waiting all my life for you
You'll be the one making my dreams come true
Some days when I wake before the sunrise
Dreaming, wishing I could hold back time
That you might never have to live without me
And we can see our life in stardust written in the sky
Some days when I wake before the sunrise
Dreaming, wishing I could hold back time
And you might never have to live without me
And we can see our life in stardust written in the sky
7
03:54
A. Teeuwe, T. Johansson
That's what we do
We hardly sleep at all
We're just lying here with our mind full of thoughts
Awake dwelling on mistakes we've made
And what we'd give to turn back time sometimes
To keep away that pain in life
And how we try to give you so much more
For you're my eyes, pride, my fantastic four
Only a mother would understand
To the strongest kids I will ever know
You're my sunlight on a rainy day
My fallin' stars when I'm far away
You're the ones that teach me life
I'm telling you baby
Only a mother would understand
I love you
I was blessed by God
The moment he send you from above
So I could learn how to care and how to love
You're the song inside my soul
I'm telling you baby
Only a mother would understand
We hardly sleep at all
We're just lying here with our mind full of thoughts
Awake dwelling on mistakes we've made
And what we'd give to turn back time sometimes
To keep away that pain in life
And how we try to give you so much more
For you're my eyes, pride, my fantastic four
Only a mother would understand
To the strongest kids I will ever know
You're my sunlight on a rainy day
My fallin' stars when I'm far away
You're the ones that teach me life
I'm telling you baby
Only a mother would understand
I love you
I was blessed by God
The moment he send you from above
So I could learn how to care and how to love
You're the song inside my soul
I'm telling you baby
Only a mother would understand
8
04:15
A. Teeuwe, T. Johansson, M. Gjerstad
Don't kill that man
Don't kill that man
He could be the one that brings you gifts for Christmas
Don't kill that man
Don't kill that man
He could be the one for free without the dullness
This could be great
Don't just let go
He might be the one to know
The way you should be loved
A few words are enough
To lighten up your days
When shadows fade away
But I'm not sure he's sane
No I'm not sure yet
Don't just let go
Don't kill that man
Don't kill that man
He could be the one to trust when you've been lied to
Don't kill him yet
Don't kill him yet
He could be the one you can turn your blind eye to
This is pure gold
Don't just let go
He could be that man who knows
The way you should be loved
A few words are enough
To lighten up your days
When shadows fade away
But I'm not sure he's sane
No I'm not sure yet
Don't just let go
He could be that man who knows
Don't kill that man
He could be the one that brings you gifts for Christmas
Don't kill that man
Don't kill that man
He could be the one for free without the dullness
This could be great
Don't just let go
He might be the one to know
The way you should be loved
A few words are enough
To lighten up your days
When shadows fade away
But I'm not sure he's sane
No I'm not sure yet
Don't just let go
Don't kill that man
Don't kill that man
He could be the one to trust when you've been lied to
Don't kill him yet
Don't kill him yet
He could be the one you can turn your blind eye to
This is pure gold
Don't just let go
He could be that man who knows
The way you should be loved
A few words are enough
To lighten up your days
When shadows fade away
But I'm not sure he's sane
No I'm not sure yet
Don't just let go
He could be that man who knows
9
03:32
A. Teeuwe, M. Gjerstad
Just because
I may act like I know everything in life
It doesn't mean my hands don't shake
Got burning eyes
Inside I die
Look around
A dawn of greys
I'm living in the last days
I couldn't tell the rights from wrongs
It's all the same
I live with dreams of fear
The truth is
I don't know nothing
And I don't know why
All the answers I don't have
Make me feel so worthless
God knows what lies ahead
So unreal
As I rely on lies
Instead of what I feel
Overwhelmed by modern days
Is there a right place in this life
I couldn't tell
In fact I
I don't know nothing
I don't know why
All the answers I don't have
Make me feel so worthless
God knows what lies ahead
I may act like I know everything in life
It doesn't mean my hands don't shake
Got burning eyes
Inside I die
Look around
A dawn of greys
I'm living in the last days
I couldn't tell the rights from wrongs
It's all the same
I live with dreams of fear
The truth is
I don't know nothing
And I don't know why
All the answers I don't have
Make me feel so worthless
God knows what lies ahead
So unreal
As I rely on lies
Instead of what I feel
Overwhelmed by modern days
Is there a right place in this life
I couldn't tell
In fact I
I don't know nothing
I don't know why
All the answers I don't have
Make me feel so worthless
God knows what lies ahead
10
05:15
A. Teeuwe, T. Johansson, M. Gjerstad
The black side of my mind is getting weaker
The black side of my soul is getting white
This time I'll try and dig a little deeper
So I can change the wrongs into what's right
Dark were the days when our life was gone
Those were the days when fear of death came along
Let us get rid of this
Dark were the nights when I did not fight
Those were the nights when dark told me what's right
I did it all for love
Why haven't I had enough
Leave it alone because in time
The black side of my mind is getting weaker
The black side of my soul is getting white
This time I'll try and dig a little deeper
So I can change the wrongs into what's right
Walking away with nothing but
pain in my heart for what we've lost
Try to stand tall with my head held high
The dark makes it hard for you to see
I gave it all for you and me
In time I will be ready to believe
The black side of my mind is getting weaker
The black side of my soul is getting white
This time I'll try and dig a little deeper
So I can change the wrongs into what's right
Dark were the thoughts running through our minds
Those were the thoughts draggin' me further down
What will you do for love
When is it ever enough
Leave it alone because in time
The black side of my soul is getting white
This time I'll try and dig a little deeper
So I can change the wrongs into what's right
Dark were the days when our life was gone
Those were the days when fear of death came along
Let us get rid of this
Dark were the nights when I did not fight
Those were the nights when dark told me what's right
I did it all for love
Why haven't I had enough
Leave it alone because in time
The black side of my mind is getting weaker
The black side of my soul is getting white
This time I'll try and dig a little deeper
So I can change the wrongs into what's right
Walking away with nothing but
pain in my heart for what we've lost
Try to stand tall with my head held high
The dark makes it hard for you to see
I gave it all for you and me
In time I will be ready to believe
The black side of my mind is getting weaker
The black side of my soul is getting white
This time I'll try and dig a little deeper
So I can change the wrongs into what's right
Dark were the thoughts running through our minds
Those were the thoughts draggin' me further down
What will you do for love
When is it ever enough
Leave it alone because in time
Releases
6 editions
Sad Singalong Songs · Studio Album · 2013
Executive producer
Anouk
Produced by
Instead Of Production
Mixed by
Tore Johansson
Mastered by
Morten Bue
Recorded by
Tore Johansson (INSTEAD OF Studio)
Vocal recording by
John Sonneveld (Wisseloord Studios)
Vocal choir recorded by
Tore Johansson (St. Johns Church, Malmö)
Keyboards, bells, string and choir arrangement
Martin Gjerstad
Bass, guitar, percussion and vocals
Tore Johansson
Harp
Pia Rosengren
Violin and viola
Filip Runesson
Cello
Amelia Jakobsson Boyarsky
Trumpet and horn
Petter Lindgård
Trombone
Niklas Fransson
Photography & artwork by
Pablo Delfos
Design by
Cris Kühlen
Management
management@anouk.com
The Rules
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Bass, Percussion and Vocals
Tore Johansson
Choir
St. Johns Church choir vocals conducted by Christian Schultze
Pretending as Always
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Keyboards and String Arrangement
Martin Gjerstad
Vocals
Susanne Johansson, Lars Hallin, Ulf Turesson and Peter Minorsson
Bass, Percussion and Vocals
Tore Johansson
Birds
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Bass and Percussion
Tore Johansson
Vocals
Vilma Johansson
Choir
St. Johns Church choir vocals conducted by Christian Schultze
The Good Life
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Bass and Percussion
Tore Johansson
Choir
St. Johns Church choir vocals conducted by Christian Schultze
Are You Lonely
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Bass and Percussion
Tore Johansson
Choir
St. Johns Church choir vocals conducted by Christian Schultze
Stardust
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Keyboards, Bells, String Arrangement
Martin Gjerstad
Vocals
Susanne Johansson, Lars Hallin, Ulf Turesson and Peter Minorsson
Bass and Percussion
Tore Johansson
Only a Mother
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe and Tore Johansson
Performers
Keyboards, Bells, String Arrangement
Martin Gjerstad
Bass, Percussion and Vocals
Tore Johansson
Backing Vocals
Berget Lewis, Lisa Lois, Caroline Dest and Ricardo Burgrust
Kill
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Keyboards, Bells, Choir Arrangement
Martin Gjerstad
Bass, Percussion and Vocals
Tore Johansson
Vocals
Susanne Johansson
Choir
St. Johns Church choir vocals conducted by Christian Schultze
I Don't Know Nothing
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Keyboards, Bells, String Arrangement
Martin Gjerstad
Bass and Percussion
Tore Johansson
The Black Side of My Mind
Songwriting
Written By
Anouk Teeuwe, Tore Johansson and Martin Gjerstad
Performers
Bass, Percussion and Vocals
Tore Johansson
Vocals
Susanne Johansson, Lars Hallin, Ulf Turesson and Peter Minorsson
Choir
St. Johns Church choir vocals conducted by Christian Schultze