“Spectator” by JFDR – A Song Feature

 

     The tastes of most music lovers change over time. They are typically not major shifts, and are often temporary. As examples, this blog has gone through a time of increased appreciation for music from Icelandic artists and, on a separate occasion, an elevated awareness of the beauty of the harp. Today’s post is a return to both.

 

     JFDR is a project of Jófríður Ákadóttir, who is based in Reykjavík, Iceland. In her song “Spectator,” the harp plays a significant role. Naomi Greene is the harpist. Interestingly, the piano is from Ásthildur Ákadóttir, the twin sister of Jófríður.

 

     “Spectator” will be on the album, “Museum,” which is scheduled for release on April 28, 2023. The Bandcamp site for the upcoming album explains:

  “’Museum’ was made in an intense and nurturing period she found at the other side of an existential crisis about her own work in the aftermath of the release of her previous album, the acclaimed ‘New Dreams.’ However, she began to emerge from her creative stasis in late 2021, inspired by the discovery of ideas lost to time and demos of songs never finished while purging her computer of old files.”

 
     The credits for “Spectator” identify:
Vocals and Organ: Jófríður Ákadóttir
Guitar: Ásgeir Kjartansson
Harp: Naomi Greene
Violin and viola: Viktor Orri Árnason
Piano: Ásthildur Ákadóttir
Piano Programming: Thomas Davíð Stankiewicz
Bass: Shahzad Ismaily
Drums: Albert Finnbogason
Percussion: Francesco Fabris
 
     “Spectator” by JFDR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jfdrcurrent
Website: https://jfdrcurrent.com/
Bandcamp: https://jfdr.bandcamp.com/album/museum
 

Lyrics of “Spectator” by JFDR
Heart, diamond shaped
Pulled out at all its edges
I can‘t tell if I‘m in over my head
 
Words, in a spider web
And you ask me to fix it
I am in over my head
 
I am the spectator
I am the middle man
Thinking for everyone
Watching you both take out your fear on me
How can I help you if it‘s best for me
To stay away?
 
I am caught in between
Feeling the feelings
Of everyone except my own
I can‘t take it
I can‘t be in between
How can I help you if I always get it wrong?
 
I am caught in between
I am caught in between
 
I am the spectator
I’m just the middle man
Thinking for everyone
Watching you both take out your fear on me
How can I help you if it‘s best for me
To stay away?
 
I am caught in between
Feeling the feelings
Of everyone except my own
I can‘t take it
I can‘t be in between
How can I help you if I always get it wrong?