Peter Bjorn and John
Encyclopedia
Peter Bjorn and John are a Swedish
indie rock
band
, formed in Stockholm
in 1999 and named after the first names of the band's members: Peter Morén (vocals, guitar
and harmonica
), Björn Yttling (bass guitar
, keyboards
and vocals) and John Eriksson (drums, percussion and vocals).
They are best known for the 2006 single "Young Folks
", which featured Victoria Bergsman
, formerly of The Concretes
, and was a top 20 hit in the UK Singles Chart
, as well as being featured in football video game FIFA 08
and the singing game Lips
. It was also named NME
s second-best track of 2006, beaten only by "Over and Over
" by Hot Chip
. In Australia
it was voted number 16 in the annual Triple J
Hottest 100 for 2006
.
and Ride
. They are influenced by, but not interested in replicating, classic '60s baroque pop, power pop and new wave. Their first band disbanded after they moved to Stockholm
, where they met Eriksson in 1999 to form Peter, Björn and John. Their first gig was an unsuccessful one aboard a boat in Stockholm. Their expectations were not high from the start, as they "just wanted to make good music for [their] own amusement". Lars Skoglund of the band Laakso
has filled in for the band on drums and played bongos during some live shows.
from Shout Out Louds
. Kanye West
has sampled the song in his version of "Young Folks" from his mixtape album, Can't Tell Me Nothing.
After completing various tours in support of Writer's Block, the band focused on other projects before coming together to record and release a largely instrumental album, Seaside Rock
, in the autumn of 2008. Living Thing
, the band's darker, more experimental fourth full-length album, was released several months later in early 2009. Peter, Bjorn and John played Lollapalooza
2009 in Chicago. In 2011, Peter Bjorn and John returned to their melodic pop roots with the decidedly more accessible Gimme Some
. The band also opened up for Depeche Mode
during their Tour of the Universe. Gimme Some' s first single Second Chance is heard prominently in advertising for the American light beer Bud Light, and as the theme song for the CBS
sitcom 2 Broke Girls
.
on his 2009 mixtape, So Far Gone
, on the song "Let's Call It Off." Many rappers like Wale
, GZA
and 88 Keys collaborated on Re-Living Thing, a remix of Living Thing
, released on September 8, 2009, by Mick Boogie
.
Morén has recorded and released two solo albums. On April 8, 2008 he released a solo album in English, The Last Tycoon on the Wichita Recordings
and Quarterstick Records
labels. It received mixed reviews from the press. In 2010, he released a solo album in Swedish, I spåren av tåren.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in 1999 and named after the first names of the band's members: Peter Morén (vocals, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
), Björn Yttling (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and vocals) and John Eriksson (drums, percussion and vocals).
They are best known for the 2006 single "Young Folks
Young Folks
"Young Folks" is the first single from Peter Bjorn and John's third album, Writer's Block . The single features Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes as a guest vocalist.-Reception:...
", which featured Victoria Bergsman
Victoria Bergsman
Victoria Bergsman is a Swedish songwriter, musician, and vocalist best known as singer of the indie pop band The Concretes from 1995 to 2006. Since announcing her departure from the band on 24 July 2006 she has been recording for her new solo project Taken by Trees...
, formerly of The Concretes
The Concretes
The Concretes are a popular Swedish indie pop band from Stockholm, currently composed of eight members.-History:The Concretes began with Victoria Bergsman, Maria Eriksson, and Lisa Milberg. Since their formation in 1995, they have gradually acquired new members, growing into an eight piece band...
, and was a top 20 hit in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, as well as being featured in football video game FIFA 08
FIFA 08
FIFA 08 is the 2008 installment of EA Sports' series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it is published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. It was released on all popular gaming formats in September 2007 in Europe, Australia, and Asia, and in October 2007 in North...
and the singing game Lips
LIPS
Linguistic and Intercultural Preparation of Students for the workplace is a European Commission-funded project.It has developed pilot measures to improve students' skills and competences for their successful completion of work experiences abroad .LIPS developed an online course which is based on...
. It was also named NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
s second-best track of 2006, beaten only by "Over and Over
Over and Over (Hot Chip song)
"Over and Over" was the first single from Hot Chip's second album The Warning. It was released twice in the UK in 2006 - first reaching number 32 in March and number 27 in October.-Music video:...
" by Hot Chip
Hot Chip
Hot Chip are an English electronic indie band. They have released four studio albums—Coming on Strong, The Warning, Made in the Dark and One Life Stand.-Formation:...
. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
it was voted number 16 in the annual Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
Hottest 100 for 2006
Triple J Hottest 100, 2006
The 2006 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on Australia Day, 26 January 2007. It is the fourteenth such countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as voted by listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J....
.
Formation: 1997-2000
Morén and Yttling began playing music with each other while in high school. They shared an interest in bands such as The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and Ride
Ride (band)
Ride were a British alternative rock band that formed in 1988 in Oxford, England, consisting of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Laurence "Loz" Colbert, and Steve Queralt. The band were initially part of the "shoegazing" scene. Following the break-up of the band in 1996, members moved on to various other...
. They are influenced by, but not interested in replicating, classic '60s baroque pop, power pop and new wave. Their first band disbanded after they moved to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, where they met Eriksson in 1999 to form Peter, Björn and John. Their first gig was an unsuccessful one aboard a boat in Stockholm. Their expectations were not high from the start, as they "just wanted to make good music for [their] own amusement". Lars Skoglund of the band Laakso
Laakso (band)
Laakso is an indie pop band formed 2001 in Sweden. All their records have been produced by Jari Haapalainen.-Studio albums:*2003: I miss you - I'm pregnant*2005: My Gods*2007: Mother Am I Good Looking?*2007 Mämmilä Rock-EPs:*2003: Long Beach EP...
has filled in for the band on drums and played bongos during some live shows.
First years: 2001-2005
After releasing the Forbidden Chords EP and a pair of singles ("Failing and Passing" and "I Don't Know What I Want Us to Do"), the band released its self-titled first album in 2002 on the tiny Beat That! label. After more shows, more EPs (People They Know, 100m of Hurdles), and another single ("See Through"), the group jumped to the Planekonomi label in 2004 and released the Beats, Traps and Backgrounds EP. It was soon followed by the 2004 album Falling Out, which was picked up for American release by Hidden Adenda in late 2005.Mainstream success: 2006-present
The band's third album, Writer's Block (2006), followed a year later and became a minor international hit. The video to their song "Young Folks" was animated and directed by Ted MalmrosTed Malmros
Ted Malmros is a Swedish music video director and musician. He is the bassist for Swedish indie pop group Shout Out Louds, and also contributes backing vocals and percussion. Malmros, along with his brother Tom Malmros, has directed all of Shout Out Louds' music videos to date, and has also...
from Shout Out Louds
Shout Out Louds
Shout Out Louds are an indie rock band from Stockholm, Sweden.The group has toured with bands such as The Strokes, Kings of Leon, The Magic Numbers, The Rosebuds, The Essex Green, and Johnossi...
. Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
has sampled the song in his version of "Young Folks" from his mixtape album, Can't Tell Me Nothing.
After completing various tours in support of Writer's Block, the band focused on other projects before coming together to record and release a largely instrumental album, Seaside Rock
Seaside Rock
Seaside Rock is the fourth album by Peter Bjorn and John. A vinyl- and digital- only release, it came out in the U.S. on Almost Gold/Star Time International on September 23, 2008. The U.S. edition is limited to 5000 LPs, each accompanied by a download code...
, in the autumn of 2008. Living Thing
Living Thing
Living Thing is the fifth album by Peter Bjorn and John, released on March 30, 2009 in the UK and March 31 in the US. The lead-off single from this album is "Nothing to Worry About."-Reception:...
, the band's darker, more experimental fourth full-length album, was released several months later in early 2009. Peter, Bjorn and John played Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
2009 in Chicago. In 2011, Peter Bjorn and John returned to their melodic pop roots with the decidedly more accessible Gimme Some
Gimme Some
Gimme Some is the sixth album by Peter Bjorn and John, was released March 28, 2011 in the UK, EU, and ROW on Cooking Vinyl and March 29 in the US on Startime International...
. The band also opened up for Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
during their Tour of the Universe. Gimme Some
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom 2 Broke Girls
2 Broke Girls
2 Broke Girls is an North American television comedy series that debuted on CBS during the 2011–12 television season. The first episode aired at 9:30 pm after Two and a Half Men on September 19, 2011. Later episodes followed How I Met Your Mother on Monday nights at 8:30 pm . The series was...
.
Solo work
Peter, Bjorn and John also collaborated with Canadian-born Actor and Hip Hop star DrakeDrake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
on his 2009 mixtape, So Far Gone
So Far Gone
So Far Gone is the third official mixtape from Canadian rapper/singer Drake. Released in February 2009, the mixtape proved to be a major catalyst in the launching of Drake's career on an international scale. Tracks "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful" were released as singles from the mixtape, and...
, on the song "Let's Call It Off." Many rappers like Wale
Wale
A wale is a broad, thick plank around the outside of a wooden ship.The garboard is the wale next to the keel; the gunwale is the top such plank and covers the heads of the timbers between the main and fore drifts....
, GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
and 88 Keys collaborated on Re-Living Thing, a remix of Living Thing
Living Thing
Living Thing is the fifth album by Peter Bjorn and John, released on March 30, 2009 in the UK and March 31 in the US. The lead-off single from this album is "Nothing to Worry About."-Reception:...
, released on September 8, 2009, by Mick Boogie
Mick Boogie
Mick Boogie, born Mick Batsyke in Youngstown, Ohio, is an American DJ and mixtape composer.Mick Boogie and grew up in Poland, Ohio. His interest in music began at an early age. He learned to play the piano and the drums through school programs. His hiphop career began when his mother purchased a...
.
Morén has recorded and released two solo albums. On April 8, 2008 he released a solo album in English, The Last Tycoon on the Wichita Recordings
Wichita Recordings
Wichita Recordings is an independent record label located in London, founded in 2000 by Mark Bowen and Dick Green. Its most notable signees are Bloc Party, The Cribs, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Her Space Holiday, Los Campesinos! and Peter Bjorn and John...
and Quarterstick Records
Quarterstick Records
-Artists:*Bad Livers*Calexico*DK3*Dead Child*June of 44*Kepone*The Mekons*Mi Ami*Peter Móren *Mule*Naked Raygun*Tara Jane O'Neil*Pegboy*Phono-Comb*Rachel's*Rodan*Henry Rollins*Shipping News*Sholi*The Sonora Pine*Therapy?...
labels. It received mixed reviews from the press. In 2010, he released a solo album in Swedish, I spåren av tåren.
Albums
- Peter Bjorn and JohnPeter Bjorn and John (album)Peter Bjorn and John is the first album by Swedish indie-pop band Peter Bjorn and John.- Track listing :# "I Don't Know What I Want Us to Do"# "Failing and Passing"# "People They Know"# "A Mutual Misunderstanding"# "From Now On"# "Matchmaker"...
(2002) - Falling OutFalling Out (album)Falling Out is the second album by Peter Bjorn and John, released on October 4, 2004.-Track listing:#"Far Away, By My Side" – 3:22#"Money" – 4:02#"It Beats Me Every Time" – 3:37#"Does It Matter Now?" – 4:33#"Big Black Coffin" – 6:31...
(2004) - Writer's Block (2006) (FLAUltratop 50Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995...
#90, UK #68, USBillboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
#114) - Seaside RockSeaside RockSeaside Rock is the fourth album by Peter Bjorn and John. A vinyl- and digital- only release, it came out in the U.S. on Almost Gold/Star Time International on September 23, 2008. The U.S. edition is limited to 5000 LPs, each accompanied by a download code...
(2008) - Living ThingLiving ThingLiving Thing is the fifth album by Peter Bjorn and John, released on March 30, 2009 in the UK and March 31 in the US. The lead-off single from this album is "Nothing to Worry About."-Reception:...
(March 2009) (UK #162, US #92) - Gimme SomeGimme SomeGimme Some is the sixth album by Peter Bjorn and John, was released March 28, 2011 in the UK, EU, and ROW on Cooking Vinyl and March 29 in the US on Startime International...
(March 2011) (US #109)
EPs
| Year | EP | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| SWE | ||
| 2001 | Forbidden Chords | — |
| 2003 | (I Just Wanna) See Through/Say Something Else (together with Spearmint Spearmint (band) Spearmint are a London-based indie pop band, founded in 1995. Their founding members were Shirley Lee , Simon Calnan , Martin Talbot , and Ronan Larvor . Talbot left soon afterward, to be replaced by James Parsons. Dickon Edwards later ended up joining as second guitarist, though leaving in 2000 to... ) |
— |
| 2003 | 100 m of Hurdles | — |
| 2004 | Beats Traps and Backgrounds | 45 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWE | AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
CAN Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
FIN Mitä hittiä The Official Finnish Charts is a national record chart in Finland composed by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.The singles chart was started in January 1991 as Radiomafian lista and was broadcast on the radio station Radiomafia of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, YLE. This chart is based on a... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
NED MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
US | US Mod Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs... |
|||
| 2001 | "Falling and Passing" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Peter Bjorn and John |
| 2002 | "I Don't Know What I Want Us To Do" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2003 | "People They Know" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2005 | "Teen Love" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Falling Out |
| 2006 | "Young Folks Young Folks "Young Folks" is the first single from Peter Bjorn and John's third album, Writer's Block . The single features Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes as a guest vocalist.-Reception:... " |
— | 42 | 26 | 9 | 24 | 75 | 13 | 110 | 22 | Writer's Block |
| "Let's Call It Off Let's Call It Off "Let's Call It Off" is the second single from Peter Bjorn and John's Writer's Block LP. A new mix of the song from the album was used for the single, featuring what has been called more of a "calypso" sound. The song has also been used in a popular remix by mash-up DJ Girl Talk... " |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 130 | — | — | ||
| 2007 | "Objects of My Affection" | — | — | — | — | — | — | 96 | — | — | |
| 2009 | "Nothing to Worry About Nothing to Worry About "Nothing to Worry About" is the first single by Peter Bjorn and John from the album Living Thing. The music video premiered in 2009. The song was featured in a season five episode of the MTV series The Hills entitled "Crazy In Love"... " |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Living Thing |
| "Lay It Down" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "It Don't Move Me It Don't Move Me "It Don't Move Me" is the a song by Swedish rock band Peter Bjorn and John, released as the third single from their fifth studio album Living Thing. It was written and composed by group members Peter Morén, Björn Yttling, and John Eriksson, and produced by the latter of the three... " |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011 | "Second Chance" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Gimme Some |
| "Dig a Little Deeper"/"What I Could Do If I Wanted" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |