Background
Christensen went through a difficult time in 1998–99, dealing with the break-ups with Dizzy Mizz Lizzy [6] and with singer Pernille Rosendahl, [3] with whom he had been in a relationship since 1995. [6] He used songwriting as a form of therapy to overcome this, putting his feelings and thoughts to words as one normally would do in a diary, but instead of lying hidden in a drawer somewhere, his secrets are literally on display. [3] Since his songwriting was derived from these personal experiences, the lyrics are rather direct. [6] Christensen says, "I simply think it was written in a simple and straightforward way, almost bordering to banal." [7]
The songs are rather ambiguous as to whether they refer to Dizzy Mizz Lizzy or Pernille Rosendahl. [3] However, the song "King's Garden", after a literal translation of Kongens Have, is known to refer to both as coincidentally both break-ups happened there and he admits to avoid going near the place. [3] "Secrets on Parade", "Prime Time" and "Caterpillar" had already been written for a third album by Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, [3] [8] and are not related to these troubles.
The album was "decidedly a solo record" [3] but the process was also markedly different, explained by Christensen as follows: "This was the first time I was without sparring partners, and I would definitely have bounced some things off of them. At the same time, I went into the studio without completed arrangements, unlike with Dizzy Mizz Lizzy where everything was pre-arranged and there was simply not a single strophe that we did not know of how they should be played." [3] This also meant more time was spent in the studio, in total nearly four months. [3]
Reception
The album was successful in Denmark, [9] selling nearly 60,000 copies [7] and securing a solo career for Christensen. Allegedly, Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark is among the fans. [10]
The singles "Get the Fuck Out of My Mind" and "Love Is a Matter of...." became hits. The latter would be covered by Will Young on for Friday's Child (2003) as "Love Is a Matter of Distance", [11] and this version has appeared on several karaoke albums. The song "21st Century High" appeared on the soundtrack of the 2000 Danish movie Flickering Lights.
Aside from Christensen himself finding solace in his music, the album has had a profound effect on others dealing with grief as well. Christensen says, "There are really many who have responded to Secrets On Parade that it was almost therapeutic for them." [7] He thinks this is because the lyrics cover the topics so explicitly: "When someone finds himself in a depressed state, I think that very direct words penetrate through much easier. One needs something that reaches out. It simply makes it easier to console oneself with." [7]
Swan Lee is a Danish band featuring Pernille Rosendahl on vocals. It was formed in 1996 by Rosendahl with guitarist Jonas Struck, drummer Emil Jørgensen and keyboardist Tim Christensen, who was her boyfriend at the time. The name was taken from a Syd Barrett song.
Dizzy Mizz Lizzy is an alternative rock band from Denmark formed in 1988. The power trio consists of Tim Christensen, Martin Nielsen and Søren Friis (drums). Between 1994 and 1997, they were highly successful in Denmark and Japan and are credited for heading the 1990s rock revival in Denmark with their studio albums Dizzy Mizz Lizzy (1994) and Rotator (1996). After the group disbanded in 1998, Christensen started a successful solo career.
Dizzy Mizz Lizzy is the eponymous debut album of the Danish rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, released in on 4 March 1994.
Tim Christensen is a Danish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is known both as the singer, guitarist and songwriter of the Danish alternative rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy and as a solo artist. Since 2014, he has primarily focused on Dizzy Mizz Lizzy.
Fielfraz was a Danish band, which had its heyday between 1990 and 1996. The band members were Claus Hempler on guitar and vocals, Nils Brakchi on bass, Kenneth Priisholm on guitar (lead) and Jens Langhorn on drums.
Honeyburst is the second studio album by Danish singer-songwriter Tim Christensen, released on 1 September 2003 on CD and vinyl. The vinyl edition of the album was re-released through the record label Parlophone on April 19, 2014.
Superior is the third studio album by Danish singer-songwriter Tim Christensen, released on 24 November 2008 on CD, limited edition Digipak CD/DVD which includes a 30-minute making-of, and a double vinyl box set which also includes the CD and DVD, as well as an outsize poster.
Rotator is the second studio album released by the Danish rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy. After touring the album, the band broke up, making this their last studio album released until Forward in Reverse in 2016.
Olaf Olsen is a Norwegian musician, known as the drummer of BigBang with whom he has remained the longest after frontman Øystein Greni. He is renowned for his tall posture rising high above his drum kit, emphasized by his long blonde hair and beard. Olsen currently resides in Los Angeles, California, along with the other members of the band to try their luck in the United States.
The Best of Dizzy Mizz Lizzy is a greatest hits album released by the Danish rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy in 2002. The first disc contains tracks from the band's two studio albums Dizzy Mizz Lizzy and Rotator, the second disc holds a live registration of a concert held in Aarhus on 11 May 1996. After its release, it immediately reached gold status.
Dizzcography is a box set released in 2010, containing all previously released material by the Danish rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy. The name is a portmanteau of "Dizzy" and "discography". The CD version is collected in a black printed cardboard box as four Digipak CDs and a 40-page booklet. The box set was also released in a limited press on 8 double-sided vinyl records, which was a major driver of creating this box set because the albums had not been released on vinyl previously. The box set contains four albums:
Live in Concert 2010 is the second live album by the Danish power rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy. Recorded at the K.B. Hallen on 16–17 April 2010, it documents the band's finale of their 2010 reunion tour. Performing at this venue has a special connotation to the band members, who grew up nearby and saw concerts of their musical heroes growing up. The original building was destroyed by a fire 1.5 years later. The album was released on 8 November 2010 as 2CD/DVD and 2CD/Blu-ray. In Japan, it was released on 27 April on King Records. and includes a sticker sheet and liner notes by Masa Ito.
Live at Abbey Road Studios 2004 is a live 2CD and limited edition DVD/2CD and vinyl record by Danish singer-songwriter Tim Christensen, released in 2004. It is the first officially released live solo recording of Christensen. The DVD appeared only in limited numbers and is now a rare item.
Tim Christensen and The Damn Crystals is the fourth studio album by Danish singer-songwriter Tim Christensen, and the eponymous first album of the formation Tim Christensen and The Damn Crystals. The album was released on 25 November 2011 on CD and as music download. The vinyl release was delayed to 20 December 2011 due to printing issues affecting quality. A Japanese bonus edition was released on 23 May 2012.
Pure McCartney is a live DVD/CD and DVD/2-LP album by singer-songwriters Tim Christensen, Mike Viola, and Tracy Bonham, with the band The Damn Crystals, released in 2013.
Side Effects is an EP by the Danish singer-songwriters Mads Langer and Tim Christensen, released on July 19, 2014 through RCA and Sony Music Denmark. The EP was awarded the "Danish rock album of the year", while the collaboration garnered the duo a GAFFA Award for "Danish rock band of the year".
The Storm is a Danish rock band formed in 2006 by Pernille Rosendahl and Johan Wohlert which are to date the only permanent members of the band.
Forward in Reverse is the third studio album by the Danish rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, released on 13 April 2016 in Japan and on 29 April 2016 worldwide by Columbia Records. It is the band's first studio album with new material in 20 years.
Livegasm! is the third live album by the Danish power rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, released on 29 November 2017 in Japan, and on 8 December 2017 in Denmark on double vinyl and as digital album on Columbia Records. It instantly became the best sold vinyl record in Denmark in 2017.
Alter Echo is the fourth studio album by the Danish rock band Dizzy Mizz Lizzy. It was released on 20 March 2020 by Sony Music.
