Riverwoods and Jeanette Bengtsson work well together on "When We Were Small," a pop-rock song with strong reflective elements that captures the magic of childhood winters, as well as the simplicity of shared memories. The music, with lyrics in English by Jimmy Granstrom and Robert Gould, evokes the feeling of flipping through an old photo album sprinkled with snowflakes.
"When We Were Small" envelops you in a tender winter glow. The song's melody evokes the soft, falling snow on rooftops, while its instrumentation breathes life into the imagery, essentially bringing a memory to life. It's got Jeanette Bengtsson and her gorgeous delivery all over it. Best known for her early association with the ABBA tribute act Arrival From Sweden, she projects both clarity and emotion into the telling of the story.
The form of the song mirrors memory, liquid, nuanced, and emotionally charged. Each line and chord is overwhelmed with the sincerest of gratitude for those times, which shaped us before life got real. "When We Were Small" works because of this restraint in delivering the message. Instead, it commands you to sit quietly with your memories and think of the winters that have passed you by, and of the friends you no longer keep in touch with since last Christmas. You are transported to the big screen as this chilled pop-rock classic leaves its mark.
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