LISTEN: Monika Linkyte goes existential with “Po Dangum”

Happy birthday to Monika Linkyte, and happy day for us. Lithuania’s Eurovision 2015 starlet has released her first post-Eurovision single timed with her 23rd birthday. It’s a real stunner. “Po Dangum” (Alone Under the Sky) is a big departure from her Eurovision entry “This Time”. It moves away from happy clappy pop, and instead brings an atmospheric, somewhat new age sound. Her voice sounds heavenly laced over the thumping synthesizer and she gives us shades of Annie Lennox, 1980s realness. It’s perfectly produced and sounds very expensive. She needs to return to Eurovision as a solo act in this genre: It works so well. 

Birthdays are a time to reflect on one’s accomplishments and failures, and that seems to have sparked more than a bit of self-reflection. As she writes on her Facebook page: “During my 23 years I have found one very good rule: Don’t go back on your dreams and never fear mistakes, because they are often the best solutions we have.”

The “Po Dagnum” lyrics are filled with darkness and pain — it’s about life, after all. But ultimately hope prevails. Miss Linkyte suggests that the desire to persevere is the first step in setting things right.

Standing under the sky, I’m trying to remember
What it means to open my eyes and not think about death
I close my eyes, I clearly hear my own thoughts
I want to open my eyes and calm down

Thank you to the Monika & Vaidas fans Twitter account for the translation, which you can read below. Follow them @monika_vaidas.

“Po Dangum” lyrics / translation — Monika Linkyte (Alone under the sky)

Time doesn’t exist, only our fate counts it
Lies don’t exist, but somehow we learned how to lie
Air exists, but somehow sometimes we stop to breathe
Love is alive, but sometimes we’re scared to unlock it

Eyes are filled with fog, bottom in our heads
Standing under the sky, I’m trying to remember
What it means to open my eyes and not think about death
I close my eyes, I clearly hear my own thoughts
I want to open my eyes and calm down

Not a surprise that what’s supposed to make us worry – actually makes us laugh
I’m falling into darkness, I’m living my dreams – but then I give up

Eyes are filled with fog, souls are full of holes
Standing under the sky, I’m trying to remember
What it means to open my eyes and not think about death.
I close my eyes, clearly hear my own thoughts
I want to wake up and calm down

Standing under the sky, I’m trying to remember
What it means to open my eyes and want to keep on living
I close my eyes, clearly hear my own thoughts
I want to wake up, and calm down.

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