He was a backing vocalist for Andrius Pojavis at Eurovision 2013 and for the duo Monika and Vaidas at Eurovision 2015. But now — after always playing second or third fiddle — Lithuania’s Jurij Veklenko is finally ready to take centre stage at Eurovision with the uplifting song “Run with the Lions”.
The artist formerly known as Jurijus worked with an all-star team of songwriters and lyricists: Ashley Hicklin, Eric Lumiere and Pele Loriano. Fans may recognise Hicklin, as he was one of the writers of Tom Dice’s “Me and My Guitar” — the song that took Belgium to the Grand Final for the first time since the implementation of the semifinals — as well as Axel Hirsoux’s “Mother” in 2014. Pele Loriano composed “Il Pleut de L’Or” — Switzerland’s entry in 2010.
A mid-tempo offering, Jurij’s song is a call to let your feeling out. In his mind they’re best expressed and allowed to run free — just like the lions he sings about. “There’s no need to stay locked up inside,” he says. “This kingdom is yours and this kingdom is mine.”
But that kingdom — whether it’s love at large or your relationship in particular — can only flourish when you let it out. Lions — which can be read as people caught up in a romance — don’t thrive in cages. “C’mon, c’mon let your feelings out,” he pleads. “C’mon, c’mon get your freedom now, run wild, run with the lions.”
Loud and proud, here Jurij roar!
Run with the Lions lyrics – Jurij Veklenko
If you wanna see, just open your eyes
If you wanna breathe, let’s go outside in the open
For those who say “these lyrics are terrible”: Don’t just say it. I challenge you to write better lyrics for this song. But beware: The task is more difficult than it appears.
frysk
4 years ago
If you hava ever encountered a herd of lions on the hunt you see that they don’t run. Only the last few minutes to get the prey. They sneek around a herd of antiolopes or zebras and choose the weakest one. The male is pretty lazy, he lest the females do all the work. ALso he’s the only male of the flock. SO whatever the lines of this song, it’s total rubbish. And the melody is very boring too. If this is about freedom and running wild, it will be about freedom in the mind, having fallens asleep whiel listening…… Read more »
But it worked. You just let your feelings out on this post. 🙂 That’s headline effectiveness, and possibly subliminal messaging.
Kosey
4 years ago
Has anyone worked out yet why it is run with the lions and not any other wild animal? I’ve been thinking that lions are quite aggressive predators – is that the sort of message that Jurijus wants to get across? I would have thought it was more about having confidence to show your true self, but if your true self is an aggressive predator, is that a good thing? What about a peacock? They have such wonderful colours and seem fairly harmless – how about that as a message to get across? Run with the peacocks?
OMG, Kosey! Why did people downvoted you! I can’t stop laughing imagining Jurijus singing:
“C’mon, c’mon let your feelings out
C’mon, c’mon get your freedom now, run wild
Run with the peacocks”
“Free padlocks, run with the peacocks?”
“Get dreadlocks, run with the peacocks?”
“Wear no socks, run with the peacocks?”
Lyric writing is harder than it looks. 🙂
For those who say “these lyrics are terrible”: Don’t just say it. I challenge you to write better lyrics for this song. But beware: The task is more difficult than it appears.
If you hava ever encountered a herd of lions on the hunt you see that they don’t run. Only the last few minutes to get the prey. They sneek around a herd of antiolopes or zebras and choose the weakest one. The male is pretty lazy, he lest the females do all the work. ALso he’s the only male of the flock. SO whatever the lines of this song, it’s total rubbish. And the melody is very boring too. If this is about freedom and running wild, it will be about freedom in the mind, having fallens asleep whiel listening…… Read more »
Wow, you must be fun at parties. Are you usually take song lyrics for actual meaning? Stop being a disappointment to your parents.
“They are a call to let your feelings out” sorry but that really made me laugh, not shading anyone.
But it worked. You just let your feelings out on this post. 🙂 That’s headline effectiveness, and possibly subliminal messaging.
Has anyone worked out yet why it is run with the lions and not any other wild animal? I’ve been thinking that lions are quite aggressive predators – is that the sort of message that Jurijus wants to get across? I would have thought it was more about having confidence to show your true self, but if your true self is an aggressive predator, is that a good thing? What about a peacock? They have such wonderful colours and seem fairly harmless – how about that as a message to get across? Run with the peacocks?
I really like your comment.
OMG, Kosey! Why did people downvoted you! I can’t stop laughing imagining Jurijus singing:
“C’mon, c’mon let your feelings out
C’mon, c’mon get your freedom now, run wild
Run with the peacocks”
“Free padlocks, run with the peacocks?”
“Get dreadlocks, run with the peacocks?”
“Wear no socks, run with the peacocks?”
Lyric writing is harder than it looks. 🙂
The songwriter was probably a Leo. 😉
And it half-rhymes.
Never really paid much attention to this song, but the lyrics are poorly written indeed.