Bulgaria has been one of the most sporadic, yet successful, countries to participate at Eurovision lately. Coming from only one qualification in nine attempts, they’ve had three amazing results in the latter half of the 2010s. After taking a year off, they came back in 2020 and were the bookies’ favourite to win at the time the contest was cancelled.

Now, Victoria is back to finish what she started. She’ll sing “Growing Up Is Getting Old” in May. She described the track as the one she “would sing with all my heart and soul on stage in Rotterdam”. And once again, the bookies are predicting big things for her.

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Bulgaria in Eurovision 2021: VICTORIA “Growing Up Is Getting Old”

Victoria Georgieva is a 23-year-old who rose to fame on The X Factor Bulgaria. After three attempts, she finally made to it the live shows on the fourth season and ultimately placed sixth. She became known on the show for her powerful vocals and earned comparisons to Adele.

Victoria was internally selected last year. “Tears Getting Sober” focused on mental illness and received critical acclaim. She admits to being devastated at the cancellation news, and considered not returning as she didn’t believe she’d be able to match what she did last year. However, she found the strength to keep going.

Growing Up Is Getting Old” was one of the five songs on her new EP a little dramatic. It was selected over the other four songs, and her non-album single “Ugly Cry”, to be Bulgaria’s song this year. It was one of the earliest songs she wrote and was even considered to represent Bulgaria last year. She said the song was built after she came up with the title, descrbing it as beautiful and special.

The singer also adds that the song is very personal to her. “You can grow in many different ways. Sometimes going back to your roots, to the place you feel safe and the people you love, helps you find your purpose on Earth. This is the case for me”, she adds. “When I listen to the song I think of my mother, my father, my sister, my friends. All the people that mean the world to me.”

What do the “Growing Up Is Getting Old” lyrics mean?

“Growing Up Is Getting Old” was co-written by VICTORIA alongside a Swedish team of Maya Nalani, Helena Larsson and Oliver Björkvall.

Lyrically, the song is similar to her offering last year, and is about learning to live with mental illness. She begins the song using symbolism of video games and trapping herself in a house. “Playing Tetris with my feelings, tryna keep them all inside”. “Closing every door, wanna be alone, lonely is a way that I survive”.

She continues and describes the mystique of carrying the weight of anxiety and depression. “There’s an ocean of emotion that I’m carrying inside, I’ve never understood how so much can fit in little me”. She also relates how the terrors have a clear hold on her “My demons know exactly where my fears are hiding all my tears”.

The chorus adds weight to this, and describe the pain and monotony of mental illness. “I’m torn by nervous system’s aching, anxiety is draining”. The wordplay is incredibly effective here, “Growing up is getting old, getting up is growing old”. It’s a beautiful way to describe how wearysome it is to continuously fight against anxiety, and how it can all eventually become too much.

However, there is a message of hope towards the end of the song. She says that by finding some way of getting strength, perhaps from her past, she might be able to escape. “Maybe I could tread the waters of time, get out of my mind”. The song also finishes on a hopeful outro, where Victoria turns the focus not to herself, but to the audience. “If your world is breaking, and growing up is getting old, know that you’re worth saving, and getting up is all you’ve got”. It transcends the song’s own wordplay to convey a message of strength. Lyrically, this song is amazing and amongst the best we have at Eurovision this year. No doubt the song’s message will be hugely appreciated by the audience who are still reeling from a horrible 12 months.

“Growing Up Is Getting Old” lyrics – VICTORIA (Bulgaria ESC 2021)

Written and composed by: Victoria Georgieva, Maya Nalani, Helena Larsson and Oliver Björkvall

Playing Tetris with my feelings
Tryna keep them all inside
Hollow shadows and my soul is spilling over
I’m out of time

Closing every door, wanna be alone
Lonely is a way that I survive
Sick of wanting more, sitting on the floor
Wondering where all my feelings go

Nervous system’s aching
Growing up is getting old

Don’t get it
There’s an ocean of emotion that I’m carrying inside
I am cautious
Cause I’ve never understood how so much can fit in little me
Star-crossed soul
And I’m used to letting go
Sink deeper in the flow of it
My demons know еxactly where my fears
Arе hiding all my tears

I’m torn by nervous system’s aching
Growing up is getting old
Anxiety is draining
Getting up is growing old

And if I ever take that second to leave my worries behind
Maybe I could tread the waters of time
Get out of my mind

Growing up is getting old
Growing up is getting old
Getting up is growing old
Getting up is growing old

If your world is breaking
And growing up is getting old
Know that you’re worth saving
And getting up is all you’ve got

How do you feel about “Growing Up Is Getting Old”? Do you like its lyrics? Do you think it could do well from Bulgaria? Let us know!

Read more Eurovision 2021 lyrics.

11 Comments
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Sijbrand
Sijbrand
2 years ago

This song did touch me because it reminded me of my best friend who is having a hard time, so I wanted to look up the lyrics, in my opinion a top five song

Natalie
Natalie
3 years ago

The song theme reminds me of Lithuanias Ieva song ‘When we are old’ ..

Isak
Isak
3 years ago

I think it’s my favorite this year. Beautiful lyrics that deserve more attention. It feels authentic, raw and honest.

Jimmy Smit
3 years ago

“Playing Tetris with my feelings, tryna keep them all inside” isn’t symbolism, it’s metaphor.

Somebody
Somebody
3 years ago

My favorite this year. The message it conveys with meaningful lyrics through quality production. Beautiful.

Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

For me it’s exactly the opposite, I like the verses, but the chorus is not my thing.

Stan
Stan
3 years ago

Beautiful and meaningful song!

medo
medo
3 years ago

Probably the most overrated song this year.

Doris
Doris
3 years ago
Reply to  medo

So true, so boring.

Aeria
Aeria
2 years ago
Reply to  medo

Finally someone said it that isn’t me lol

Ende
Ende
3 years ago

I really like her and this song which is really beautiful to listen.