I should really have written much more about Romania and its society, youth and youth culture before posting this. However the basic story is that in 7 years of talking with Romanians of all age groups but many young hopefuls of 18 to 28 I have heard so many stories of discontentment and broken dreams. I have had quite a few friends from Bucuresti leave Romania to try and find a better life in other countries, some succeeded and are working hard and building honest and bright futures for themselves. Others have followed a dream only to be crushed and return to Bucuresti to work for peanuts.
OK, let’s be honest, some young Romanians think that the world owes them a living and that Gucci should fall from the heavens into their hands, it is a God given right to “have” or at least to gain sympathy and charity from someone who does “have” and then they “give”!!! But this is a worldwide and modern disease, a social sickness that if you don’t own one piece of clothing with a label or brand or a car of German origin (that is black) then you are a mere peasant. More on this subject at another time as the struggle to have the latest Nokia while ya teeth are rotting in your mouth at 25 years old is a debate worth many words!
So what of the other mentality? Young Romanians with pride, self respect, honesty and determination to work hard, suffer blood, sweat and tears to better themselves? I have met many and am humble to call them my friends. Anyone in this world who puts heart, soul, body and mind into bettering themselves with determination and imagination deserves to be a winner. Whatever their background, colour, religion or political beliefs this is a simple rule in life. How can we give anything but praise and respect for youngsters like this?
Sooooooo……….The song, the video. Well I know many of my English friends will listen to 10 seconds and say “Dunnooo, I don’t understand a word”, others will say “OMG it’s rap and I hate this modern shit” Let me explain the message and what it says to me. The singer is Guess Who aka Laurenţiu Mocanu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guess_Who_(rapper) Whether you like rap or not, which at 50 I am not exactly M&M’s number one fan, this guy can sing, Laurentiu has a great voice, his lyrics are honest, subtle and not offensive. Much rap is 100% anger, expressive swearing and overdosed on testosterone. This song is unique and tells a very true story. Young people who years after the fall of Ceausescu and communism in 1989 feel that little has changed and that the opportunities in their own country and society are minute if not non existent. The video itself equals the honesty of the lyrics with it’s amazing content and visualisation. The scene is that of “the old days”, epoca de aur, communism, when people had one choice and that was to be patriotic and follow the enforced rules of society. Intermingled with this is the modern day where many young people have little oportunity. How would anyone like to study at university for 4-5 years to then struggle to find a job that pays around 300 euros a month? So maybe now we understand better why they leave for France, Italy, Spain, UK, etc. in search of the golden dream.
For me? This song and video are awsome. In 3 minutes it says what over 200+ youngsters have said to me over the last seven years. Guess Who and the video producer did a fantastic job. Imagine what a story they could tell the world in a full length movie. Noroc!!! Multumesc mult.
Guess Who – The right place
We’re only kids, but when we’ll be
Full of amazement, full of love
With our eyes we will watch you
We know by now what you’ll lay upon our path
Countless flowers and castles
For tomorrow we’ll have gold and bread
You are heroes, but one day us too…
Us too know that it has been too long
It’s gonna be as long again, I feel
In 10 years I’ll find some
Who lie some
And some who want to leave
But it will pass
The romanian is made to drown his sorrow
With cold blood
When he’s in trouble he parties
Racing with a cold beer
Tell me why do you steal?
How much will you keep stealing?
Can’t you see we’re a lot of mouths to feed?
And we all know the meaning of endurance
But how many falls can you take
How many times are you happy and how many times you swear?
For how many things you long?
And you are certain you don’t have enough
But it’s ok,
I’m resigned from long ago
We weren’t born in the right place
No no, we weren’t born in the right place
We didn’t get anything
We made everything from nothing
And my folks, like yours, I’m sure
Didn’t raise me with bruises
They taught me how to stay away from wrong paths
They explained that the world is mean
And life is hard and that I have to do something
They told me that they’ll be gone one day
And I’ll have to struggle, I’ll have to fight
That time passes in an instance
It takes me from place to place,
It changes me by luck
It chases me for one single vote
The people feel, they want actions not words,
A simple man for president.
But it’s ok,
I’m resigned from long ago
We weren’t born in the right place
No no, we weren’t born in the right place
We didn’t get anything
We made everything from nothing
A BIG thank you to Dorian Enache of Music Expert Records for the top quality video clip and lyrics translation into English.
