Luna Amara / Bitter Moon
This is a simple story that happened in the moonlight. A story streaming from my own life. A story about a small moment that will remain for life in my memory.
Maybe many of you have a favourite band. And I bet many of you have hoped or dreamed To get the unique moment to meet the vocalist they like so much , or shake hands with the guitarist they consider to be the best in the world- maybe it is not so for others, but it is so for them.
My very favourite Romanian rock band is Luna Amara, a Romanian alternative rock/grunge band. The name means “Bitter Moon” in Romanian, and has been borrowed from the Roman Polanski movie of the same name, inspired by Pascal Bruckner’s novel with the same name.The band was formed by Nick Făgădar (vocals, guitar) and Gheorghe Farcaş (bass guitar) in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, in September 1999, in Romania. I had the chance to listen to them first time live in Sibiu, and I have discovered them much more after I left Romania in 2011.
Luna Amara has played on stage over 200 times in the past years, throughout Romania. As a live act, this Romanian five-piece outfit has a style that combines heavy metal with alternative rock. Luna Amara is also the first Romanian band to introduce the trumpet sound into an Alternative Rock style, a struck of genius in my humble opinion.
All the artists in the band try to dedicate their lives to promote and support a modern European society in Romania. Beyond the poetry in the love songs , their lyrics have often a political message, Luna Amară being also involved in ecological projects such as “Save Vama Veche” (protecting the endangered seahorses), “Save Roşia Montană” (protecting the wildlife and natural surroundings of a mountain area from cyanide poisoning caused by companies that extract gold) and other social awareness projects.
“Luna Amară” is one of Romania’s most successful rock bands and was the top selling artist in a national chain of music stores (Hollywood Music & Film) from July until September 2004. Their songs “Folclor” (“Folklore”), “Gri Dorian” (“Dorian Grey”), “Roşu aprins” (“Scarlet”) and “Ego nr. 4” reached number one in airplay charts at local radio stations around the country.
Throughout the years they have released several albums: “Asfalt” (Asphalt), “Loc lipsă” (Missing Place), “Don’t Let Your Dreams Fall Asleep”(where mainly the acoustic side of the band is underlined), “Pietre in Alb” (Stones in White), “Live la Conti” (Live at Conti). The band performed tours all over Romania in clubs and open air locations as well as shows in the Netherlands, Germany, Bulgaria, Turkey and played live at the Sziget Festival in Budapest.
They may be neither angels, nor heroes, but they are some extremely talented people. It is more than their personal love and feelings decanted in their music, it is also their passion and talent for music. I used to detach myself from stress listening to Deftones, Metallica and Incubus, but they are nowhere near Luna Amara. At least to me, because I am Romanian and Bitter Moon sing the longing and the pain in my native language. But it is not only this. I have discovered such beautiful blue sad profound lyrics attached to their music. They contribute with amazing poetry, not only with extremely versatile sound. Their songs are colourful, they bleed and ache, they are just beautifully alive.
Two years ago when I was back in Romania for few days I have tried desperately to buy their “Stones in White” album, yet no music shop or online store had it available, it was sold out. After a long online research I managed to find a link and I was promised to get the album the next night, when I was going back to Cluj in the evening for my next morning flight back to the UK.
The evening came, I took a taxi and we drove in the evening to the address where the recording studio was. It was a very simple encounter, but it has struck me very profoundly: Nick Fagadar, the founder of Luna Amara, met me almost in the middle of the night because he cared that somebody really wanted to have their album. He handed it to me with a kind smile , he shook my hand like a friend , with no pretentious gestures, and wished me to enjoy the music. I have been truly honoured not only to get the long desired album, but mostly by getting to meet in person the legend behind it.
There was something beautiful that I cannot describe radiating through him as we left him behind. I could not help but smile. The moon was shining, yet this time not bitter, but full of hope and mysterious meanings.
800 words, Memyselfandela , 2015
Photos: Google
Video: Youtube
Be
Come back Love, I have waited for you an eternity. I will wait till I’ll have no more reason to be…
Where I sit,
my windows burst with agony
only traces left of the sunshine.
Screams of pain,
from the bleeding heart within
smoke raising
from my dying fire,
life in a crude acknowledgement
and in the oblivion of my aching mind.
but all is left is this day,
within.
What is dull for others
is a deep dive in the consciousness for me,
my long-lost confession from deserted lives,
memories filling the deep blue sea
as a storm,
scratching lines on my face
and crevasses in my soul,
harbours of quiet
where sometimes only a lost echo
still lingers.
It is through this singular beauty,
the spark inside the chaos,
that I now witness
the only path that represents
sheer living.
I am consciousness.
Hanged like a shroud
eternity awaits
the sight of a life lived
with passion,
an escape from this colourless dimension
through the fire that burns deep inside every breath.
Madness it is, yet it is life
above just a carcass, into the soul
reborn –
pure existence
erasing all negative just to give life to life itself.
When I will finally open my windows
my silence will flood the outer universes
and my ardent heart
will cast far away the song of this ephemeral moment
so that my reflected souls outside
will know that we only had this day
to be.
Thank you Andre, Vandana and Luna Amara.
222 words, Memyselfandela, January 2014
Bitter Moon – Stones In White
Stones In White
“I want to set on fire
my last shore when I don’t feel anymore
and the moon in black waters would be silent
to extinguish myself
carried by green waves into wide seas
alone as I was when I came.
I will pass
as if on white sheets you would close a circle
and your hand learns a different shape
I can forgive
or I can lie that oneday I can somehow forgive
when all that was mine will belong to someone else
to someone else
All the white stones
gather oblivion
and all that lives gets extinguished and dies
Black oblivion covers the trace
you are blood and clay, your life is one
You could
lie yourself that I will still be here somehow
but we know so well how to forget
If you want
to throw two stones in white, not to take them
in your thought let me be nothing anymore
All the white stones
gather oblivion
and all that lives gets extinguished and dies
Black oblivion covers the trace
you are blood and clay, your life is one”
Blue Snow
night sieves its silences
upon my soul
cold snow falling
heavy as lead,
soft as silk,
blue as sadness
sleep creeps in my veins
sealing the purple behind my eyes
slowing the pace of my ventricles
turning me into numb shadow
————————————-
memyselfandela, 2013
Luna Amara / The Bitter Moon – Somn / Sleep
“somnul tau e greu dar ochii-ti sunt deschisi
rosie sta luna in pumnii tai inchisi
cauta ca orb sa dai de ea
iarba buna poate-i iarba rea…
somn a moarte tanara-n al tau pustiu
ard uitari in care nu mai pot sa fiu
soare nou s-arunc in ochii tai
soare nou sa arda pasii rai
tot ce esti e tot ce ai
n-ai sa pierzi dac-ai sa-ncerci sa dai
somn pe mare somn in leganat de vant
daca tu esti doar al tau eu cine sunt
greu e gandul vanat pe sub ochiul bland
am ramas sa fiu doar cine sunt
somn a moarte tanara-n al tau pustiu
ard uitari in care nu mai pot sa fiu
soare nou s-arunc in ochii tai
soare nou sa arda pasii rai
tot ce esti e tot ce ai
n-ai sa pierzi dac-ai sa-ncerci sa dai”
———————————————————
“your sleep is heavy but your eyes are open
red stands the moon in your closed fists
looking to find her like a blind man
the good grass is maybe the bad grass …
sleep of young death in your young desert
oblivions in which I cannot be anymore are burning
new sun let me throw in your eyes
new sun to burn the bad steps
all you are is all you have
you will not lose if you’ll try to give
Sleep on the sea, sleep rocked by the wind
if you are only yours, who am I
heavy is the purple thought under the mild eye
I am left to be just who I am
sleep of young death in your young desert
oblivions in which I cannot be anymore are burning
new sun let me throw in your eyes
new sun to burn the bad steps
all you are is all you have
you will not lose if you’ll try to give”
————————————————-
translation : memyselfandela, 2012
Luna Amara / The Bitter Moon – Gri Dorian / Dorian Grey
“How much do I wish only a moment with me
Hidden from restlessness – and far away from you
A night in the clouds throws me in the mud
It’s the hate and apathy and fury which draw me back
And it hurts, and it hurts, and hurts to bury myself between you
Ashes of Dorian grey washed by the rains
I have bones broken in violet sleep
I’m a bitter moon that slowly dims
How much did I wish to make everything better
You never believed in the world inside me
I’ve nothing of my own – only a bitter moon
Boozing and the silent scream – that don’t want to die
And it hurts, and it hurts, and hurts to bury myself between you
Ashes of Dorian grey washed by the rains
I have bones broken in violet sleep
I’m a bitter moon that slowly dims”
—————————————————————-
“Cât de mult îmi doresc doar o clipă cu mine
Ascuns de neliniști — și departe de tine
O noapte în nori mă aruncă în noroi
E ura și greața și furia ce mă trag înapoi
Și doare, și doare, și doare să mă-ngrop între voi
Cenuși de Gri Dorian spălate de ploi
Am oasele rupte în somn violet
Sunt o lună amară ce se stinge încet
Cât de mult îmi doream să fac totul mai bine
N-ai crezut niciodată în lumea din mine
N-am nimic doar al meu — o lună amară
Beția și urletul surd — ce nu vor să moară
Și doare, și doare, și doare să mă-ngrop între voi
Cenuși de Gri Dorian spălate de ploi
Am oasele rupte în somn violet
Sunt o lună amară ce se stinge încet”
——————————————————-
translation : Memyselfandela, 2012
Thoughts of the day
Not often I have the privilege of having few days off. This was one of those days.
As I opened my eyes this morning I heard the rain tapping on my windows. After spending some time organizing my future days(phonecalls, writing lists, planning what I’m going to do) I drank my cup of tea and I started to listen to Luna Amara, and so my day became wonderful.
I took some time to translate the lyrics for a few of their songs and I reblogged an older post with translation. I feel that these guys are so very talented, poetic, profound, Romanian. Maybe that’s why I love them so much.
If you ask me what I like doing the most in my spare time, the answer is not complicated. I enjoy listening to music, reading a lot, translating, writing. I like exploring a lot because I’m as curious as a cat (and cat owners know what I mean 🙂 ) And if I would have even more time I would start painting again. I could not get into the mood to paint again since my teenage years. I guess I could not concentrate on it because life has consumed me in different ways.
I love exchanging thoughts with you, my friends, so here I am. Still there are many thoughts that I keep for myself, as you all do. I usually smoke alone, I am as quiet as the leaves of a tree. Some say it is not healthy. Yes, I know. But neither is this crazy life. So I will stick to smoking my thoughts.
We are all probably here to connect to others, to reach out for more information, more inspiration, more positive energy, to get a sort of recognition that we miss, or to disconnect from our every day life and the stress and the bitter experiences. It’s a good question, why are we all here? Is it just an accident? Is this life only a stage in evolutionism as some say, or are we here for a higher purpouse? Are we here by chance or by the hand of destiny?
The thought that passed my mind all day was: “We are all interconnected”. Time and space become a relative thing when we share thoughts and get to know each other. We are interconnected and I love and respect you all. I thank you all for visiting my blog, for sharing thoughts, for debating with me, for asking, for giving. After all, this is your blog, not mine.
I tried to imagine you all, distant yet near. Some that I know, some that I imagine. How was your day? What were your thoughts? What were your worries?
As a great friend of mine says “I hope life was kind to you today!”
This makes me smile because life is not only a summ of unpredictible things and disasters, but also an image of our own decisions, emotions and gestures. If we would realize it life would get sweeter.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
500 words from the heart
Ela
Luna amara / The Bitter Moon – Albastru / Blue
The Bitter Moon – Blue
“From today I will not do anything anymore
I don’t want to stand up from the ground
I stay closed in my own head
it’s what I chose it’s what I want
I chose not to believe anymore
anything from what you allow me to see
nothing of your uniform
of your fists of your law
your beatings your frustration
breaking all on my face…
in your head I am nothing but
another minute and that’s all
you follow me but you don’t see me
you hear me talking but you don’t believe me
I also don’t believe that your gun
gives you any right upon me
and all I do is for you to be able
to give a sense to all your nothing
you’re just a human weaker worst…”
—————————————–
Luna Amara – Albastru
“De azi n-am sa mai fac nimic
de jos nu vreau sa ma ridic
stau inchis in capul meu
e ce-am ales e ce vreau eu
am ales sa nu mai cred
nimic din ce ma lasi sa vad
nimic din uniforma ta
din pumnii tai din legea ta
bataia ta frustrarea ta
se sparg acum de fata mea…
in capul tau nu sunt decat
decat un alt proces-verbal si-atat
ma urmaresti dar nu ma vezi
m-auzi vorbind dar nu ma crezi
nu cred nici eu ca arma ta
iti da vreun drept asupra mea
si tot ce fac e ca sa ai
un alt motiv mai bun sa dai
un sens la tot nimicul tau
esti doar un om mai slab mai rau… ”
————————————————-
translation : memyselfandela, 2012
Simply Rock – Luna Amara / The Bitter Moon
Luna Amara/The Bitter Moon – In Cercuri/In Circles
“there’s nothing to give to take and I return in us
I look for a second to hide me in soft silences
I know that in ths chaos is a rest and that in rest there’s a dead sound
but my love, my surprise, I cannot always stand
only you, me not
engraved in circle I accompany you and i save you of all that’s blind
beyond clouds beyond dawn i sip poisons
between us and I there are many keys and so many doors to break
and by the gates so many dead and I try to share them
just you, me not
your face painted badly and three knives I have dreamed
sad masacre necessary simulation and good for adoration
the circle has closed and all that’s dream now has happened in you
just you, me not
all that is unspoken
and in the black silence we will hold by the hand
a diferent kind of drog
and I will not pray
I will not try to make them understand”
——————————————————-
“nu mai e nimic de dat nimic de luat si eu-ntorc in noi
caut o secunda sa m-ascunda de aceste linisti moi
stiu ca-n acest haos e-un repaos si-n repaos e un sunet mort
dar iubirea mea, mirarea mea, nu pot mereu sa il suport
doar tu eu nu
incrustat in cerc eu te petrec si te salvez de tot ce-i orb
dincolo de nori dincolo de zori otravuri eu sorb
intre noi si eu sunt multe chei si-atat de multe usi de spart
si pe langa porti atatia morti si eu incerc sa ii impart
doar tu eu nu
chipul tau vopsit a rau si trei cutite am visat
trist masacru simulacru necesar si bun de adorat
si pe langa usi sunt doar cenusi pe care le-am gustat
cercul s-a inchis si tot ce-i vis acum in tine s-a-ntamplat
doar tu eu nu
tot ce-i nespus
o sa moara supus
si-n linistea neagra de mana vom duce
un altfel de drog
si n-am sa ma rog
n-am sa incerc sa ii fac sa-nteleaga”
————————————————————–
Luna Amara/ The Bitter Moon – In Gol/ In Emptiness
“I stay to listen how you throw
Great words like mud waves
I know how to listen to you when you try
Your tongue in purple blood to drown
I can help you if you want
To take the first stone from the ground
I want you to feel my heavy temples
Fallen in emptiness under your stone
I’m not rising words in the wind
My crucified tongue is silent in the song
You are a passing evil
Mediocre, false, deceptive
Blind if you were, I would amaze you
Of blood, through your eardrums I would empty you
Don’t try to understand
Your guilt is that you wanted to knot, not to untie
I know, it’s hard for you to understand
Simple things, natural events
We conspire to steal you
your precious poisonous nothing
Yes, we are everywhere
Lurking shadows in your world
But we only have one role
To watch you as you throw yourself into the emptiness
Even if I would want to forgive your nothing
I cannot lie anymore
That I’m sorry
That you’re sorry
You should be sorry…”
———————————–
“Stau sa te-aud cum arunci
Vorbe mari ca valuri de noroi.
Stiu sa te-ascult cand incerci,
Limba-n sange vanat sa-ti ineci.
Pot sa te-ajut, daca vrei,
Prima piatra de pe jos s-o iei.
Vreau sa imi simti tampla grea,
Rasturnata-n gol sub piatra ta.
Eu nu ridic vorbe-n vant,
Rastignita-mi limba tace-n cant.
Tu esti un rau trecator,
Mediocru, fals, amagitor.
Orb de ai, te-as uimi.
De sange, prin timpane, te-as goli.
Nu cauta sa-ntelegi.
Vina ta-i ca-i vrut sa-nnozi, nu sa dezlegi.
Stiu, iti e greu sa-ntelegi
Lucruri simple, intamplari firesti.
Noi, conspiram sa-ti furam
Pretiosul tau nimic inveninat.
Da, noi suntem peste tot.
Umbre serpuite-n lumea ta.
Da, noi avem doar un rol:
Sa privim cum te arungi in gol.
Chiar de-as vrea sa iert nimicul tau
Nu mai pot sa mint
Ca-mi pare rau
Ca-ti pare rau
Sa-tï para rau…”
——————————————————————
Luna Amara / The Bitter Moon – Versus
“today and yesterday
and all is left for you is only to ask
nights and a day
in which you don’t have a sense to exist anymore
head up
fist closed
in grey
burned and wet
of rains of fear your nude soul
do you remember-
hungry child
of a crude air?
when we did not exist.
them and us
and there are no more angels and heroes
all-nothing
is shared to us by a very small devil
do you still know anything
about your mind
when it did not see?
when we did not exist.
extinguished – lit
of a lie that kept on spreading
can you- can’t you
take all with you in silences?
you get too tired
to dig
in your head
in what is bad
wouldn’t you try
to be surprised?
of all those
memories?
from when we did not exist.”
————————————————–
“azi şi ieri
şi tot ce ţi-a rămas e doar să ceri
nopţi şi-o zi
în care nu mai ai un sens de-a fi
cu capul sus
cu pumnul strâns
în gri
ars şi ud
de ploi de frică-n sufletul tău nud
te vezi în gând
– copil flămând
de-un aer crud?
atunci când nu eram.
ei şi noi
şi nu mai sunt nici îngeri nici eroi
tot – nimic
ne e-mpărţit de-un diavol foarte mic
mai ştii ceva
de mintea ta
când nu vedea?
atunci când nu eram.
stins – aprins
de o minciună ce s-a tot întins
poţi – nu poţi
cu tine în tăceri să-i duci pe toţi?
prea oboseşti
să scormoneşti
în capul tău
în ce e rău
n-ai vrea să-ncerci
să te mai miri?
de toate-acele
amintiri?
de-atunci când nu eram.”
—————————————-
translations: memyselfandela, 2012
The Bitter Moon / Luna Amara – Stones In White / Pietre In Alb
Stones in white
“I want to set on fire
my last shore when I don’t feel anymore
and the moon in black waters would be silent
to extinguish myself
carried by green waves into wide seas
alone as I was when I came.
I will pass
as if on white sheets you would close a circle
and your hand learns a different shape
I can forgive
or I can lie that one day I can somehow forgive
when all that was mine will belong to someone else
to someone else
All the white stones
gather oblivion
and all that lives gets extinguished and dies
Black oblivion covers the trace
you are blood and clay, your life is one
You could
lie yourself that I will still be here somehow
but we know so well how to forget
If you want
to throw two stones in white, not to take them
in your thought let me be nothing anymore
All the white stones
gather oblivion
and all that lives gets extinguished and dies
Black oblivion covers the trace
you are blood and clay, your life is one”
The Bitter Moon – Stones in white
Pietre in alb
“Vreau s-aprind
ultimul meu mal cand nu mai simt
si luna-n ape negre ar tacea
sa ma sting
dus de valuri verzi in larg de mari
singur cum eram cand am venit.
Am sa trec
ca si cum pe albe foi inchizi un cerc
si mana ta deprinde alt contur
pot sa iert
sau pot sa mint ca pot sa iert cumva
cand tot ce-a fost al meu va fi al altcuiva
al altcuiva
Toate pietrele albe
aduna uitare
si tot ce e viu se stinge si moare
neagra uitare acopera urma
esti sange si lut viata ta-i una
Ai putea
sa te minti ca voi fi tot aici cumva
dar stim atat de bine sa uitam.
Daca vrei
doua pietre-n alb s-arunci nu sa le iei
in gandul tau sa nu mai fiu nimic.
Toate pietrele albe
aduna uitare
si tot ce e viu se stinge si moare
neagra uitare acopera urma
esti sange si lut, viata ta-i una.”
Luna Amara – Pietre in alb
Luna Amara / The Bitter Moon – In Tine Tu / You in Yourself
“In the eye of a child,
In a subtle smile,
In the laughter of an old man that humbly prays
In a coffee from a too hard night
In a holway with asylum smell…
In a kind of a kiss,
In an unknown thought,
In a cup of tea and a mute good bye
You will find out, you will see…
In an innocent face
In a too kind gesture
In a pointless day that passes too slow
In the battered hands of an absent father
In a shooting star
In the aching wound
In shoulders stretched for surprise
you will find out, you will see…
You will find out and you will know and you will see
You will hear and touch and believe
You will scream your surprise and so, it will be yours!
In a game with the glass
In a pontless running away,
In separations and the dirty game
In silence and in the voice that asks
And the hand that holds a newspaper
In a moment of haste
In the blind world
In the mouth that wants to sip
You will find out, you will see…
You will find out and you will know and you will see
You will hear and touch and believe
You will scream your surprise and so, it will be yours!
And all that is covered in smoke,
you try to hide….
Anyway… it’s too late to do it now…
Isn’t it?”
——————————————-
“Intr-un ochi de copil,
Intr-un zambet subtil,
Intr-un ras de batran ce se roaga umil,
Intr-o cafea, dintr-o noapte prea grea
Si intr-un hol cu miros de azil…
Intr-un fel de sarut,
Intr-un gand nestiut,
Intr-o cana de ceai si-un ramas bun mut,
Vei afla, vei vedea…
Intr-un chip inocent,
Intr-un gest prea atent,
Intr-o zi fara rost care trece prea lent,
Cu mainile muncite si obosite ale unui tata absent…
Intr-o stea cazatoare,
In rana ce doare,
In umeri stransi a mirare,
Vei afla, vei vedea…
Ai sa afli si-ai sa stii si-ai sa vezi,
Ai s-auzi si-ai sa atingi si-ai sa crezi,
Ai sa-ti urli mirarea si-asa, va fi a a ta!
Intr-un joc de pahar,
Intr-o fuga-n zadar,
In despartiri si jocul murdar,
In tacere si glasul ce cere
Si mana ce strange-un ziar,
Intr-o clipa de graba,
In lumea cea oarba,
In gura ce vrea sa soarba,
Vei afla, vei vedea…
Ai sa afli s-ai sa stii s-ai sa vezi,
Ai s-auzi s-ai sa atingi s-ai sa crezi,
Ai sa-ti urli mirarea s-asa, va fi a a ta!
Si tot ce e-nvelit in fum,
Incerci sa te ascunzi…
Oricum… E prea tarziu s-o faci acum…
Nu-i asa? …”
——————————————-
translation: memyselfandela, 2012
Luna Amara – Rosu Aprins / The Bitter Moon – Burning Red
“N-ai cum sa lasi cum sa uiti / You can’t leave, you can’t forget
Totul in noapte / Everything in the night
Oricat ti-ar parea de usor / No matter how easy it may seem
Stinge o stea – si ramai pe sub pleoape / Burn out a star – and remain under the eyelids
Stinge si luna amara cu un nor / Also burn out the bitter moon with a cloud
Rosu aprins – coloreaza-mi tacerea / Bright red – colour my silence
Rosu aprins – pe un suras ce s-a stins / Burning red – on a smile that has died
Rosu aprins – sa-mi ascunda durerea / Burning red – to cover my pain
In noapte ma pierd – cu noaptea te iert / in the night I lose myself – with the night I forgive you
Te ascund intre coaste ce dor / I hide you between hurting ribs
Cu luna amara / With the bitter moon
Cand tot ce-mi doresc e rosu aprins / When everything I long for is burning red
Nu vreau sa te pierd in lumea de-afara / I don’t want to lose you in the outside world
Ramai neschimbata – rosu nestins! / Remain unchanged – unextinguished red!”
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Luna Amara, Romanian Rock Band
Translation: memyselfandela, 2012
memyselfandela 