Ana Popović's father first introduced her to the blues, through an extensive record collection and sessions hosted at the family home. Popović founded her first serious band at age nineteen. Within a year, she was playing outside of Yugoslavia and opening shows for American blues icons like Junior Wells. Her band Hush released their debut album, Hometown in 1998. The next year, Popović relocated to the Netherlands to study jazz guitar. She quickly became a fixture on the Dutch blues scene and soon ventured into neighboring Germany.
Awards & Nominations:
2002 — Three-way nominee for "Best Singer", "Best Guitarist" and "Best Album" at the French Blues Awards.
2003 — First European nominated for "Best New Artist Debut" at the W.C. Handy Award in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.
2003 — Nominated for "Best Blues Album’’ at the Jammie Awards in New York City.
2004 — Winner of the award Jazz à Juan Revelation in Juan-les-Pins, France.
2006 — Nominated for 'Best Blues DVD (2005)', 'Best Live Performer', 'Best Female Blues Artist' and 'Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)' at the 'Living Blues Awards'.
2007 — Nominated for 'Blues Artist of the Year' (BluesWax 2007, USA).
2010 — Nominated as 'Best Overseas Artist' at the British Blues Awards.
2011 — Winner 'Best Blues DVD' at the Blues Matters Awards (UK)
2011 — Three-way nominee for "Contemporary Blues Album" (Unconditional), "Contemporary Blues Female Artist" and "Best DVD" (An Evening at Trasimeno Lake) at the 33rd Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.
http://www.anapopovic.com/home
Lives That Don't Exist
Ana Popovic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do you deal with fame?
When spot-lights keep you
unamused just the same
how do you learn the rules
of a game you can't resist?
Sweet sweet unbearable
Lives that don't exist
Make you or brake you
Like they even care
Wanna be out in 10 seconds
try: playing it fair
Full color front page photo
who'll refuse to stare
Blame it on a gossip channel
Wishing you were there
saying: Lives that don't exist
Make the most of it now
rocks are only fair
up & close, cribs and rides
let the people stare
Hey look at you now
in your Gucci stun
your illuminated privacy
guarded with the gun
Lives that don't exist
If you wanna know the price
of an unpredictable life
being daily spotted, filmed and traced
cuts you like a knife
Full color front page photo
who'll refuse to stare
Blame it on a gossip channel
Wishing you were there
Sayin' Lives that don't exist
In "Lives That Don't Exist," Ana Popovic questions the reality of fame and the challenges that come with it. She poses a series of questions about how one deals with attention and fame when they are perceived differently. The chorus repeats, "Sweet sweet unbearable lives that don't exist" implying that the glitz and glam of fame come at great personal cost.
Throughout the song, Popovic explores the game of fame, questioning how one learns the rules of a world that is so foreign to most. She also touches on the superficial aspects of fame such as full-color front-page photos and being in the spotlight for a brief moment, encouraging us to make the most of it now since it may not last.
Popovic comments on the privacy that celebrities give up in exchange for fame. Just because they become cultural icons and adored by many, their private life may be plagued with tragedy, illusion, and intense scrutiny. She sings, "Blame it on a gossip channel, Wishing you were there."
Overall, "Lives That Don't Exist" dives into Popovic's personal insights into the pitfalls and anguish of fame, which are often obscured by the public's fixation and idolization of those who achieve it.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you deal with attention?
How do you cope with the constant scrutiny of others on you?
How do you deal with fame?
How do you handle being a well-known and highly regarded individual?
When spot-lights keep you unamused just the same
When being in the spotlight loses its novelty and becomes mundane
how do you learn the rules of a game you can't resist?
How can you learn to navigate the world of fame and attention even though you cannot resist it's allure?
Sweet sweet unbearable Lives that don't exist
The glamorous and highly publicized lives that are presented to the public are not necessarily real or authentic, but rather unbearable to those who live them.
Make you or brake you Like they even care
The public's reaction to a celebrity can either make or break them, but regardless of the outcome, the public does not actually care about the celebrity as a person.
Wanna be out in 10 seconds try: playing it fair
If a person wants to escape the public eye, they should try to play by the rules and behave in a way that is acceptable to society.
Full color front page photo who'll refuse to stare
A highly visible and striking photograph on the front page of a publication will always grab people's attention, regardless of who the subject of the photo may be.
Blame it on a gossip channel Wishing you were there
The constant barrage of information from gossip channels about celebrities' lives can make regular people wish they were leading the same kind of lives.
Saying: Lives that don't exist
The superficial and glamorous lives that are presented to the public do not necessarily represent the true lives of the people being featured.
Make the most of it now rocks are only fair
Celebrities should try to take advantage of their fame while they have it, as their popularity could easily disappear at any moment.
up & close, cribs and rides let the people stare
Being highly visible to the public can involve opening up one's personal life to scrutiny, including one's living space and transportation.
Hey look at you now in your Gucci stun
Addressing the subject directly, noting the luxury or extravagance of their appearance.
your illuminated privacy guarded with the gun
Despite the glamorous image being presented, celebrities must still take measures to protect their privacy, often resorting to security measures such as armed guards.
If you wanna know the price of an unpredictable life
The true cost of a life in the public eye, which can be unpredictable and difficult to manage.
being daily spotted, filmed and traced cuts you like a knife
Constant attention and scrutiny can be emotionally draining, feeling like a sharp and constant pain.
Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.