Ampop is an Icelandic melodic-pop/rock band from Reykjavík, Iceland. The na… Read Full Bio ↴Ampop is an Icelandic melodic-pop/rock band from Reykjavík, Iceland. The name of the band is actually the name of the first song they ever wrote, and is made from the words ambient and pop, which they thought was the definition of the music they were making at that time.

The band was originally a duo, but before making their third album they added a drummer to the band. The band currently consists of 3 members:

Biggi Hilmars: Guitar, Vocals
Kjartan: Keyboards
Jón Geir: Drums
Those in the know will have first come across the band through their two critically acclaimed electronic based albums released in their homeland. The second of these (“Made for Market”) was considered by many local critics the best Icelandic album of 2003. Their one supporter outside Iceland was John Peel.

Keen to develop their sound the band bunkered down in their own studio and over time developed a more organic and song based direction moving away from the more electronic influences of their earlier material. The first examples of the band’s new direction were demo versions of two songs, “My Delusions” and “Don’t let me down” which saw the light of day early in 2005. These tracks were instantly picked up on by Radio 1’s; Zane Lowe who played “My delusions” on several occasions and invited the band to play live on his show from Austin, Texas, during this year’s SXSW music festival. AMPOP played alongside The Bravery, Hot Hot Heat, The Blood Arm and Queens of the Stone Age as the only unsigned band.

Other important DJs such as Huw Stephens and Vic Galloway at Radio 1, or Vic McGlynn at BBC 6 Music have also put the stamp of approval to the new songs and have championed the band in their radio shows.

After the successful appearance at SXSW the band went back to their studio to finish the album, stopping only to play in NY and the NXNE festival in Toronto. The first single off the new album, “My delusions”, gets a UK release via Relentless Records imprint Stimulus Records , who spotted the band live in Austin, on November the 28th.

The band has been invited to support KT Tunstall in Aberdeen on October the 4 th at a Radio 2 event, and will be playing London next to launch the single on November the 28 th at Islington Bar Academy.

Meanwhile, back in Iceland, the brand new album, “My delusions”, is now out via Dennis Records/Sena and is getting rave reviews and extensive radio play.

Studio albums
Sail to the moon (2006)
My Delusions (2005)
Made For Market (2002)
Nature Is Not A Virgin (2000)

Singles
Gets me Down (2006)
My Delusions / Youth (2005)
Made For Market (2002)

Youth
Ampop Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Time, time
I'm caught by the past
Future, what do you come up with next?
Memories are holding me back
and I can't carry on

Youth, youth
You've stolen my pride

Tomorrow, please be by my side
Memories are holding me back and I can't continue
after all I've been through
I can't continue
after all I've been through

I'm stuck in past tense
and it does not make sense
How do I cross this fence?

Youth, youth
You're still on my mind

Past days have been unkind
Tomorrow, will you ever make friends with me?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ampop's "Youth" express a sense of feeling stuck in the past and unable to move on. The singer is preoccupied with memories and their hold on them, which prevents them from embracing the future. The repetition of the phrase "memories are holding me back" reinforces the idea that the past is a burden that the singer is struggling to shake off. They feel that their youth has been taken away from them, and this has resulted in a loss of pride. The plaintive plea for tomorrow to be by their side shows a hope for a brighter future and a desire to leave the past behind.

The chorus of the song highlights the central theme of youth and its power over the singer's mind. The refrain "Youth, youth" is a lament for the time that has passed, and the singer is mourning the loss of their youthful exuberance. The repeated use of the word "after" conveys a sense of resignation and finality, suggesting that the singer feels unable to move on from the past.

The line "past days have been unkind" is a poignant acknowledgement of the difficulties and hardships that the singer has faced. The final question directed to tomorrow is one of hope and longing, revealing a sense of optimism about the future and a desire to forge a new relationship with youth.

Line by Line Meaning

Time, time
The singer is addressing the concept of time

I'm caught by the past
The past still emotionally affects the singer

Future, what do you come up with next?
The singer is expressing uncertainty about the future

Memories are holding me back
The artist's past is preventing them from moving forward

and I can't carry on
The artist is having difficulty dealing with their emotions

Youth, youth
The singer is addressing the concept of youth

You've stolen my pride
The singer's youth has been taken away from them, leaving them feeling humbled

Tomorrow, please be by my side
The artist is asking for the future to bring them support

Memories are holding me back and I can't continue
The artist's past continues to affect them negatively, preventing them from moving forward

after all I've been through
The artist has experienced hardship, contributing to their present struggles

I can't continue
The singer is at a breaking point and struggling to persevere