The band has cultivated its frenetic sound for over a dozen years. Three guys, friends since they were kids in the small town of Harjavalta, have welded into a tight-knit unit. Every piece holds the others together. Lapko's perfect trio of Malja (guitar and vocals), Anssi Nordberg (bass) and Janne Heikkonen (drums) first pricked ears with energetic live shows. Then the release of the EP Your Special K.O. (2003) and debut album The Arms (2004) introduced a hungry band.
The music's evolution from punk to explosive yet heart-wrenching rock still continues. The basics remain: sharp drumming and tight basslines are the steady spine with dizzying guitars and desperate vocals branching out like the nervous system. Second album Scandal (2006) took LAPKO to number two in the Finnish album charts. The reputation as a fierce live band continued to grow in Finland, around Europe and in the US. Third album Young Desire (2007) added more depth and vulnerability to Lapko's aggressive melancholy.
In 2009 Lapko crossed the Atlantic and set camp in Woodstock, New York Producer D. James Goodwin was trusted with focusing the trio's buzzing inspiration and ambition to create A New Bohemia (2010), and a year after this fruitful cooperation the band returned to Woodstock record their next album, the hard hitting LOVE (2012).
In 2013, the band’s founding member & drummer Janne Heikkonen moved on to play the guitar and the band recruited Jussi Matikainen to play drums, and so LAPKO MK2 was born.
After 5 top ten albums, countless live shows and a new member in the band, LAPKO camped at the E-Studio in Helsinki to record their new album with producer David Bottrill (TOOL, Placebo, Muse), and enlisted D. James Goodwin again to mix the new album called Freedom, which will be out in spring 2015.
LAPKO
Ville Malja (guitar and vocals)
Anssi Nordberg (bass)
Janne Heikkonen (guitar)
Jussi Matikainen (drums)
Links:
www.lapko.com
www.facebook.com/lapkolapko
www.twitter.com/lapkomusic
www.instagram.com/lapkogram
Summer Nights
Lapko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey girl - You gotta breathe in right now
Your smile shines like the sun of a summer night
Your soul is free like dance on a beach
Hey girl - You're gonna turn off your ears
You're gonna turn off your eyes
Life is black anyways - that's all
Fool it - You can fool it by your smile
You can fool it by ignoring
Summer nights, summertime
Hey girl - You have wings on your little back
Hey girl - You mother must have been a bird
Your smile shines like a cancelled suicide
That's why you're better not to become old
Fool it - You can fool it by your smile
You can fool it by ignoring
You can fool it by your shine
You can fool it by ignoring
Hey girl - There's no reason for you to cry
And girl - Remember to breathe right now
The lyrics to Lapko's song "Summer Nights" are about living in the moment and embracing the freedom and beauty of the present. The singer addresses a girl, perhaps a troubled soul, and urges her to let go of her worries and appreciate the simple pleasures in life. The repeated lines of "hey girl" serve to reassure and encourage her, suggesting that she has the potential to fly and live life to the fullest. The image of a smile that can fool the darkness is a powerful one, suggesting that even in the face of hardship and pain, the ability to stay positive and enjoy the good moments can make all the difference.
The chorus of "Summer Nights" is the standout element of the song, with its references to warm weather and carefree times. The singer compares the girl's soul to "dance on a beach," emphasizing the freedom and lightness that comes from being young and fearless. The mention of "cancelled suicide" is a surprising contrast, but it works to highlight the importance of staying alive and seeing the beauty of life even when it feels impossible. Overall, the song has a hopeful and inspiring message that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find joy in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girl - Where do you spend your afterlife
Asking the girl about what happens after death
Hey girl - You gotta breathe in right now
Encouraging the girl to live in the moment
Your smile shines like the sun of a summer night
Praising the girl's beautiful smile
Your soul is free like dance on a beach
Complimenting the girl's carefree and happy nature
Hey girl - You're gonna turn off your ears
Advising the girl to avoid negative things
You're gonna turn off your eyes
Further advising the girl to avoid negative things
Life is black anyways - that's all
Life is full of darkness and negativity
Fool it - You can fool it by your smile
Explaining that a smile can hide one's emotions
You can fool it by ignoring
Advising to ignore negativity
Summer nights, summertime
Referring to a joyful summer season
Hey girl - You have wings on your little back
Complimenting the girl by saying she has angelic qualities
Hey girl - You mother must have been a bird
Further complimenting the girl for her free spirit
Your smile shines like a cancelled suicide
Comparing the girl's smile to the triumph of overcoming hardship
That's why you're better not to become old
Suggesting that youthfulness and freedom are valuable traits
Hey girl - There's no reason for you to cry
Comforting the girl and telling her that everything will be okay
And girl - Remember to breathe right now
Reminding the girl to stay present and live in the moment
Contributed by Alexander O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kosmogeisha
It's funny how before I saw the video this song really was bringing me images of summer adventures :d I love this band for positive surprising me all the time.
@arilindqvist5206
tää rautaa
@MUFFINGAY
pirun upea kappale.
@LilyPetShops0893
Tuossahan on Harjavallan Outokummun kuonakasa ;-)
@TuliTissi
luoja, miten rakastan tätä biisiä..
@MrBumblehd
Sounds a lot like Bushwick blues by Delta Spirit but it's still a belter!
@desveritas
It sounds much like placebo at some parts...which means,it's very good! ;)
@JVAJ88
Tuliha sitä uuttaki videoo... ja viel mahtavalle biisille. Viel ku Horse and Crow:sta tulis video, niin kusisin hunajaa :) Missäköhän päin on kuvattu kyseinen video?
@OnlyMein21Century
great song. but i don't like the video, it doesn't match with the song