Recording of their debut, Corabia Nebunilor (Madmen's Ship), begins in winter 2004, with a video being shot for the eponymous track. In summer 2005, however, George suffers a severe car accident and the band is put on hold for several months. Following his recovery, Travka's debut album is finally released in December, gathering very positive reviews.
The band continued playing various gigs and festivals around the country, attracting more and more fans with their eccentric approach and often cryptic lyrics, quickly becoming a household name in Romanian rock music. It is not, however, until 2007 that the band records and, later that year, releases their sophomore album: Vreau sa simt Praga (I Want to Feel Prague). This release causes quite a stir in the media, being the first Romanian album freely available over the Internet under a Creative Commons license.
After extensive touring to support their latest release, in August 2008 Travka announced its break-up. Three of the members went on to establish the electronical trio Discoballs Project.
On March 7th 2010, Travka announced their reunion, in the original line-up. They held their last concert in 2017, celebrating their 15th anniversary.
Urban Violent
Travka Lyrics
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Din capul tau te țin departe de tine,
Departe de insule, de poze, de fumat
De ministerul extern...
Departe de tine, aproape de tine,
Departe de tine, departe.
Departe de sâni, de sex, de ruj,
De mov, de sărut, albastru Beirut
Urban violent, urban violent
Mii de gânduri pe secundă,
O sută de mile prin gând,
Singurătate, antivirus, din gând în gând,
Cu piciorul meu stâng, cad
Calc prin capul tău, fără cal, fără plumb,
O sută de mile prin gând,
Urban violent, urban violent.
Urban violent, urban violent, urban violent.
Am nevoie de o clipă de intimitate.
The lyrics to Travka's song "Urban Violent" describe the feeling of being disconnected from oneself and the world around them. The first stanza describes moments when everything seems to keep the person's mind away from themselves - be it islands, pictures, smoking, or even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite being physically close, the person feels distant from themselves. The second stanza talks about the overwhelming flood of thoughts that rush through the person's mind, making them feel more isolated and alone. The repetition of "Urban violent" seems to symbolize the chaotic and aggressive atmosphere of the city, which exacerbates this feeling of isolation and disconnection. The final line, "Am nevoie de o clipă de intimitate" (I need a moment of intimacy), expresses the longing for human connection and a moment of peace amidst the chaos.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a struggle with mental health and the challenges of modern urban living. The singer feels bombarded by thoughts and stimuli, making it difficult to connect with themselves and others. The repeated phrase "Urban violent" represents the intensity and potential danger of this environment, reinforcing the feeling of being trapped or under attack. The closing line offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that intimacy and connection might provide a way out of this cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
Există momente când toate
There are moments when everything
Din capul tau te țin departe de tine,
From your head keeps you away,
Departe de insule, de poze, de fumat
Far from islands, photos, smoking
De ministerul extern...
From the foreign ministry...
Departe de tine, aproape de tine,
Far from you, close to you,
Departe de tine, departe.
Far from you, far.
Departe de sâni, de sex, de ruj,
Far from breasts, sex, lipstick,
De mov, de sărut, albastru Beirut
From purple, kissing, blue Beirut
Urban violent, urban violent,
Urban violent, urban violent,
Urban violent, urban violent
Urban violent, urban violent
Mii de gânduri pe secundă,
Thousands of thoughts per second,
O sută de mile prin gând,
One hundred miles through thoughts,
Singurătate, antivirus, din gând în gând,
Loneliness, antivirus, from thought to thought,
Cu piciorul meu stâng, cad
With my left foot, I fall
Calc prin capul tău, fără cal, fără plumb,
I step through your head, without a horse, without a lead,
O sută de mile prin gând,
One hundred miles through thoughts,
Urban violent, urban violent.
Urban violent, urban violent.
Urban violent, urban violent, urban violent.
Urban violent, urban violent, urban violent.
Am nevoie de o clipă de intimitate.
I need a moment of intimacy.
Writer(s): Alexei Turcan
Contributed by Nicholas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.