In 2018, Papa and Vidović decided to rebrand, replacing dark pop sound with nostalgic synthwave sound of the '80s and starting to make music in their native Croatian.[6] Under the new name Pocket Palma, they released an EP Godišnji in summer 2019. During the same year, they signed a contract with Croatian label Aquarius Records and released their self-titled debut album in Croatian. That same year, Bruno Žabek joined the band as the guitarist.
Papa and Vidović met in high school in 2012 and, started making covers of songs by Arctic Monkeys and Guns N' Roses "for fun". They both attended elementary music school, where Papa played the flute and Vidović played the piano. Following their graduation from high school, they enrolled in the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb.
In 2013, they released their debut single "Things Which No One Else Should Know About" under the name Side Project, after which they began working on their debut album. In March 2015, they released a music video for their new single "Glitter", directed by Filip "Philatz" Filković. On 4 September the same year, they released their debut studio album Things Which No One Else Should Know About. They promoted the album by holding a concert in Tvornica Kulture, Zagreb on 5 December.
In 2016, they released singles "Guns" and "Giving Souls Away". In June 2017, they released their new single "Second Skin", inspired by Zagreb Pride 2017. In September the same year, they released the lead single off their sophomore album of the same name, "Lonely Boys". During the same year, they recorded official soundtrack for Filip Filković's short dystopian film The Last Well, which was released in November. In December, Lonely Boys was released.
In 2018, Papa revealed they had dropped out of university.
Papa and Vidović stated that they had spent most of 2018 separated, consequently not knowing how to make music for Side Project together as they both had headed in different directions. They simply "were not inspired to make new Side Project material". During one of their sessions, they decided to translate one of the songs they had written to Croatian and thought it "sounded cool". In spring 2018, they composed new music and wrote lyrics about going to the seaside, going out of the city, and summer love in English to it. They said they had decided to try themselves out in synth pop "after Vidović had wandered to Yugoslav synth pop playlists on YouTube". In the beginning of 2019, they decided to write about the same topics, but in Croatian instead. They released their debut single in Croatian, titled "Godišnji", under the new name Pocket Palma. In May 2019, they released a mini-album of the same name. Until the autumn, they scored a radio hit "Ono što nam inače nedostaje".
After Pocket Palma's music had been taken down from online platforms, Papa and Vidović announced in October they had signed a contract with Croatian label Aquarius Records. In December, they released their debut self-titled album in Croatian for Aquarius. It consisted of all songs from Godišnji, as well as four new songs. The album was met with universal acclaim by the critics, who compared it with Croatian bands Nipplepeople and Denis & Denis.
On 31 January 2020, Aquarius Records rereleased the duo's Side Project works. On 29 February, they held a concert in Tvornica Kulture, Zagreb. In March, they released two collaborations, "Voli me" with ManGroove and "Minuta (PP Version)" with Ida Prester.
Ne Mogu Biti Kao Oni
pocket palma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Al' meni nema pomoći
I nije bitno želim li
Na mojem tjelu sve je previše
Teško ću se toga riješit
To su samo stare navike
Kad probao sam nestat
Bježao sam sam od sebe
Imam nešto zdravog razuma
No nekad izgubim kontrolu ja
Ne mogu biti kao oni
Ne mogu biti kao oni
Kost i koža, kao oni
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Je l' moguće da nekom je
Bez razmišljanja i panike
U tijelu barem dobro je
Nemam vremena za promjene
Imam nešto me peče
Kad vidim odraz u ogledalu
Ne mogu povezat sve
Sa ovom osobom što gleda me
Imam nešto zdravog razuma
No nekad izgubim kontrolu ja
Ne mogu biti kao oni
Ne mogu biti kao oni
Kost i koža, kao oni
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji, mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Budi muško, budi muško kao oni
Ne mogu biti kao oni
Kost i koža, kao oni
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji, mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
Ne mogu biti kao oni
In the song "Ne Mogu Biti Kao Oni" by Pocket Palma, the lyrics explore a deep sense of internal conflict and self-perception, highlighting the struggle between individuality and societal expectations. The opening lines express a recognition of unhealthy thoughts and intentions, suggesting a battle with one’s own desires and the pressure to conform. The singer acknowledges their problems, indicating a feeling of hopelessness about addressing them. This internal turmoil is exacerbated by the pressure to fit a certain mold, where "ništa nije bitno" (nothing is important) when it comes to the desire for change; instead, the singer is resigned to the weight of their past and habitual behaviors that keep them tethered to a state of discomfort.
The refrain "Ne mogu biti kao oni" (I cannot be like them) serves as a central theme of the song, encapsulating the artist's struggle with comparison. The reference to "kost i koža" (bone and skin) emphasizes the superficial nature of physicality and highlights a longing for acceptance. The singer feels that if they could just emulate those around them—who seem to embody an effortless confidence—they might be a better person. However, this battle against their own identity leads to questions of authenticity and the consequences of losing one’s true self in pursuit of an ideal. The mention of losing control serves as a potent reminder of how easily one can be swept away by external expectations.
The lyrics also delve into the notion of self-awareness and the dissonance that arises from recognizing one's flaws while still grappling with them. The contrasting sentiments of possessing "nešto zdravog razuma" (something of sound mind) yet simultaneously losing control suggest a complexity in the singer's character—one that is both introspective and susceptible to external influences. There’s a raw honesty in the singer's attempt to reconcile their sense of self with the reflection they see in the mirror. This reflection, painful and confusing, exemplifies the disconnect felt when one's internal identity does not match their external reality.
Ultimately, the repetition of the phrase "mislim da bih tako bio bolji" (I think I would be better that way) conveys a sense of desperation and longing for change. Yet, intertwined with this desire is an acknowledgment of the intensity of their struggle. The pressure to "budi muško, budi muško kao oni" (be a man, be like them) underscores societal expectations of masculinity and the pain that arises when one feels inadequate under these demands. The song encapsulates not just a personal struggle of identity but also presents a critique of the societal norms that compel individuals to conform, creating a poignant dialogue on the complexities of self-acceptance in a world that often values conformity over individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Nezdrave su namjere
Our intentions are unhealthy, revealing a struggle with negative thoughts and desires that cloud one's judgment.
Al' meni nema pomoći
Yet, I feel hopeless, sensing that no external support can alleviate my inner turmoil.
I nije bitno želim li
It doesn't even matter what I desire; the conflict within overshadows any personal wishes.
Na mojem tjelu sve je previše
My body carries a weight of excess, both physically and emotionally, signaling a struggle with self-acceptance.
Teško ću se toga riješit
I will find it difficult to rid myself of these burdens, illustrating a sense of entrapment in my own habits.
To su samo stare navike
These are merely old habits, highlighting the cyclical nature of behaviors that are hard to break.
Kad probao sam nestat
When I tried to disappear, capturing a desire to escape from reality and the self.
Bježao sam sam od sebe
I was running away from myself, encapsulating the internal conflict and aversion one can feel towards their own identity.
Imam nešto zdravog razuma
I possess a flicker of rational thought, indicating moments of clarity amidst the chaos.
No nekad izgubim kontrolu ja
But sometimes, I lose control, suggesting the struggle to maintain stability in the face of overwhelming emotions.
Ne mogu biti kao oni
I cannot be like them, reflecting a sense of alienation from societal expectations or norms.
Ne mogu biti kao oni
I cannot be like them, reiterating the resistance to conform to perceptions of normalcy.
Kost i koža, kao oni
Flesh and bone, like them, pointing out the superficial similarities that don't resonate with the internal struggles.
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
I think I would be better that way, expressing a yearning for an alternate version of myself that fits in.
Je l' moguće da nekom je
Is it possible for someone to be, questioning if it's feasible for anyone to truly live without anxiety.
Bez razmišljanja i panike
Without overthinking and panic, highlighting the desire for a life free from mental burdens.
U tijelu barem dobro je
At least my body feels fine, indicating a disconnection between physical and emotional well-being.
Nemam vremena za promjene
I don't have time for change, conveying a sense of resignation about personal growth.
Imam nešto me peče
I have something that burns within me, illustrating unresolved feelings that cause distress.
Kad vidim odraz u ogledalu
When I see my reflection in the mirror, implying a confrontation with one's true self.
Ne mogu povezat sve
I can't connect everything, depicting the confusion and dissonance within one's identity.
Sa ovom osobom što gleda me
With this person who stares back at me, emphasizing the disconnect between self-perception and reality.
Imam nešto zdravog razuma
I possess a glimmer of common sense, once again acknowledging the battle for clarity amidst confusion.
No nekad izgubim kontrolu ja
But sometimes, I lose control, reiterating the struggle to harness one's emotions and rationality.
Ne mogu biti kao oni
I cannot be like them, reasserting the desire to retain individuality in a conformist world.
Ne mogu biti kao oni
I cannot be like them, emphasizing the persistent feeling of being different.
Kost i koža, kao oni
Flesh and bone, like them, acknowledging the physical likeness that does not reflect emotional truth.
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji, mislim da bih tako bio bolji
I think I would be better that way, expressing a recurring wish for a perceived ideal self.
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
I think I would be better that way, highlighting an internal debate regarding self-worth.
Budi muško, budi muško kao oni
Be a man, be a man like them, indicating societal pressure to conform to traditional masculine standards.
Ne mogu biti kao oni
I cannot be like them, concluding with a reaffirmation of individuality against the backdrop of societal expectations.
Kost i koža, kao oni
Flesh and bone, like them, reiterating the superficial comparisons that fail to acknowledge deeper struggles.
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji, mislim da bih tako bio bolji
I think I would be better that way, reflecting on the relentless self-comparison that permeates one's thoughts.
Mislim da bih tako bio bolji
I think I would be better that way, signifying an ongoing quest for acceptance and validation.
Ne mogu biti kao oni
I cannot be like them, capturing the essence of personal struggle against the overwhelming pull to fit in.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Anja Papa, Luka Vidovic
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@its___tam
vi ste najbolji a možda čak i najbolji
@kinga_ka
Guys, you're soooo amazing. This music is wow, warm greetings from Poland!
@s.e.6167
Pjesma odlična. Još ovakvi pjesama i bit ces najbolji.
@markomaslac8948
moja feminina strana sada vlada planetom, ali sve bih dao da sam imao ovu pjesmu s 19.g samo naprijed! genijalni ste!
@TeslaForYourIQ
ljudi sajite pocket palmu na eurovision da izdominira. pozdrav iz Srbije.
@annamoormusic
obsessed
@Zmijann
SA VR SE NO!!!! ❤
@jugofuturizam
volim vas najviše na svetu ❤
@RebekaLjiljak-rb5un
na ripit.👊🏻💋⭐️
@silvioivkic6821
KAKAV SLAYAGE DRAGI MOJIII ✨❤️✨❤️✨❤️