„I used to listen to the recordings of the band „NARS“ during trips. I liked the vocals of the late Raimundas Narsas, the good old guitars, the great harmony. The idea of creating a faster version of their song „Birthday“ came to mind, one that would encourage everyone to celebrate every dear day, to celebrate life in capital letters. After all, it’s so good to see happy people hugging, dancing, having fun,“ says Karolis Akulavičius, a member of „Group 2“.
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After creating a trial version, he thought about who he would like to perform this song with. „I didn’t see it as a commercial project – I just wanted real friends on stage, who work like Donatas and I do – from the heart. „Patruliai“ are exactly like that: when performing the second song on stage, they are already soaked with sweat because they give their all,“ says Karolis. „We were vacationing with the family in Palanga. I called „Patrulis“ Algis. We have been planning to meet outside of work for several years, but it never worked out. This time it finally did – we met and sat until the last key turned.“
„We have long nurtured the dream that one day our groups would unite for a fun, roof-raising rock and roll,“ continues „Patrulis“ A. Radzevičius. „Karolis shared the idea, showed the demo – I liked it immediately. And then everything happened very quickly: music producer Marius Matulevičius created the arrangement, the musicians rushed in – played live, the four of us sang, then we filmed the clip. And it all turned out so fun that I already told my son Rokas: when I’m 104 years old lying in bed, surrounded by great-grandchildren and only five minutes left to live, he will have to play this clip for me so I can remember once again how fun life was. My heart is happy that we realized this idea.“
The video clip of the newly mooded song „Birthday“ was filmed in Šventoji, at the Pajūris homestead. Joining the adventure with „Group 2“ and „Patruliai“ were Algirdas’ son, a few friends, a group of girls, saxophonist Juozas Kuraitis, and also two comic characters created by Violeta Trečiokaitė-Mičiulienė and Remigijus Žiogas.
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„When I was sad, I sometimes played „Miesčionis“, in which Violeta acted. I like her positivity. We have worked together several times at private events. Like with R. Žiogas, whom I have known since childhood, we both grew up in Viekšniai, Mažeikiai district, our mothers are friends. So, the company was unreal. Just when Algis arrives – a party happens, he and Karolis are very energetic, and here we all gathered, it was a real family party. We sincerely celebrated our friendship, which has lasted many years, and in such a great homestead. It was so fun that even completely sober I got wild like never before. We looked like a crew that worked hard in coal mines for two years and one day they were let out by the pool,“ laughs Donatas Balvočius, a member of „Group 2“. „There was no need to act – just have fun, and the clip’s director Edvinas Fruktas knows how to create and capture a real mood, without any synthetic elements. That’s what we aimed for.“
The uplifted feeling was also taken from the filming set by „Patrulis“ Juozas Butnorius. According to him, this emotion is easily transmitted: anyone who sees the video clip – a smile appears on their face from ear to ear.
„For me, this joint work was a real celebration of life. Karolis and I have been friends since childhood: we sang together in „Ventukai“, as teenagers we stayed overnight at each other’s places, ate chips, watched movies, we have stories. Donatas and I also participated in folk music festivals, we both studied at the Stasys Šimkus Conservatory in Klaipėda, he sang in my choir in the TV project „Choir Wars“. So standing on stage with these men and remembering all the wild times is a special feeling. It’s no wonder that in the clip we jumped into the pool with clothes on – the atmosphere was so fantastic when you allow yourself to be silly without any restraints,“ says J. Butnorius.
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„Group 2“ and „Patruliai“ – „Birthday“:
