Džordana – the Lithuanian Queen of Pop

Listen to this text (Lithuanian):

Today, the singer Madonna is known as the queen of pop music. Lithuania also has its own pop queen – Džordana Butkutė, a singer who started her career in the twentieth century. Her popularity is confirmed by the saying ‘Džordža is Džordža even in Africa.’ This, of course, is a hyperbole – Butkutė is not that famous, hardly anyone knows her in Africa. But every Lithuanian knows at least a few lines from songs by this bright, energetic and sincere performer.

Butkutė is popular not only for her songs, but also for her biography. Her life is reminiscent of both Cinderella’s story and the Parable of the Prodigal Son (in Džordana's case, the daughter) described in the Bible. A biography that includes both remorseful and outrageous events is very important for pop music performers. Fans not only want to listen to easy-to-remember songs about familiar things, such as love, separation, attempts to overcome failure, or unexpected joy, but also to identify with their idols. In other words, the popularity of a pop star lies in the ability to convey or “reflect” the dreams of their listeners in their songs and in their personal story, and to demonstrate that it is possible to overcome the misfortunes that everybody experiences from time to time.

Butkutė grew up in Šakiai, a small Lithuanian town. She comes from a large family raised by a single mother. Her musical career began in 1986, when the girl was spotted by Stanislovas Čiapas, the leader of the popular ensemble Nerija. Džordana says, ‘After graduating from school, I worked as a teacher in Šakiai district, when Čiapas from the Nerija ensemble unexpectedly found me. I didn't have rich uncles or aunts, and there were no talent shows or X Factors – and he still managed to find some young girl in Šakiai, what a  skill!.. (...) I had a lot of fun singing with Nerija. Fourteen men, all mature, with sideburns and bellies, and me – a chick in white jeans ... I had just finished school and hadn’t seen much apart from Šaliai, I had only sung at Dainų Dainelė and participated in several festivals with Impuls. And then suddenly, we were touring all over Lithuania, towns and villages, and our concerts were full of people everywhere – they stood in the longest queues to get tickets.’

Butkutė has experienced many career ups and downs. She was a true icon of music and style in Lithuania in the 1990s: she won awards at prestigious music festivals, and her clothing style was imitated by many girls. Just like Butkutė, they wore white torn jeans or torn tights and short skirts, dyed their hair red, backcombed it, and sprayed it with hairspray. At the beginning of the twenty-first century her popularity declined, but she managed to win back the sympathies of the audience again in 2003 when she participated in the reality show Akvariumas (‘Aquarium’). Unfortunately her return to fame and prestige only deepened her  dependence on alcohol – Džordana often canceled concerts or simply didn’t turn up to them. In addition, she revealed to the press that her boyfriend was abusing her, described her unsuccessful attempts to have a child, and posed with a bottle of her favorite champagne and bruised legs.

Butkutė was "reborn" for the second time in 2012. After she married Elegijus Strasevičius, she completely changed her lifestyle and gave up all drugs and alcohol. The performer organised a successful concert tour Nesudeginta Ant Laužo (‘Unburned on the Fire’) in 2014 and was awarded the Lithuanian Music Lifetime Achievement Award at M.A.M.A. music awards. By the way, Džordana’s first meeting with her future husband was straight out of a romantic comedy – he was driving a taxi she had ordered.