%20(1).png)
Ilya Popenko’s “The Final Countdown” Is a Surrealist Descent Into Twin Peaks Madness
- The Curator
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
If the original “The Final Countdown” by Europe launched a thousand hair-sprayed fists into the air, then Ilya Popenko’s solo cover sets them gently down into a velvet-draped room where logic dissolves, donuts spin, and David Lynch may or may not have died as a cosmic punchline.
Welcome to the Weird: Ilya Popenko’s Final Countdown
On June 17, 2025, Mad Meg frontman Ilya Popenko released his solo version of “The Final Countdown,” backed by a music video that’s part fever dream, part Lynchian séance, and all Popenko.
Stripped of the original’s bombast, this version starts with an eerily restrained acoustic intro before erupting into a chaotic, noise-drenched finale. Popenko doesn’t just reimagine the ’80s megahit — he lures it into a dark room filled with static and dual identities. The track closes with a sonic nod to Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” a deliberate homage to the interstellar inspiration behind the song’s original lyrics.
But let’s be clear: this isn’t just a cover. It’s an exorcism. And it comes with a giant space donut.
Did I Murder David Lynch?
No, that’s not a line from the video. It’s an actual quote from Popenko:
“While working on the song, something weird happened. For years, I’d resisted the peer pressure to watch Twin Peaks, but I finally gave in and binged it. The day after I finished the very last episode, David Lynch died. I couldn’t help but feel strangely connected to his passing — like maybe I triggered it somehow. Still wrapped up in the vibe of the Twin Peaks universe, I decided to make this video as a tribute to Lynch.”
And just like that, a strange artistic alchemy was born. Still high on Black Lodge vibes and existential dread, Popenko made this video as a personal tribute to Lynch — a farewell that loops in on itself like a VHS tape too warped to rewind.
The Video: Special Agent Popenko vs. The Donut
In a kaleidoscope of lo-fi effects, harsh lighting, and off-kilter symbolism, Popenko dons the iconic black suit of Special Agent Dale Cooper and faces off against a cosmic antagonist: a giant space donut.
What does it mean?
Who’s really in control?
And are we all just versions of ourselves staring into the void, waiting for the synth drop?
You’ll find no answers — just vibes, identity crises, and a wink from somewhere beyond the red curtains.
Who Is Ilya Popenko?
If you’re new to the name, Ilya Popenko is more than just the songwriter and snarling voice behind Mad Meg —he’s a genre-dodging, border-breaking, multi-disciplinary artist. Originally from the former Soviet Union and now firmly entrenched in New York’s underbelly, Popenko’s work fuses acoustic folk with punk-noir, French chanson, Russian balladry, industrial stomp, and anti-pop chaos. His voice can be elegant or unhinged. Often, it’s both.
With a background in fine art and a degree in photography, his visuals are as meticulously curated as his compositions. His work spans from solo shows in galleries to award-winning photography and documentaries making waves on the festival circuit. And yes — he directs his own music videos. Naturally.
Mad Meg: Punk-Crooner-Noir on Tour
Founded in 2011, Mad Meg is the musical carnival that Popenko conjured into being. Described as “Punk-Crooner-Noir” (because honestly, what else would you call it?), the band has built a cult following across Eastern Europe, performing everywhere from Lithuanian women’s prisons to massive festival stages. They’ve shared the bill with the likes of Emir Kusturica, Rasputina, and Nogu Svelo!, blending Eastern European grit with New York art-rock swagger.
Where to Dive In:
What the Press Is Saying:
“A wild, vibrant imagination.” — Rolling Stone (Argentina)
"He makes the chairs by the bars shake with anticipation. The Bowie-like vocal attitude drizzles the irony.” — Come Here Floyd
“An exotic, enchanting record of rollicking, eclectic anthems.” — IMPOSE Magazine
"His killer debut album mashes up elegant art-rock and creepy phantasmagoria.” — New York Music Daily
Final Thought: A Countdown to What?
Popenko’s “The Final Countdown” isn’t an ‘80s nostalgia trip — it’s an existential car crash on the road to the Red Room. A love letter to Twin Peaks. A whispered confession to David Lynch’s ghost. And a reminder that, in Popenko’s universe, endings are only another way of beginning.
Get weird. Get lost. Get in the donut.
Comments