02. Rock an Politics in the People’s Republic of Poland

ANNA IDZIKOWSKA-CZUBAJ


 

1. Niebiesko-Czarni, “Mamo nasza mamo”

From: “Niebiesko-Czarni na swojską nutę”. SP-83 Muza, 1963, 45 rpm.

 

Bernard Dornowski : voc; M. Szczepkowski – voc; Czesław Wydrzycki (later known as Czesław Niemen) : voc; Krzysztof Klenczon: g; J. Kossela: g; Henryk Zomerski: bg; Włodzimierz Wander: ts; D. Danielowski: pno; J. Kowalski: dr.
Lyrics and music: Franciszek Walicki (ps. Jacek Grań).

 

 

This light and funny song was very typical for rock (called then: “big beat”) in the first half of the 1960s in Poland.


 

2. Czerwone Gitary, “Biały krzyż”

From: Czerwone Gitary, “Biały Krzyż/Deszcz jesienny”. SP-165 Muza, 1968, 45 rpm.

 

Krzysztof Klenczon: g, voc; Seweryn Krajewski: g, voc; Bernard Dornowski: bg, voc; Jerzy Skrzypczyk: dr, voc.
Lyrics: Janusz Konradowicz; music: Krzysztof Klenczon.

 

 

In the second half of 1960s rock more often had to participate in politics directly: lyrics raised the political and military issues. Nevertheless, this song, although also involved in “partisans theme”, says about former Home Army (AK) soldiers, who were – for many years – a part of forbidden history in People’s Republic of Poland.


 

3. Blackout, “Te bomby lecą na nasz dom”

From: “Blackout” LP XL 0437 Muza, 1967, 33 1/3 rpm.

 

Stanisław Guzek (later known as Stan Borys): voc; Tadeusz Nalepa: g; R. Świerszcz: bg; K. Dłutowski: org, pno; J. Hajdasz: dr.
Lirycs: Bogdan Loebl; music: Tadeusz Nalepa.

 

 

Polish example of “protest-song”. Although in People’s Republic of Poland there were many pressing problems, which rock music could protest against, in 1960s there hasn’t been opportunity for making it in public broadcasting, where could only appear songs against e.g. Vietnam War or similar – irrelevant for average Polish citizen subjects. And so they had.


 

4. Maanam, “Stoję, stoję, stoję, czuję się świetnie”

From: “Maanam” LP-028 Wifon, 1981, 33 1/3 rpm.

 

Olga Jackowska (known as “Kora”): v; Marek Jackowski: g; Ryszard Olesiński: g; Krzysztof Olesiński: bg; Paweł Markowski: dr.
Lyrics: Olga Jackowska; music: Marek Jackowski.

 

 

One of the most famous and most important Polish rock songs and discs in 1980s.


 

5. Dezerter, “Polska złota młodzież”

From: “Dezerter”, RLP-020 Klub Płytowy „Razem”, 1988, 33 1/3 rpm.

 

Robert Matera: g, v; Paweł Piotrowski: bg, v; Krzysztof Grabowski: dr; Rafał Kwaśniewski: g.
Lyrics: Krzysztof Grabowski; music: Robert Matera.

 

 

This record was the greatest achievement of Polish punk-rock. The lyrics were full of harshness, cynicism and perversity. The song: “Polska złota młodzież”, which was describing fatal and provocative image of young generation, was announced a hymn of young Polish generation in 1980s.