Poland rocks, you all! (Part 1)
Lady Pank
Something that living in Gdańsk has allowed me to do is to catch up on all the Polish music I missed while in the US. In the spring before moving here, while visiting Sopot, I saw a poster for Lady Pank. “Lady Pank!” – I exclaimed to my American partner – “I didn’t know they were still around.” Not only were they “around” around, but specifically around Gańsk in the Ergo Arena that very Friday. “Let’s go!” said my guy, not really knowing what he was signing up for.
Lady Pank is a rock band that has been around since the mid-70s, so before I left the US, but other than a few songs, I wasn’t very familiar with them. Later my sister reminded me that she was, in fact, a “lady punk” for a dress up party at her school when she was little – all with a fake mohawk, torn stockings, and a Lady Pank T-shirt.
Despite band members being in their 60s, I can attest that Lady Pank still rocks. The arena was full of very enthusiastic fans, some around my age, 40s/50s, and others much younger. It was great to see a lot of parents with their teenage children rocking out and singing along. They played all their hits, of which they have had many over their long career. Their early songs provide a soundtrack to the Polish experience of the late communist period. “Mniej niż zero/Less than zero” for example, warns the young high school graduates that they don’t really matter, despite excelling at school:
|
Myślisz może, że więcej coś znaczysz Bo masz rozum, dwie ręce i chęć Twoje miejsce na Ziemi tłumaczy Zaliczona matura na pięć Są tacy - to nie żart Dla których jesteś wart Mniej niż zero Mniej niż zero Mniej niż zero Mniej niż zero Oh oh oh oh |
Maybe you think that you matter more Because you have a brain, two hands, and the will Your place on Earth explains Getting an A on your final exam There are those – it’s no joke To whom you are worth Less than zero Less than zero Less than zero Less than zero Oh oh oh oh |
My favorite song of theirs is “Kryzysowa narzeczona/Crisis girlfriend” in which the singer bemoans a girlfriend who had left him to go abroad instead of staying with him in Poland during the economic crisis.
|
Mogłaś moją być Kryzysową narzeczoną Razem ze mną pić To, co nam tu naważono Mogłaś moją być Przy zgłuszonym odbiorniku Aż po blady świt Słuchać nowin i uderzać w gaz Nie jeden raz Nie jeden raz Nie jeden raz Mogłaś być już na dnie A nie byłaś Nigdy nie dowiesz się Co straciłaś |
You could have been my Crisis girlfriend Drink with me What they have prepared for us You could have been mine At the muted radio Until the crack of dawn Listening to the news and hitting the bottle Not only once Not only once Not only once You could have already been at the bottom But you weren't Never will you find out what you have missed |
Ahh, the romance of the People’s Republic!
The songs were so catchy, and the audience so enthusiastic, that even my non-Polish-speaking partner enjoyed the show. As we were leaving, one of the fans, who must have heard us speaking English, exclaimed “Lady Pank, the best Polish band! Borysewicz, the best Polish guitarist!” Word.
“I hope we can see more concerts like this,” said my guy. And we did. Next time, Kult.