The band began as the non-accidental effect of a meeting of two friends of music styles defined as heavyfolk, biometal, folkmetal, or hardfolk...
In their home-bands, both have gone through fascination of Slavic and Celtic music as well as widely defined rock and roll.
Robert Jaworski - the founder of Turek-Łódź based band ich troLe - which has shaken the Polish folk scene within just a year since it`s foundation. He is fascinated with medieval music, old instruments, good rock n’roll and folk art. He tried, not very effectively to enliven his ideas for interpretation of Slavic music by playing in Warsaw Village Band. Later, in his own band 'ich troLe', he managed to record his first Slavic composition called: 'Pochwist'.
Early breakdown of the band disable him from realisation of more musical ideas.
Some day his music trail leads him to akin soul - Robert Wasilewski.
Robert Wasilewski - regular guitar-player of the legendary folk band Open Folk.
One of the last active folk musicians in Poland, who grew up listening to bands such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd or Black Sabbath and who draws inspirations from them. For a long time he planned to record his ideas of interpretation of 'folk demonology' Slavic music.
Some of these compositions were already performed by 'Open Folk' the other soon will be played by Żywiołak.
Two men of the same first name decide to join forces and create band that would be led by the motive of folk demonology. That notion is at least abstract for contemporary people in Poland and so far was not directly explored by any Polish folk group.
The subject of pre-Christian beliefs, which became ground for many myths, is a rewarding artistic playground used all over the world not only by musicians. Interested in folk arts, archaeology and encouraged by kind treatment of folk music in media, they decided to once more enliven creatures from domestic legends and tales, which are inseparable parts of Slavic mythology. Creatures which were degraded by Christian tradition to role of devils and dark forces. Contemporary ethnographic and anthropologic research prove that pre-Christian cults were present in 18th century in Poland and their direct remains were visible even shortly before World War II. It’s folk art in which they still live and allude to the past. Painting Easter eggs, drowning Marzanna at the beginning of spring, avoiding greetings through doorsill or knocking in non-painted wood are the best examples of pagan habits that live in present times. All that folk background has become the core of inspirations for Żywiołak.
Many days have passed since the memorable meeting in January 2005. The inspiration-exchanging duet Open troL has been joined by a singer Izebela Byra (known from earlier experience in group Detonacja and other non-folk bands) and Anna Piotrowska (very exuberant singer from bands such as Goście z Nizin). The rhythmic section was initially taken over by the drummer Michał 'ThOrn' from metal band Sphere who was later exchanged with Maciej Łabudzki (regular leader of the Otwock-based reggae team Mistik Madzonga). Complicated and winding roads of all those music characters met one day in Warsaw and the effect of their cooperation gives Polish folk music a new perspective. Those persons are with Zywiolak until this day.
Word Żywiołak (Were-Upheaval, Were-Element) has no direct meaning, it’s not the name of any mythical character. It’s just a word-game which is common in contemporary Slavic-type literature. Such words are to be found in book of beasts of Polish issues of RPGs, in poetry of Boleslaw Leśmian , or in artworks of modern generation - author of many lyrics used by Żywiołak - Zgorzelec-based multiartist Grzegorz Żak.
The band split during the summer of 2013 and was formed again by Robert Jaworski in 2014.
Offical website www.zywiolak.pl.
Istanbul
Żywiołak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tu jestem chórzystką, tam będę hurysą
Będę w złotych tiulach chodzić po pałacu
Szkoda, że sąsiedzi mnie tam nie zobaczą
W Istambule
Turcy, Turcy
W Istambule
W Istambule
Turcy Turcy
Oddają cześć (x2)
Stwórcy
Tatko kocha Boga, nienawidzi ludzi
Ktoś we mnie kobietę zbyt wcześnie obudził
Więc szukałam w necie ogrodów rozkoszy
Aż mnie Ali Baba do siebie zaprosił
W Istambule
Turcy, Turcy
W Istambule
Turcy Turcy
W Istambule
Turcy Turcy
Oddają cześć (x2)
Stwórcy
A co na to Franek, mój polski kochanek?
Nie zrozumie tego, że wolę Allego
Niż być jego żoną, Polką udręczoną
Polska dusza Lacha, nie przyjmie Allacha
W Istambule
Turcy, Turcy
W Istambule
Turcy Turcy
W Istambule
Turcy Turcy
Oddają cześć (x2)
Stwórcy
W Istambule
Turcy, Turcy
W Istambule
Turcy Turcy
W Istambule
Turcy Turcy
Oddają cześć (x2)
Stwórcy
The first verse of Żywiołak's "Istanbul" describes the singer's dissatisfaction with her heavily Catholic community, where she feels like a choir girl but longs to be a "hurysa" - a desirable woman who wears golden tulle dresses and walks around palaces. She laments that her neighbors will never see her in this new light. The second verse introduces another force influencing the singer's desires: her "Tatko," or father, who loves God but hates people, and who she believes has awakened a woman in her too early in life. She goes online and searches for "gardens of pleasure" and is invited to visit Ali Baba in Istanbul.
Throughout the song, the chorus repeats the phrase "Turcy, Turcy" and "oddają cześć Stwórcy," which roughly translates to "Turks, Turks / they bow down to the Creator," reflecting the singer's perspective of Turkish culture, religion, and the people's relationship with faith. The final verse introduces a love triangle between the singer, Tatko, and Franek, her "Polish lover." She confesses that Franek doesn't understand or approve of her admiration of Ali Baba, an Eastern man who represents a different way of life that she finds more fulfilling than being a "Polish tormented wife."
Overall, the song explores the themes of cultural and religious expectations, desire, and love in a clever and provocative way.
Line by Line Meaning
Nuży mnie społeczność nazbyt katolicka
I am tired of the overly Catholic community
Tu jestem chórzystką, tam będę hurysą
Here I am a choir singer, there I will be a houri
Będę w złotych tiulach chodzić po pałacu
I will walk around the palace in golden tulle
Szkoda, że sąsiedzi mnie tam nie zobaczą
It's a shame that my neighbors will not see me there
W Istambule
In Istanbul
Turcy, Turcy
Turks, Turks
Oddają cześć (x2)
They pay homage (x2)
Stwórcy
To the Creator
Tatko kocha Boga, nienawidzi ludzi
Dad loves God, hates people
Ktoś we mnie kobietę zbyt wcześnie obudził
Someone woke up a woman in me too early
Więc szukałam w necie ogrodów rozkoszy
So I searched for gardens of delight on the net
Aż mnie Ali Baba do siebie zaprosił
Until Ali Baba invited me to him
A co na to Franek, mój polski kochanek?
And what about Franek, my Polish lover?
Nie zrozumie tego, że wolę Allegro
He won't understand that I prefer Allegro
Niż być jego żoną, Polką udręczoną
Than to be his wife, a suffering Pole
Polska dusza Lacha, nie przyjmie Allacha
The Polish soul of a Lach will not accept Allah
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Irgma112
"Weary me too Catholic community
Here I am a chorus girl, I'll be there houris
I'll be golden tulle walk through the palace
Too bad that the neighbors will not see me there
In Istanbul
Turks, Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
Worship (x2)
Creator
Daddy loves God, hates people
Someone woman in me woke up too early
So I was looking on the net gardens of delight
Finally me Ali Baba to himself invited.
In Istanbul
Turks, Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
Worship (x2)
Creator
And what about Frank, my Polish lover?
He do not understand that I prefer Ali
Than to be his wife, a Polish woman anguished
Polish soul Lach, Allah will not accept
In Istanbul
Turks, Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
Worship (x2)
Creator
In Istanbul
Turks, Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
In Istanbul
Turks Turks
Worship (x2)
Creator"
This song is sarcasm :)
@GokdenizOzkan
Listening to this music makes me cheer without a reason. :D
@aniagniech
Genialny koncert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Geldorn1
Muzyka jest genialna :) Ten motyw przewodni ogromnie wpada w ucho.
@Marcin19904
Po prostu zajebisty zespół!!!!!!!!
@mikoanton
kocham tego krasnala! nawet mam oreginał w domu :D
@bonifacybonifacerski5755
Najlepszy utwór z tej płyty. Mimo, że wokale nie przekonują, muzyka jest naprawdę świetna...
@Jellycrusher
Zespół w muzycznych poszukiwaniach poszedł z nieco inną stronę niż dotychczas... IMHO "Globalna wiocha" jest dobrą płytą, świetną muzycznie i wokalnie. Teksty bywają... różne, ale ten utwór to faktycznie odjazd.
@Mateusz732
Jedyna piosenka z nowej płyty , ktorą idzie słuchać :/ to juz nie jest ten Żywiołak co kiedyś ...
@mlodawita
rewelacja ! Dopiero teraz odkryłam tę niesamowitą grupę muzyczną i jestem z siebie taka dumna! Żywiołak - oh i ah :)
@voyosv6899
Al znaczy TEN, a Lah znaczy Pan.. Czyli Allah to Ten Pan :)