In 1997, Fredrik Janáček joined –123 min; a musical addition that was critical for the future development of the band. This bassist of Swedish origin honed his skills by playing in the Scandinavian group Isildurs Bane (which released several self-produced albums) and two Czech bands - Sluneční orchestr (The Sun Orchestra - three CDs for BMG, Warner Music & Faust Records, respectively) and Sluníčko (The Little Sun – one CD for BMG). In Fredrik, Zdeněk Bína found a musical soul mate and fellow songwriter, and he quickly became a cornerstone of –123 min.’s distinctive sound. Together, they now form the creative nucleus of the band.
In 1999, they released their debut album Shooba Dooba (recorded with drummer Václav Zima), an album which took the Czech music critics and culture by storm. The album received several of the nation’s top musical prizes: the Newcomer of the Year award in the two most prestigious Czech musical magazines – Rock & Pop and Rock Report – and the 1999 Czech Grammy from the Akademie popularní hudby (Popular Music Academy, APH) for Best New Artist.
This achievement was all the more remarkable in that they achieved this by breaking into the mainstream and garnering major critical and commercial interest without any affiliation or support from a major label, a point that reflects the independent and self-reliant spirit of -123 min. Since then, “the Minutes” (as they are known informally) have hardly been able to keep up with the increasing demand for their music and live shows; performances which are always notable for their unrestrained improvisation and charismatic energy which demands your attention and draws you in.
In May 2000, Emil Valach, then playing with Bára Basiková and Liquid Harmony (Sony Music), joined –123 min. as the new drummer. With this line-up, the band returned to the studio to record Try, an album with a wider musical scope than the previous. The album was released in March 2001. The group then signed with the distinguished independent label Indies Records, which issued their third album Home? in 2002, a record that further explored the edges of –123 min.’s ever-expanding boundaries of musical influences and interests.
Although the band has achieved widespread critical and commercial success, their music remains off the radar of contemporary Czech radio due to the reluctance of local programmers to play and promote any local bands who sing in languages other than Czech; a point, however, that should only underscore the creative and popular potential of the group. Despite utilizing English lyrics and a non-traditional sound, they continue to build and draw large interest within and across diverse alternative and grassroots musical networks that span the globe. These people recognize that the music of –123 min. has never been calculated. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why –123 min. were again nominated for the Czech Anděl Award (Angel; formerly known as the Czech Grammy) in 2002, in the prestigious category of Best Rock Album of the Year, for their album Home?.
On New Years Eve 2002, Emil Valach left the band to pursue his individual interests in computerized music. Since January 2003, Martin Vajgl (previously of the band Vltava – five albums on EMI and Sony Music), has been the drummer of –123 min., and it is with this stellar line-up that the band toured clubs and festivals throughout Europe and North America during 2003.
In May 2004, the band went on an extraordinary tour throughout the Czech Republic and Poland as -123 min. XL, i.e. augmenting their sound with keyboards, brass and percussion and an enhanced stage setting. The tour was partly perpetuated in a recording that resulted in the band’s longed-for first live record XL Live, which was released in September 2004.
In 2005, they have signed with Humbug, a sub-label of Universal Music, and named their 5th album Mom. For this album –123 min. were nominated for the Czech Grammy (Anděl) in the "Best Sound" category.
2007 Autumn - Unplugged Tour: Minutes are playing new and older songs in acoustic suit.
In April 2008 Martin Vajgl leaves the band and is replaced by Miloš Dvořáček.
-123 min. announced their split in December 2009, only weeks after the release of their last studio album Dream.
2016: After seven long years the band comes back to scene - on June 11th 2016, under new name minus123minut they played their gig at festival [festival]Votvírák[/festival] in Milovice (CZ). In autumn 2016 there will be: COMEBACK TOUR 2016 - more than 20 gigs in CZ and SK.
The renewed band members are:
Zdeněk Bína - vocals, guitars, texts, music
Fredrik Janáček - bass guitar, contrabass, texts
Daniel Šoltis - drums
Illusion
-123 min. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back in the doorway
Just like wine or the sweet leaf
There's no hurry and no belief
No hope, no glory
Chasin' the quick fun
A short cut to reach it all now
Up on the moon, God told you: -hey, you are off the way
And I'm sorry, dope is not how
Take it down, it's illusion - won't be more
While the ultimate light will assure you - it's illusion
Now you feel corny
Watchin' what you've done
That high life won't give peace
Lickin' the wounds, don't start to pray, find another way
Don't you worry, love is for free
Take it down, it's illusion - won't be more
Still reality brings you ashore - it's illusion
Take it down, it's illusion - won't be more
Still reality brings you ashore
It's illusion, won't be more
Love's all around - it's illusion, won't be more
The song "Illusion" by -123 min. talks about the dangers of chasing short-term pleasures and how they can ultimately prove to be illusory in the long run. The first verse sets up the scene of experimentation with substances, comparing it to trying different types of wine or drugs. The lyrics suggest that there is no sense of urgency or belief in the outcomes, indicating a hedonistic approach to life. The lines "No hope, no glory, chasing the quick fun" further highlight this theme of fleeting pleasures.
The second verse adds a new layer to the song, as the singer begins to feel regret for their actions. They realize that the supposed "high life" they were living has not brought them peace or happiness. The lyrics suggest that instead of praying for a way out, the singer must find a new way forward. The final lines of the song, "Love's all around, it's illusion, won't be more," suggest that true joy can be found in connections with others, rather than in transient pleasures.
Overall, "Illusion" by -123 min. is a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing short-term rewards and the importance of finding real fulfillment and happiness. The lyrics encourage listeners to seek out authentic connections with others, rather than superficial pleasures.
Line by Line Meaning
You tried the pink one
You experimented with drugs
Back in the doorway
You're back where you started
Just like wine or the sweet leaf
Drugs are just like alcohol, addictive
There's no hurry and no belief
You have no direction in life
No hope, no glory
You have no aspirations
Chasin' the quick fun
You're looking for temporary happiness
A short cut to reach it all now
You think drugs will solve your problems
Up on the moon, God told you: -hey, you are off the way
You've strayed far from the path
And I'm sorry, dope is not how
God doesn't approve of drug use
Take it down, it's illusion - won't be more
Drugs are a temporary escape
While the ultimate light will assure you - it's illusion
In the end, drugs will only deceive you
Now you feel corny
You feel foolish
Watchin' what you've done
You're reflecting on your actions
That high life won't give peace
Drug use won't bring lasting happiness
Lickin' the wounds, don't start to pray, find another way
Don't turn to prayer as a last resort, seek other solutions
Don't you worry, love is for free
Not everything in life comes at a cost
Still reality brings you ashore
You can't escape reality
It's illusion, won't be more
Drugs are just an illusion of happiness
Love's all around - it's illusion, won't be more
Real love and happiness cannot be found through drugs
Contributed by John J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thelonepianist4814
I burst out in laughter when I looked at my cat and his head grew😂
@POMNIXX
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@giornogiovanna8604
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@Solstrand311
Same
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@reginacarreon4963
Same
@azim3504
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@phillip4707
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@user-xd5dy4lp3c
It's real my grandma head just grew🤣🤣🤣🤣
@daoandmilan2609
Real