Nonetheless, his first album was released only in 1984 at Electrecord, the only Romanian music publisher during the Communist regime. It is called "Interioare" (1984) / "Interiors" (1985). Soon followed a few country covers, released in 1986, another album, called "Rock'n'Roll" (1987), "Despre distanțe" (1988), and "Trei oglinzi" (1989). He managed to create the image of a disident singer-songwriter who opposed the Communist dictatorship of the period with smart lyrics and a funny personality, such as, following the fall of Communism in December 1989, his "Interzis" album ("Forbidden" 1990), which contained all the forbidden songs during the previous years, summoned him to a VIP status. Andrieș remained nonetheless the same, he continued to enjoy both architecture, music, and painting. He is also famous for playing in more than 3100 concerts during his activity. Along his long career he coquetted with: voice, guitar, piano and harmonica.
His post-Communist era albums bear witness of many experiments, from jazz sounds to Bob Dylan covers, and a soft-rock approach that led to the ultimate definition of a particular Alexandru Andrieș style.
Dracula Blues
Alexandru Andries Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stau boieri pe scaun, stau si in picioare,
Se discuta probleme, se analizeaza
Ce nu merge bine, ce incomodeaza;
In cap de masa, pe scaun, insusi Voda Tepes sta,
Boierul Velea face prezenta si numara.
Se ridica Vasile, zice: "Tepes Doamne, "
"Am depasit planul in industria de zgura"
"Si-am fost informat ca nici nu se mai fura";
"La productia de tepe sintem, Doamne, pe primul loc in lume",
"I-am depasit pe-americani, fara rusine, putem spune! "
"Dar exista probleme si in industria de tepe! "
Se ridica-n picioare boierul Sulea Trepe,
"Nu mai avem lemn de paltin, productia stagneaza de ieri",
"Iar stejarul, Tepes Doamne, il tinem doar pentru boieri",
"De aceea propun sa facem tepele din lemn de prun",
"Vor fi betivi mai putini, iar lemnul e destul de bun"...
"E o propunere buna", zice Tepes, "propun"
"Sa-nceapa productia de tepe din lemn de prun",
"Totul sa mearga bine, teapa sa iasa fain",
"Sa nu se neglijeze problema de design",
"Teapa sa fie supla, sa satisfaca clientul",
"Sa se potriveasca perfect cu clima si ambientul",
"Sa se trimita cadre sa se specializeze",
"Economia de lemn sa nu se neglijeze",
"Printr-o reproiectare justa sa se elimine orice sofism",
"Astfel incat tepele sa reziste si la seism! "
The lyrics of Alexandru Andrieş's "Dracula Blues" tell the story of a meeting of the boyars at the court of Prince Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, and commonly referred to as Dracula. The boyars discuss various issues related to the production of goods in their kingdom, including the production of wheat and meat, the production of slag, and the issue of stealing. The meeting also focuses on the production of "tepe" – the impalement stakes for which Dracula is famously known.
One of the boyars, Vasile, reports that their kingdom is doing well in terms of production and has even surpassed the Americans in terms of impalement stake production. However, there are issues with the lack of good quality wood for the stakes. Boiarul Sulea Trepe proposes that they use plum wood for the stakes, which will result in fewer drunken riots, and there is enough of it.
Dracula approves the proposal, but emphasizes the importance of good design and craftsmanship for the production of the stakes. He also instructs sending skilled workers to specialize in the production of impalement stakes and to ensure that the economy of wood is not neglected. The final objective is to make sure that the stakes are robust enough to resist even earthquakes.
The lyrics of "Dracula Blues" offer a satirical take on the economic policies of the rulers of the time. Here, the production of impalement stakes is treated with the same level of bureaucratic attention as that of any other product. It is interesting to see how the song puts forth the idea that even something as brutal as impalement can be systematized and rationalized. The song also reflects on the fact that even the most infamous acts of history can be reduced to mere administrative decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
La curtea lui Voda e sedinta mare,
A large meeting is taking place in the court of the Voivode,
Stau boieri pe scaun, stau si in picioare,
Lords sit both in chairs and stand,
Se discuta probleme, se analizeaza
Issues are discussed and analyzed,
Ce nu merge bine, ce incomodeaza;
What's not going well and what's uncomfortable is addressed;
In cap de masa, pe scaun, insusi Voda Tepes sta,
Sitting at the head of the table is Voivode Tepes himself,
Boierul Velea face prezenta si numara.
Lord Velea presents and reports,
Se ridica Vasile, zice: "Tepes Doamne, "
Vasile stands up and says: "My Lord Tepes,"
"Stam bine cu productia de cereale si carne, "
"We're doing well with the production of crops and livestock,"
"Am depasit planul in industria de zgura"
"We have exceeded the plan in the slag industry,"
"Si-am fost informat ca nici nu se mai fura";
"And we've been told that no more stealing is occurring,"
"La productia de tepe sintem, Doamne, pe primul loc in lume",
"In the production of stakes, my Lord, we're the world leader,"
"I-am depasit pe-americani, fara rusine, putem spune! "
"We've even surpassed the Americans, without shame, we can say so! "
"Dar exista probleme si in industria de tepe! "
"But there are issues in the stake industry as well! "
Se ridica-n picioare boierul Sulea Trepe,
Lord Sleua Trepe stands up on his feet,
"Nu mai avem lemn de paltin, productia stagneaza de ieri",
"We're out of maple wood, the production has stalled since yesterday,"
"Iar stejarul, Tepes Doamne, il tinem doar pentru boieri",
"And as for oak wood, my Lord Tepes, we keep it only for the lords,"
"De aceea propun sa facem tepele din lemn de prun",
"That's why I propose that we make the stakes out of plum wood,"
"Vor fi betivi mai putini, iar lemnul e destul de bun"...
"There will be fewer drunkards and the wood is good enough"...
"E o propunere buna", zice Tepes, "propun"
"That's a good proposal," says Tepes, "I propose"
"Sa-nceapa productia de tepe din lemn de prun",
"Let's begin the production of stakes made of plum wood,"
"Totul sa mearga bine, teapa sa iasa fain",
"Everything should go well, the stake should come out smooth,"
"Sa nu se neglijeze problema de design",
"We shouldn't neglect the issue of design,"
"Teapa sa fie supla, sa satisfaca clientul",
"The stake should be slender, to please the customer,"
"Sa se potriveasca perfect cu clima si ambientul",
"It should perfectly fit the climate and the environment,"
"Sa se trimita cadre sa se specializeze",
"We should send people to specialize,"
"Economia de lemn sa nu se neglijeze",
"We shouldn't neglect the wood economy,"
"Printr-o reproiectare justa sa se elimine orice sofism",
"We should eliminate any sophisms through fair redesigning,"
"Astfel incat tepele sa reziste si la seism! "
"So that the stakes can withstand earthquakes! "
Contributed by Leah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@magaroiu
Care aveti peste 30 de ani, incercati sa intelegeti piesa asta in contextul urmator... a fost lansata pe vremea lui Ceausescu... pe disc de vinyl, si era o sfidare nemaiintalnita la adresa sistemului. Ma si mir ca a scapat atat de usor. Pana si coperta albumului intitulat INTERZIS, avea pe ea un peste care se uita la o momeala confectionata din secera si ciocan. Andries are un tupeu fantastic...
@borsecrosu
e o propunere buna :)
@inch830
Fabulos
@dbl84
se potriveste melodia si la situatia actuala....
@neluilea7794
Actual la fel ca nenea iancu
@razvanlp
am prins si eu vremurile de dinainte de 89, dar vreau sa spun ca tepele cele mai tari sau dat / tras dupa 89 si industria lor merge in continuare
@tabaskasguy4136
Cel mai fain și mai bun la design cântec ;-). Apropo cui nu îi place sa MEARGA PE ȚEAPĂ ÎN JOS!!!
@razvanlp
scuze... ai si subtitrarea in romana?
@razvanlp
pastreaz-o pentru tine, ai mare nevoie de ea.
@adrianwt3848
Daca taceai filozof ramaneai