Out of the dozen plus records Armia have released, „Legenda” (1990) and „Triodante” (1994) are widely regarded as classic Polish rock gems. The band have established their position with hundreds of concerts (with Killing Joke and New Model Army among others) and by appearing at many prestigious festivals in and outside Poland. Their concert activity is documented on such albums as „Exodus” (1991), „Soul Side Story” (2000), „Koncert na 20-lecie” (2006), and „Przystanek Woodstock 2004” (2007).
In 2006 the band released a live DVD called „Koncert na 20-lecie”, which documents the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the band’s formation. Among the guest stars are Kazik Staszewski of Kult, Moskwa, as well as former members Darek Malejonek and Sławek Gołaszewski (with his band Asunta). The 35-song track list includes some legendary Siekiera songs, with an over-an-hour long interview with Tomasz Budzyński added as a bonus.
Over the twenty years of the band’s career, its line-up consisted of many outstanding and distinguished figures of Polish rock music. The Armia of now are: Tomasz Budzyński (voice), Tomasz Krzyżaniak (drums), Krzysztof Kmiecik (bass), Paweł Klimczak (guitar), Rafał Giec (guitar), and Jakub Bartoszewski (French horn).
The power of Armia lies in the combination of Tomasz Budzyński’s poetry with the music which is at the same time sophisticated and expressive, and which merges elements of rock, folk, and even classical music. The use of the unusual instruments for today’s rock standards, such as French horn, flute, cello or violin, renders the band offer unique and guarantees them a special place on the Polish rock scene. Armia remains a band whose original music is not to be pigeonholed. The lyrics abound with references to outstanding works of the world’s literature such as Dante’s „ Divine Comedy” or poems by Samuel Beckett and Artur Rimbaud, as well as Franz Kafka novels, which again makes Armia sensational on a worldwide scale. Tomasz Budzyński’s lyrics call for a serious reflection upon the spiritual condition of man today. The band try to provide the listeners with more than mere entertainment, through their art inviting them to make an existential quest for the meaning of life.
2009 is special in the history of the band, as by the end of November they will have released two brilliant (and so different) records in one year. In February, “der Prozess” was out, another concept-album in Armia’s discography. The very title suggest the link with Franz Kafka’s masterpiece, an inspiration which Tomasz Budzyński does not deny. The album is not an illustration of the book, however, but an individual glance at the existential tragedy of each human being, coloured by the references to Kierkegaard philosophy. Most personal lyrics combined with the aggressive and complex music bring a really stunning effect. Six compositions by Paweł Klimczak make a sophisticated suite with a unique combination of hardcore stylistics with elements of jazz and even the modern avant-garde classical music. The wall of guitars, the fantastic drumming from Tomasz Krzyżaniak and Banan’s fairytale French horn make an uncanny background for the powerful vocals of Tom with theatrical touches.
Yet at the moment Armia have just finished working at the brand new album called „Freak”, which is to be released on 20 November 2009, by Isound Labels. Sensationally, founder members Robert Brylewski and Sławomir Gołaszewski took part in the session. Apart from the characteristic psychedelic guitars by Afa and the magic instruments by Merlin, the album features some free-jazz saxophones by Marek Pospieszalski and Łukasz Kluczniak (who has already contributed to the band’s concerts), as well as the otherworldly accordion from Karol Nowacki and some backing vocals from Gerard Nowak of The Soundrops. The album is produced by Tomasz Budzyński and the material has been recorded at Robert Lica Friedrich’s studio in Puszczykowo near Poznań.
“Freak”, which little resembles the monumental sound of “der Prozess”, comes as a complete stylistic shift for Armia. The fact that all the tracks are sung by Tomasz Budzyński in English only adds to the novelty of the album.
Armia’s discography:
AntiArmia (1987)
Legenda (1990)
Exodus (1991)
Czas i byt (1992)
Triodante (1994)
Duch (1996)
Droga (1999)
Soul Side Story (2000)
Pocałunek Mongolskiego Księcia (2003)
Ultima Thule (2005)
Koncert na 20-lecie (DVD, 2005)
Przystanek Woodstock 2004 (2006)
Der Prozess (2009)
Freak (2009)
Nie ja
Armia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Za kogo mnie masz
Jak drzewo na wietrze
Nie śpiewam ja
Wszystko i nic
To śpiewa wiatr
Wszystko i nic
To śpiewa wiatr
I nie umieram
Przeważnie
Jestem niczym
Przede mną świat
Ma inną twarz
i ogrody Boga
Uprawia śmierć
Więc kim jest Ten trzeci
Ten obok nas
Jak w ogniu ogień
Jak ryba w wodzie
Nie żyję
I nie umieram
Przeważnie
Jestem niczym
Nie ja nie ja nie ja.
Nie jestem tym
Za kogo mnie masz
Jak drzewo na wietrze
Nie śpiewam ja
Wszystko i nic
To śpiewa wiatr
Wszystko i nic
To śpiewa wiatr
Nie żyję
I nie umieram
Przeważnie
Jestem niczym
Nie ja nie ja nie ja nie ja.
Odnaleziono wreszcie, ale co, wieczność
Odnaleziono wreszcie, ale co, wieczność
Ona jest morzem, co łączy się ze słońcem
Odnaleziono wreszcie, ale co, wieczność
Ona jest morzem, co łączy się ze słońcem
Odnaleziono (wieczność!) wreszcie, ale co, wieczność
Ona jest morzem, co łączy się ze słońcem
Odnaleziono wreszcie, ale co, wieczność
Ona jest morzem, co łączy się ze słońcem
Odnaleziono wreszcie, odnaleziono wreszcie
Odnaleziono wreszcie
The lyrics of Armia's song "Nie ja" express the feeling of being disconnected from oneself and the world. The vocalist denies being who people perceive them to be, stating that they are not as strong as a tree in the wind, nor do they sing. The wind sings of everything and nothing, while they themselves are often nothing. They do not live nor die, and are often nothing. The world ahead of them has a different face, and even the gardens of God cultivate death. The song refers to a third party, someone who is fiery like fire and natural like a fish in the water, but it is unclear who they are. The chorus repeats the phrase "Nie ja," which translates to "Not me," emphasizing the feeling of detachment from oneself.
The song "Nie ja" was released in 1990, on Armia's album "Droga." It was written by Tomasz Budzyński, the vocalist of the band. The song's title translates to "Not me." The lyrics of the song can be interpreted in various ways, as the meaning is not concrete. However, it is often perceived to be about alienation and feeling disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
Nie jestem tym
I am not who you think I am
Za kogo mnie masz
You have mistaken my identity
Jak drzewo na wietrze
I am swayed by the winds of fate
Nie śpiewam ja
I do not sing
Wszystko i nic
Everything and nothing
To śpiewa wiatr
The wind sings of it
Nie żyję
I am not alive
I nie umieram
And I am not dead
Przeważnie
Mostly
Jestem niczym
I am nothing
Przede mną świat
Ahead of me is the world
Ma inną twarz
It has a different face
i ogrody Boga
And the gardens of God
Uprawia śmierć
Cultivate death
Więc kim jest Ten trzeci
So who is the third one
Ten obok nas
The one beside us
Jak w ogniu ogień
Like a fire in the flames
Jak ryba w wodzie
Like a fish in the water
Nie ja nie ja nie ja
Not me, not me, not me
Odnaleziono wreszcie, ale co, wieczność
Finally found, but what, eternity
Ona jest morzem, co łączy się ze słońcem
It is a sea that connects with the sun
Odnaleziono (wieczność!) wreszcie, ale co, wieczność
Finally found (eternity!), but what, eternity
Odnaleziono wreszcie, odnaleziono wreszcie
Finally found, finally found
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.