Contents
* 1 Biography
* 2 Organizatonal, propagatory and charitable activity
* 3 Concerts and International Cooperation
* 4 Awards and Prizes
* 5 Discography
* 6 External Links
Biography
Banana Boat evolved from a multi-member formation Jack Steward, founded by Maciej Jędrzejko and functioning in the years 1993-1994. The line-up of the formation was composed of maritime culture aficionados - high-school students from the city of Sosnowiec, mainly representing the Stanisław Staszic Grammar School in Sosnowiec, the Emilia Plater Grammar School in Sosnowiec, and the Technical High School of Mechanical and Steel Industry in Sosnowiec. The central idea behind the singing youth's efforts was to organize a sailing expedition, whose objective was to circumnavigate Iceland. The musical project itself was intended to encourage teachers to take interest in the richness of maritime culture as a vast educational resource and - with their help - to gain the support of the municipal and (then still budding) corporate sponsorship for the idea of the expedition. Even though the Iceland project never came to pass, and Jack Steward eventually ceased to exist in 1994, Maciej Jędrzejko invited Paweł Konieczny, Aleksander Kleszcz and Karol Wierzbicki of the ex-Jack Steward's line-up to help form a new group, which, since 1994, already as an a cappella quartet, adopted the name of Banana Boat. Thus formed, Banana Boat made its debut on the stage of the 1994 Tratwa Festival in Katowice and, subsequently, gained its early recognition by winning (among others) the Commander Zbyszek Sowiński Award (Tratwa'94), the Main Prize of the 1994 edition of the Prosiak Festival and, importantly, an honorary mention of the jury of the 1996 edition of the prestigeous Shanties Festival in Cracow, Poland.
In the years 1996-1998, the group - whose members, by then, had commenced their university education - suspended its activity, only to return to the maritime stages of Poland by the end of 1998. At this stage, Banana Boat made its name as an a cappella quintet, which - reinforced by the former bass singer of the famous Polish group North Cape, Piotr "Qdyś" Wiśniewski - transformed into the present-day sextet at the turn of 2008 and 2009.
Today, Banana Boat consists of the following musicians:
* Maciej "YenJCo." Jędrzejko, the group's founder, frontman and leader;
* Paweł "Konik" Konieczny, the formation's co-founder, composer and high tenor;
* Paweł "Synchro" Jędrzejko, the author of the majority of the band's original lyrics and performer of bari-tenor parts;
* Tomasz "Mundry" Czarny, the Banana Boat's arranger, composer and bari-tenor;
* Michał "Ociec" Maniara, the manager of the Art Agency BananaArt.Pl Art and performer of baritone parts;
* Piotr "Qdyś" Wiśniewski, the group's bass singer.
The present-day Banana Boat members are active yachtsmen: Paweł Jędrzejko (formerly a professional navigator), holds an ocean-going yachtmaster's licence; his younger brother Maciej, the group's founder, is an ocean skipper, while other Banana Boat members all hold offshore licenses, which largely contributes to the positive reception of the Banana Boat songs. Professionally, the Banana Boat musicians represent such disciplines as medicine and dentistry, banking and law, trade and academic literary and culture studies. Since 1998, the group has been awarded the most important prizes of the Polish festivals of maritime music, recorded two albums and participated in numerous collective projects. Currently, Banana Boat gives concerts and recitals in Europe and outside of it, performing both for the audiences of small-audience clubs and those of large international festivals.
Organizatonal, propagatory and charitable activity
* In the years 2002-2007 Banana Boat, working in collaboration with the Municipal Cultural Center in Łaziska Górne (Poland), acted as the organizer of the International Festival of Seasong and Shanty "Zęza";
* In 2006, the groups participated in an all-Polish charity project To See the Sea, the proceeds from which supported the medical treatment of Polish shantymen in need;
* In 2008, Maciej Jędrzejko, the group's leader, was appointed as the artistic director of the International Festival World Music Fusion - Euroszanty & Folk in Sosnowiec (Poland);
* Every year, Banana Boat participates in the charity events of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity;
* Maciej Jędrzejko is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the "Free Sea-Shanty Portal Szantymaniak.Pl" and of the "Szantymaniak Magazine" (in Polish);
* Every year, individual members of the group are appointed as jurors of sea-song festivals; they reqularly offer workshops to other musicians of the Polish maritime stage and sea-song fans.
Concerts and International Cooperation
Apart from numerous concerts in Poland, to-date, Banana Boat has performed in the Czech Republic (Fulnek 2002), in Italy (Ravenna 2003), in France (Paimpol 2005, Chateau-Thierry 2007), in Ireland (Cork/Cobh 2005, 2006), in the United States (New York 2005), in the Netherlands (Appingedam 2006) and in Germany (Bremen-Vegesack 2008). As a member of ISSA, the group collaborates with international artists associated within the organization. In 2008, songs by Banana Boat were published on albums of a collective charity project Lafitte's Return (USA). Banana Boat's music is has been broadcast by numerous radio stations in Europe and beyond. Recently, the group has launched its newest single "A Little A Cappella: Polish-Irish Harmony" - the result of a joint project with Eleanor McEvoy, an eminent Irish singer and songwriter. The single contains two songs: "Little Look" (lyrics and composition - Eleanor McEvoy; arrangement - Tomasz Czarny) and "Ukraina" (lyrics and music by Tymko Padurra; arrangement - Adam R. Saczka, co-arrangement Tomasz Czarny and Mateusz Dyszkiewicz).
Awards and Prizes
Apart from numerous Grand Prix awards, First Prizes and Audience's Favorite's Prizes awarded by the panels and attendees of all of the most important maritime music festivals in Poland, Banana Boat has become a double first runner-up for the CARA Award of the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America in the categories of The Best World/Folk Album 2005 (for the album A morze tak, a może nie...) and The Best World/Folk Song 2005 (for the song "Arktyka" of the mentioned album).
Discography
* A morze tak, a może nie (BananaArt.Pl 2004)
* Minialbum: Banana Boat...Świątecznie (BananaArt.Pl 2004), (six Christmas carrols)
* Songs in collection Szanty dla Pajacyka, the proceeds of which support Polish Humanitarian Organisation (2004).
* Songs in charity collections Lafitte's Return (vols. 3 and 4), of which the total proceeds support the musical education of the post-Katrina New Orleans (2008)
* Single "A Little A Cappella: Polish-Irish Harmony" (BananaArt.Pl 2009)
External Links
* the Official Website of the Banana Boat
* Banana Boat in MySpace
* Banana Boat in Acapedia
Do Calais!
Banana Boat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tam dziewczyny i ciągły bal.
Teraz sztorm, no i wiatry złe -
Zatańczymy pośród groźnych fal.
Dzisiaj znów potargane żagle -
Bosman wściekły, bo trzeba szyć.
Kot Ci spadnie na plecy nagle,
1. A w Calais słodki zapach drzew
I tawerna mała gdzieś w porcie starym.
Tutaj ciągnie od zęzy wiew, a Ty
Brasuj reje i ciągaj fały!
Znów podwachta i nie ma spania,
Morze ryczy i wicher dmie.
Ciemność, chłód - i tak aż do rana,
Głupcem ten, kto nie boi się!
2. Lecz w Calais zabawimy się,
Chyba każdy puści tę forsę małą -
Bo kto wie, może skończysz źle
I nie wrócisz już z tego rejsu cało!
Dziś walczymy ze wściekłym morzem,
Wciąż na fali, a nie na dnie!
Nad głowami jak morski orzeł
Statek nasz dumnie żagle pnie!
3. Do Calais, gdzie leniwe dnie
I gorące noce nas czekają!
Hands on deck - no i praca wre,
Chociaż fale na łeb się zwalają!
Już niedługo Angielski Kanał,
Co w Calais zowie się La Manche,
Zmieni rejs w najzwyklejszy banał.
Żagle precz, teraz vive la France!
4. Gdy w Calais wreszcie znajdziesz się,
Spotkasz tą, która niegdyś Cię kochała,
Lecz gdy z nią jakiś Paul czy Pierre -
Inne dziewki nie poskąpią ciała!
Co za mąż byłby z marynarza,
Lepszy chłop, co ma dom i sklep!
Jednak o tym bez przerwy marzy
Morski, twardy, zawiany łeb!
The song "Do Calais" by Banana Boat depicts the life of sailors who are constantly working on the ship with no rest. The lyrics describe the stormy sea and the hard work of the sailors. The chorus of the song encourages the sailors to continue dancing despite the harsh conditions they face while sailing. The first verse talks about the sweet smell of trees and a small tavern in the old port of Calais. The second verse talks about the sailors having fun and spending their small fortune in Calais, but also warns that they might not return from the trip. The third and fourth verses describe the hard work of the sailors and their desire to find love, but also the reality that they may not be able to settle down due to the nature of their job.
Overall, the song portrays the difficult life of sailors and their constant battle with the sea to provide for their families. The lyrics also hint at the fleeting nature of life and the importance of enjoying the moments of happiness while they last.
Line by Line Meaning
Do Calais, wino i moulé, Tam dziewczyny i ciągły bal. Teraz sztorm, no i wiatry złe - Zatańczymy pośród groźnych fal.
Let's sail to Calais, where wine and moules (mussels) are, girls are dancing and the party never ends. Even though there's a storm with bad winds, we'll dance amid the dangerous waves.
Dzisiaj znów potargane żagle - Bosman wściekły, bo trzeba szyć. Kot Ci spadnie na plecy nagle, Jakże długo tak można żyć?
Today again we have torn sails, the angry boatswain has to sew them. Suddenly, the halyard will fall on your back, how long can you live like this?
Lecz w Calais zabawimy się, Chyba każdy puści tę forsę małą - Bo kto wie, może skończysz źle I nie wrócisz już z tego rejsu cało!
But we'll have fun in Calais, everyone will probably spend some money - Who knows, maybe you'll end up badly and won't come back from this voyage in one piece!
Do Calais, gdzie leniwe dnie I gorące noce nas czekają! Hands on deck - no i praca wre, Chociaż fale na łeb się zwalają!
To Calais, where lazy days and hot nights await us! Hands on deck - work is going on, even though waves are hitting us in the head!
Gdy w Calais wreszcie znajdziesz się, Spotkasz tą, która niegdyś Cię kochała, Lecz gdy z nią jakiś Paul czy Pierre - Inne dziewki nie poskąpią ciała!
When you finally find yourself in Calais, you'll meet the one who once loved you. But when she's with some Paul or Pierre - other girls won't spare your body!
Co za mąż byłby z marynarza, Lepszy chłop, co ma dom i sklep! Jednak o tym bez przerwy marzy Morski, twardy, zawiany łeb!
What kind of husband would a sailor be? A better man owns a house and a shop! However, a sea-loving, tough, windblown head constantly dreams about it!
Contributed by Aaliyah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.