Brodka’s first album, mature for a teenager, amazed audiences with its sensitivity and fresh approach to pop music ‐ but also proved that Brodka has an incredible voice. Brodka’s second album, released two years later, also reached ‘Golden Record’ status. The singer’s latest LP, Granda, came after a break in music‐making and a conscious decision to change directions. Granda shows a more experienced, worldly and experimental side to Brodka. The music ‐ hard to define but showing folk, electronic and experimental traits, with a pop background ‐ was produced and co‐composed by Bartosz Dziedzic.
Granda has reached double platinum status, proving that this bold, new style Brodka has embraced was a smart move. Both Brodka and Dziedzic received acclaim for their work and were nominated for dozens of awards, including the SuperHiro Magazine Award (won), Gala’s Rose (won), Polityka Passport. Poland’s Phonographic Academy nominated Brodka for 10 Fryderyki awards (the most important awards in Polish music business), and the singer won 4 for Best Female Vocalist, Best Pop Album, Best Music Production, Best Music Video in 2011. In 2012 she was nominated for MTV European Music Awards. In 2013 she was angain nominated to Fryderyki awards in 3 cathegories: Best Album (LAX), Best Song ("Varsovie") and Best Artist of the year 2012.
Since the release of Granda, Brodka has been touring with her band all over Poland. They played over 60 concerts and are currently preparing to tour the LAX EP and the EP’s singles: Varsovie and Dancing Shoes. Besides music, Brodka’s other passions include photography and fashion, proven by the fact that, at age 24, she is already considered an icon by Poland’s fashion magazines. Brodka, hailing from the Silesian town of Zywiec, known for it’s folk‐music roots and determined inhabitants, is proving over and over again that she sets high goals and rises to the challenge of meeting them. Her latest venture into singing in English only serves to show that Brodka is constantly developing ‐ both personally and musically ‐ and her sales and concert attendance prove that she has staying‐power.
Inner City Blues
Brodka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', This ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
Brodka's song Inner City Blues is a powerful commentary on poverty, social injustice, and economic inequality. The repeated "dah, dahs" and the driving beat give a sense of urgency to the lyrics. The first two lines, "Rockets, moon shots / Spend it on the have nots," juxtaposes the idea of the government spending billions of dollars on space exploration while neglecting to give aid to those in need. The next two lines, "Money, we make it / Fore we see it you take it," suggest issues with capitalism and the idea that hardworking individuals are not able to keep the money they earn due to taxes and other forms of exploitation.
The repetition of "Make me wanna holler / The way they do my life" highlights the frustration and despair of those living in poverty, facing financial struggles, and experiencing oppression. The lyrics then move into deeper social commentary, touching on political corruption, police brutality, and panic-inducing events that leave people feeling lost and helpless. The final lines, "Mother, mother / Everybody thinks we're wrong / Who are they to judge us / Simply cause we wear our hair long," speaks to the social stigmas and discrimination faced by those who do not conform to societal norms.
Overall, Brodka's Inner City Blues is a powerful critique of American society, capitalism, and the myriad of social issues plaguing our modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
Dah, dah, dah, dah
dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
The song opens up with a sequence of 'dah, dah, dah' sounds, which act as an introduction to the lyrics which follow.
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Fore we see it you take it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
The government spends a fortune on space exploration, while the less fortunate are left to struggle. Money is taken away from people before they even have a chance to see it, leaving them frustrated and angry at how the government treats them.
This ain't livin', This ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
The current state of affairs isn't living, as the world is consumed by issues like poverty, crime, taxes, and police brutality. The repetition of 'no, no baby, this ain't livin'' is effective in communicating the dire conditions people are living in.
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Inflation prevents people from improving their finances, while bills keep getting higher and higher, pushing young men to be drafted for wars that only benefit those in positions of power. The repeated 'make me wanna holler' emphasizes the overwhelming frustration and anger that people feel because of these circumstances.
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
People are constantly facing disappointment and setbacks, which make it difficult for them to keep up with tax payments. The phrase 'make me wanna holler' is used again here, coupled with 'throw up both my hands', conveying the feeling of helplessness and despair in the face of these issues.
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Crime rates are rising, and the police are becoming more violent and trigger-happy. People are feeling hopeless and lost as they don't know where the world is headed. The repeated 'dah, dah, dah' at the end acts as a closing to the song, emphasizing the gravity of the subject matter.
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
The song closes with a message of rebellion, as the artist acknowledges the collective efforts of those standing up to the injustices of the world. The line 'simply cause we wear our hair long' is a nod to the hippie movement of the '60s, which emphasized individuality and freedom of expression.
Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.