Farben Lehre today:
Wojtek Wojda - voc
Konrad Wojda - guitar, voc
Adam Mikolajewski - drums
Filip Grodzicki - bass
ex-members:
Marek Knap - drums (1986-87)
Piotr Kokoszczynski - bass, voc (1986-98)
Pawel Nowak - acoustic guitar, voc (1986-87)
Piotr Bartus - drums (1987-88)
Bogdan Pawłowski - keyboard, voc (1987-89)
Krzysztof Sieczkowski - drums (1988-91)
Bogdan Kicinski - guitar, voc (1989-98)
Irek Bukowski - bass (1990)
Paweł Malecki - guitar, voc (1993-95)
Jacek Trafny - drums (1999-2002)
Robert Chabowski - guitar, voc (1986-93 and 2002-04)
Discography:
1991 - "Bez pokory" (Without humility)
1993 - "My maszyny" (We, robots)
1994 - "Samo zycie" (Just life) - live disc
1995 - "Nierealne ogniska" - (Unreal focal points)
1995 - "Insekty" (Insects)
1996 - "Zdrada" (Betrayal)
1996 - "Garazowka" (Tape from the garage)
2001 - "Atomowe Zabawki" (Atomic toys)
2001 - "Wiecznie mlodzi" (Forever Young) - The Best of - disc edited due to 15th anniversary of the band.
2003 - "Bez pokory / My maszyny" - compilation / re-edition
2003 - "Pozytywka" (Music box; it's a wordplay, as "pozytywny" means positive in Polish)
2004 - "Insekty / Zdrada" compilation / re-edition
2005 - "Farbenheit" (title refers to Fahrenheit 9/11 movie)
2006 - "Farben Lehre" 2CD compilation
2008 - "Snukraina" (Dreamland)
2009 - "Ferajna" (Gang/Bunch)
Farben Lehre music is aggressive, melodious, full of fun with play, and free from complexes. Sharp, but accessible sounds and sincere words present spiritual attempt to connect with second person. Their music is influenced by bands like: Sex Pistols, Ramones, The Clash, Pogues, Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, Rancid, Greenday, Ska-P, Ukrainians, U2, Clawfinger, Nirvana, R.E.M, New Model Army or The Rolling Stones. Most important lyrics of Farben Lehre are: "Helikoptery"(The Helicopters), "Egoisci" (The Egoists), "Nierealne ogniska"(Unreal Fires), "Handel"(Commerce), "Nowy dzien" (New Day), "Rozkolysanka" (Uncradle Song), "Wiecznie mlodzi" (Forever Young), "Matura 2001" (Secondary-school certificate 2001), "Pozytywka" (Positive Song), "Judasz" (Judas), "Terrorystan" or "Pogodna" (Fine).
Farben Lehre concentrates on concert-tours; they discovered big tour called Punky Reggae Live (initially called Pankregeparty) and it`s been organized from 2004 annually, they also play "single" concerts; they have concerts with bands like The Vibrators, The Exploited, Ine Kafe, Slobodna Europa, Smola a Hrusky, UK Subs, Oi Polloi, Die Toten Hosen, Dritte Wahl and others and gave 99 concerts in 2006.
The band's motto is:
We will play to the moment, when it makes pleasure to us
To the moment, when we have something to say
To the moment when we have power
And to the moment when that what we're doing, is wanted by someone...
Portrety
Farben Lehre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mocno pijani domagają się swobody
Na co dzień synowie bogatych rodziców
Kontestatorzy z modnego "butiku"
Wszyscy tacy sami
Planowo zwariowani
Mocni w ręku, kiedy nie są sami
Później na ulicy strach zmienia ich oblicze
Ręce w kieszeni, a odwaga w piwnicy
To są nasze portrety martwe i żywe
Pijane portrety prawdziwie prawdziwe
To są nasze portrety martwe i żywe
Pijane portrety... prawdziwe
Otwieram oczy - człowiek szanowany
Codziennie po godzinach pije, w domu, bije żonę
Rano grzeczny w biurze, na zebraniu w garniturze
Prawy obywatel papierowej kultury
To są nasze portrety martwe i żywe
Pijane portrety prawdziwie prawdziwe
To są nasze portrety martwe i żywe
Pijane portrety... prawdziwe
The lyrics to Farben Lehre's "Portrety" describe various individuals who are struggling with different forms of rebellion and societal pressure. The first verse focuses on young people who come from wealthy backgrounds, but who feel the need to rebel and demand freedom while intoxicated. These individuals are described as "planned crazy" and "contestants from a fashionable boutique." The second verse introduces a man who is respected in his community, but who has a dark side that he takes out on his wife when he drinks at home. This man appears respectable in his suit at work and at meetings, but his true nature is revealed behind closed doors.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "These are our portraits, dead and alive" and acknowledges that these portraits are true and accurate depictions of the people they represent. The use of the term "drunken portraits" suggests that alcohol and substance abuse play a role in the downfall of these individuals, but it is also possible to read it as a metaphor for the distorted and imperfect images that people present to the world.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the struggle to find oneself in a society that imposes strict rules and expectations. The different portraits that are described in the lyrics show how individuals react to these pressures in different ways, but ultimately the consequences of their actions will catch up with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Otwieram oczy - zbuntowani młodzi
I wake up - rebellious young people
Mocno pijani domagają się swobody
Strongly drunk, they demand freedom
Na co dzień synowie bogatych rodziców
Every day, sons of wealthy parents
Kontestatorzy z modnego "butiku"
Contestants from a fashionable "boutique"
Wszyscy tacy sami
All the same
Planowo zwariowani
Systematically insane
Otwieram oczy - pijani chuligani
I wake up - drunk hooligans
Mocni w ręku, kiedy nie są sami
Strong in their hands when not alone
Później na ulicy strach zmienia ich oblicze
Later on the street, fear changes their face
Ręce w kieszeni, a odwaga w piwnicy
Hands in pockets, and courage in the basement
To są nasze portrety martwe i żywe
These are our portraits, dead and alive
Pijane portrety prawdziwie prawdziwe
Drunken portraits, truly true
Otwieram oczy - człowiek szanowany
I wake up - a respected person
Codziennie po godzinach pije, w domu, bije żonę
Every day, after hours, he drinks and beats his wife at home
Rano grzeczny w biurze, na zebraniu w garniturze
Polite in the morning at the office, wearing a suit at the meeting
Prawy obywatel papierowej kultury
An upright citizen of paper culture
Pijane portrety... prawdziwe
Drunken portraits... true
Contributed by Nicholas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.