Up to 2003, the success of her four Universal albums had been mainly confined to Slovakia and the Czech Republic; she was singing (for the most part) in her mother language and playing to an audience who knew her, loved her and generally had the T-shirt.
This is where new album ‘Shine’ comes in; 11 songs that roll like liquid honey, all easy drift and rainy-day emotion, topped off by vocals – English vocals – that consistently favour the personal over the pat.
Set for release on Universal this summer, with the title track getting the nod as lead single/video, this is also the first album from Jana to be recorded & mixed outside of Slovakia, in an environment that sometimes loomed large in terms of language, weather & workload…
By the age of 21, Jana was one of Slovakia’s most noted performers, a genuine front-cover face, and within a couple of years, this appeal had extended to the Czech Republic, too – a country where those older and (supposedly) wiser had assured her that, for reasons of culture, she could never hope to break. It’s one thing to have a talent, the ability to grab a melody and a voice that naturally charms, but this kind of against-the-odds success pointed to someone with a sense of belief & responsibility far beyond their years; someone whose career could boast its fair share of awards (Newcomer Of The Year,Artist of the year,Album of the year,The best song,Producer of the year,Best lyrics....), high-profile appearances (Special Guesting with Elton John in Prague) and carefully-crafted songs shot through with atmosphere & grace. In short, someone pretty special.
JANA KIRSCHNER WAS born in the small town of Martin, about 300 km from Bratislava. It was here, aged just seven, that she took top place in a singing competition, setting her off down a creative path that – with the odd detour to take in a beauty pageant and contemporary dance – finally led to a record deal and a successful first single.
‘Don’t Cry’ was the track in question, a pure pop hit, but 17-year-old Jana wasn’t happy. Where was the substance? The soul? She was finding herself drawn in a different direction, and after joining forces with a like-minded manager, a guy used to working with ‘genuine’ artists, she was able to embark on a voyage of discovery – expanding her musical knowledge, playing with seasoned professionals and getting a feel for the performance side of things.
“I began to sense that I was involved with something bigger,” reflects the singer, who would soon add guitar playing to her burgeoning list of skills, “That I was part of a new family…” With her ‘mission’ now officially underway, Jana was offered a contract by Universal, and the resulting album" Jana Kirschner" (issued in 1997).
Two years later her album"In the foreign city"(issued in 1999) saw her winning support in both Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where ‘Modra’ (‘Blue’) became the breakthrough track at radio. The follow-up collections (2002/2003) served to sustain her momentum at home, and there were festival dates in Germany & Poland to keep the international flame a-flicker, but still no plans to turn that flicker into a blaze. It was clear that more dramatic moves were required, plus real discipline from Jana in respect of the material…
“I bought a computer so I could write a song every day, like a diary, and I came up with 30 to 40 numbers for the new album. I put some of them on a CD, which I called the ‘Pink CD’, then I gave this to my manager’s daughter as a Christmas present; I explained that the songs were just for her, but she couldn’t resist playing them to her father, who went mad when he heard them and so did Universal…” Mission still on track. Next stop: LONDON.
HAVING BUILT his reputation on records designed to ruffle the emotions, Ross Cullum had the perfect credentials to take on a project that had at last won its international spurs. What’s more, he and Jana hit it off straight away, spending hours, days & weeks locked in deep musical debate, batting names such as Bob Dylan & Bonnie Raitt back an’ forth across the net. Only after many such (extended) rallies did they mutually agree where the fourth Universal album should sit…
There was never any question that Jana would sing in English (“I find it easier to be brave with my lyrics in a language that isn’t my own!”), or that the music should have a flavour of her culture and her past; the hard part was deciding which of the vast choice of songs would make most sense to record… then finding the plain & simple truth in those. Which sounds straightforward enough, but once in process can squeeze the emotions like a vice, as album opener ‘Another Day’ – the only song written in London – documents in full (‘don’t let me give up this fight until I find the truth’). There’s no doubt, however, that the final results fully justify the effort…
Wonderfully constructed by a host of great players, including Robbie MacIntosh (guitar), Chris Hughes (percussion) and multiinstrumentalist Cullum himself, ‘Shine’ is an album that speaks from within; it doesn’t shout or raise its voice without reason, but there’s a gentle strength to the music plus a take-it-or-leave-it honesty to the lyrics that are hard not to succumb to – even for those whose vital organs have been left out in the cold…
Bride Song
Jana Kirschner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you wanna take my cherry pie
I'll be waiting for you
I'll be waiting for you
All alone
Before the fall
Like a bride
Before the fall
Leaves are falling all around your door
And you're afraid of being alone
I never said you have to be all mine
But when you miss someone
I'll be waiting for you
I'll be waiting for you
I'll be waiting for you
All alone
Winter falls upon you hair
You got to thinking that it's not fair
Other lovers keep each other warm
And you feel the cold
I'll be waiting for you
I'll be waiting for you
I'll be waiting for you
All alone
Before the fall
Before the Fall
Like a bride
I'll be all yours….
The song "Bride Song" by Jana Kirschner tells a story of unrequited love and waiting for someone who is afraid of being alone. The first stanza mentions how summer is passing by, but if the person wants Jana's "cherry pie," she'll be waiting for them all alone before the fall, like a bride. This metaphor suggests that she will wait patiently for this person like a bride waits for her groom on her wedding day, full of hope and anticipation, yet also acknowledging that the fall season symbolizes the end of something, possibly hinting at the end of their love story.
The second stanza describes how the leaves are falling all around the person's door, and they are afraid of being alone. Jana reminds them that she never said they had to be all hers, but when they miss someone, she'll be waiting for them all alone. This stanza conveys a sense of understanding and support for the person's fear of being alone, while also longing for them to be with her.
The third and final stanza mentions how winter falls upon their hair, and they realized that it's not fair that other lovers keep each other warm. It's clear that the person is cold and needs someone to keep them warm, and Jana offers to be that person with the repeated line, "I'll be waiting for you, I'll be waiting for you, I'll be waiting for you all alone." The song ends with Jana proclaiming that she'll be all theirs, suggesting that she is willing to love them unconditionally and be there for them in whatever way they need.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer is passing you by
Time is slipping away and you're not making the most of it.
If you wanna take my cherry pie
If you want to be with me and share my love.
I'll be waiting for you
I'll be here for you whenever you need me.
I'll be waiting for you
You can rely on me to always be there for you.
All alone
I'll be waiting patiently for you on my own.
Before the fall
Before things go wrong or change.
Like a bride
Anticipating something special or important, like a wedding.
Leaves are falling all around your door
Change is coming and you're feeling trapped or overwhelmed.
And you're afraid of being alone
You're scared of facing things by yourself.
I never said you have to be all mine
I'm not trying to own or control you.
But when you miss someone
When you're feeling lonely or longing for someone's company.
I'll be waiting for you
I'll be there to comfort and support you through tough times.
I'll be waiting for you
You can always count on me as a dependable friend or partner.
I'll be waiting for you
I care about you deeply and will be here for you no matter what.
All alone
Even if you don't reciprocate my feelings or attention, I'll still be there for you.
Winter falls upon you hair
Hardship and challenges are weighing you down and affecting you deeply.
You got to thinking that it's not fair
You feel like life is being unjust or cruel to you.
Other lovers keep each other warm
Seeing other people happy in relationships makes you feel envious or lonely.
And you feel the cold
You're struggling to cope with your emotions and it's making you feel numb or distant from others.
Before the fall
Don't wait until things get worse before seeking help or support from others.
Before the Fall
Act now to prevent things from falling apart or getting worse.
Like a bride
Have hope and optimism for the future, like a bride on her wedding day.
I'll be all yours….
I'm willing to commit to you and give you all my love and affection.
Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.