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…
Keby si bol môj
Jana Kirschner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nad hlavou oblaky
Letia si do sveta
A ja sa pozerám
Na krásu nebeskú,
čo visí nad nami
A gúľam ocami
A gúľam ocami.
Pýtam sa každý deň,
či sa mi pošťastí,
Občas sa zasmejem
A snívam o šťastí,
Cesta je kľukatá
A vlak sa zastaví,
Dnes sa mi nedari
Dnes sa mi nedari.
Ref: Ach keby, keby si bol môj.
Ach keby, keby si bol môj.
Ach keby, keby si bol môj.
Ach keby, keby si bol môj.
Na obed skryjem sa
Pred slnkom do tieňa,
Ale ta potvora
Nájde ma, nájde ma,
Vážky a motýle tancujú nad hlavou
A oči naplnia krásou dokonalou.
Pýtam sa každý deň,
či sa mi pošťastí,
Občas sa zasmejem
A snívam o šťastí,
Hviezdy sa ligocú jak perly na dlani
A slzy tečú mi, tečú mi po tvári.
Ref: Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Snáď cestu k tebe nájdem,
Na krídlach vtákov poletím,
Strácaš sa mi v nedohľadne,
Snáď poradím si s tým.
Nad hlavou labute
Chvejú sa perute,
Nebeské znamenia,
Karty sa vymenia,
Hviezdy sa ligocú
Jak perly na dlani
A slzy tečú mi,
Tečú mi po tvári.
Ref: Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Ach keby keby si bol môj...
In Jana Kirschner’s song “Keby si bol môj” (If you were mine), the singer marvels at the beauty of the sky and expresses her longing for a companion. The first verse paints a vivid image of clouds drifting above and the singer admiring the heavenly beauty above her. She then confesses her hopes for happiness and the challenges that come with a winding journey. The chorus is a repetition of her wishful thinking for a companion, emphasizing the importance of this desire.
The second verse discusses the difficulty of escaping the sun's harsh glare and the inevitability of being found out. Despite this, the singer remains hopeful and continues to seek happiness, while experiencing the stunning beauty that surrounds her. The final verse brings a sense of resolution, as the singer seeks to find her companion and imagines flying on the wings of birds to find them. The imagery of celestial signs and changing fortunes adds depth to the song’s sense of longing and search for happiness.
Overall, the song expresses the innate desire for companionship, and the inevitability of sadness and challenges that come with seeking love and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Brieždi sa pomaly,
Travel slowly,
Nad hlavou oblaky
Clouds above me,
Letia si do sveta
Flying into the world,
A ja sa pozerám
And I am looking,
Na krásu nebeskú,
At the beauty of the sky,
čo visí nad nami
That hangs above us,
A gúľam ocami
And rolling my eyes,
A gúľam ocami.
And rolling my eyes.
Pýtam sa každý deň,
I ask every day,
či sa mi pošťastí,
If I will succeed,
Občas sa zasmejem
Sometimes I laugh,
A snívam o šťastí,
And dream of happiness,
Cesta je kľukatá
The road is winding,
A vlak sa zastaví,
And the train stops,
Dnes sa mi nedari
Today I am not doing well,
Dnes sa mi nedari.
Today I am not doing well.
Ref: Ach keby, keby si bol môj.
Chorus: Oh, if only you were mine.
Na obed skryjem sa
I hide from the sun at lunchtime,
Pred slnkom do tieňa,
Into the shade from the sun,
Ale ta potvora
But that monster,
Nájde ma, nájde ma,
Finds me, finds me,
Vážky a motýle tancujú nad hlavou
Dragonflies and butterflies dance above my head,
A oči naplnia krásou dokonalou.
And my eyes are filled with perfect beauty.
Hviezdy sa ligocú jak perly na dlani
Stars twinkle like pearls in my palm,
A slzy tečú mi, tečú mi po tvári.
And tears flow down my face.
Snáď cestu k tebe nájdem,
Maybe I will find a way to you,
Na krídlach vtákov poletím,
Fly on the wings of birds,
Strácaš sa mi v nedohľadne,
You're getting lost in the distance,
Snáď poradím si s tým.
Maybe I'll figure it out.
Nad hlavou labute
Swans above me
Chvejú sa perute,
Their feathers tremble,
Nebeské znamenia,
Celestial signs,
Karty sa vymenia,
Cards are exchanged,
Hviezdy sa ligocú
Stars twinkle
Jak perly na dlani
Like pearls in the palm,
A slzy tečú mi,
And tears flow down my face,
Tečú mi po tvári.
Flowing down my face.
Ref: Ach keby keby si bol môj.
Chorus: Oh, if only you were mine.
Ach keby keby si bol môj...
Oh, if only you were mine...
Writer(s): martin zajko, jana kirschner, martin wittgruber, igor sabo
Contributed by Lucas H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@milosspacek4840
Janičko jsi úžasná zpěvačka, krásná žena ♥️♥️♥️😍😍😍
@alicag.2055
Táto pieseň mi vždy zlepší náladu 😍😍😘👏💞
@Kiki-mq8tm
Lol
@veronikacernakova6520
Lubim ta Adka😘 Dufam ze si precitas tento koment, pekny vecer😉
@SuperPampala
Pekneeee,pravdive...uplne naj:))
@YKKY
Toto je tak nadherne, to sa neda opisat!
@hanafabry351
Skvela vec; pre mna sice neskor, ale objav roka:)
@natulikpupik4271
Ta pesnicka je naozaj pekna
@barcermakova2181
krásná písnička :-)
@alenavagasiova2516
🧡🧡🧡