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…
TY A JA
Jana Kirschner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Občas nám býva trochu tesne
Jedno telo, jedna duša
Niekedy nás život skúša.
Ty a ja sme ako jednoduchá veta
Spomienka minulého leta
Čo patri len nám dvom
Keď odovzdám sa snom
Len tebe a oblakom.
Nebráň sa láske, čo v tebe býva
Možno že rastieš, no nie si iná.
Ty a ja sme ako slová piesne
Občas nám býva trochu tesne
Vrchol hory a dno plesa
Dotyk, ktorý neminie sa.
Ty a ja sme ako jednoduchá veta
Spomienka minulého leta
Čo patri len nám dvom
Každu noc si spievam tajne
Keď odovzdám sa snom
Len tebe a oblakom.
The song "Ty a ja" by Jana Kirschner expresses the strong emotional connection between two people who are in love and how they face challenges together in their relationship. The lyrics highlight the fact that sometimes they have to deal with difficult situations that put a strain on their bond, but they remain united as one body and soul.
The comparison of their love to a simple sentence that reminds them of a past summer memory that belongs only to the two of them, evokes a sense of intimacy and personal connection. The singer admits to singing secretly to the other person every night as they surrender to their dreams, signifying an unbreakable trust and understanding between them.
The lyrics suggest that they should embrace the feelings within them instead of resisting them. The final lines of the song emphasize their unbreakable and unique bond, representing the unwavering love they share that is not impacted by external factors. In closing, "Ty a ja" is an ode to the power of love that is pure, honest, and ever-enduring.
Line by Line Meaning
Ty a ja sme ako slová piesne
We are like the lyrics of a song.
Občas nám býva trochu tesne
Sometimes we feel a little cramped.
Jedno telo, jedna duša
One body, one soul.
Niekedy nás život skúša.
Sometimes life tests us.
Ty a ja sme ako jednoduchá veta
We are like a simple sentence.
Spomienka minulého leta
A memory of last summer.
Čo patri len nám dvom
That belongs to just the two of us.
Každu noc si spievam tajne
Every night I sing quietly to myself.
Keď odovzdám sa snom
When I give myself over to dreams.
Len tebe a oblakom.
Only to you and the clouds.
Nebráň sa láske, čo v tebe býva
Don't resist the love that is in you.
Možno že rastieš, no nie si iná.
You may be growing, but you're not different.
Vrchol hory a dno plesa
The peak of the mountain and the depths of the lake.
Dotyk, ktorý neminie sa.
A touch that will not be forgotten.
Writer(s): jana kirschner
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kynclova.b
já ztrácím slova...jako by mi mluvila z duše,děkuji za její hudbu
@mantra3000
Wow, I'm impressed. Beautiful language, beautiful voice, beautiful production.
@mykeemladek
naprosto úžasný.. nikdy jsem nebyl fanoušek, spíše naopak, tohle mě ale dostalo, stejně jako posléze celé album..
@Hedulajda
mám husí kůži....Nádherné!
@ivi159ivush
nádhera !!! :) :) text ,prevedenie , hudba .. proste Janka je top ! :)
@HadraSama
Ježiš.. začátek mě rozbrečel.. úplně nádhera.. krásný hlas.. a ten klavír, melodie.. ten TEXT.. (a to poslouchám teprve první minutu... ¬_¬ :D)
@21Daninka7
nádhera smířenosti...hudebního klidu...jak nechybí tuc tuc...úžasná skladba*
@kolesovic
krasne precitene...neviem co viac dodat :) fakt krasa !
@Hellilinek93
Byla jsem předevčírem na koncertě Toma Kluse a Jany v Ostravě a musím říct, že mě Jana velice překvapila. Byla úžasná. Výsledkem je, že už se dva dny nemůžu odtrhnout od jejich písní:D
@TheKudio
najlepšia slovenská pesnička roku 2010