2012 has started at the same amazing pace as 2011 for Scala & Kolacny Brothers, with a tour of Northern Spain, dates in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Ireland, an upcoming trip to Korea as well as TV appearances at ITV's Dancing On Ice (UK) and at the famous San Remo Festival... But 2011 was the breakout year for Scala & Kolacny Brothers as they conquered the United States and Canada with a major tour, in support of their first North American CD release, including headlining stages at SXSW and Coachella. This success was immediately followed by a first record release in the U.K., a sold out show at London's Union Chapel in June and a triumphant “special guest” performance at the Latitude Festival, where they played the prestigious Sunday noon slot. In June the group headlined at the Heineken Dia De La Musica in Madrid, in November the album ‘Scala & Kolacny Brothers’ was released in Italy, where it immediately hit the top 10 (!) and in December the group returned to 4 sold out shows in Berlin, as well as a Radio Eins very special-alternative-Christmas-songs special. 2011 has brought Scala & Kolacny Brothers the status of international phenomenon and it all seemed to start with a simple email.
When the email arrived in May 2010, the Kolacny brothers thought it was some kind of joke. “Yeah”, the brothers thought, “right.” But the request was genuine. And the film turned out to be The Social Network. It transpired that the director, David Fincher, is a huge fan.
The song in question is a hauntingly beautiful acoustic reworking of Radiohead¹s Creep. In July 2010, two months after the brothers received the email, the Social Network trailer was released. The powerful music was center stage, heightening a growing sense of unease like a chorus of fallen angels.
Like the film itself, the trailer has been a huge global hit more than 250m people have seen in the Cinema, on TV or online. Thanks in part to the subsequent buzz on social media, traffic to the brothers’ website went through the roof: their interpretation of Creep is an internet phenomenon, watched in various forms well over 25m times.
A record-label bidding war erupted in America but the brothers chose to sign with Atco, a subsidiary of Warner, with whom they had been negotiating. They released an eponymous album in in the US in March in the US and in the UK and most of the rest of Europe - 6 June 2011 (on Wall Of Sound). Italy followed in November of this year and the album was re-released in December in the UK, with two additional titles. In 2011 Scala & Kolacny Brothers also released 2 acclaimed video clips, for their versions of Use Somebody (directed by Inti Calfat) and Everlong (directed by Mark Woollen, who also directed the The Social Network trailer).
In September Scala & Kolacny Brother’s version of U2’s With Or Without You, was featured in the trailer for Season 2 of the British hit drama series Downton Abbey (broadcast in the USA on PBS where Scala & Kolacny Brothers also have their new special ‘Live From Bruges’ airing from December). And in December Scala’s version of Last Christmas was used in the trailer for the Downton Abbey Christmas special, while the group performed at Downton Abbey’s VIP Christmas special launch party in London.
But even with numerous TV shows (including 'the Simpsons'!) using Scala & Kolacny Brother’s music in 2011, it was the Social Network trailer which shone a spotlight on the unique musical project that is Scala & Kolacny Brothers an indie-rock choir, comprising of the two Kolacny brothers, Steven and Stijn, and Scala, their all-girl choir. Steven plays the piano, Stijn conducts the choir. The brothers usually work with 20-30 singers, aged 16-26, at a time, but these days have more than 200 girls on their books, ensuring plenty of cover for their increasingly busy schedule.
Scala & Kolacny Brothers take rock and indie songs and reinvent them as elegiac hymns to breathtaking effect with the piano often the sole accompaniment to the voices. On occasion they also use drum machines, sequencers and synthesizers, and also often perform with a full rock band.
The new album includes versions of Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana), Champagne Supernova (Oasis), With or Without You (U2), Use Somebody (Kings of Leon), Everlong (Foo Fighters) and more. Creep also features, as do three original compositions Seashell, Masquerade and Our Last Fight.
Rock and indie music works best because “the beating heart of the songs is often very black and very emotional, and the female voices of the choir add a certain melancholic touch”, says Stijn. “Sometimes they bring out whole new dimensions in the songs our version of Nothing Else Matters could be
classical music; its sound is nothing to do with Metallica anymore.” Other influences range from Sigur Ros to Nirvana and include the dark electro-pop of Goldfrapp and Depeche Mode, and the brooding mini-symphonies of Massive Attack.
Enjoy The Silence
Scala & Kolacny Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand
Oh my little girl
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable
All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm
Enjoy the silence
The lyrics of Scala & Kolacny Brothers’ song “Enjoy the Silence” speak of the power of silence and the harm that words can bring. The opening line “Words like violence, break the silence, come crashing in” highlights the impact of words when used negatively. The writer describes the effect of these words as painful and piercing, making them feel understood which is an ironic statement as clearly the words have failed to do that.
Despite this, the main chorus contrasts this statement by claiming that there is no need for words. “All I ever wanted, all I ever needed, is here in my arms, words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm”. Indicating that the silence between the individuals involved in this piece of writing is what will ultimately bring them peace and fulfill their needs.
The writer suggests that vows can be spoken but broken and that feelings are intense but words are trivial. The pleasure of enjoying this silent moment remains but so does the pain of knowing that there are no words that can change what has been said.
Overall, the song conveys the message that sometimes silence is the best communicator and that words can be more harmful than they are helpful.
Line by Line Meaning
Words like violence
The power and impact of words can be equal to or greater than a physical attack
Break the silence
The start of communication can bring about change and connection amongst people
Come crashing in
Communication can be forceful and impactful, often with immediate effects
Into my little world
Each individual has their own unique perspective and experiences that shape their view of the world
Painful to me
Emotional pain can be just as intense and real as physical pain
Pierce right through me
Words can penetrate deeply and affect a person emotionally and mentally
Can't you understand
The difficulty and frustration of not being able to convey a message effectively or connect with others
Oh my little girl
A term of endearment for someone close to the artist
All I ever wanted
The basic and fundamental desire for human connection and love
All I ever needed
The recognition that love and connection are enough to fulfill a person's needs
Is here in my arms
A tangible expression of love and connection
Words are very unnecessary
Actions and connection are more important and powerful than words
They can only do harm
Words have the potential to be hurtful and damaging, even if not intended
Vows are spoken
A promise or commitment made between two individuals
To be broken
The reality that promises and commitments are not always kept and can be broken
Feelings are intense
Emotions can be very strong and overwhelming
Words are trivial
Words alone cannot capture the depth and intensity of emotions
Pleasures remain
The positive experiences and feelings can persist even after emotions have faded
So does the pain
Negative experiences and feelings can also persist and remain after the initial hurt
Words are meaningless
Words alone cannot capture the complexity and depth of human experience and emotion
And forgettable
Words alone are not enough to create lasting and meaningful connections
Enjoy the silence
The beauty and peace that can be found in the absence of words and communication
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Martin Gore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alecek
I just discovered Scala and Kolacny Br. I am gonna cry my ass of tonight.My GOOOOD Amazing voices.
I27T I84
the lyrics to this song have never meant so much to me as they do here, with these voices, and
Life Is Better When You Relax
I love, love, love the piano arrangement here. I actually don't play the piano, but this song makes me want to at least learn enough to be able to play this variation of the song.
Mateus Oliveira
Life Is Better When You Relax i feel the same
raeesmerelda
Life Is Better When You Relax I'd just listen to the piano part of this by itself if it was out there.
ayu GuzM
Realmente suena hermoso!
Psyguy D Noir
i love depeche but this one melts my heart and soul
Forever facepalming
This group is so awesome...I wish they were my choral group!
Iain Longstaff
Amazing, love Depeche Mode, so god like, haunting, Brilliant, what more can I say!
Neon Crocodile
loved it.....thank you so much for the upload!