The band's debut album, The Beginning, which consisted entirely of instrumental music, was released in 1990 with average success. By 1993, the band released the follow-up, The New Shape, with the line-up expanded to include Sławomir Romanowski and Robert Amirian. The album featured vocals by Robert Janson and Robert Amirian, along with guest vocalists including Edyta Bartosiewicz.
The band's breakthrough was the 1994 album Emu, which marked a significant change in musical direction, i.e. the band now had a lead singer, Anita Lipnicka, and started performing primarily in Polish. This formula was highly successful, and both Emu and the following 1995 album, Elf, sold more than half a million copies each. In 1995, the band won a Polish music award, the Fryderyk, for best Polish music group. Furthermore, the band provided a number of songs (mostly from Elf) for the soundtrack of the movie Młode wilki.
In 1996, Varius Manx appeared on the television show "Szansa na sukces", a kind of karaoke show in which the participants sing the songs of the visiting band. The winner of the show was the 19-year-old Kasia Stankiewicz. When, shortly afterwards, Amirian and Lipnicka both left the band, the remaining members asked Stankiewicz to join the band as new lead singer. This new line-up recorded Ego, which featured the band's biggest hit to date, the song "Orła cień".
In 1997, the band released its 6th album, End, which was a commercial hit, though it sold far less that the band's preceding albums.
In 2000, Varius Manx released their first compilation album Najlepsze z dobrych, which included four new songs along with remastered versions of the band's greatest hits. Shortly afterwards, Kasia Stankiewicz left the band and was replaced by Monika Kuszyńska. With her as lead singer, the band recorded the albums Eta (2001), Eno (2002) and Emi (2004).
In 2006, during the band's summer tour, the band members were involved in a car accident, which left lead singer Monika Kuszyńska paralyzed from the waist down. The band suspended its activities until 2010, then with a new lead singer, Lari Lu, with whom the band recorded the album Eli (2011).
The band's current lead singer, since 2013, is Edi Ann.
Sleight of Hand
Varius Manx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing up to what I pray
Here I sing another song
While the fear is growing strong
Don't know where I'm going
Among the people throwing
Flowers at my feet with no one giving it
When the trees are soughing sad
And the breeze is blowing cold
Make the most of what you've got
Sound the tears and paint them gold
Charm the lover off the cloud
Smell the magic left untold
Through the mist I see the light
Slowly fadng off my sigh
All I need is just a little sleight of hand
To take my head out of the sand
Again the sinking feeling
See the shadows stealing
Pickings of my childish faith in life
Straigt from my hands
When the trees...
The opening lines of Varius Manx's "Sleight of Hand" speak of the struggle to maintain faith and hope amidst fear and uncertainly. The singer is often unsure of where he is headed, with people throwing flowers at his feet without explaining why. There is a sense of loneliness and apprehension in his voice, as if he is battling an inner demon. Despite this, he continues to find solace in music and songwriting, hoping to make the most of what he has, even if it might not be much.
The second verse of "Sleight of Hand" offers some solace in the form of nature and beauty. The singer invokes sensory imagery like the rustling of trees, the scent of magic that has been left untold, and the charm of a lover off in the distance. Yet, even amidst the beauty of the world, there is also a sense of fleetingness and loss. The light he sees through the mist is slowly fading away, and he finds himself sinking again into the shadows of doubt and fear.
Overall, "Sleight of Hand" is a poignant reflection on the struggle to find meaning and hope in a world that is often uncertain and unforgiving. The lyrics suggest that music and beauty can be sources of comfort and inspiration, even as we grapple with doubts and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I start another day
I am beginning another day of my life.
Standing up to what I pray
I am staying true to my beliefs and principles.
Here I sing another song
I am expressing myself through music.
While the fear is growing strong
Despite my fears, I am persevering and continuing to be creative.
Don't know where I'm going
I am uncertain about my future.
Among the people throwing
I am surrounded by others who may have their own opinions or expectations of me.
Flowers at my feet with no one giving it
People may be giving me praise or support, but it may not be genuine or meaningful.
Straight into my arms
I am receiving this praise or support, but it may not be something that I want or need.
When the trees are soughing sad
During times of sorrow and sadness.
And the breeze is blowing cold
When things seem bleak and hopeless.
Make the most of what you've got
Take advantage of the positive things in your life and what you can control.
Sound the tears and paint them gold
Turning the difficult moments in life into something beautiful and meaningful.
Charm the lover off the cloud
To bring someone down from a place of fantasy or unrealistic thinking.
Smell the magic left untold
Experience and appreciate the mystery and beauty of life.
Through the mist I see the light
Even in times of uncertainty or confusion, there are positive things to focus on.
Slowly fadng off my sigh
My worries and troubles are becoming less intense and fading away.
All I need is just a little sleight of hand
A small change or shift in perspective can make a big impact in my life.
To take my head out of the sand
To stop ignoring or denying the problems or issues in my life and face them head on.
Again the sinking feeling
A recurring sense of disappointment or sadness.
See the shadows stealing
A sense of loss or feeling like something is being taken away from me.
Pickings of my childish faith in life
Feeling disillusioned or disappointed when things do not go as planned or hoped for.
Straight from my hands
Something is being taken away or lost from me that I cannot control.
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TITO
doskonały album, przezywalam swoją młodość a czasie premiery, 1978
snajp2
To ja podłóg Was to gówniorz bo 1980, ale też uwielbiam ;)
jackwolf
jo te 78
kilofazer
ehhh się łezka w oku kręci ;)
Robert Kabata
Ten album nie miał slabych punktów. Dziwne że ta płyta nie jest stawiana w gronie absolutnych klasyków. Ja w latach 90-tych słuchałem mocniejszych kapel rockowych, ale miałem głowę otwartą i kiedyś po amfetaminie, pod koniec lat 90 - tych pokochałem te płytę. Gdzie są dziewczyny z tamtych lat? Pokolenie 40 - latek z dużych miast jest dla mnie rozczarowujące, choć wychowali się bardzo często na dobrej muzyce to jednak dziś raczej po za stanem konta mało co się liczy. Może mam pecha do kobiet po prostu, ale wyjechał bym z normalną kobietą czy przyjacielem w Bieszczady.
Magdalena Mikolajczyk Kula
Robert, zycze Ci zebys znalazl wartosciowa kobiete! Ale nie dziwi mnie, ze kobiety po 40tce, ktore wciaz szukaja partnera, zwracaja uwage na kwestie materialna. Chca sie po prostu czuc bezpieczne. Same oczywiscie tez musza wnosic do zwiazku, a nie oczekieac, ze partner bedzie je gl utrzymywal. Ukladanie zycia w zwiazkach ososb w wieku srednim latwe nie jest. Ja poznalam meza zaraz po studiach, on mial jeszcze rok. Nie mielismy grosza przy duszy, ale mlodosc nie zwraca na to uwagi. Powodzenia!
Roksana Hiller
Dla mnie album w pierwszej 10stce absolutnych klasyków!!!
Robert Kabata
@XXX 377 to kiedy jedziemy ? 😉
Małgorzata Zapert
Tak, zgadzam się... Ten album to prawdziwa perła muzyczna, tekstowa i aranżacyjna...
XXX 377
Robercie mam takie samo zdanie. Pozdrawiam, rocznik 86.