POLAND: THE BLENDERS STORM THE MUSIC SCENE

Record ID: 387556

  • Title: POLAND: THE BLENDERS STORM THE MUSIC SCENE
  • Date: 4th March 1998
  • Summary: BLENDERS ON STAGE, SINGING "PONIEDZIALEK" (MONDAY)
  • Embargoed: 19th March 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WARSAW, POLAND
  • Country: Poland
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAECMO5K19OSF9QYJD8U1HFZIY
  • Story Text: Hailed as Poland's answer to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers The Blenders, with their own original mix of hip hop, rap, funk and rock have stormed the music scene.

    The Blenders, Polands answer to the hip hop, rap, funk and rock scene.Polish lyrics mixed with English words and invented "scarp" diction, The sights and sounds of the American street culture all blended together on a Polish backdrop, this curious combination is what makes Blenders, one of the top Polish funk rock groups.

    Hip hop and rap which originated in the black ghettos of New York in the late 1970's became a huge commercial success in the 1980's when performed by bands such as Run DMC and Beastie Boys.In Poland it remained practically unknown until three or four years ago when the local music market witnessed an explosion of hip hop and funk bands.

    The rhythmic melodies of simple down to earth, often aggressive, lyrics found enthusiastic reception among Polands young urban generation, teenagers living in the communist era high-rise blocks of flats for whom the new democratic Poland has very little to offer.

    The Polish hip hop and funk rock fans were born in the last days of Communism and are the first generation of Poles to grew up in a free country where the shops are full, the elections democratic and the borders open.They were brought up in a country which after decades of isolation became part of world mass culture - Coca-Cola and McDonalds have become part of everyday life.Warsaw cinemas now feature the same films that are in New York or London, music shops stock the same albums and MTV is available in almost all home.

    They are also the first generation of Poles to experience the frustrating consequences of rapidly growing social differences within the newly emerged capitalist society - 'better' schools, 'better' residential areas, friends who come to school driving new cars and those whose parents live off social benefits.

    Advertising, was practically absent from media, now fill magazines and television screens, tempting consumer apetites while the infant Polish economy can offer only a few chances to satisfy them.

    Blenders biggest hit features an oppulant music video with an impressive black vehicle with plush leather interiors, 2.4 litre engine, fur trimmed seats and tinted windows.

    What may seem to be the ultimate dream of a new breed of Polish consumer is not the latest model of Pontiac but a Warsaw manufactured Ursus tractor.Once the pride of the socialist industry and a hard to come by dream of most Polish farmers is also put to music, the Ursus tarctor has now become an object of social parody.Moving slowly down a Warsaw street, the familiar silhuette is escorted by rollerbladers and rapping groupies in a parody of the Western tastes of the new generation of Polish urban youth.
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