An old song in a new light: Anna Aliena sings “Gloomy Sunday“

Oct. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Berlin, October 28th, 2012. There are songs which inspire people in several extraordinary ways. Anna Aliena felt inspired to make two very personal versions of “Gloomy Sunday“ while many others used the tune as an accompaniment to commit suicide. On November 30th, 2012, almost 80 years after the first publication of the famous Hungarian suicide tune “Szomorú Vasárnap“ by Rezsö Seress, Anna Aliena's new single “Gloomy Sunday“ is going to be released by her label Go!Diva Records.

The singer and songwriter from Berlin is not the first musician to adopt the old melody. Billie Holiday, Diamanda Galas, Björk, Sarah Brightman, Heather Nova, Sarah MacLachlan and many other well-known artists have produced their own interpretations of “Gloomy Sunday“ before. While others used the English translation of László Jávor's original Hungarian lyrics, Anna Aliena goes one step further. She decided to sing her own words on both versions “Gloomy Sunday (Suicide Drive)“ and “Gloomy Sunday (Lovers in War)“. As a matter of fact, the two tracks are full of contrasts, but they are linked by the theme of “Szomorú Vasárnap“.

The first track on the single, “Gloomy Sunday (Suicide Drive)“, culminates in hysteria: Synthesizer arrangements, electronic beats and dramatic vocals full of despair take the listener on a ride to several gloomy spots of a devastated landscape of the soul. Those who are willing to take part in this musical suicide drive shall experience catastrophe at the end of the song. Anna Aliena explains, “The song deals with a suicide I've never committed ...“

“Gloomy Sunday (Lovers in War)“ may calm you down after this upsetting cruise. On the second track Anna Aliena's characteristic mezzosoprano voice is carried by a soft orchestral arrangement of strings, brass and unobtrusive percussion parts. Suicide is no longer an issue, but she tells you the story of a destructive love affair.

In 1933 unhappy love triggered Rezsö Seress' (1899 – 1968) musical break-through after his fiancee had deserted him. At first several music publishers rejected “Szomorú Vasárnap“ due to its melancholia. Nevertheless, the melancholic character of the tune paved the way to success. Suddenly the unknown bar pianist from Budapest became world-famous, but when numberless cases of suicide occurred in connection with the song, many radio-stations banned “Gloomy Sunday“ from their broadcasts.

Despite the attempts to put a ban on the song, it turned into a legend. It first caught Anna Aliena's attention while watching the German-Hungarian movie “Gloomy Sunday – Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod“ (in English: “A song of love and death“). She says, “After I had seen the film, I knew immediately that I would publish my own version of 'Gloomy Sunday' some day.“ This day shall come on November 30th when her single “Gloomy Sunday“ is going to be released as a digital download at Amazon, iTunes, Deezer and several other stores on the net.

Contact

Go!Diva Records

Press agent: Kassandra Katz

email: info@godiva-records.biz

Website: www.godiva-records.biz