Varius Manx
Encyclopedia
Varius Manx is a Polish
pop group
, formed in Łódź in 1989 by composer Robert Janson. The name is a variation on the English
word "various" plus Manx, the variety of cat. The band have sold more than 2 million albums in their native Poland.
The band's first album, The Beginning, which consisted entirely of instrumental music, was released in 1990 to measured success. The 1993 follow-up The New Shape, featured vocals by Janson, Robert Amirian, and guests including Edyta Bartosiewicz
.
The band's breakthrough was its 1994 album Emu, which marked a stark change in artistic direction. The band now had a lead singer, Anita Lipnicka
, and now performed primarily in Polish. The formula was highly successful, and both Emu and the subsequent album Elf (1995) each sold more than half a million copies. The band won the Polish music award, the Fryderyk
, in 1995 for best musical group. The band provided much of the soundtrack to the film Młode wilki, featuring in part songs from Elf. In 1994 they won the Sopot International Song Festival
.
In 1996 Varius Manx appeared on the television show Szansa na sukces
(A Chance For Success), a karaoke
show in which participants would sing the songs of the visiting band. The show was won by 19-year-old Kasia Stankiewicz
. When, shortly afterward, Lipnicka left the band to pursue a solo career, the remaining members asked Stankiewicz to take her place. The resulting lineup recorded Ego, which was also highly successful, and produced what is probably Varius Manx's best-known song, "Orła cień" (An Eagle's Shadow), which was featured in the film Kiler
. Like its two predecessors, the album included a number of songs in English.
In 1997 the band released its next album, End, this time entirely in Polish; it sold a respectable 130,000 copies, although far less than its predecessors. The same year, Varius Manx contributed to a second soundtrack, for the film Nocne Graffiti, after which it took a creative pause; Stankiewicz recorded her first solo album. Varius Manx released a greatest hits
album in 2000, Najlepsze z dobrych (The Best of the Good), which included four new tracks as well as reworked versions of some of the band's hits. It was Kasia Stankiewicz's last album with the band, as she departed the following year to pursue her solo career.
Monika Kuszyńska was chosen as the band's new singer in May 2001. With her, the band recorded Eta (2001) and Eno (2002). In 2002 Varius Manx won the Baltic Prize in Karlshamn
, Sweden
with the song "Moje Eldorado". The cover for the band's 2004 album Emi was chosen in a competition, in which 317 suggestions were sent in; the winner was an image of a white cat, a play on the band's name.
In 2006 the band survived a serious car accident. Robert Janson and Monika Kuszyńska were badly injured. Janson has recovered, however Kuszyńska remains paralysed. In summer 2006 in Sopot
the most famous Polish artists (including the band's two previous vocalists) took part in a charity concert which had been organised to raise money for the rehabilitation of Janson and Kuszyńska.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
pop group
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, formed in Łódź in 1989 by composer Robert Janson. The name is a variation on the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
word "various" plus Manx, the variety of cat. The band have sold more than 2 million albums in their native Poland.
Edyta Bartosiewicz
Edyta Bartosiewicz is a Polish rock singer, composer and songwriter. Her career has been awarded by five Fryderyks. In Poland, she's known for her highly reflective and unusual lyrics.- Early career :...
.
The band's breakthrough was its 1994 album Emu, which marked a stark change in artistic direction. The band now had a lead singer, Anita Lipnicka
Anita Lipnicka
Anita Lipnicka is a Polish singer and songwriter. Her career as a singer started with Varius Manx, a band she joined in 1993...
, and now performed primarily in Polish. The formula was highly successful, and both Emu and the subsequent album Elf (1995) each sold more than half a million copies. The band won the Polish music award, the Fryderyk
Fryderyk
The Fryderyk is the annual award in Polish music. Its name refers to the original Polish spelling variant of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin's first name...
, in 1995 for best musical group. The band provided much of the soundtrack to the film Młode wilki, featuring in part songs from Elf. In 1994 they won the Sopot International Song Festival
Sopot International Song Festival
The Sopot International Song Festival is an international song contest held in Sopot, Poland. It was the biggest Polish music festival altogether with the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, and one of the biggest annual song contest in Europe...
.
In 1996 Varius Manx appeared on the television show Szansa na sukces
Szansa na sukces
Szansa na sukces is a popular TV show on Polish channel TVP2. In the program amateur singers sing songs of Polish bands which are invited to the show...
(A Chance For Success), a karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
show in which participants would sing the songs of the visiting band. The show was won by 19-year-old Kasia Stankiewicz
Kasia Stankiewicz
Kasia Stankiewicz is a Polish pop singer.She started her career in 1995 singing a song by Varius Manx, a multi-platinum Polish band, in the TV song contest Szansa na sukces ....
. When, shortly afterward, Lipnicka left the band to pursue a solo career, the remaining members asked Stankiewicz to take her place. The resulting lineup recorded Ego, which was also highly successful, and produced what is probably Varius Manx's best-known song, "Orła cień" (An Eagle's Shadow), which was featured in the film Kiler
Kiler
Kiler is a highly successful 1997 Polish comedy by Juliusz Machulski, starring Cezary Pazura, Jerzy Stuhr, Janusz Rewiński and Małgorzata Kożuchowska...
. Like its two predecessors, the album included a number of songs in English.
In 1997 the band released its next album, End, this time entirely in Polish; it sold a respectable 130,000 copies, although far less than its predecessors. The same year, Varius Manx contributed to a second soundtrack, for the film Nocne Graffiti, after which it took a creative pause; Stankiewicz recorded her first solo album. Varius Manx released a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album in 2000, Najlepsze z dobrych (The Best of the Good), which included four new tracks as well as reworked versions of some of the band's hits. It was Kasia Stankiewicz's last album with the band, as she departed the following year to pursue her solo career.
Monika Kuszyńska was chosen as the band's new singer in May 2001. With her, the band recorded Eta (2001) and Eno (2002). In 2002 Varius Manx won the Baltic Prize in Karlshamn
Karlshamn
Karlshamn is a locality and the seat of Karlshamn Municipality in Blekinge County, Sweden with 12,957 inhabitants of the city core and 30 918 in the municipality ....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
with the song "Moje Eldorado". The cover for the band's 2004 album Emi was chosen in a competition, in which 317 suggestions were sent in; the winner was an image of a white cat, a play on the band's name.
In 2006 the band survived a serious car accident. Robert Janson and Monika Kuszyńska were badly injured. Janson has recovered, however Kuszyńska remains paralysed. In summer 2006 in Sopot
Sopot
Sopot is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000....
the most famous Polish artists (including the band's two previous vocalists) took part in a charity concert which had been organised to raise money for the rehabilitation of Janson and Kuszyńska.
Band members
- Robert Janson, composer, horns
- Anna Józefina Lubieniecka, vocals
- Michał Marciniak, guitar
- Paweł Marciniak, bass, keyboards
- Sławek Romanowski, drums
Former members
- Anita Lipnicka, vocals (1994-1996)
- Kasia Stankiewicz, vocals (1996-2001)
- Monika Kuszyńska (2001-2010)
Discography
- The Beginning (1990)
- The New Shape (1993)
- Emu (1994)
- Elf (1995)
- Ego (1996)
- End (1997)
- Najlepsze z dobrych (The Best of the Good, 2000, compilation)
- Eta (2001)
- Eno (2002)
- Emi (2004)
- Eli (2011)
Year Album Chart positions Poland PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Certification CertificationCertification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
Sales PL 1990 The Beginning - - - 1993 The New Shape - - - 1994 Emu - 500,000 copies - 1995 Elf - 500,000 copies - 1996 Ego - 500,000 copies - 1997 End - 130,000 copies - 2000 Najlepsze z dobrych - - - 2001 Eta - - - 2002 Eno - - - 2004 Emi - - -