Shazza
Encyclopedia
Shazza is the stage name of Magdalena Pańkowska, born May 29, 1967 in Pruszków
, a female Polish
singer-songwriter and occasional actress. She found fame in the 1990s with her massive disco polo
hits such as "Baiao Bongo", "Bierz co chcesz", "Egipskie noce" or "Noc róży". Having been proclaimed "the queen of disco polo", Shazza remains one of the best-selling singers of the genre.
of an old 50s song originally performed by Natasza Zylska
. The album of the same name became a best-seller and the song "18 lat" also enjoyed popularity. Her videos were heavily aired in Disco Relax, a popular Sunday morning TV show.
The breakthrough in Shazza's career came in 1995. The song "Bierz co chcesz" became a massive hit and its music video
is now considered cult. The track was included on her next album, Egipskie noce, which also included "Tak bardzo zakochani", "Miłość i zdrada" and popular title song. The album turned out her highest-selling record to date. It was followed by Noc róży in 1996, which presented more sophisticated sound. 1997 saw the release of Tak blisko nieba, her first album issued by a new record label. The biggest hit off the album was "Małe pieski dwa", and it also included a cover of ABBA
's "Hasta Mañana". Her next album, Historia pewnej miłości, was another change of style and consisted of more dance-oriented songs. However, it didn't meet with such positive reception as her previous efforts had done.
In 1999 and 2000 Shazza released collections of her greatest hits. She also took part in a nude photo session for the Polish Playboy
magazine. The issue with her on the cover turned out to be a big success. After signing up to EMI
record label, Shazza released her next album Jestem sobą in 2001. It was a clear departure from the disco polo sound with which she'd been associated. Singles "Jestem sobą" and "Może to samba" were minor hits, but the sales of the album proved disappointing and the singer was dropped by the label. After this Shazza decided to take a break from music. She moved to the USA and made a modest comeback in 2007, when she re-recorded some of her most known hits.
Pruszków
Pruszków is a town in central Poland, situated in the Masovian Voivodeship since 1999. It was previously in Warszawa Voivodeship . Pruszków is the capital of Pruszków County, located along the western edge of the Warsaw urban area...
, a female Polish
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...
singer-songwriter and occasional actress. She found fame in the 1990s with her massive disco polo
Disco polo
Disco polo is a musical genre native to Poland, which has existed in its present form since the early 1990s. It was derived from contemporary folk tunes, music from the former eastern territories of Poland influenced by Ukrainian/Belarusian/Russian folk songs and italo disco.The name itself was...
hits such as "Baiao Bongo", "Bierz co chcesz", "Egipskie noce" or "Noc róży". Having been proclaimed "the queen of disco polo", Shazza remains one of the best-selling singers of the genre.
Career
At the end of 1980s she joined a disco polo group Toy Boys, with whom she recorded first albums in the early 1990s. Her career as a solo artist began in 1992 with an album Sex Appeal. She enjoyed success with songs like "Jesteś moim ideałem" and "Jambalaya Mix". In 1994 Shazza had her first major hit with "Baiao Bongo", a cover versionCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of an old 50s song originally performed by Natasza Zylska
Natasza Zylska
Natasza Zylska, real name Natasza Zygelman was a Polish-Jewish singer. She was one of the most popular singers in Poland in the 1950s. Her the most famous song is Kasztany, covered by Irena Santor and Edyta Górniak. In 1963 Zylska immigrated to Israel.- References :...
. The album of the same name became a best-seller and the song "18 lat" also enjoyed popularity. Her videos were heavily aired in Disco Relax, a popular Sunday morning TV show.
The breakthrough in Shazza's career came in 1995. The song "Bierz co chcesz" became a massive hit and its music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
is now considered cult. The track was included on her next album, Egipskie noce, which also included "Tak bardzo zakochani", "Miłość i zdrada" and popular title song. The album turned out her highest-selling record to date. It was followed by Noc róży in 1996, which presented more sophisticated sound. 1997 saw the release of Tak blisko nieba, her first album issued by a new record label. The biggest hit off the album was "Małe pieski dwa", and it also included a cover of ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
's "Hasta Mañana". Her next album, Historia pewnej miłości, was another change of style and consisted of more dance-oriented songs. However, it didn't meet with such positive reception as her previous efforts had done.
In 1999 and 2000 Shazza released collections of her greatest hits. She also took part in a nude photo session for the Polish Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine. The issue with her on the cover turned out to be a big success. After signing up to EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
record label, Shazza released her next album Jestem sobą in 2001. It was a clear departure from the disco polo sound with which she'd been associated. Singles "Jestem sobą" and "Może to samba" were minor hits, but the sales of the album proved disappointing and the singer was dropped by the label. After this Shazza decided to take a break from music. She moved to the USA and made a modest comeback in 2007, when she re-recorded some of her most known hits.
Discography
- 1992: Sex Appeal
- 1993: Jambalaya Mix
- 1994: Baiao Bongo
- 1994: The Best of Shazza
- 1995: Egipskie noce
- 1996: Noc róży
- 1996: Złote przeboje
- 1997: Tak blisko nieba
- 1998: Historia pewnej miłości
- 1999: Najlepsze z najlepszych. Przeboje 1993 - 1999
- 2000: Platynowe przeboje
- 2001: Jestem sobą
- 2006: The Best - Egipskie noce
- 2008: Hity Disco Polo cz. 3 - The Best of Shazza
Acting
- 1996: Bara Bara
- 1999: Poniedziałek
- 2000: Sukces
- 2000: W tym domu straszy
- 2001: Wtorek