Hungarian pop is the pop music scene of Hungary. It is often associated with Rezső Seress's song "Gloomy Sunday" which was covered by numerous artists. The most notable artists include Zsuzsa Koncz, Kati Kovács, János Bródy, Zorán, Péter Máté and famous bands like Illés, Quimby, Republic, Locomotiv GT, Omega, Neoton Família. Among the new talents are Azahriah, Krúbi, and Dzsúdló.
History 1930s One of the early acts is associated with Rezső Seress who composed the worldwide hit Gloomy Sunday while living in Paris, in an attempt to become established as a songwriter in late 1932."Gloomy Sunday" at Feel The Blues With All That Jazz. Accessed 7 November 2011 Seress composed the song at the time of the Great Depression and increasing fascist influence in Hungary, although sources differ as to the degree to which his song was inspired by personal melancholy rather than concerns about the future of the world.
In the 1930s and 1940s Pál Kalmár was one of the most celebrated singers in Hungary. He was also noted for singing the song Gloomy Sunday. He also appeared in the 1935 film St. Peter's Umbrella, directed by Géza von Cziffra.
1940s
In the late 1930s Vali Rácz became a popular Hungarian singer and actress reaching her zenith in the 1940s. She was a regular nightclub performer and a recording artist. Rácz also appeared in approximately 20 Hungarian feature films. Due to her glamorous looks and sex appeal she gained reputation as the ‘Hungarian Marlene Dietrich’. Vali Rácz finished the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest 1932. From 1933 to 1934 she played at City Theatre and then at Hungarian Theatre. From 1936 she sang at 'Terézkörúti Színpad' and at City Theatre for three years. After 1945 she was a member of Royal Revue-theatre, Medgyaszay Theatre, then Kamara Varieté. She acted in twenty films, but was primarily a chanteuse, giving solo concerts at the Music Academy and Vigadó Concert Hall, as well as appearing regularly at the Hangli Kioszk nightclub.
1950s In the late 1950s Éva Mikes rose to fame in Hungary with her characteristic voice and tender style. Mikes started her music career at the late 1950s at the studio of the Magyar Rádió. She was best known for her lyrical, romantic songs, she scored the first place in the very first Hungarian Top Hit Chart – published in Ifjúsági Magazin (Youth Magazine) in 1965 with her song Te szeress legalább. She became also popular in other Eastern European countries, such as the Soviet Union and Poland. She also appeared at the Sopot International Song Festival. After the local success of beat music classical pop lost popularity, she decided to retire permanently. In 1973 – after her daughter's birth – she left the stage and worked as a music teacher. Her notable singles include Ahogy mentem az utcán (1961), Ami szívemen a számon (1964), Egy kicsi szerencse (1965), Első szerelem (1965), Engem nem lehet elfelejteni (1965), Esős vasárnap délután (1965) and many more.
Erzsi Kovács's first major success was with the song Régi óra halkan jár ("The Old Clock Ticks Softly") in 1957, but she already had a platinum record in 1955, with two and a half million of her records sold. In 1964 her record company dropped her, and she moved abroad. In the next 14 years she sang in Germany, Sweden, and on cruise ships. After her return she toured mainly in the countryside. She also had several concerts at the Royal Park Stage, the Budapest Concert Hall and the Operetta Theatre in Budapest as well. On her album Mosolyogva búcsúzom she sings a Dalida cover Quand S'arrêtent les violons. Her singles include Veled is megtörténhet egyszer/Megszerettelek (1960), Szeretlek Budapest/Rejtély (1960), Ha könnyezni látom a két szemed/Bámulom az eget (1962), Szóba sem jöhet más tánc/Kék öböl (1964), Hová tűnt a sok virág/Ki emlékszik rá (1964) and many more.
1960s
In 1962 the first Ki mit tud? was held by National Television spanning 10 seasons between 1962 and 1996. Achieving great popularity in the 60s, Ki Mit Tud? helped to launch the career of many artists who later became household names in the country, including actors like János Gálvölgyi or András Kern, singers like Kati Kovács, Zsuzsa Koncz or Zorán Sztevanovity, and bands like Hungária, Metro or Pokolgép.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Ki Mit Tud? became the most-popular and most-viewed show on the Magyar Television. According to rudimentary statistics of the time, the finals were viewed by 88% of the whole population. Using regional quarter- and semi-finals, the contest moved a large number of participants. The 1965's show attracted 28.642 registered contestants performing in 7842 shows, watched by a live audience totaling to 180.000.
In 1962 Zsuzsa Koncz won the Ki mit tud? songcontest with her song. She was performing with various bands and musicians over the years, most notably Illés and János Bródy. In the 1970s, she made several successful tours abroad, mainly in Eastern Bloc countries as well as in West Germany (sometimes with the pseudonym, Shusha Koncz and Jana Koncz in German-speaking countries), but also in France, the United States and Japan.
Kati Kovács became the first famous nationally in 1965 when she won the seminal TV talent show in Hungary "Who Knows What?". A year later, she achieved some even greater successes with her performance of the song I Won't Be Your Plaything (Nem leszek a játékszered) which won the TV Dance Song Festivals in Hungary in 1966. The psychedelic spiritual Lord Send Us Rain (Add már, uram, az esőt!) won the Hungarian Dance Song Festival and the German Song Contest in 1972. In 1974 she won the Castlebar Song Contest in Ireland with the song Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue. In the 1970s, she made several successful tours abroad, West and East – Germany, United Kingdom, the United States, Cuba and Japan. German, English and Japanese albums appeared. Hungarian musical critics have praised her brown, raspy and very strong voice, and they've called her: "The Best Female Voice of Hungary". She can sing opera, rock, jazz, pop, dance, blues and rock and roll.
In 1965 Zsuzsi Mary appeared for the first time on stage, later she finished on the first place in the Hungarian Television's song contest, the Táncdalfesztivál, with the song "Mama" in 1968. The songwriter was Attila Dobos, who became her first husband. She became successful also in the Eastern Bloc countries too. In 1969, she married György Klapka, and soon after emigrated with her husband. They divorced in 1987, but maintained a good relationship. She returned to Hungary after the end of Communism. Mary came out as bisexual in 2008.
In 1966 a thirteen-year-girl appeared on the Hungarian pop scene called Klári Katona. Her career started after she sang her song Bővízű Forrás on the Táncdalfesztivál of 1972. She won an award for this song. Later, she provided vocals for Kék Csillag and Neoton, then pursued a solo career. In 1976 she gave concert in Istanbul, Palma de Mallorca, and the musical festival of Sopot. 1977 marked the release of her first album, Savanyú A Csokoládé backed by Ferenc Demjén and Bergendy. Her real success came in the eighties with composer backing of Gábor Presser and Dusán Sztevanovity. She appeared as a host on several Hungarian television channels.
In 1967 Pál Szécsi finished second at the Táncdalfesztivál with his song Csak Egy Tánc. Although he died at an early age (aged 30 in 1974), he became one of the biggest icons of the Hungarian pop history. his songs include Egy szál harangvirág, Gedeon bácsi, Karolina, Kék csillag, Két összeillő ember, and Talán sok év után. On 30 April 1974 he was found dead in his home in Budapest.
In 1967 Sarolta Zalatnay finished first at the Táncdalfesztivál winning the golden microphone award as well. Her first record was Ha Fiú Lehetnék which was followed by many other records. Among her famous songs are Hol jár az eszem?, Túl szép volt, Nem várok holnapig, Oh, ha milliomos lennék, Nem vagyok én apáca, János bácsi pipája and many more.
In 1968 the band Illés won the Táncdalfesztivál, while Neoton Família won the Ki Mit Tud? with their song Nekem Eddig Bach Volt Mindenem.
In 1969 György Korda won the songcontest, Made in Hungary. Later, in 1972 and 1973 he won the same competition as the best performer. His first album was released in 1970 with the eponymous name followed by several other records. Among his famous songs are Aki melletted él, Bocsánat, hogyha kérdem, Haver a nőkkel jól vigyázz, Rozsda lepi már az emlékeimet, Fehér galamb, Szeress úgy is, ha rossz vagyok and many more. In the 1980s he married Balázs Klári who was also a popular singer of the 1980s.
1970s
In 1971 Neoton Família's first studio album was released entitled Bolond Város. Later the band became one of the most popular pop bands in the 1980s' Hungary releasing more than 20 albums. Among their most famous songs there are: Don Quijote (1980), Marathon (1980), (1981), Monte Carlo (1982), Holnap Hajnalig (1983), I Love You (1986) and many more.
In 1972, Judith Szűcs won two victories in the national competition "Ki mit tud?" (Literally: "Who knows what?"). The singer's first album was called Táncolj még (1978) and in a few days this album became a gold plate. Her other albums from the turn of the 70's and 80's were similarly successful. In those years, audiences in Europe considered her the "Disco Queen" of Eastern Europe. Her songs were played on all radiosand and on Hungarian television they did excellent show-programs with the singer. At the Neewollah Festival (USA) in 1983, she won the 1st Prize and the Grand Jury Prize. She sang Szeverevetlevek and Unsent Letter songs here. Her biggest hits are: Táncolj még! (1977), Ha táncolsz velem (1978), Gyere a diszkó klub elé (1978), Járd el a Zorba dalát (1979), A tanítás után (1980), Száguldás (1980), Meleg az éjszaka (1980), Didididididididergek (1982), Itt a karácsony (1983), Elkéstem (1988), Mondd, mit tegyek, hogy érezd (1998), Elvarázsoltál (2007).
In 1972 Zsuzsa Cserháti performed the songs Nem volt ő festő and Repülj, Kismadár at the Táncdalfesztivál. Six years later in 1976 her first studio album was released, followed by several other records such as Többé Nincs Megállás, Édes Kisfiam, Rácsaim Ledőltek Már and many more. Her famous songs include Kicsi Gyere Velem Rózsát Szedni (1973), Árva Fiú (1973), Boldogság, gyere haza (1979), A Boldogság és Én (1981), Száguldás, Porsche, Szerelem (1984) and Hamu és Gyémánt (1996).
In 1973 Péter Máté won the Hungarian songcontest, Made in Hungary with the song Hull Az Elsárgult levél.
In 1973 Judit Halász's first studio album was released entitled Kép A Tükörben. Later she became popular as the singer of children songs. She is also noted for singing the poems of famous Hungarian poets such as Ferenc Móra, Mihály Babits, Attila József, Sándor Weöres and many more.
In 1975 Leslie Mándoki fled from Hungary to West Germany. In 1979 he joined the West-German band, Dschinghis Khan. One of the greatest successes of the band was the song Moskau, Dschinghis Khan and Hadschi Halef Omar. Later Mandoki rented the Park Studios near Lake Starnberg, Germany. He has worked as a producer for many German and international acts, including No Angels, Phil Collins, Engelbert, Joshua Kadison, Lionel Richie and Jennifer Rush. He also worked as a musical director for commercials, with clients Audi, Daimler and Disney.
In 1977 Ferenc Demjén's first studio album was released entitled Fújom A Dalt. Later he released more than 20 records and became a pop-icon in Hungary. He also worked with Klári Katona and Kati Kovács on their first albums. His song for the film Szerelem első vérig (1987) topped the Hungarian charts for 8 months. His notable songs include Hogyan Tudnék Élni Nélküled?, Szerelemvonat, Honfoglalás, Jégszív, Ne sírj, Féktelen Éj and many more.
1980s