R.I.P. Benkő László

minden

Ma reggel, 77 éves korában elment a magyar zenei élet legendája, Benkő László. Rá emlékezünk az Omega együttes híres dalával, a "Gyöngyhajú lány" angol nyelvű feldolgozásával, amelyet a Scorpions dolgozott fel "White Dove" címen.

Omega is a Hungarian band formed in 1962, which has been described as the most successful Hungarian rock band in history. They have released more than 20 albums in both Hungarian and English. After several early personnel changes,
their classic lineup came together in 1971 and was intact for more than forty years. Singer János Kóbor and keyboardist/singer László Benkő have been in the band continuously since 1962; while guitarist György Molnár and drummer Ferenc Debreczeni joined in 1967 and 1971 respectively. They have won several prestigious awards for their contributions to Hungarian culture.

“Gyöngyhajú lány” (“The girl with pearly hair”) is a song by Hungarian rock band Omega. It was written in 1968, composed in 1969, and released on their album 10 000 lépés. “Gyöngyhajú lány” was very popular in many countries, including West Germany, Great Britain, France, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.

The lyrics were written by Anna Adamis, the music was composed by Gábor Presser and the song was sung by János Kóbor. In 1970, the single “Petróleumlámpa / Gyöngyhajú lány” was released and the song gained popularity. Omega also recorded other versions of this song in foreign languages: English (“Pearls in Her Hair”) and German (“Perlen im Haar”).

German rock band Scorpions covered the song titled as “White Dove”, from the album Live Bites. Released as a single in 1994, it was a Top 20 hit in Germany and Switzerland.

As rumour says Scorpions was involved a charity event, but has no ready music for this occasion. One of the Omega members heard it and offered them this song. That is the reason why the meaning of this song is so different.

The English lyrics reference Biblical themes like the chosen land and the dove as symbol of promise and hope after the flood.

White Dove by Scorpions

A place without a name

Under a burning sky

There’s no milk and honey here

In the land of God

Someone holds a sign

It says we are human, too

And while the sun goes down

The world goes by

White dove

Fly with the wind

Take our hope under your wings

For the world to know

That hope will not die

Where the children cry

Waves, big like a house

They’re stranded on a piece of wood

To leave it all behind

To start again

But instead of a new life

All they find is a door that’s closed

And they keep looking for

A place called hope

White dove

Fly with the wind

Take our hope under your wings

For the world to know

That hope will not die

Where the children cry

Na na

Na na na na

Na na na na na na na na

Na na

Na na na na

Na na na na na

Can anyone tell me why…

source: Wikipedia and LyricFind

Vocabulary

to release kiadni
lineup felállás
to be intact változatlannak lenni
keyboardist billentyűs
drummer dobos
respectively egyenként
prestigious rangos
contributions hozzájárulások
including beleértve
lyrics dalszövegek
to compose (dalt) szerezni/
írni
to cover közvetíteni
single kislemez
rumour pletyka/
szóbeszéd
charity jótékonyság
occasion alkalom/
esemény
to offer felajánlani
dove galamb
to hold a sign egy táblát tartani
wings szárnyak
waves hullámok
to be stranded hajótöröttnek lenni
piece of wood egy fadarab
to leave sg behind valamit hátra hagyni
instead of sg valami helyett

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