“Sometimes I just couldn’t keep it up and did something that I still don’t feel good about,” says singer Petr Janda, for example, about participating in the Political Song Festival. In Spotlight, he recalls the totalitarian pressures, but also the ways in which he defied the times. He is said to have been provocative in his youth with his thick mane, and not even his own mother persuaded him to shed it. “It was more important to me than my mother’s love,” she says.
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Spotlight Aktuálně.cz – Petr Janda | Video: Team Spotlight
“Today, you can wear purple or pink on your head and no one will notice. Back then, society was very puritanical, and I said hello to an elderly lady in a shop, she turned around, saw my hair and said: Phew! And she spat,” recalls the frontman of the band Olympic in his youth in communist Czechoslovakia.
He also describes how difficult it was for musicians during the normalization period and how many times he thought about going to a “normal” job. He even admits that he and his wife were thinking of staying in exile in Paris. “But we had a child in Prague,” says Janda in Spotlight, who says that in such a case he would probably go to repair phones. “I would live in emigration as a telephone worker, it’s my original profession. And they had good salaries, of course,” adds the rocker.
In an interview with Zuzana Tvarůžková, he also talks about what – when talking about politics – can always throw him off. It is, for example, people’s attitude towards the time of totalitarianism, which, according to him, he basically experienced in its entirety, and besides, the fact that the public is turning against the Ukrainians, whom he himself helped.
“People don’t realize it at all. Imagine if the Austrian army came and flew into Lipno, occupied Krumlov and Budějovice. Those people would flee inland, make peace and leave it to them,” says the musician, who is angry about the current situation they say they feel helpless.
You can watch the entire interview in the introductory video or listen to it in your favorite podcast app.
Petr Janda: A Rock Legend’s Reflection on the Past
“Sometimes I just couldn’t keep it up and did something that I still don’t feel good about,”
says singer Petr Janda—and let me tell you, it’s not just a metaphor for a
dodgy performance at a karaoke night after too many drinks. No, he’s talking about the
Political Song Festival. In his candid reflection on those totalitarian pressures that
seemed to be lurking around every corner like an unwelcome dinner guest, he also recalls
how he defied those times with sheer audacity. And boy, did he have the hair to prove it!
You might think of a lion’s mane, if that lion were also a rock star with serious attitude.
Watch Interview (30:37)
Spotlight Aktuálně.cz – Petr Janda | Video: Team Spotlight
Now, let’s talk about those glorious days gone by when society was more puritanical than
a Victorian tea party. “Today, you can wear purple or pink on your head and no one will
notice,” Janda quips, and he’s not wrong. Back then, you’d get side-eyed so hard you’d
think they were playing a song in a minor key. “I said hello to an elderly lady in a shop,
she turned around, saw my hair and said: ‘Phew!’ And she spat,” he recalls, bringing a
touch of theatrical flair that would make even Rowan Atkinson raise an eyebrow.
Janda shares the grim realities musicians faced during normalization, a time when the
titular “normal” was about as far from their reality as possible—think of it like being
forced to listen to elevator music at a rock festival. He contemplated swapping his
guitar for a 9-to-5 gig like it was a pair of worn-out shoes. “I even thought about
leaving for Paris!” he admits, which has all the romanticism of a movie montage,
only to backtrack because he had a child in Prague. “I would live in emigration as a
telephone worker,” he muses, which is a level of commitment that deserves its own
rock opera.
Then you have the political discourse that makes him fume like a kettle on a high boil.
Janda reflects on people’s attitudes toward totalitarianism, which he believes many
have only a vague understanding of—it’s like trying to explain a pop quiz to someone
who hasn’t read the book. His frustration bubbles over when he discusses the public’s
growing indifference towards the plight of Ukrainians, a sentiment he, himself, has
worked hard to combat.
“People don’t realize it at all,” he states, pointing out a troubling comparison: “Imagine
if the Austrian army came and flew into Lipno, occupied Krumlov and Budějovice. Those
people would flee inland, make peace and leave it to them.” This is not just a rockstar
rant—that’s an unfiltered perspective grounded in lived experience!
Catch the Full Interview!
You can watch the entire interview in the introductory video above or listen to it in your
favorite podcast app. It’s phenomenal, thought-provoking stuff that shines a light on
resilience, identity, and the steely spirit of a musician who refused to back down—even when
faced with the pressures of totalitarianism and bad hair days.
So, grab your headphones, check out the video, and prepare yourself for a journey through
music, politics, and more hair than a royal fox hunt!
“Sometimes I just couldn’t keep it up and did something that I still don’t feel good about,” admits the iconic singer Petr Janda, reflecting on his participation in the politically charged atmosphere of the Political Song Festival. In a candid interview featured in Spotlight, Janda not only recalls the suffocating totalitarian pressures of his past, but also shares the various creative and rebellious ways in which he defied the regime. Known for his provocative style in his youth, he sported a thick mane of hair that became a symbol of his resistance; intriguingly, not even the pleas of his own mother could persuade him to cut it. “It was more important to me than my mother’s love,” Janda states, emphasizing the significance of personal expression during oppressive times.
“Today, you can wear purple or pink on your head and no one will notice. Back then, society was very puritanical,” he recalls, sharing a vivid memory from his youth in communist Czechoslovakia. “I said hello to an elderly lady in a shop, she turned around, saw my hair and said: Phew! And she spat.” This anecdote illustrates the societal norms and judgments that were commonplace during that era.
He also reflects on the struggles musicians faced during the normalization period of Czechoslovakia, revealing how there were numerous moments when he contemplated abandoning music for a more conventional job. Janda confides that he and his wife even considered staying in Paris, exiled from their homeland. “But we had a child in Prague,” he shares. “In such a case, I would probably go to repair phones. I would live in emigration as a telephone worker, it’s my original profession. And they had good salaries, of course,” adds Janda, with a hint of nostalgia for a simpler, yet challenging life.
In an evocative interview with Zuzana Tvarůžková, he expresses his frustrations regarding public perception, especially when it comes to politics. He articulates the painful disconnect he feels when discussing people’s attitudes towards the totalitarian period he lived through, along with the contemporary issue of public sentiment turning against Ukrainian refugees, whom he has personally assisted.
“People don’t realize it at all. Imagine if the Austrian army came and flew into Lipno, occupied Krumlov and Budějovice. Those people would flee inland, make peace and leave it to them,” laments the musician, revealing his anger and helplessness regarding the current socio-political climate.
You can watch the entire interview in the introductory video or listen to it in your favorite podcast app.
How do Janda’s personal experiences reflect the societal constraints on self-expression in communist regimes?
Cal,” he reminisces, as he recounts a particularly telling experience from his youth in communist Czechoslovakia. “I said hello to an elderly lady in a shop; she turned around, saw my hair and exclaimed, ‘Phew!’ and then spat.” This vivid memory underscores the level of conformity and conservatism prevalent at the time, contrasting sharply with today’s more liberal attitudes toward personal style and self-expression.
Janda also sheds light on the struggles musicians faced during the normalization period, a time when the creative spirit was often stifled. He reveals that there were moments when he pondered leaving the music scene for a more stable, “normal” job. At one point, he and his wife even considered seeking exile in Paris. “But we had a child in Prague,” he notes, revealing how personal responsibilities often constrained the dreams of artists navigating a repressive regime. He jokes, “I would live in emigration as a telephone worker,” highlighting the sacrifices he made for his family.
Politically, Janda’s reflections span a diverse range of experiences, especially as he grapples with contemporary attitudes toward former totalitarian regimes and current crises, such as the plight of Ukrainians amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. His frustration is palpable when discussing the indifference some people exhibit towards the struggles faced by others. “Imagine if the Austrian army came and occupied Lipno, Krumlov, and Budějovice,” he posits, driving home the importance of empathy and awareness. “Those people would flee, make peace, and leave it to them.” His poignant comparisons serve to illustrate the need for solidarity and understanding, drawing from his own lived experiences during a tumultuous time.
Janda’s interplay of personal anecdotes and political commentary reflects the deep complexity of being an artist in a world rife with societal constraints. His story is a testament to resilience, individuality, and the enduring spirit of creativity, giving a voice to the past while urging present-day listeners to remain engaged and compassionate. As he continues to navigate life’s challenges, his journey serves as a reminder of the power of music and personal expression, especially in the face of adversity.
To explore his full story, check out the interview linked above or listen in your favorite podcast app for an engaging and thought-provoking experience.
