Punkrock storm from Canada

Hello!
Today, I´m going to write about my favourite Canadian music band. I hope, you have similar music taste as me, so you´d like it!

The band is called Billy Talent and their hometown is Toronto. They make punkrock music with sharp melodies and offensive lyrics. There you can se a short example of their lyrics:

"You preach about love
And teach about fate
But all your beliefs are still rooted in hate"

If you see names of the members, you may think a few of them are not from Canada, but from Poland. However, this phenomenon is logical, because of strong immigration from Europe to North America during 19th century (especially from Poland or Ireland). So, let´s name them all:

• The singer -  Ben Kowalewicz 
• The main guitarist - Ian Michael D'Sa 
• The bass guitarist - Jonathan Gallant 
• The drummer - Aaron Solowoniuk 

Till 2001 they were called Pezz, Billy Talent is their second name. Beginning of their production reaches to high school, where they have mixed to this formation from two different bands and met Ian in some talent competition.

Since 2007 they have performed also in the Czech Republic. For the first time yet as a pre-group of My Chemical Romance and one year later they had their own smaller gig in Small sport hall in Prague. Now, they visit our country regulary, for example in 2010 as a pre-group of Green Day, later during the popular festival Rock for people, etc. 

Albums (from studio, not concert)

1998 - Watoosh! (like Pezz)
2003 - Billy Talent I
2006 - Billy Talent II
2009 - Billy Talent III
2012 - Dead Silence
2016 - Afraid of heights

By myself, I must say that it is very difficult to decide, which one is my most favourite, because each one is specific and beatiful, so let me tell something about all of them.

For the first album Billy Talent I are typical very aggressive melodies and lyrics. In my opinion, it is influenced by their age - they vere very critical to traditional authorities. And you can also feel the school topic in some of the lyrics, for example song against bullying (Nothing to lose). 

Compared to this, the second album Billy Talent II. is in my opinion more revolutionary matched. You can find there concrete appeals for revolution and anarchy (Red flag). On the other hand, Ben has not very good luck for girls, so nonrevolutionary songs are directed to his unhappy relations (it´s also in Billy Talent I - The Ex). Thanks to these troubles, they invented probably their most popular song Surrender. I´m sure you know it :-) .

Their third album is by one word - sad. I can´t help myself, but it´s so depressive. Although the melodics are lovely, you can hear the sadness and suffering from them (This suffering). Also lyrics speak so. Probably, it is a consequence of one big disaster of Ben´s personal life. He was in love with some girl, but she died, so his mental state was very bad. Their moving song about this unexpected event is here: White sparrows.

Dead silence is a really good job. There are song which emanate so much energy and really stimulate you to action. I think, there is not so big emphasis on emotions. Stronger theme is a plot, so this album is with a little bit fantasy epic story(Runnin´across the tracks). I love some of these songs, because of the energy and sarcasm in the lyrics. As an example I´d like to use song Surprise Surprise which has also pretty good clip, showing the debauchery of the postmodern society and its consumerism.

I´m not sure what to write about the last album. It is quite controversional for me, because this part of their production is totally different. The lyrics are still rebellious, but the rendition of the music is not my typical taste. Of course, there are still songs I really like (for example Louder than the DJ), but I´m not so enthusiastic from some others. 

 For the end I have two special interesting information about BT.

The first is that this band actively against Donald Trump as a president. Here you can see a video from one gig, where they are openly protesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il299KsondI

And the second one is that during Olympic Games 2018 they bet with their fans from the Czech Republic. They promised that if we will defeat Canadian ice hockey team, they will play in Prague for free! It´s a pity we lost :-(

So... I hope you enjoyed my today´s post (it is all for today) and also the music!

...and you can write your opinions in comments below ;-) 

 

sharp - ostrý

emanate - vyzařovat

emphasis - důraz

rendition - provedení

Sources:

pic. 1: Na Aerodromu zahrají také Bring me the horizon a Billy Talent. In: I-klik.cz [online]. i-klik.cz, 2011 [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: http://i-klik.cz/akce/praha/na-aerodrome-festivalu-zahraji-take-bring-me-the-horizon-a-billy-talent/  

pic. 2: Billy Talent: (album). In: Wikipedia [online]. [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Talent_(album)

Billy Talent: (album). In: Wikipedia [online]. [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Talent_(album)

pic. 3: Billy Talent - Billy Talent II. CD. In: Heureka: Nakupujte s přehledem [online]. Heureka Shopping, c2000-2018 [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: https://hudba.heureka.cz/billy-talent-billy-talent-ii-cd/#

pic. 4: Billy Talent - Dead Silence / Vinyl / 2LP+CD. In: Pink Floyd: Vinylové reedice alb [online]. Musicrecords.cz, ©2007-2018 [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: http://www.musicrecords.cz/catalogue/hudba/billy-talent/dead-silence-vinyl-2lp-cd/

pic. 5: Billy Talent III. In: Wikipedia [online]. [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Talent_III

pic. 6: Billy Talent : Afraid of Heights. In: Bontonland [online]. internetový obchod Bontonland.cz [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: https://www.bontonland.cz/billy-talent-afraid-of-heights/

Billy Talent [online]. Canada: Billy Talent, ©2009-2018 [cit. 2018-05-23]. Dostupné z: http://billytalent.com/