Zebra (Kayah album)

Zebra is the second original studio album by Polish singer Kayah, released in March 1997. The album is an eclectic fusion of various music styles including funk, R&B, soul and disco all produced in contemporary arrangements.

Zebra
Studio album by Kayah
Released	23 March 1997
Recorded	January - February, 1997
Studio	CCS Studio, Warsaw
Genre	pop, disco, R&B, funk
Length	65:03
Label	BMG, Sony BMG Music Entertainment Poland
Producer	Kayah, Michał Przytuła
Kayah chronology
Kamień (1995) Zebra (1997) Kayah i Bregović (1999)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Europopmusic	[1]

Background

Musically, the album blends contemporary pop and the 1970s disco music, with elements of R&B and funk. Lyrics were written by Kayah, except two covers: The Doors' "Light My Fire" and Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". Zebra was a commercial and critical success, outselling her previous album Kamień (album) and winning the Fryderyk Music Award, the Polish equivalent of the Grammys in the US. Two singles were lifted from the album: "Na językach" and "Supermenka". Both became massive hits in Poland and secured Kayah nationwide popularity.

Track listing

Adapted from the album's sleeve.[2]

1. "Na dobry początek" - 0:30
2. "Na językach" - 4:30
3. "Supermenka" - 3:36
4. "Serce jak szafa" - 6:50
5. "Light My Fire" - 3:56
6. "Uratujcie go" - 4:09
7. "Konferencja prasowa" - 6:06
8. "Niewidzialna" - 5:19
9. "Cogito ergo non sum" - 4:18
10. "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" - 4:22
11. "Cicho tu" - 6:35
12. "Moja sukienka" - 5:34
13. "Im więcej tym mniej" - 3:55
14. "Wszystko się skończyło" - 5:08

All songs written by Kayah except "Konferencja Prasowa" (Kayak/Artur Affek), "Light My Fire" (The Doors), "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" (Rod Stewart/Carmine Uppice)

Singles

• "Na językach" – was released as the lead single from the album in February 1997. The song became one of the biggest hits of the year in Kayah's native Poland. The video was directed by Janusz Kołodrubiec.
• "Supermenka" – the second single promoting the album was released in May 1997. The song contains sample of I Just Called To Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder. The song was accompanied by Szaggi mix (Kayah/Michał Przytuła) and Usia-Siusia mix (Michał Przytuła). The video was also directed by Janusz Kołodrubiec and featured cameo by Ice-T.

Personnel

• Kayah - vocals, keyboards, loops, production, composer
• Krzysztof Pszona - piano fender (2-8, 10–14)
• Filip Sojka - bass (2-8, 10–12, 14)
• Artur Affek - guitar (2-11)
• Marek Podkowa - saxophone (4, 7, 10–11)
• Piotr 'Rudy' Remiszewski - drums (4, 7–8, 10–11)
• Michał Urbaniak - saxophone (5)
• Kasia Stankiewicz - vocals (6, 11)
• Mietek Szcześniak - vocals (4, 8, 11, 14)
• José Torres - percussions (2, 4, 8, 11, 14)
• Michał Grymuza - classical guitar (14)
• Agnieszka Betley - background vocals (2-3, 5, 7-10)
• Magda Gleinert - background vocals (2-3, 5, 7-10)
• Krzysztof Herdzin - piano (4, 11)
• Łukasz Golec - trumpet (4, 7)
• Paweł Golec - trombone (4, 7)
• Darek Miller - harmonika (3)
• Janusz 'Gazda' Mus - accordion(14)
• Michał Przytuła - keyboards, loops, music programming, mix, production, mastering
• Artur Kurpisz - acoustic (12)
• String Quartet: Magda Trybuła, Nadia Bogadżijew, Piotr Nowicki, Andrzej Gębski (7, 10, 12–13)
• Grzegorz Piwkowski - mastering
• Robert Wolański - photography
• Adah Studio - graphic design

Charts and certifications

Country	Peak position	Sales	Certification
Poland	—[3]	400,000	2× Platinum[4]

References

1. "Kayah - Europopmusic". www.europopmusic.eu. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
2. "Images for Kayah - Zebra". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-12-01.
3. Official Polish album chart launched in 2000, therefore, Kayah's earlier albums are not featured in the chart.
4. "Bestseller charts and awards :: Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry". www.zpav.pl. Retrieved 2013-11-29.