Beer Barrel Polka Explained

Škoda lásky
Cover:Praha Zbraslav - Jaromir Vejvoda.jpg
Caption:Memorial plaque of the author with the song's name in Czech, German and English
Language:Czech
English Title:"Beer Barrel Polka"
Written:1927 (music),1934 (lyrics)
Composer:Jaromír Vejvoda (from "Modřanská polka")
Lyricist:Vašek Zeman

"Beer Barrel Polka", originally in Czech Czech: "'''Škoda lásky'''"|label=none|italic=no, also known as "The Barrel Polka", "Roll Out the Barrel", or "Rosamunde", is a 1927 polka composed by Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda. Lyrics were added in 1934, subsequently gaining worldwide popularity during World War II as a drinking song.[1]

History

In 1927, the music for the polka was composed by the Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda.[2] [3] Eduard Ingriš wrote the first arrangement of the piece, after Vejvoda came up with the melody and sought Ingriš's help in refining it. At that time, it was played without lyrics as Czech: "Modřanská polka"|label=none|italics=no (English: "Polka of [[Modřany]]").[4]

In 1934, the first text for the polka was written by Vašek Zeman – with the title Czech: "Škoda lásky"|italics=no|label=none|(English: "Unrequited Love")[5] Around that same time, Shapiro Bernstein acquired the rights to the song and English lyrics were written by Lew Brown and Wladimir Timm. Zeman's original Czech lyrics framed the polka as a love song, whereas Brown and Timm's English version framed it as a song celebrating the repeal of Prohibition in the United States. At first the English version of the song was relatively unknown and unpopular, but it gained a great deal of popularity after The Andrews Sisters recorded it in 1939.. Subsequently, many other artists released versions, including the Glenn Miller Orchestra; Benny Goodman; Bobby Vinton; Billie Holiday; John Serry Sr (RCA Thesaurus, 1954)[6] and Joe Patek, who sold over a million copies of his album "Beer Barrel Polka".[5] [7]

The polka soon became famous around the world. In 1939 Will Glahé recorded an instrumental version that was a big hit in the United States, being ranked #3 by the radio program Your Hit Parade in June of that year..[8] The June 17, 1939 edition of Billboard magazine noted that "Beer Barrel Polka" was the 12th most popular song by radio plays on New York City radio stations WJZ, WEAF and WABC. Daniel Richman wrote "There's hardly a machine from Maine to California that still isn't inviting patrons to roll out the barrel, and from all indications it will probably be another couple of weeks before the 'roll out' can be changed to 'throw out.'"[9]

During World War II, versions in many other languages were created and the song was popular among soldiers, regardless of their allegiances.[1] [10] Italian writer Primo Levi wrote that when he was deported to Auschwitz, the camp's orchestra was playing German: Rosamunda|label=none, the German version of "Beer Barrel Polka," as he arrived.[11] According to TIME magazine, when the first Australian contingent of troops arrived in England, they were singing the polka.[12] On VE Day - May 8 or 9, 1945 - Humphrey Lyttelton played it standing on a handcart outside Buckingham Palace, a performance that could be heard in the BBC broadcast from the victory celebrations.[13] [14]

It was claimed many times that the song was written in the country where it had just become a hit. TIME wrote that "Germans insisted it was an old Bavarian drinking song. Americans and British thought it was one of their own. Anyhow, they all sang it."[10] Its actual composer was not widely known until after the war.[4]

Covers and homages

Music

Sports

Plays and movies

Television

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Koten . Marek . 2022-07-19 . The Czech Folk Song Known All Around the World . 2024-06-10 . 3 Seas Europe . en-US.
  2. Web site: 2014-04-13 . 'Roll Out the Barrel' composer Jaromír Vejvoda . 2024-06-10 . Radio Prague International . en.
  3. Book: Greene, Victor R. . A Passion for Polka: Old-Time Ethnic Music in America . University of California Press . 1992 . 9780520075849 . 25246359.
  4. Web site: Roll out the Barrell - the Beer Barrel Polka . Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra . 2012 . 2024-06-10.
  5. Web site: Beer Barrel Polka . Singing the Temperance Blues . 2021-03-16 . Nolan . Vallier.
  6. https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection "John Serry Sextette" Audio recording for RCA Thesaurus of arrangements and performances by John Serry at the RCA Victor Studios in 1954 p. 18-19 The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester
  7. Web site: Patek, Joseph The Handbook of Texas Online . Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) . 2016-10-10.
  8. Book: . Colin Larkin . 1992 . Guinness World Records Limited . 1st . 2.
  9. Songs With Most Radio Plugs / Record Buying Guide . World Radio History . Daniel . Richman . . 1939-06-17.
  10. Music: Peripatetic Polka . . 1945-09-17 . 2024-06-10.
  11. Web site: Polish Composers And Music At Auschwitz . https://web.archive.org/web/20200812153319/https://katrinashawver.com/2020/06/polish-composers-at-auschwitz.html . 2020-08-12 . 2020-06-12 . Kristina . Shawver . 2024-06-10.
  12. Western Theatre: Solidarity . TIME . 1940-01-08 . 2024-06-10.
  13. Book: Gardiner, Juliet . Wartime: Britain 1939-1945 . 2005 . Headline Book Publishing . 9780755310289.
  14. News: Humphrey Lyttelton: Obituary . . 25 April 2008 . 2018-07-30.
  15. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
  16. News: Curtain falls on the Liberace show . 2010-10-15 . Keith . Austin . . limited . 2024-06-10.
  17. News: Liberace hologram show is Las Vegas-bound . 2014-12-18 . George . Varga . . 2024-06-10.
  18. Liberace Girl . Youtube . 2017-05-28 . Liberace's TV-Show: Liberace plays the "Beer Barrel Polka" (1950s) . 2024-06-10 .
  19. News: This 18-time Grammy winner will perform in Clifton and Passaic for free . His songs include 'Beer Barrel Polka' [...] and many more . Matt . Fagan . northjersey.com . . 2024-06-10 . 2023-08-03.
  20. News: The Cotati Accordion Festival and Those Darn Accordions: A mutual history . . Marilyn . Lane . 2023-08-08 . 2024-06-10.
  21. Web site: Vongole Fisarmonica . Those Darn Accordions . 2024-06-10.
  22. Web site: John J. Serry, Sr., Collection . Sibley Music Library . Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester . 2024-06-10 . Spring 2023.
  23. Web site: Voces mexicanas triunfan en la Habana entre 1938 y 1958 . 2014-12-28 . es . 2024-06-10 . Mexican Voices Triumph in Havana between 1938 and 1958 . Lupe . Véliz . Inter Press Service en Cuba.
  24. Web site: Listado de Obras Pendientes for Identificar (PI) - Tercer Trimestre 2022 . . es . List of Pending Works to Identify (PI) - Third Quarter 2022.
  25. Web site: Stadium Songs: Milwaukee Brewers . Andrew . Pentis . 2012-08-17 . 2024-06-10 . . The Walt Disney Company.
  26. Web site: Rolling out the barrel at Lambeau is a Packers polka tradition with a history of famous faces . 2019-12-06 . Green Bay Press Gazette . USA Today . Kendra . Meinert.
  27. Web site: How Lambeau comes alive on Packers game day . 2014-12-06 . Green Bay Press Gazette . USA Today . Kendra . Meinert.
  28. Web site: Visit San Jose's Excite Ballpark . 2021-11-30 . 2024-06-10 . Josh . Jackson . Major League Baseball (MLB).
  29. Web site: Municipal Stadium, San Jose, California . 2009-07-06 . 2024-06-10 . Paul . Paul's Ballparks.
  30. Book: Solomon, Brian . Pro Wrestling FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Most Entertaining Spectacle . 2000 . Rowman & Littlefield . 9781617136283.
  31. Web site: A Statue Of Da Crusher: South Milwaukee, WI . Brady . Carlson . 2019-06-10 . 2024-06-11.
  32. Web site: Lieder . Südkurve München . de . Songs.
  33. Škoda lásky ou le fabuleux destin d'une petite polka tchèque . Škoda lásky or the fabulous destiny of a little Czech polka . fr . Marie-Odile . Thirouin . Faire l'Europe par la culture / Europäisierung durch Kultur . 2021 . 129–172.
  34. Web site: Intolerance Kanopy. 2021-10-06. www.kanopy.com.
  35. Rumpole and the Alternate Society . subscription . 2024-06-11 . 1977 . 2022-10-10 . Rumpole of the Bailey . 2 . . PBS.
  36. . That's Show Biz, Part 2 . 10 . 2 . CBS . 1981-10-26 . David . Pollock . Elias . Davis . Dennis . Koenig . 11:10-11:32 . Relevant scene from.
  37. . Where Every Bloke Knows Your Name . 5 . 10 . CBS . 1998-01-06 . Rob . Hanning . 8:48-9:40 . Relevant scene from.