Vyznanie

"Vyznanie" (in English transcribed as "Why (Must I Always Fail)?", respectively also known as "Declaration") is a song by the female singer Marika Gombitová released on OPUS in 1979.

"Vyznanie"
Cover of a vinyl single from Bratislavská Lýra
Single by Marika Gombitová
from the album Dievča do dažďa
B-side	"Malý veľký vlak" (by Miro Žbirka)
Released	June/July, 1979
Recorded	1979
Genre	Bel canto, cantilena
Length	4:46
Label	OPUS (#9143 0500)
Songwriter(s)	Janko Lehotský Kamil Peteraj
Producer(s)	Ján Lauko Milan Vašica
Marika Gombitová singles chronology
"Študentská láska" (1978) "Vyznanie" (1979) "Kufor a šál" (1979)
Audio sample
"Vyznanie" file help
Music video
"Vyznanie" - original version on YouTube "Why?" - international version on YouTube

The composition written by Janko Lehotský, in common with Kamil Peteraj, is referred to as her masterpiece receiving several awards. Including the Silver award at the Bratislavská lýra '79 in the contest of the Czechoslovak songwriters. At the 4th Intervision Song Festival contest in Sopot, Poland the following year, the song won the first prize for the Best Performance in the category representing record companies.^[1][2][3] Most recently, the single was voted by the TV audience as Hit storočia (English: Hit of the Century) in Slovakia, followed by the tribute program Vyznanie pre Mariku (English: A Confession for Marika) broadcast by Slovak Television on December 23, 2007.^[4]

Originally, the song was released on the singer's debut album Dievča do dažďa, being available on numerous compilations in addition. An international version was recorded under title "Why?" (the English translation of the title would mean "Declaration", however), and released on her export album Rainy Day Girl (1981).^[5] B-side of the single "Malý veľký vlak" was later issued on the Modus self-titled album (Modus).^[6]

Official versions

1. "Vyznanie" - Studio version, original 1979
2. "Why?" (aka "Declaration") - Studio version, international, 1980

Credits and personnel

• Marika Gombitová - lead vocal
• Janko Lehotský - music
• Kamil Peteraj - lyrics
• Ján Lauko - producer
• Milan Vašica - producer
• OPUS - copyright

Awards

Bratislavská lýra

Bratislavská lýra (English: Bratislava Lyre) was an annual festival of popular songs in former Czechoslovakia, established in 1966 in Bratislava. Two competitions were held; the category of Czechoslovak songwriters and the international contest. Winners were awarded by a golden, silver and/or bronze Lyre (depending on a position). Special prizes included Audience Choice, Journalists Choice, and Lifetime Achievement award. Gombitová won seven awards in total - three golden lyres (1977–78), one of silver (1979) and bronze (1980), plus an Audience Choice award (1977).^[1]

Year	Nominated work	Category	Result
1979	"Vyznanie"	Czechoslovak Authors	Silver

Intervision

Intervision Song Contest (ISC), originally known as Sopot International Song Festival (Sopot ISF), was organized by the International Radio and Television Organisation, an Eastern network of radio and television broadcasting companies. Unlike its equivalent, the Eurovision (ESC), Intervision often changed formulas to pick a winner, running different competitions at the same time. The festival was held at Forest Opera in Sopot, Poland, and Gombitová won one award (1980).^[1][2][3]

Year	Nominated work	Category	Result
1980	"Vyznanie" "Chcem sa s tebou deliť"	Best Performance	WonA

Diskoslavík

Diskoslavík (English: DiscoNightingale) was an attempt in behalf of major Czechoslovak disc jockeys to award artists for best acts also on the disco music field. The award was voted by DJs on fifty major discoteques. Gombitová appeared in the 88's volume, reaching the highest score as the 3rd Most Favorite Female Singer and the 5th Best Singer of All-time. "Vyznanie" itself reached at number six.^[7]

Year	Nominated work	Category	Result
1988	"Vyznanie"	Best Song of All-time	#6

Hit storočia

The Hit storočia (English: Hit of the Century) was a national TV competition organized by Slovenská televízia. Within its three-month run (beginning April 20, 2007), the viewers voted live the most popular Slovak songs from the 1930s to 1990s. Overall, nine songs were picked to compete in the final evening. Gombitová competed in the show with three songs, winning it with a song written by Janko Lehotský and Kamil Peteraj from 1979.^[4]

Year	Nominated work	Category	Result
2007	"Vyznanie"	Hit of the Century	WonB

Notes

• ^A The First Prize in the category representing record companies shared Gombitová with Nikolai Gnatiuk ("Dance on a Drum") from Russia. Grand Prix '80 award won Marion ("Where Is the Love?") from Finland.^[2]
• ^B The title won scoring 30.4% votes in total. The rest Top 3 positions featured "V slovenských dolinách" by Karol Duchoň (at #2), and "Voda čo ma drží nad vodou" by Jožo Ráž.^[4]

Cover versions

• 1999: Lucie Bílá^[8]
• 2007: Sisa Sklovská
• 2008: Monika Absolonová (with substantial lyrics, written by Marek Vrba.)^[8]
• 2009: Dominika Stará
• 2009: Ivana Poláčková
• 2010: Dara Rolins^[8]

See also

• Česko Slovenská Superstar
• X Factor (Czech Republic)

References

General

• Graclík, Miroslav; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Lifestory of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 2011-03-21.
• Lehotský, Oskar (April 23, 2008a). Slovak Popular Music in the Years 1977–1989 – Marika Gombitová (PDF) (in Slovak). Bratislava, Slovakia: Comenius University, Faculty of Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
• Lehotský, Oskar (April 23, 2008b). Slovak Popular Music in the Years 1977–1989 – Modus (PDF) (in Slovak). Bratislava, Slovakia: Comenius University, Faculty of Arts. Retrieved 2011-04-07.

Specific

1. Graclík & Nekvapil 2008, p. 417.
2. Waschko, Roman (1980-09-06). "Finn Singer Triumphant At Sopot Contest". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. p. 65. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
3. "International Festival of Polish Song Sopot" (in Russian). web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2011-04-07. 1-я премия - Николай Гнатюк (СССР) Nikolai Gnatiuk - Taniec na bębnie– Танец на барабане и Марика Гомбитова (Чехословакия) Marika Gombitova - Deklaracja
4. "The Hit Of The Century Finale: Marika Hasn't Come, Her 'Why?' Won However". Nový čas (in Slovak). Zoznam, s.r.o. 2007-07-07. topky.sk. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
5. For Marika Gombitová's discography, see Lehotský 2008a, pp. 54–56..
6. For Modus discography, see Lehotský 2008b, pp. 60–62..
7. Graclík & Nekvapil 2008, p. 418.
8. Nitkulincová, Andrea (2007-07-16). "The Hit Of The Century: Chewing Gum Pop Didn't Stand A Chance". Marek Mizov. Music Scaper - Hudobný priestor. musicscaper.sk. Retrieved 2011-04-20.