Peter Cmorik - Changing the Music Scene in Slovakia
One of the coolest things about living in another country and being totally immersed in their culture is becoming familiar with numerous specific parts of culture such as cuisine, art, or music.
While in Slovakia, I listened to Slovak radio and naturally, I got familiar with and enjoyed popular Slovak musicians and groups. I heard mainstream favorites like Jana Kirchner, No Name, Horkýže Slíže, Desmod, I.M.T. Smile, and others. Of course everyone has different tastes. I thought some were very good such as Jana Kirchner and No Name, but I was indifferent to most others.
In 2004 in Slovakia, the “Idol/Superstar” series began on T.V. Like the Superstar series across the world, in Slovakia the series was extremely popular and a vast majority of the country tuned in week after week to see who would be voted off. The first season’s winner Katka Koščová was a solid performer but not a standout singer, in my opinion.
The second season’s winner, Peter Cmorik (pronounced ‘tsmó-reek’), on the other hand, has taken Slovak music to the next level of professionalism, in my opinion. From start to finish Cmorik is the complete singer, musician, and a great performer. He won every single round of the Superstar competition, and awed the judges and audience week after week. Since he has won Superstar in 2006 he has had tremendous success. He released a strong album called Nádherný deň, and won three Slávik music awards (something like the equivalent to the Grammys in the U.S.) in 2006 for best male singer, the “discovery” of the year, and for song of the year Dážď.
The debut album Nádherný deň is already more than a year old but I still highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in listening to a top Slovak performer. He even sings a few songs in English though I prefer his songs in Slovak. The song Dážď is by far the most famous of his singles and a song that you couldn’t escape in 2006. That was fine with me. Dážď is extraordinarily good and I never tire of hearing it. I-tunes doesn’t carry Peter Cmorik, unfortunately. For some additional song samples, listen to last.fm.
Without a doubt I think that Peter Cmorik has added a new level of quality to modern Slovak music. A new album is due out soon and I know I’ll be checking it out.
