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Adam Aston - Tango Bakszysz, 1937

4,546 views · Published 24 September 2014 · 3:09 · Indexed 14 November 2026

Channel: 240252 · 2014 · Music

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Adam Aston (J.Kierski) & Ork. Syrena-Rekord - Bakszysz (The Baksheesh) Tango (Ted-Rey-Solec) Syrena-Electro 1937 (Polish)

NOTE: This tango is an advertising song written for the Herbewo company in Krakow, which in the 1930s produced the plug-wraps and non-nicotine cigarettes Morwitan (made from the mulberry leaves). Huge promotional campaign assisting the relrease of this product resulted in series of the fabulous advertising songs, sung by best entertainers (Mieczysław Fogg, Adam Aston, Albert Harris and others) and recorded by Syrena-Electro and Odeon. See Morwitan Fox Trot  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98REHantuKw and outstanding Tango Nikotyna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B_rVo3P31I both sung by Albert Harris. The catchy tunes and appealing humorous lyrics prove, they must have been written by the best authors, most of them however hiding under the nicks.  (In 1930s in Poland the overt participation in purely commercial ventures, was for the most of top artists still something a bit embarrassing). 

Text of this fun song speaks of the old times, when a Tatar khan carries for his sultan the booty from his raids to “Lekhistan” (- once in Oriental countries, so was called Poland). Yet, among stolen goods, jewels and  beautiful captive girls, the most precious gift is one hundred plug-wrapped Morwitans. "If you want bliss, smoke Morwitan" – urges Adam Aston, hidden under a pseudonym J.Kierski. The sultan listened to him and was delighted. And ofcourse, ever since he smoked nothing other than Morwitan. 

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This song ends this year’s Mediterranean holidays for me. Last several days I spent in a  beautiful and underrated by tourists state of Lebanon. It is a country of wonderful views and peaceful, friendly people: a half and half Muslims and Christians (Maronites). Their harmonious coexistence can be a model for other, less fortunate countries. The presence of the figures of Jesus and Our Lady on every second streetcorner is something common and entitrely normal for the Lebanese people, regardless of their religion. So are the rosaries, dangling by the back-mirrors inside the public cabs. In the small and big towns -  Beirut, Byblos, Tyre -  next to great mosques stand no less imposaing Catholic temples (the Maronites belong to the Roman Catholic Church) and such mingle does not bother anyone, as the alleged "insult to the feelings of other religions". Just next to Labanon burns Syria, under the American-European bombing attack - which to my deepest regret, awfully violates the UN Charter – while little Lebanon so far abides in peace and prays for peace. If peace in Lebanon would be destroyed, it won’t be accordingly to Lebanese people’s will, but if and only if it’s caused by intrusion from outside. I wish the brave country to persevere in their faith and hope for peace. May it be fulfilled! 

This song is my post-holiday gift for them. Unfortunately, I do not have in my collection any Lebanese song, so let this Polish "tango Orientale" be a substitute for it.

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