Margy Kahn
Reviewed 2016-05-30
High concept compilation of modern and classic takes by various artists on a Hungarian song originally composed in the 1930's that supposedly drove a lot of people to commit suicide. It was banned by the BBC until 2002. The film “Gloomy Sunday” documents this. Recorded in Germany, “Hungarian Noir” features a melange of languages, styles, and accents; reminiscent of one of my favorite CD's from the 80's, “Red Hot + Blue” – a modern take on Cole Porter by all sorts of interesting artists

No FCC violations; favorite tracks 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11

1- 4:04 – “Gloomy Sunday” Cuban a capella group “Vocal Sampling” leads off; pleasant, contemplative melody with romantic and death-obsessed lyrics

2- 2:58- African Portuguese version from Mozambique (“Domingo Sombrio”) with nice beat and male and female singers trading lines, segues into English

*3- 4:03 – nice instrumental intro to samba version; seductive voice by Matuto, blues band from NYC

4- 3:02 – “Triste Domingo” – mambo version with upbeat Latin Jazz rhythms; satin-y horns

*5- 4:23 – orchestral and synth background for Polish version with superstar Kayah; fantastic

*6- 3:45 – Brazilian hiphop version in Portuguese, very interesting; nice instrumental outro

7- 3:26 –English lyrics by Cuban Glenda Lopez in charanga rhythm

*8-4:24 – Argentine Chango Spasiuk instrumental tango version; bandoneon segues to guitar to violin; heartbreaking

**9—3:53 – Bambarabanda from Colombia with beautiful strings and Spanish lyrics; captivating; segues to folkloric hiphop – amazing

**10- 4:38 –incredible cimbalom version by two masters of the Hungarian dulcimer, all instrumental

*11-3:14 – classic Billie Holiday version of the song

12—3:10 – classic first vocal recording in Hungarian