Andrzej Piaseczny and music for baking gingerbread cookies

December is the time when homes begin to smell of gingerbread spices and we look for warmth in every possible form.
Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations, a proper soundtrack is essential. Is Andrzej Piaseczny’s voice a good choice for baking gingerbread cookies and decorating the Christmas tree?

Andrzej Piaseczny – the musician’s story

Andrzej Piaseczny was born in winter—on January 6, 1971, in Pionki near Radom. From a young age, he showed an interest in music, singing in the school choir Cavatina. After graduating from high school, he began his studies at the Teachers’ Training College in Kielce, majoring in music education. During his studies, he did not limit himself to theoretical learning alone—he also took part in young talent competitions in Wrocław and performed at the Debut Festival in Opole.

In 1992, at the age of 21, he joined the band Mafia. Many well-known albums were created with his participation—both those recorded with Mafia, collaborative projects with other artists, and his solo releases. He made his solo debut in 1998 with the album Piasek. Since then, he has released numerous hits, including:

Śniadanie do łóżka
Niecierpliwi
Prawie do nieba
Chodź, przytul, przebacz

Thanks to consistent work, an excellent voice, and perhaps a bit of luck in releasing songs that everyone now knows, he became one of the most recognizable Polish musicians of the early 21st century. His albums brought him not only popularity but also numerous music awards, clearly demonstrating his artistic class.

This time, we will focus on two of Andrzej Piaseczny’s thirteen albums. The choice is not accidental—these are his Christmas projects. They should be perfect for baking gingerbread or decorating the Christmas tree. But are they really? Piaseczny is an excellent musician, but did he manage to capture the magic and atmosphere of winter and Christmas?

Zimowe piosenki (2012 rok)

Andrzej Piaseczny decided to create a Christmas music project for the first time in 2012. On November 12 of that year, he released his first holiday album titled Zimowe piosenki. The record was created in collaboration with Seweryn Krajewski. How did it turn out?

Zimowe piosenki is a very solid project. Both Piaseczny and Krajewski come across extremely well. Their voices are warm—so warm that they could easily comfort someone chilled by winter weather. These songs carry a positive, cheerful mood. They are not the kind of songs Wojciech and Małgorzata from the first Listy do M. movie would spend a Christmas evening listening to. However, they are perfect for listening to while laughing and engaging in holiday activities. The joyful atmosphere encourages togetherness and seems to significantly reduce the likelihood of arguments.

Andrzej Piaseczny – Wielkie świąteczne całowanie

When it comes to lyrics, the album feels uneven. At times, the songs offer deeper meanings and symbolism; at other moments, the lines are very obvious—sometimes even too simple. Unfortunately, the simpler ones dominate, and this is likely what stays with the listener after the final track ends. Still, Zimowe piosenki makes up for it with its exceptional warmth. The atmosphere is so inviting that it becomes easy to overlook the lyrical simplicity in favor of pure Christmas joy.

The album was a major success. On the day of its release, it achieved platinum status and quickly reached the top of the OLiS sales chart. As a kind of postscript, it is worth noting the intriguing pairing of the first two tracks: Wielkie świąteczne całowanie and Kochajmy się zimą. Placing them next to each other may evoke slightly ambiguous associations, and it is hard to ignore the feeling that this was intentional. If that was indeed the artists’ intention, it does not entirely work for me, as it slightly disrupts the family-oriented, festive atmosphere that dominates the rest of the album.

Zimowe piosenki – tracklist

Wielkie świąteczne całowanie,
Kochajmy się zimą,
Cichej spokojnej nocy,
Pastorałka największych przyjaciół,
Kołysanka pierwszej radości,
Wiatr do drogi,
Choinka naszych pragnień,
Święta w sercach,
Zwykły Nowy Rok,
Śpij spokojnie mój świecie.

Jeszcze zanim święta (2023)

Eleven years after the release of Zimowe piosenki, which proved to be a major success, Andrzej Piaseczny released another Christmas album. This time, he collaborated with Kacper Dworniczak—and it is worth starting with him, as the musical skills of this young guitarist are truly astonishing. His playing makes the songs on this album highly melodic, pleasant to the ear, and extremely atmospheric. Instrumentally, these tracks sound simply excellent.

Although Dworniczak’s guitar work stood out the most to me, Piaseczny also deserves high praise. Particularly captivating is how well his voice blends with the melodies played by Dworniczak. The artists complement each other perfectly, creating a unique atmosphere.

Andrzej Piaseczny – kto wie?

Dworniczak’s guitar gives the songs an intimate feel—they lack the grandiosity often associated with Christmas music. The tracks feel sincere; the musicians are not pretending to be anyone else, nor are they inflating their music or simplifying it artificially.

On Jeszcze zanim święta, the lyrics hold up well. They may still not be full of deeply complex verses, but that seems to be a characteristic of Christmas music in general. However, there is noticeable improvement compared to Zimowe piosenki—the simplicity is no longer as striking.

This album seems more likely to appeal to the previously mentioned Wojciech and Małgorzata than the earlier one. It is much calmer and more reflective. Yet it does not lose its warmth—Piaseczny’s voice remains incredibly pleasant, homely, and warm, much like freshly baked Christmas gingerbread straight from the oven.

Jeszcze zanim święta – tracklist

Ding dong
Na całej połaci śnieg
Śnieg
Nie ma, nie ma Ciebie
Lulajże, mi lulaj
Kto wie?
Miejsce, gdzie czekam
Tak jak śnieg
Kłopoty ze śniegiem
To biel
Zamówię płatki śniegu
Zanim Święta
Piaseczny i muzyka świąteczna

Andrzej Piaseczny’s work to date shows that he knows how to create Christmas music. His two holiday albums are truly solid projects. Their advantage lies in their differing character and atmosphere, allowing listeners to choose one or the other depending on their mood. Both, however, are good enough that no one should feel disappointed. Anyone who chooses to spend Christmas accompanied by Piaseczny’s voice should be satisfied.

Written by: Paweł Skarzyński
Zdjęcia: Artist’s Facebook page