You and I
The band 'You and I' is probably the most important stage in my music career. You and I was a one-record, yet internationally recognized progressive rock band when I got to know them. They were famous for the authentic way of covering classic Yes songs such as 'Siberian Khatru' and 'And you and I'. Their female vocalist had an angel voice and considerably pretty look and they were quite unique in the regoin with their performance.
In 1996 I went to one of their concerts with Zoltán Czifra, my friend and drummer colleague. We both liked You and I a lot, as we were hardcore Yes fans. You and I had no drummer then, and they used a drum machine during the gig. After the event Zoltán and I went to the bass player and told about ourselves, emphasizing that we were Yes fans, and Zoltán was a free drummer ready to join a band like You and I.
In 1996 I went to one of their concerts with Zoltán Czifra, my friend and drummer colleague. We both liked You and I a lot, as we were hardcore Yes fans. You and I had no drummer then, and they used a drum machine during the gig. After the event Zoltán and I went to the bass player and told about ourselves, emphasizing that we were Yes fans, and Zoltán was a free drummer ready to join a band like You and I.
A year passed and in 1997 I got a letter (yes, a phisical paper format letter, written by an individual with his hand with the help of a pen) form Károly, the bass guitarist of You and I. He wrote that their keyboard player had left the band and he remembered that I was into progrock and keyboards. I gave him a call instantly and we had a nice chat, and a week later I met the band. They were my Hungarian idols, the band I dreamt to be part of. And I was! You and I was preparing and rehearsing for some upcoming important gigs with a full set of Yes songs. I had three or four months to catch up with them, learn and play some of the most complicated stuff from Yes. Siberian Khatru is definitely not the easiest piece of music, especially for a keyboard player. Rick Wakeman took care about that. You and I had some heavy songs themselves, too, so it was a challenging couple of months, but I was so enthusiastic that it went without any complication. The Yes cover gigs were of great success and I became a legitim and full member of the band, and we started to write the band's second album together. The band decided to let go of its drummer, and it was a good opportunity for me to invite Zoltán to the band. I did. Ha came. You and I was:
Fanni Völgyessy Szomor - vocals
Károly Dorogi - bass
Zsolt Kosztyu - guitars
Gergő Szabó - keyboards
Zoltán Czifra - drums
Fanni Völgyessy Szomor - vocals
Károly Dorogi - bass
Zsolt Kosztyu - guitars
Gergő Szabó - keyboards
Zoltán Czifra - drums
GO
In 1998 we composed and recorded GO, the second album of You and I. It is a bit more into pop-rock, as we were encouraged to go that direction by our manager. Still, the album contains some really strong progrock moments. We went on a tour in Hungary and we had two gigs in the Netherlands. Zoltán decided to leave the band, and we found a new drummer, Tamás Nádházi.
I recommend Invisible Ties for a listening, it is a very Yes-like progressive rock song, and Snowdance, it is a bit darker, more close to the sound of Genesis. Moonsong is an other favourite, its nice melody and Fanni's perfect performance is outstanding.
You can listen to the full GO album below as well as the EXIT album.
I recommend Invisible Ties for a listening, it is a very Yes-like progressive rock song, and Snowdance, it is a bit darker, more close to the sound of Genesis. Moonsong is an other favourite, its nice melody and Fanni's perfect performance is outstanding.
You can listen to the full GO album below as well as the EXIT album.
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EXIT
The next year we started to write the next album, its title was EXIT. After our detour into pop-rock , we decided to make an album without compromises. It is pure progrock and in Hungarian language. It is a concept album, covering the subject of death, upon the themes of the Tibetian Book of the Dead. EXIT was a big success, You and I became internationally spoken about again in 2001. Zsolt left the band and Péter Gosztola joined it as the new guitarist. We had a couple of gigs, but the band started to have inner personal tense and conficts and in 2001 we fell apart. Károly and Fanni went on with the name You and I, reformed the band with new members, had some gigs but unfortunatelly that formation also disbanded quite briefly.
The other remaining part of the band, including myself, went on as well, had Zsolt onboard again, now as the bass player, and we formed our new band and named it M-A-Y-A (Music As You Are). But it is an other story...
The other remaining part of the band, including myself, went on as well, had Zsolt onboard again, now as the bass player, and we formed our new band and named it M-A-Y-A (Music As You Are). But it is an other story...
