Łzy

The band was founded in 1996 in Pszów, Southern Poland (their name translates as "Tears"). The members of the group all come from Racibórz and Wodzisław Śląski counties. They did not see success with their first album, Słońce (The Sun), released in 1998. However, the band gained popularity with their sophomore record, W związku z samotnością (In a Relationship with Loneliness). Their hit singles "Agnieszka" and "Narcyz" elevated Łzy to national stardom in Poland in 2001, where their album was certified platinum,[1] having sold in over 100 000 copies. Despite their commercial success, Polish popular media were reluctant to promote Łzy's music and the group received little television coverage or radio air time.[2]

2002 saw the release of their third album, Jesteś jaki jesteś (You Are What You Are). It featured three popular singles: "Jestem jaka jestem", "Ja nie lubię nikogo" and "Anastazja". The band's 2003 album, Nie czekaj na jutro (Don't Wait for Tomorrow), included the song "Oczy szeroko zamknięte", which was to become their most successful single. The song won an award at the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole. Nie czekaj na jutro was certified Platinum[3] and remains their second best-selling album. From then on Łzy finally received recognition in Polish media.[2] In 2004 Łzy recorded the song "Julia, tak na imię mam" for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, reaching the second place in the Polish elimination.

In 2005 the group released Historie, których nie było, but it achieved only limited success in Poland. Two other hits were used to promote the album: "Pierwsza łza" and "Przepraszam cię", with the latter submitted for the Sopot International Song Festival competition. 2006 saw Łzy's 10th anniversary and the release of a compilation album The Best of 1996–2006. It included two new songs: a ballad "Gdybyś był" and a rock track "Puste słowa". Both singles became hits and the album sold well.

Anna Wyszkoni, the lead vocalist, left the band in November 2010 (two years after embarking on a successful solo career) and was replaced by Sara Chmiel. Łzy's first studio album in six years was released in 2011.

• Łzy at YouTube
• Łzy at MySpace