Biography
Michal Horácek, a lyricist, has gradually reshaped listening habits across the Czech Republic beginning in the 1980s. Following the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia during the 1960s, he navigated his way, relying on resourcefulness and determination, to undertake a journey across the United States, absorbing the sounds and atmosphere of the early 1970s. Upon his return to Czechoslovakia he took up journalism, focusing on horse racing reports and serving Kentucky-based newspapers as their Eastern European correspondent. After a period of limited visibility he shifted attention to songwriting, drawing partial inspiration from American figures Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen to infuse his lyrics with greater emotional resonance and substance than typically found among Czech pop songwriters. Persistent refusals marked his entry into the industry until he connected with Petr Hapka, a prolific composer and hitmaker. Together the pair generated a steady stream of successful tracks for performers throughout the Czech pop landscape. The resulting body of work stood apart from prevailing commercial fare precisely because Horácek supplied lyrics of uncommon depth to a scene otherwise marked by surface-level content.
Albums
