'Papaya' a song composed by Urszula Dudziak and Michal Urbaniak and sung by Urszula Dudziak in 1976 celebrates new triumph of popularity. It was rediscovered and is fast becoming the world's most popular dance spreading the world over.
Agnieszka Bielawska reports
'Papaya's ' popularity began in the Philippines. The song was featured in one of TV shows, where after every correct answer the motive from papaya was played. The song was added an expressive and cheerful dance and quickly became popular throughout the whole country. ‘Papaya appeals to people’ said Edu Manzao, the host of the Philippine show 'Game Ka Na Ba'. Manzao is also considered to be the expert of the Philippines’' most fashionable dance 'The Papaya dance.'
Urszula Dudziak says that it is incredible that her old song has had such an amazing comeback:
'We wrote with Michal Urbaniak, my ex husband, exactly 32 years ago. It is a kind of paradox because I am singing this song and singing, and lately I was becoming a little bit tired of it and I was thinking maybe I should forget about this song for a while, and here you are.'
Papaya dance is performed in supermarkets in Manila, and by the Philippine army. Its popularity is spreading and it is danced by chefs in Japan, while the US ambassador in the Philippines Kirstie Kenney contributed greatly to its fame performing it in Manila which can be seen on You Tube. The fashion for Papaya spreads to Japan, South Korea and Mexico. Its author says she is amazed:
'I did not expect it, I was shocked. It was a big, big surprise. I was skiing in Switzerland when someone called me from the radio in Warsaw and they told me: 'Urszula, congratulations!'. I told them I ski very badly, what they were talking about?. They said: 'we are talking about Papaya dance.' I said i did not know what they were talking about and they suggested I look on the internet on You Tube Papaya dance. I did not expect something like this, I love it, I am very happy.'
'Now when I am performing people are asking me if I will be conducting dancing as well and I am doing it because I love this combination of energy with dancing. I think it is great. I do not know how far it will go and what will happen. I am really glad and I think the 'Papaya' has something very special locked in this melody, it has some happiness, good vibrations and really something optimistic, and that is what we need right now in the world.'
Judging by the popularity of ‘Papaya’, spreading far beyond the Philippines the song has a good chance of becoming world's number one dance hit. Papaya is sung in the funky jazz style, and does not have true lyrics but only a wordless vocalisation, which is very characteristic of Urszula Dudziak. The artist was therefore more than amused when she read one of the internauts commenting on the Polish lyrics:
'Isn't it funny? I laughed my heart out. Maybe people are thinking from distant countries that that is our language?’