She “waited her whole life” for such a hit. But it wasn’t Danuta Rinn who was supposed to sing “Where are the men?”

She started her singing career in 1963. Initially, she performed in a duet with Bogdan Czyżewski and sang in Polish big bands, but she had to wait until 1974 for her first great success. It was then that she won the Society of Friends of Opole award at the 12th KFPP in Opole for her interpretation of the song “Where are the men?” However, before Rinn made the song go down in history and become a timeless hit with her performance, the song was passed from hand to hand for over a year and finally got stuck in a music freezer.

It was not Danuta Rinn who was supposed to sing “Where are the men”. The author of the text revealed the truth

There are several different versions of who the song was originally written for. The text to “Where are the men”, as Irena Jarocka recalled in the book “I am a butterfly, or a song about myself”, was written for her.

Especially for the show [“Irena Jarocka zaprasza” – red.] Janek Pietrzak wrote me the text ‘Where are the men’. I never recorded this song, but the lyrics remained.

In turn, he presented a slightly different scenario. He admitted that in 1972 or 1973 he wrote it with Anna Nehrebecka in mind. – The idea was that a subtle blonde would gently insult guys with their biggest flaws […]. Such invectives in the mouth of a delicate girl were supposed to have increased impact – said one of Adam Halber in “Angora”.

Since there is no song without , Pietrzak, with the text already ready and the vision of Anna Nehrebecka as a performer, turned to Włodzimierz Korcz, then the musical director of the Pod Egidą cabaret. The composer turned up his nose, as Nehrebecka had no vocal talent. However, he was convinced, even though the first version of the hit was a bit melodically mild. – This sucks. Write something catchy and at the same time something that Ania can cope with, Pietrzak said. This is how the second and final version was created, but Nehrebecka performed it only a few times, after which “Where are the men” disappeared from the cabaret’s repertoire. Not for long.

It was Włodzimierz Korcz who suggested “Where are the men” to her? “If it weren’t for Danuta Rinn, we wouldn’t be talking about a hit”

At one point, Korcz said that it would be a shame to waste such a good song. – I felt sorry for this number – he admitted. Then he thought about Danuta Rinn, who was just after a divorce from her second husband, Bogdan Czyżewski. – She was having a bad time. She was freshly divorced and her duet broke up – recalled the composer in . So Korcz packed the lyrics and sheet music and went to the singer. However, he was not sure whether he would agree to perform the song “recycled”. He honestly admitted what the developments of this piece were, but his fears turned out to be unfounded. Danuta Rinn didn’t mind at all. – Włodek, I’ve been waiting for this song all my life – he heard in response. – I’m crazy. I didn’t expect such a reaction, he said years later.

However, there was a problem, during her first performance of “Where are the men” in front of an audience… Danuta Rinn forgot the lyrics. Only the threat of taking her song away worked. In 1974, Danuta Rinn brilliantly performed “Where are the men” during the twelfth edition in Opole. – If it weren’t for Danuta Rinn, we wouldn’t be talking about a hit – said Włodzimierz Korcz.