WATCH: Folk singer advises Ukrainians on how to be 'proper Czechs'

The musician describes the song, "Proper Czech" (Správnej Čech) as an attempt to “Welcome all friends from Ukraine."

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 04.04.2022 11:15:00 (updated on 04.04.2022) Reading time: 1 minute

Czech singer-songwriter Jan Pokorný (a.ka. Pokáč) has debuted a Sandler-esque ukelele ode to the Czech lands meant to give Ukrainian refugees a leg – or rather a sandal – up as they acclimate to their new home.

Released as part of a series for radio station Frekvence 1 the musician describes the song, "Proper Czech" (Správnej Čech) as an attempt to “Welcome all friends from Ukraine in addition to a few tips on how to quickly fit into the Czech Republic.”

Naturally, the tune addresses wearing socks with sandals, tucking into fried cheese, and wobbling home after a night at the pub as well as the atheism of the Czech nation which the singer says worships just one god, hockey great Jaromír Jágr.

The song also highlights Czech Easter traditions, hiking trails, and oddball celebrity culture.

The newly released video of Pokáč performing the song in his signature low-fi style has already racked up over 100k views on YouTube while a video for the war song “Putin is a murderer” which came out last month has already hit over half a million views. Songs feature Ukrainian subtitles.

The 31-year-old musician, who describes his musical style as a "failed attempt at folk or a failed attempt at music," is known for taking jabs at politicians as well as musical tributes to the forest, beer, and his cat.

Pokáč's Czech-English duet with singer Jakub Ondra the ballad “Heroic Act” has over 4 million views on YouTube and encourages Czechs to be kind to foreigners.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in February, the Czech culture scene has banded together under the banner of #kulturaproukrajinu to create benefits, concerts, and films to rally support for Ukraine.

Sunday saw nearly 5,000 people descend upon Prague's Letná plain for a concert event that included a performance by an 8-year-old girl who fled the country with her mother carrying her bandura, a stringed folk instrument.

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