In the 20th century, Budapest’s music scene reflected its dynamic cultural and political shifts. Early in the century, classical music dominated, with composers like Franz Liszt, Béla Bartók, and Zoltán Kodály shaping global music. Bartók and Kodály infused their works with Hungarian folk influences, which also thrived in traditional **Romani music**, performed in cafés and restaurants. Operettas by Imre Kálmán and Franz Lehár, blending Hungarian and Viennese styles, were wildly popular.
During the Soviet era**, patriotic and socialist songs were officially promoted, but classical music continued to flourish in state-supported institutions like the Liszt Academy. Beneath the surface, jazz and blues survived in underground clubs, offering a sense of rebellion. And of course as usual in authoritarian regimes, music and art in general were trying to send subliminal messages through their work often causing troubles with the officials.
Sometimes it got really absurd, like in the 1970s, Hungarian band Omega faced a peculiar challenge during a state-organized concert in East Germany. The authorities required the band to perform a song glorifying socialism, so Omega submitted a seemingly patriotic tune called "Lenin’s Path".
However, the song was entirely instrumental—no lyrics, just a dramatic buildup of guitars, organ, and drums. When asked why there were no words, Omega explained, “The power of Lenin’s vision is beyond words—it’s felt in the music!” The censors, unable to argue with such a lofty interpretation, approved it.