This article was first published in September 2021 (RIDDIM 04/2021).
When I hear ”It’s A Pity”, I think of this very long car ride. I can’t remember exactly where I was coming from. But I know that it went through half of Germany. I think Likkle T (Phlatline Sound) was there and I was sitting in the car writing lyrics because I wanted to record a song on the ”Doctor’s Darling” riddim by Lanni, Pionear from Germaican Records.
The story behind ”It’s A Pity” is very much based on a true story. It’s just a little exaggerated so you don’t recognize the people I’m talking about. But it’s actually a very common story: you’ve just settled into a relationship and then you meet someone and think he or she would be a good match for you. And then you say how nice it would be if we were both still available.
I don’t think we have the right to possess others. If my partner thinks someone could enrich his life experience, then I won’t stand in his way. He knows that, and the same goes for me. I’ve never met anyone who I think is better than the person I’m with. That may be because of the way we live our lives. Our idea is that we should enjoy this life together for as long as we can. Everything is much more fun together and we don’t feel sorry for each other. We’re also not afraid of being apart — maybe that’s what brings us together.
”It’s A Pity” opened my eyes to how promiscuous people actually are, just by how everyone found themselves in the song. People kept coming up to me: ”This is exactly what I’m experiencing right now, I’m with another woman’s husband. .” Or: ”I was in the same situation last year.” Whether women or men, both seem to know it well.
I really liked the song. For everyone who already liked my music, it was a fresh energy boost. And anyone who didn’t know me or didn’t know what to expect from me was suddenly on board. The family grew enormously as a result of ”It’s A Pity”.
The recordings were also special. The production is excellent. I love working with Lanni. There was something familiar about it, because I got to know his wife first. At the time, I thought it was strange to meet a Jamaican woman who spoke German. We got talking and she told me that her husband was a producer. That’s how the link came about, very organically. We liked each other right away. And then the song buss out of nowhere.
Lanni is really strict in the studio, bwoy! I had to record one line over and over again. I think we were in the studio all night. But when I heard the finished product, I thought I would have spent another night in the studio for it. The song was just flawless. I love it, it’s beautiful, it was really worth the effort. But Lanni also gave me quite a struggle.
When I work, it’s not about me, there’s only the production. The product is the star. If the producer has something to complain about, I comply. I have no problem with that, because I want to make the best possible song. It can be physically exhausting, but mentally I’m always fit because I only have the song in mind. And with ”It’s A Pity”, Lanni’s instructions proved to be correct. Everything he had to say was justified. When I heard the finished song, I thought, yo, Dude, you’re really good! good!
I don’t remember exactly where I performed the song for the first time, but I remember people were singing along to every line straight away. I didn’t realize at first how popular the song was. I only realized that when people were begging me, please, please, you have to sing ”It’s A Pity”.
The song opened my eyes to how much the world has shrunk. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Germany, Jamaica or Japan. Today, it’s all music. I don’t care about geography, it’s all about the best sound, the best product. It’s about good musicians who make good music that makes you feel good. I often hear: ”I can’t believe that a German produced the song.” But music has no borders.
Leander ”Pionear” Topp passed away on June 17, 2025. Read the obituary here.
Rest in eternal peace, Lanni aka LanniTy aka Pionear!
