Music - Songs from the attic

With its “Music – Songs from the attic” issue, Philately Liechtenstein is dedicating itself to a special chapter of cultural heritage: traditional folk music and its preservation for future generations. The special stamp “S'isch egal” (face value CHF 6.80) comes in an unusual form – as a playable vinyl record. At the heart of this issue is Josef “Pepi” Frommelt, a pioneer of Liechtenstein folk music research.

With great dedication, he collected, documented, and preserved traditional songs that have shaped the country's musical identity for decades. His aim was not only to preserve musical roots, but also to make old songs audible again. This legacy is continued today by the Pepi Frommelt Foundation. The song “S'isch egal” (meaning “it doesn’t matter”) on the record is part of this traditional musical treasure.

For a long time, the original song “Du und i sind Brüederli” (meaning “you and I are brothers”) was understood to be a Liechtenstein folk song, until it became apparent that the original was written by Swiss composer Werner Wehrli (1892-1944). This discovery underscores the cultural value of the collection: folk music thrives on exchange, transmission, and interpretation. In 1985, the song was recorded on an LP for the first time, thus preserving it for future generations.

The new version of “S'isch egal”, released in 2023 by the Liechtenstein pop group PEPS and based on “Du und i sind Brüederli”, uses contemporary pop reggae vibes and cheerful Liechtenstein dialect to bring today's reality into dialogue with the historical language of over 100 years ago.
The stamp is placed in the center of the record, which can be played on a standard record player. The song can also be accessed digitally via a QR code on the stamp. This edition thus combines analog music enjoyment with contemporary technology – a real philatelic treat for the ears.