Legendary Serbian musician and singer-songwriter Đorđe Balašević has died at the age of 67. We will remember him for his original compositions such as Svirajte mi, jesen stiže Dunjo moja, Neki novi klinci, Prva ljubav, Priča o Vasi Ladačkom, Lepa protina kči, Portret života mog and Odlazi cirkus.
Over the course of his rich career, which did not only cover music but also included writing, acting and directing, he released 15 albums on which love songs alternated with songs on social and political themes. He began his musical career in 1977 when he joined the group Žetva. Later he formed his own group, Rani Mraz, which won the 1979 Split Festival with the song Panonski mornar [Pannonian Sailor]. Rani Mraz enjoyed other hits such as Priča o Vasi Ladačkom, Život je more and Računajte na nas, but sadly the group broke up after just two years.
In 1982 Balašević embarked on a solo career, releasing the album Pub the same year and setting off on a tour of Yugoslavia. His first album included the hits Boža zvani Pub, Pesma o jednom petlu, Lepa protina kći and Ratnik paorskog srca. His second album Celovečernji The Kid was released a year later, and then came third album 003, which included the hits Slovenska, Al’ se nekad dobro jelo, Badnje veče and Olivera.
For many years he filled venues throughout the former Yugoslavia and frequently appeared in Slovenia. His first concert in Ljubljana was in 1979, followed by his return in 1994 with a performance at the Tivoli Hall. He also performed in Lendava in 2008, at Festival Lent in Maribor in 1999 and 2018 and in Arena Stožice in 2018. He enjoyed performing at the Križanke Summer Theatre in Ljubljana, with notable appearances there including a concert in 2011 and a sold-out show in 2017. The last time he visited Ljubljana was in 2019 at Cankarjev dom on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his musical career.
In this difficult moment we offer our sincere condolences to the Balašević family and, with a heavy heart, bid farewell to a legend of the Yugoslav popular music scene.
Source: rtvslo.si
