Balkan Music - songs un/related to war welcome

[JoseRaulChupacabra]

***translations mostly by DeepL so pardon me if it's wrong.***
We all know the big hits like God is a Serb, Marshi i UCK, Jadna Bosno Suverena, Bojna Cavoglave and Oj Alja Aljo!

But what about other music from the Balkans?

I discovered this one when it autoplayed:

Luda Po Tebe (Crazy For You) by Kamelia is a song about a woman who can't forget her love. It's part of her 1999 album Zlatna Ribka(Goldfish).

The bigger story about this song is that Serbs are ass mad about this because it was apparently plagiarized from a Serbian song Luda Za Tobom by Lepa Brena:

And yeah, it's basically the same song.

From the same 1999 album Čakam samo 5 minuti (I'm only waiting 5 minutes) has a pretty sick accordion solo:

Another one, Nyama Shega (No Kidding) is about a woman being pestered by an Arab suitor who wants to buy her love with luxury.

That music video just won't fly today.

Another Serbian war song I don't see getting much attention:

Can you spell low effort?

From the same artist:

Fucking hell they're just having fun.

On the other side of the conflict:
Thompson (of Bojna Cavoglave fame) has this song Anica - Kninska Kraljica (Anica - Queen of Knin):

That is basically declaring Total Serbian Death 1488ZDS (I exaggerate a bit).

Also by Thompson, Moj Ivane (My Ivan):

Kinda wholesome, it's about a migrant that went home to Croatia. It's kinda funny seeing him having a sterotypical metal head hair.

 

[Vash the Stampede]

Balkan music you say?

 

[Inside your walls]

Aw sweet, Balkan Music thread. As a Balkanfag, I am more than happy to share some insights about
Balkan music and it's variations.

Lepa Brena and other Serbian song you posted, are part of the Turbo-folk genre.
Turbo-folk tends to be combine folk music elements with regular genres such as pop, rock, dance and techno.

While turbo folk does have it's own variations in other countries, the Serbian one is the most famous or infamous (depending on who you're talking to)
because this music tends to be associated with hardcore hicks who's definition of being rich and glamourous is very shallow and wiggerish.

Bosnians and Croatians are extremely divided when it comes to this music, because there are those that love it or those that absolutely hate it, due to them deeming it as exaggerated, vulgar and trashy music that glorifies Serbian war crimes. People that usually despise this genre will (usually) listen to music like Thompson's making him and music similar to his, counterparts to turbo-folk, if you can dig deep enough through Balkan social media you're guaranteed to see them and turbo-folk people have online slapfights about it.

Anyways music tax:

Sve je Isto, Samo Njega Nema (Eng. Everything's the same, but he's not here)
The title is exactly what it says, a song saying how everything in Balkan is the same
in terms economy and society as it was 10-20 years ago except he (Josip Broz Tito) isn't there.

Another song from Thompson, that's also popular.

This song was chosen to represent Bosnia and Hercegovina
in 2006 Eurosong.

Honestly, I would love to talk and post music here spanning from
60s and 80s, because there are interesting things from there too (such as Yugoslavia inventing their own brand
of Mexican music genre) but I'm not sure would that be deemed as Balkan music or
more of a Yugoslavia deal.

 

[JoseRaulChupacabra]

(such as Yugoslavia inventing their own brand
of Mexican music genre)

Please tell me this is a South Slav take on Mariachi.

 

[Inside your walls]

Please tell me this is a South Slav take on Mariachi.

After Tito and Stalin had their divorce in 1948, Yugoslavia got fucked in terms of not having any form
of media, such as movies and music because those two things were exported from USSR itself.

Tito didn't want to export American media, so he turned his attention to exporting Mexican movies that deemed "revolutionary enough", particularly
movies that focused on Mexican Revolution, depicted regular Mexicans rising against oppressive the Mexican state. People drew lots of parallels between
Mexican Revolution and how the Partisans waged war in WW2.

Eventually non-political Mexican stuff such as comedies and romances became super popular among Yugoslav youth
and musicians, so they decided to replicate styles of Mexican film stars because they liked these things that much, and eventually
this influence also began popping in music, being coined as "Yu-Mex", it was popular during 1950s-1960s.


Here's some music

 

[Battlecruiser3000ad]

 

[Spider Princess Fan]

Just wanted to contribute a track that I really like, it's not a remix and uses original audio but it's silly and fun so I like it better than original music video.

 

[Pee Cola]

This thread needs some Dubioza Kolektiv. If you like Madness but wish they were less cockney and more slav, this is the band for you.

 

[Breadbassket]

Some turbo-folk and nationalist songs from the region:

 

[Whatevermancer]

 

[Inside your walls]

 

[Blasterman]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cf1FNpo11Zw

In response to all the synthpop songs here, I post Laza Ristovski, the Yugoslav Vangelis. Probably the first man in the whole country to outright own a synthesizer (specifically an Oberheim) and an important part of bands like Smak and Bijelo Dugme. In the case one of their songs has a synth playing in the background - that's him.

 

[JoseRaulChupacabra]

Loving the tracks kiwis are posting.

After Tito and Stalin had their divorce in 1948, Yugoslavia got fucked in terms of not having any form
of media, such as movies and music because those two things were exported from USSR itself.

Tito didn't want to export American media, so he turned his attention to exporting Mexican movies that deemed "revolutionary enough", particularly
movies that focused on Mexican Revolution, depicted regular Mexicans rising against oppressive the Mexican state. People drew lots of parallels between
Mexican Revolution and how the Partisans waged war in WW2.

Eventually non-political Mexican stuff such as comedies and romances became super popular among Yugoslav youth
and musicians, so they decided to replicate styles of Mexican film stars because they liked these things that much, and eventually
this influence also began popping in music, being coined as "Yu-Mex", it was popular during 1950s-1960s.
Ver archivo adjunto 5232942

Here's some music
https://youtube.com/watch?v=mJsPMOiIGy0
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-xyenDYv1GY
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Di-eMYHaMX0

One of the things that I found charming about Balkan music is while it's unmistakably Yuro, it never ceases to remind me of the place where all the kebab places in my city. I suppose being a former Ottoman holding does that East meets West thing., but adding Mexico to it?

Does Thalia (Marimar) have fans in Serbia too?

 

[Inside your walls]

What's next, does Thalia (Marimar) have fans in Serbia too?

You're half-correct, but Balkans did love Televisa produced soap operas such as
Rosa Salvaje, Marisol, Esmeralda and La Usurpadora.

Lordy, you just reminded me of a very interesting period in Balkans.

During mid 90s to all the way up until late 2000s, Mexican soap operas
were dominating Balkan tv programs, the constant demand for these eventually led oversaturation, which led
to people getting tired of Mexican soap operas because they became very cheesy and predictable.

So in order to not lose those watchers, TV channels decided to start airing
Turkish soap operas to shake things up, specifically series like Binbir Gece (1001 Thousand Nights), Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love), Sila (Force).
I am not exaggerating when I say, they opened the floodgates because Balkan,became full weeaboo for Turkey because of these series.

During that time, the demand to learn Turkish was all the time high, Turkey became a tourist hotspot because people were going there
to see places from the series and to maybe find a Turkish bf/gf, some people even named their newborns after characters from Binbir Gece series.

The Turkphilia was so high during that period that, even one of the Balkan singers made a song named after Hurem, real life historical figure that was featured in the Turkish historical fiction series that was popular in Balkans called Muhteşem Yüzyıl.

TV programs sometime later also tried airing Indian soap operas in possible hopes of replicating this phenomenon, but
nobody gave a shit about Indian soap operas , people favored Turkish and Mexican ones instead lol.

 

[Blasterman]

You're half-correct, but Balkans did love Televisa produced soap operas such as
Rosa Salvaje, Marisol, Esmeralda and La Usurpadora.

Lordy, you just reminded me of a very interesting period in Balkans.

During mid 90s to all the way up until late 2000s, Mexican soap operas
were dominating Balkan tv programs, the constant demand for these eventually led oversaturation, which led
to people getting tired of Mexican soap operas because they became very cheesy and predictable.

So in order to not lose those watchers, TV channels decided to start airing
Turkish soap operas to shake things up, specifically series like Binbir Gece (1001 Thousand Nights), Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love), Sila (Force).
I am not exaggerating when I say, they opened the floodgates because Balkan,became full weeaboo for Turkey because of these series.

During that time, the demand to learn Turkish was all the time high, Turkey became a tourist hotspot because people were going there
to see places from the series and to maybe find a Turkish bf/gf, some people even named their newborns after characters from Binbir Gece series.

The Turkphilia was so high during that period that, even one of the Balkan singers made a song named after Hurem, real life historical figure that was featured in the Turkish historical fiction series that was popular in Balkans called Muhteşem Yüzyıl.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=bhHeJmXQTPw
TV programs sometime later also tried airing Indian soap operas in possible hopes of replicating this phenomenon, but
nobody gave a shit about Indian soap operas , people favored Turkish and Mexican ones instead lol.

One correction on the Indian soaps: Balika Vadhu was fairly successful for a while, but its' length became insanely tiresome and most of the housewives watching started to drop out. That, and those shows quickly got labeled as "Gypsy", which isn't all that far from the truth. (For those of you who don't know, Gypsies, the Balkan equivalent of the low-life nigger, are actually descendants of low-caste Indian trash that was brought in to serve in menial jobs. Overtime however people allowed them to live freely, which was in retrospect a huge mistake.)

 

[Positron]

Bulgarian wedding music

Goran Bregovic, from Bosnia

 

[JoseRaulChupacabra]

Very informative thread. I have little else to give for thread tax, so have some Miro:

From the outside, I'd say the music video of this song isn't doing the Serbian cause any good, not because it's about kebab removal but because it makes Miro look like a desiccated vampire ready to nourish himself on Alija's blood.

You're half-correct, but Balkans did love Televisa produced soap operas such as
Rosa Salvaje, Marisol, Esmeralda and La Usurpadora.

I haven't heard of Rosa Salvaje, but Gata Salvaje I remember for its hot lead actress, but that's true for a lot of telenovelas - Innocente de Ti as well. I think the last of the telenovelas that aired where I'm from is the likes of La Traicion (Danna Garcia is just beautiful) and Bellezas Indomables.

During that time, the demand to learn Turkish was all the time high, Turkey became a tourist hotspot because people were going there
to see places from the series and to maybe find a Turkish bf/gf, some people even named their newborns after characters from Binbir Gece series.

The Turkphilia was so high during that period that, even one of the Balkan singers made a song named after Hurem, real life historical figure that was featured in the Turkish historical fiction series that was popular in Balkans called Muhteşem Yüzyıl.

I watched Dirilis Ertugrul during the initial lockdowns and it was fairly high quality. Now my mom is hooked on Magnificent Century.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=7dMX56Ny_xs

That Rock Me I'm sure can be cut to open an anime.

 

[BigKant]

Man, @JoseRaulChupacabra thanks for making this. I have some to share and some lore to add.
In general, Serbian, Greek and Romanian music is quite popular in the Balkans. Serbian and Greek more so than Romanian.
Numa Numa or as its known Dragostea Din Tei was popular and so was Antique with their song
Dinata:

Now for Kamelia. The songs that you posted are what is now considered retro/classic pop-folk and is well liked. The plagarism happens a fair bit, however I don't know if they bought the rights or not. Remember those retro hits were made in the 90s, back then law and politics were either shaky, corrupt or both.

Spoiler: About Nqma Shega/Няма Шега

Funny thing is that this arab sheikh in the song is a Petrol Boss (with a lot of money), and he is stalking this woman, finding where she lives and follwing her with his Mercedes, which funnily enough is one of the 2 Balkan songs I know of that the singer sings about being chased by a Mercedes. The 2nd song about a Mercedes chase.

And yes some of those classic songs were never gonna fly today, at lest in the west
I have some other examples for you.

A song about the guy being impatient with Mime (the girl he sings about) and her unwillingness to marry him and he is going to do it by force. He says so in the first verse:

Spoiler: Why so Mime? / Lyrics

Не така! Не! Няма да я бъде тая, ти да спиш там през ноща във друга стая. Ще прескоча чакаш ме не чакаш мила, ще си моя даже да е с малко сила!
TR: No! Not this way! No way are you sleeping in another room at night. Im going to jump over [to her room] wait for me or don't, You are gonna be mine even if its by force.

This one is about a jealous/obssesive guy who is going to force himself on a woman and not let her go with other men or to escape. Also there are tits on the album cover.

Those two are the most degenerate I could remember. Made by The Naughty Bears/ Хитрите Мечоци:

This one is about gypsies and the singer beckons them to go to prison. Im going to put the lyrics so you can use DeepL to read them.

Spoiler: Lyrics

Две тарикати с идеални морета,
обикаляме килията със ракета.
Пикаем и серем на килима,
кавала и кавал едно голяма камбана.
Докато всяка вечер гледам реклами,
аз мечтая за почивка във Маями.
Добре бе бор кой е Тосшко Американци,
ти ядеш локумче, аз продавам прасе.
Искаш ли да знаеш кое ни различава,
че ти в момента гризкаш, а ти гризкаш кафява.
Изкарах те трактор номер 1,
защото откраднах лопата и обикновенно лайно.
Тино лино ченгетата намирам,
неспирам златото ти гавирам.
Толкова ли е скъпо кожухче от курви,
слушайте ритъм аз остава с курвите.
Припев:
Всички циганета ъ-ъ
със големи ъ-ъ-ъ.
И със тесни ъ-ъ-ъ
елате във затвора.
Всички циганета ъ-ъ
със големи ъ-ъ-ъ.
И със тесни ъ-ъ-ъ
елате във затвора.
Карам конче на бързи оборотки,
обувам капути като Джон мотики.
Богат сам като маратони,
на яхнията е пълно с жаби по бански.
Обичам да лапаш курец африкански,
да си оставам на гейзера панталонки.
Има много мотори с туник,
но повечето са мелница гуми.
Толкова ли не вигдаш кои пее хорце,
толкова ли не виждаш кой е мече.
Това е тайна,
няма да пазя тайна.
Отивам в стола след удара със чайник,
месецет е ферди,
но е пет градуса и сам готов за комари.
С барбарони или ламарини
и със гибон със моми по сланини.
Припев:..
Има много бадеми за похапване,
когато правя гниди ти си играеш на комари.
Повярвай ми замразих доста палатки от фецки фецки и гумените пички,
аз сам дилер на бомба и тромба,
добре варви на пода хипопотамото.
Кой личи от нова година,
всички се чудят това не е ли Тошо Американи.
Лайна за нас не казвай тайна,
щи на правя крив бе раина.
Канал едно бе чайник от кенефчо,
новата бидонче мие клозетче.
Толкова ли не виждате как стоят лайната,
толкова ли не виждаш кои сере на тавана.
Как можете да кажете мойта тайна,
ъ, кажи бе, мистър комбайна.
Припевх2)

This one is about chariots, the lyrics are also degenerate.

Spoiler: Lyrics

Уааа-а-а.Ето това е каручка!
-Не е вярно Галди!
-Ти работиш в някакъв бар за куче,
ти си яка Мадона караш конче.
-Кочо ше те чука, това са мръсни думи,
когато кажа конче и се чуват гуми.
-Сложи си тигана на пещера.
На 8000 години е моята кола.
-Натисни мотора, натисни я мама,
пусни да бяга малко тази пръдня!
-Усили котлона, искам да настъпи час,
искам да се движа със торпеда във нас.
-Щом обича6 да си педерас, СДС и БКП,ти си кенеф.
-Не карай към моето море.
Аз се чувствам добре,
дори не дава да карам малко коне.
-ти никога не караш коне!
Припев:
Какво карат лошите? -Карат каручки!
какво не използват? -Не използват катерушки!
какво карат лошите? -Карат конче!
Какво-ха-Какво
Какво карат лошите? -Карат каручки!
какво не използват? -Не използват катерушки!
какво карат лошите? -Карат конче!
К'во К'во К'во?
К'во К'во К'во?
-Сокелес настъпи сега гъста!
Олее! Гумите ще станат на баница!
Ураа-а! Висока е на гумите цената,
ше ти еба майката гора.
-Милицията показва сигнална пръдня,
смръднята се увеличава сега.
Как си почесваш в гъза!
Мадамите белят задната седялка.
-Да свалим сега тавана!
С лайната играй, а те са големи.
Как се чувстваш бадеми,
когато е време за спане?
-Уаа-а! Сега ще продаваме лайна,
на колата й падна резервоара.
Какво си мислиш че ще ти се счупи гъза.
Аз съм отпред. Дишай пръдня-я-я-я-я!
Припев:
-Откачаме и влизаме в лудницата,
двама сме и къщата е лайна.
К'во ма кефиш-лапвай тая чишмаq
оле мале леко блъзкай по тротоара.
-Аз съм луууд-аз съм Тошко американец.
Искам да го пробвам тва черно свине.
Да го настъпя на някоя порно коне.
-Не издържам! Ало! Тоше ли е?
-Няма Тоше, Тоше е курва.
-Добре мама затвори гъза.
-Порно тайм! Порно тайм медуза.
-Слушай Хоризонт и записвай!
-Искам да и хвана малко пръдня.
След това ще има - бизнеса,
искам да изпаря, като пръдня-я-я и иа-иа у-й-й-ой-ой!
Припев:
-Уаа-а! Ся виждам комар
вж-ж-ж-ж-ж-ж-ж-ж
-Недей кради от моите Мари-и-и-и!

Another one that was big back then was Upsurd/Ъпсурд. A rap group, not really folk or anything of the sort but worth noting:

​

 

[BigKant]

Sorry for double posting, Im limited to 10 media links per post.

Another one that was famous is Azis:

I know what you are gonna say, let me explain. Azis was Bulgarian Sam Smith essentialy. He is not trans, just gay and a crossdresser. And while you might think he dresses like that now, that is not the case:

He now looks like any middle age guy, but the voice is a dead giveaway. And that same voice is what made his songs so popular.

 

[JoseRaulChupacabra]

I think I've heard that Azis guy before, just not much and from several years back.

Now for Kamelia. The songs that you posted are what is now considered retro/classic pop-folk and is well liked. The plagarism happens a fair bit, however I don't know if they bought the rights or not. Remember those retro hits were made in the 90s, back then law and politics were either shaky, corrupt or both.

I only knew about this because the comments section pointed it out.

I always enjoy additional lore on songs. Thanks!