Bajaga i Instruktori
Bajaga i Instruktori | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Belgrade, Serbia |
Genres | |
Years active |
|
Labels | Momčilo Bajagić Živorad Milenković Aleksandar Lokner Marko Nježić Vladimir Čukić Marko Kuzmanović |
Past members | Dejan Cukić Nenad Stamatović Miroslav Cvetković Vladimir Golubović Vladimir Negovanović Čedomir Macura Ljubiša Opačić |
Website | www.bajaga.com |
Bajaga i Instruktori (
The band was formed while Bajagaić was still a guitarist for the highly popular band Riblja Čorba, originally to promote Bajagić's side project Pozitivna geografija. The success of the album and the promotional tour led to the continuation of the band's activity. Bajaga i Instruktori's following releases, Sa druge strane jastuka (1985), Jahači magle (1986) and Prodavnica tajni (1988), brought a plethora of hit songs, placing the band at the top of the Yugoslav rock scene, alongside other mega-selling bands like Riblja Čorba and Bijelo Dugme. The band's work and Bajagić's often poetic lyrics were also widely praised by the music critics. The band continued their activity after the breakup of Yugoslavia, throughout their whole career remaining one of the most popular groups in Serbia and other former Yugoslav republics.
History
Bajagić's beginnings and career with Riblja Čorba
1980s
During his time in Riblja Čorba, Bajagić wrote a large number of humorous pop-oriented songs that did not fit into Riblja Čorba's
Initially, Bajagić had no intention of promoting Pozitivna geografija in concert, but eventually decided to listen to the advice of fellow musicians and music journalists and hold several concerts.[1] Bajagić and musicians working on the album held their first concert in Zagreb club Kulušić on 12 April 1984.[1] Beside the musicians that worked on the album, the concert also featured vocalist Žika Milenković (a graduate from Belgrade Faculty of Applied Arts,[4] Bajagić's former bandmate from the band Ofi, a former Mačori member and an actor in the amateur theatre Teatar levo), keyboardist Dragan Mitrić (a former Bulevar and Propaganda member) and Kornelije Kovač,[1] Milenković soon becoming an official member of the band.[5] During their staying in Zagreb, Bajagić and Cukić appeared as guests on the recording of Parni Valjak album Uhvati ritam (Get into the Rhythm), singing backing vocals on the title track, as a sign of gratitude to Parni Valjak for lending them a piece of drum kit for their first concert.[1] The band held the official album promotion, organized by the Rock magazine, in Belgrade's Trade Union Hall on 21 April.[1] On this performance the band appeared under the name Bajaga i Instruktori – chosen after the idea of journalist Peca Popović – for the first time.[1] The concert featured Valentino and Bezobrazno Zeleno as the opening bands.[1] The concert was well attended and the band's performance was well received by the teenage audience.[1]
The success of Bajagić's solo album intensified already existing problems and conflicts inside Riblja Čorba.[1] On 19 July 1984 Bajagić was, alongside Rajko Kojić, excluded from the band.[1] During the summer of 1984 Bajaga i Instruktori went on a tour, with experienced musician Rade Radivojević on keyboards, playing mostly at youth work actions.[1] At the end of the year, in the Rock magazine Bajagić was proclaimed the Rock Musician of the Year, and Pozitivna geografija was voted the Album of the Year by fellow musicians.[1]
At the beginning of 1985 Bajaga i Instruktori recorded the album
In March 1985 Bajaga i Instruktori presented their new songs to the Zagreb audience in Kulušić club, as a part of the BG-ZG: Bolje vas našli (Belgrade-Zagreb: Happy to Be Here) action.
In the autumn of 1985 Bajaga i Instruktori and
After the group returned to Yugoslavia, they continued Sa druge strane jastuka tour, during which they held more than 120 concerts.
In the summer of 1986 the band members reunited to record the album
Bajaga i Instruktori recorded their following album, Prodavnica tajni (The Shop of Secrets), in 1988 in Novi Sad.[9] The album, named after Dino Buzzati book La boutique del mistero (with the songs, however, having no connection with the book),[15] was produced by Saša Habić.[1] Milenković co-wrote the songs "Ruski voz" ("Russian Train"), "Život je nekad siv – nekad žut" ("Life Is Sometimes Grey – Sometimes Yellow"), and "Vesela pesma" ("Merry Song").[9] The album marked a slight stylistic change in the band's sound: the songs were simpler, without brass instruments and numerous guest musicians, frequent on the band's previous releases, based on acoustic guitars and keyboards, and the songs "Plavi safir" ("Blue Sapphire"), "Vesela pesma", "Život je nekad siv – nekad žut" and "Ruski voz" featured folk music elements.[9] However, virtually every song on the album became a hit. During the year Bajagić also found time to produce the album 88 by the band Heroji.[2]
The band went on another successful tour, during which they recorded the double live/compilation album
1990s
In 1991 the band released the
In 1993 Bajaga i Instruktori released the album
In November 1994, after a concert in
In 1996 Bajagić reformed Bajaga i Instruktori. The new lineup, beside Bajagić, Žika Milenković on vocals and guitar, Miroslav Cvetković on bass guitar, and Saša Lokner on keyboards, featured the guitarist Vlada Negovanović (a former member of Butik,
In 1997 Slovenian record label Biveco released the compilation album Neizbrisano (Unerased). The album featured recordings from the various periods of Bajagić's and Bajaga i Instruktori career. It featured previously unreleased songs "Montenegro" and "Januar" ("January"), remixed songs from the Četiri godišnja doba EP, the instrumental "Radovan III", written for the play of the same name, "Tribute to Buldožer", which was a cover of Buldožer song "Yes My Baby, No", a new version of "Moji drugovi", featuring Vlada Divljan, and Sokoli cover of Bijelo Dugme song "Ne spavaj, mala moja" ("Don't You Sleep, Baby") featuring Bajagić and Boris Bele of Buldožer.[2] During the same year journalist Ivan Ivačković published a book about the band entitled Obe strane jastuka (Both Sides of the Pillow).[2]
2000s
In 2000 Bajagić took an active role in Democratic Opposition of Serbia rallies preceding the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević.[20] In 2001 the band released the album Zmaj od Noćaja (Dragon of Noćaj), recorded with the new guitarist, Ljubiša "Buba" Opačić (previously a member of several less-known bands),[21] and produced by Saša Habić.[2] It featured a cover of The Clash song "Should I Stay or Should I Go", entitled "Da li da odem ili ne".[2] The album brought the hits "Zmaj od Noćaja" and "Lepa Janja, ribareva kći" ("Pretty Janja, the Fisherman's Daughter"), as well as minor hits "Da li da odem ili ne" and "Ala" ("Ala"). Zmaj od Noćaja featured a bonus CD entitled I ja sam Zvezdaš (I'm a Red Star Fan, Too), which featured three versions of the song "Zvezda" ("Star"), dedicated to the football club Red Star Belgrade.[22]
In 2002 the band released the album
In 2005 the band released the album
On 28 September 2008 Opačić died in Maribor, in a hotel room after the band's concert.[26] He was replaced by former VROOM guitarist Marko Nježić.[27]
In December 2009 the band celebrated 25 years of existence with three concerts held in Belgrade's Sava Centar.[28] During the same year they performed in the United States, in Boston, New York City (in Cooper Union Great Hall), Montreal, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago,[29] and director Miloš Jovanović recorded a documentary about the band entitled Muzika na struju.[30]
2010s
In 2010
On 19 April 2013 the band performed in
In April 2018 Bajaga i Instruktori released their twelfth studio album,
2020s
In September 2020 the band released their thirteenth studio album, entitled Ovaj svet se menja (This World Is Changing). The album was produced by Saša Habić and co-released by PGP-RTS and Croatia Records.[50] The album featured a new version of the song "Ni na nebu ni na zemlji", a new version of the Otvorena vrata theme song, and a new version of the song "Mladost" ("Youth"), originally written for the theatre play Ženidba i udadba (Marriage), with altered lyrics dedicated to deceased singer-songwriter Arsen Dedić.[50] The album also featured covers of the songs "Tvoje oči" ("Your Eyes") and "Moja draga" ("My Darling"), written by Bajagić and originally recorded by singer Zdravko Čolić, and a cover of "Ja sam se ložio na tebe" ("I Had Hots for You"), written by Bajagić and originally recorded by Riblja Čorba.[50] Ovaj svet se menja featured three new songs: the title track, inspired by COVID-19 pandemic, "Darja", a duet with actor Miloš Biković, and "Kako se to naziva" ("How Do You Call It"), the latter two originally recorded at the beginning of 2020 for the Russian-Serbian film Hotel Belgrade.[50]
In 2021 Bajagić was awarded the Order of Karađorđe's Star by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, for his contribution to Serbian culture.[51] During the year the band released the live album Koncert Bajaga I Instruktori – Tašmajdan 2021 (Bajaga i Instruktori Concert – Tašmajdan 2021), recorded on the concert held on Tašmajdan Stadium on 16 July 2021. The album was released in digital form only.[52] During the year Bajagić composed four songs on Dušan Kovačević's lyrics and instrumental music for Kovačević's film Nije loše biti čovek (It's Not Bad to Be Human). The compositions were released on the soundtrack album Nije loše biti čovek, featuring singer and actress Lena Kovačević and actor Gordan Kičić on vocals.[53] In 2022 Croatia Records and PGP-RTS released the double live album Koncert za rock grupu, orkestar i zbor – Sava Centar 2019. Live (Concert for Rock Band, Orchestra and Choir – Sava Centar 2019 Live), recorded on the concert the band held On 6 December 2019 in Sava Centar with the orchestra Beogradski solisti and the choir Lola. The concert was also released on Blu-ray.[54]
In March 2023, Miroslav Cvetković and Čedomir Macura left the band. Cvetković, who was a forming member of the band, stated that he decided to retire from performing due to the fact that he had recently turned 70, while Macura's decision was influenced by the desire to dedicate himself to his new business and spend more time with his family.[55] They were replaced by bass guitarist Vladimir Čukić and drummer Marko Kuzmanović. The new members debuted on two club performances the band held in Belgrade's Bitef Art Cafe at the end of March 2023.[56]
Legacy
In April 1984 we went to a concert in Trade Union Hall, to check how much a Riblja Čorba guitarist can do on his own, without a leader and a tutor, and left the concert realizing that Momčilo Bajagić flew into our lives to stay. He moved a dose of positivism, not predicted by Orwell for the year 1984, into the space of common intimacy [...]
During the 25 years of career, in the business in which the time of the idols passes quickly, despite intense temptations and bad moments, he kept the status of a decent fellow, a beloved musician and a tolerant family guy. In the cruelest days of Yugoslav tsunamis, he helped us keep the most human emotions with romance, cheerfulness and optimism. He kept us from ugly reality with emotional amulets.
Although Bajaga's composing and poetic talents are unquestionable, the critics were reserved towards his vocal capacity, pointing out to monotonous baritone and narrative vocal style of modest range.
However, Bajaga's "impefect voice", as one of the trademarks of domestic music scene, is maybe the most suitable for his complex and descriptive lyrics. That poetry always rose above the trivialities. Those are the lyrics one believes, which one can feel and recognize. With that sort of poetics he won hearts and respect.
Belgradians share a special attachment to his songs which, in a large extent, symbolize the [Serbian and former Yugoslav] capital. Bajaga is among the chosen Belgrade authors. Just like
Dušan Radović, who placed his nest at the top of Beograđanka to foster, watch over and defend the spirit under these skies, just like Momo Kapor, who collected the golden dust of the city while fooling around – Bajaga, in his own time, left originally poetic and colorful image of an emotional pot which is constantly boiling.
-Petar "Peca" Popović in 2011.[57]
In 2015 Serbian jazz singer Lena Kovačević released a tribute album to Bajaga i Instruktori, entitled Džezeri (Jazzers), featuring covers of ten songs by the band.[58] The song "Strah od vozova" ("Fear of Trains") was covered by Serbian pop duo Next of Kin on their 1990 album Way to the Top.[59] The song "Tišina" ("Silence") was, with altered lyrics and entitled "Alkoholičarka" ("Alcoholic Girl"), covered by Serbian punk rock band Trula Koalicija on their 1992 album Plakao sam kad je pala Sekuritatea (I Cried When the Securitate Had Fallen).[60] The song "Francuska ljubavna revolucija" was covered by the Serbian punk rock band Six Pack, their version entitled "La Musique", on their 2004 album Musique, with Žika Milenković making a guest appearance on the song.[61] The song "Ti se ljubiš (Na tako dobar način)" ("You Kiss (In a Great Manner)") was covered by the Serbian pop singer Teodora Bojović on her 2004 album Teodora.[62] The song "Verujem – Ne verujem" was covered in 2011 by Polish singer Maciej Maleńczuk, his version entitled "Ostatnia nocka" ("Last Night").[63] In 2014, Serbian alternative rock band Bjesovi recorded a medley comprising Bajaga i Instruktori song "Godine prolaze" ("Years Are Passing") and Riblja Čorba song "Užasno mi nedostaje" ("I Miss Her so Much").[64] In 2020 Serbian rock singers Đorđe David and Ivana Peters released a cover of the song "Gde si".[65] In 2021 Serbian jazz duo Lidija Andonov & Andy Pavlov recorded a cover of "Plavi safir" on their album Mlad & Radostan - Homage to Yugoslav Music from the 80s and Beyond (Young & Joyful - Homage to Yugoslav Music from the 80s and Beyond).[66]
The book YU 100: najbolji albumi jugoslovenske rok i pop muzike (YU 100: The Best albums of Yugoslav pop and rock music), published in 1998, features four Bajaga i Instruktori albums: Sa druge strane jastuka (polled No. 13), Pozitivna geografija (polled No. 37), Jahači magle (polled No. 58), and Prodavnica tajni (polled No. 79).[67] The list of 100 greatest Yugoslav album, published by Croatian edition of Rolling Stone in 2015, features two Bajaga i Instruktori albums, Pozitivna geografija (ranked No. 46) and Sa druge strane jastuka (ranked No. 81).[68] The list of 100 Best Serbian Albums Since the Breakup of SFR Yugoslavia, published in 2021 in the book Kako (ni)je propao rokenrol u Srbiji (How Rock 'n' Roll in Serbia (Didn't) Came to an End), features two Bajaga i Instruktori albums, Muzika na struju (polled No. 34) and Daljina, dim i prašina (polled No. 48)[69]
In 2000, the song "Zažmuri" was polled No. 70 on the Rock Express Top 100 Yugoslav Rock Songs of All Times list.[70] In 2006, the same song was polled No.40 on the B92 Top 100 Domestic Songs list.[71] In 2011, the song "Ti se ljubiš (Na tako dobar način)" was voted, by the listeners of Radio 202, one of 60 greatest songs released by PGP-RTB/PGP-RTS during the 60 years of the labels existence.[72]
The lyrics of 10 songs by the band were featured in Petar Janjatović's book Pesme bratstva, detinjstva & potomstva: Antologija ex YU rok poezije 1967 - 2007 (Songs of Brotherhood, Childhood & Offspring: Anthology of Ex YU Rock Poetry 1967 – 2007).[73]
In 2021, Bajagić was awarded the Order of Karađorđe's Star by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, for his contribution to Serbian culture.[51]
Discography
- Pozitivna geografija (1984)
- Sa druge strane jastuka (1985)
- Jahači magle (1986)
- Prodavnica tajni (1988)
- Muzika na struju (1993)
- Od bižuterije do ćilibara (1997)
- Zmaj od Noćaja (2001)
- Šou počinje u ponoć (2005)
- Daljina, dim i prašina (2012)
- U sali lom (2018)
- Ovaj svet se menja (2020)
References
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- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Janjatović, Petar (2007). EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960–2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 22.
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- ^ Vesić, Dušan (2014). Bijelo Dugme: Šta bi dao da si na mom mjestu. Belgrade: Laguna. p. 247.
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- ^ Bajaga predstavio NOVE ČLANOVE "Instruktora" na koncertima u Beogradu "Bajaga predstavio nove članove 'Instruktora' na koncertima u Beogradu", Blic.rs
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