Sanja Ilić

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sanja Ilić
ethnic music
  • world music
  • medieval music
  • Byzantine music
  • Balkan brass
  • folktronica
    • Occupation(s)
    • Composer
    • keyboardist
    Instrument(s)Keyboard
    Years active1963–2021

    Aleksandar "Sanja" Ilić (

    Yugoslav musician and composer
    .

    Ilić started composing as a teenager. In 1971 he formed the

    ethnic music ensemble Balkanika, with which he recorded five albums and had numerous performances across the world. During his career, Ilić wrote music for theatre, film, television shows and various performers. He died in 2021 in Belgrade
    .

    He was the brother of keyboardist and Generacija 5 leader Dragoljub Ilić.

    Life and career

    Early life and career

    Ilić was born on 27 March 1951 in

    Jugovizija 1976 festival.[3] In 1967, he joined the rock band Vragolani (Naughty Boys), which consisted of high school students.[2] He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture.[3]

    With San (1970–1975)

    In 1970, Ilić formed the band

    electric shock.[2] After this event Ilić disbanded San and decided not to perform live with a band again.[2] In 1977, as a tribute to Jovičić, the members of San recorded songs they prepared for their debut album with singers Zdravko Čolić, Dado Topić, Bisera Veletanlić, Zdenka Kovačiček and Zlatko Pejaković.[2]

    Post-San (1975-2000)

    In 1979, Ilić was a member of the supergroup Mag (Wizard), formed for the recording of the soundtrack for Goran Marković's film National Class Category Up to 785 ccm. Mag consisted of former Korni Grupa member Josip Boček (guitar), former Elipse and Korni Grupa members Bojan Hreljac (bass guitar) and Vladimir "Furda" Furduj (drums), composer and musician Sloba Marković (keyboards) and Ilić (keyboards). Mag recorded songs written by composer Zoran Simjanović and lyricist Marina Tucaković. The vocals were sung by popular Yugoslav singers Dado Topić, Oliver Dragojević, Slađana Milošević, Oliver Mandić, Zumreta Midžić "Zuzi" and the members of the band Laboratorija Zvuka.[4]

    Ilić continued his career as a composer. In 1982, he composed the song "

    Halo, Halo" ("Hello, Hello"), with which the group Aska represented Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982.[2] In 1984 he composed the hit song "Princeza" ("Princess"), performed by rock singers Dado Topić and Slađana Milošević.[2] In 1987, Ilić recorded the electronic music album Delta Project with composer and keyboardist Sloba Marković.[2] In 1992, on the lyrics of actor Irfan Mensur, Ilić composed music for the theatre play Plava ptica (Blue Bird). The songs were released on the album Plava ptica. The title track, performed by well-known Serbian actors, became a hit, largely due to its anti-war lyrics.[2]

    With Balkanika (2000-2021)

    In 2000, Ilić founded the

    percussion, Branko Kljajić on bouzouki, Bora Dugić on flute, Ljuba Dimitrijević on blowing horn and shawm, Darko Karajić on oud and saz, St. George String Orchestra, Radio Television of Serbia Choir, and others.[2] After the album release, Balkanika performed across Europe, in China and in Mexico.[2] In 2000, Ilić also took part in the Balkan Horses Band project. On 10 November 2000, Ilić performed, alongsite guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski, vocalist and flutist Tamara Obrovac and vocalist and kaval and melodica player Theodosii Spassov, on a concert in Sofia, Bulgaria. The recording of the concert was released in 2001 on the live album Balkan Horses Band – Sofia 2000.[2]

    In 2004, Ilić released his second album with Balkanika, Balkan koncept (Balkan Concept). Among Ilić's new collaborators were Izet Kizil (percussion), Peter Kostadinov (gajde), Miljan Miljanić (

    Kalemegdan Fortress. The recording of the concert was released on the video album Live at Kalemegdan.[2]

    In 2009, Sanja Ilić and Balkanika released the album Ceeepaj (Gooo), with which they moved towards

    Nova deca" ("New Children").[7][8]

    In 2020, Balkanika released their fourth studio album, Stand Up. The album featured a new version of "Nova deca" as the bonus track.[9]

    Other works

    Ilić composed songs for numerous Yugoslav performers, including Bisera Veletanlić, Lutajuća Srca, Zdravko Čolić, Zlatko Pejaković, Jadranka Stojaković, Suzana Mančić, Zdenka Kovačiček, Neda Ukraden, Maja Odžaklievska, Leo Martin, Slađana Milošević, Gabi Novak, Radmila Karaklajić, 7 Mladih, Jasna Zlokić, Doris Dragović, Bora Dugić, Louis, and others.[10]

    During his career Ilić wrote over 1000 compositions for theatre, films, TV shows and commercials.[2] He wrote music for films Dark Echoes (1977), Transfer (1980), Strange Night (1990), Vukovar: A Story (1994), The Border Post (2006), Ambulance (2009) and Ice (2012).[11]

    Death

    Ilić died on 7 March 2021, in Belgrade, at the age of 69, due to complications caused by

    Alley of Distinguished Citizens in the Belgrade New Cemetery, next to his wife, Zlata Petković.[13]

    On 28 June (Serbian national holiday Vidovdan) 2021, Ilić was posthumously awarded the Golden Medal for Merits by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić.[14]

    Family

    Ilić's brother Dragoljub Ilić is the leader of the

    fifth generation computers, Sanja Ilić suggested the name Generacija 5 (Generation 5).[15]

    Ilić was married to Serbian actress and model Zlata Petković until her death in 2012. They had one son together, Andrej, who was born in 1984.[16]

    Discography

    With San

    Singles

    • "Tebe sam želeo" / "Helena" (1971)
    • "Papirni brodovi" / "Hej, malena" (1973)
    • "Legenda" / "Milena" (1974)
    • "Jedan svet za sve" / "Srce na dlanu" (1974)
    • "Anabela" / "Zvezda ljubavi" (1974)

    Solo

    Studio albums

    • Delta Project (with Sloba Marković, 1987)
    • Plava ptica (1992)

    With Balkanika

    Studio albums

    • Balkan 2000 (2000)
    • Balkan koncept (2004)
    • Ceeepaj (2009)
    • Stand Up (2020)

    Video albums

    • Live at Kalemegdan (2006)

    References

    1. ^ "Времеплов (27. 3. 2011)" (in Serbian). Radio-Televizija Srbije. 27 March 2007.
    2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Janjatović, Petar (2007). EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960–2006. Belgrade: self-released. p. 104.
    3. ^ a b ""Наша прича" Сања Илић Балканика (текст)" (PDF) (in Serbian). Radio-Televizija Republike Srpske. Retrieved 20 February 2018.[permanent dead link]
    4. ^ Originalna muzika iz filma Nacionalna klasa at Discogs
    5. ^ Ceeepaj at Discogs
    6. ^ "Sanja Ilić - Konstantinus Magnus", RTS.rs
    7. ^ Welsh, Eleanor (20 February 2018). "Serbia: Sanja Ilić & Balkanika win Beovizija 2018 and will represent Serbia in Lisbon!". ESCToday.
    8. ^ Gligorov, Miki (20 February 2018). "Sanja Ilić and Balkanika win Beovizija 2018". escXtra.
    9. ^ Stand Up at Discogs
    10. ^ Sanja Ilić writing credits at Discogs
    11. ^ Sanja Ilić at IMDb
    12. ^ "PREMINUO SANJA ILIĆ: Osnivač "Balkanike" izgubio bitku sa koronom". novisti.rs (in Serbian). Novosti. 7 March 2021.
    13. ^ "POSLEDNJI POZDRAV SANJI ILIĆU: Kompozitor sahranjen pored bivše supruge, glumice Zlate Petković", Mondo.rs
    14. ^ "Vučić odlikovao i Sijarta, Mandića, umetnike preminule od korone…", N1info.com
    15. ^ ""Generacija 5: Grupa brža od uspeha", Rockomotiva.com". Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
    16. ^ "Andrej Ilić: Preko potreban odmor". Hello. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2015.

    External links

    Preceded by
    In Too Deep
    "
    		 Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest
    2018
    (with Balkanika)     		Succeeded by
    Preceded by
    2018
    		 Succeeded by
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sanja_Ilić&oldid=1197013151"