After just few months of cooperation, Verica and Bora left the band (Bora forming his famous Riblja Čorba band), so Biljana and Balašević recorded Rani mraz's first album "Mojoj mami umesto maturske slike u izlogu" (To my Mother instead of Prom Photo in the Shop-Window) on their own.
At the Split '79. music festival Balašević won the first prize with single "Panonski mornar" (Pannonian sailor). Few months later he sold out Beograd's "Dom sindikata" hall eight times in a row and a star was born. By the end of 1980 Rani mraz released their second and final album titled "Odlazi cirkus" and the band dissolved shortly afterwards. The album indead was one of Balašević's greatest and delivered few unforgettable songs such as "Priča o Vasi Ladačkom" (Story of Vasa Ladački) and "Život je more" (Life is a Sea) which, 20 years after their release, still have great popularity.
He started his solo career in 1982 with the album "Pub" (Jack) which was excellently received too. In the following 1982/83 tour he sold out Belgrade's Sava Center hall for the first time. His Sava Center concerts would become his trademark in years to follow. The next two albums "Celovečernji The Kid" (1983) and "003" (1985) follow the same path of success and Balašević established himself as respectable singer-songwriter.
The next album, "Bezdan" (Abyss), released in 1986, was a milestone in his career. The record was produced by Đorđe Petrović and arrangement was done by Aleksandar Dujin. Those two would be the key associates of Balašević for the next 20 years and substantially influence his work. They became the backbone of Balašević supporting band "The Unfuckables" (although this is just a nickname, as he performs under his own name and the support band is never mentioned) and part of his stage appearance.
The next album was his first and (as of 2006) the last live album "U tvojim molitvama" (In Your Prayers). The album was recorded on his concerts in Sarajevo (Zetra hall), Zagreb (Ledena dvorana and Šalata), Belgrade (Sava Center) and Novi Sad (Studio M) in 1986 and 1987. Apart from his well-known previous songs, the album featured few previously unrecorded tracks, one of which is "Samo da rata ne bude" (Just Let There be no War). The song features a large children's choir which, together with lyrics warning about the war (which indeed will start in 3 years time), delivers a hymn of pacifists throughout then still existing Yugoslavia.
The same sensation of imminent disaster predominates his next album "Panta rei" (1988). The "Requiem" was dedicated to late Josip Broz Tito and those who identified themselves with his ideas, while satire "Soliter" caricatures Yugoslavia as a skyscraper in which only façade still holds while foundations slide. The atmosphere of the album is dark and bitter as Balašević realises the hard times are coming.
Famous guitarist Elvis Stanić takes part in recording of album "Tri posleratna druga" (1989) (Three Afterwar Friends). Josip Kiki Kovač joined "The Unfuckables" on album "Marim ja..." (I Care...) (1991).
As the war began, Balašević withdrew to isolation. He was forced to stop collaborating with Croatian artists and his tempo of one album per year was disrupted. His next album "Jedan od onih života" (One of Those Lives) (1993) featured songs such as "Krivi smo mi" (It's Our Fault) and "Čovek sa mesecom u očima" (The Man with Moonlight in the Eyes) which heavily criticised and denounced the ongoing war.
After a long pause, he issued "Naposletku" (In the end) (1996). The change in sentiment was obvious and would be more or less prevalent on all of his albums up to date (as of 2006). Nearly all instruments on this album are acoustic, violin becomes dominant and woodwind instruments are heavily used.
"Devedesete" (2000) (The nineties) was his most politically involved album. He engaged himself in broad criticism of current political situation in Serbia, openly making fun of Slobodan Milošević with song "Lege'da o Gedi Gluperdi" (Legend of Geda the Stupid), criticising police officers who defended the corrupt system by confronting demonstrating youth in "Plava balada" (The Blue Ballad), looking back to 1990s with disgust in song "Devedesete" (Nineties) (first line of refrain was "Ma, jebite se devedesete" – Fuck you, nineties), supplying young demonstrators with a hymn "Živeti slobodno" (To Live Freely), reaching out for his lost friends in Croatia and Bosnia with "Stih na asfaltu" (A Verse on the Asphalt), singing about Zagreb and "Sevdalinka", but still preserving patriotism with "Dok gori nebo nad Novim Sadom" (While the Sky over Novi Sad is Burning), song about NATO bombardement of Novi Sad. This album clearly marked the atmosphere in Serbia in the year when Slobodan Milošević lost the power.
After this open engagement in politics, he returned to romance. Album "Dnevnik starog momka" (Diary of the old bachelor) (2001) comprises 12 songs, each having a female name as the title, and each singing about another girl. Balašević repeatedly stated that the girls and songs are pure fiction, and song titles form acrostic "Olja je najbolja" (Olja is the Best), Olja being nickname of his wife Olivera Balašević.
His last album (as of 2006) "Rani mraz" (2004) follows the style developed on "Naposletku" and "Dnevnik starog momka". He is often criticised to plagiarize himself and to write songs which resemble each other, but he rebuffs such criticism by saying that "Balašević ought to sing Balaševićian songs".
Crni Labud
Đorđe Balašević Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I prvi put je vidim ali poznajem nju, sasvim lucidna stvar
Gde je to zivela, gde se to skrivala, sto je nisam video pre
Koga je ljubila, koga je snivala, nekakve folere
Mrzim ih sve!
Porucuje kampari, mirno povlaci dim, lupka casom o sank
Okrenula se karta, sad sam nacisto s tim, ona sad drzi bank
Sve mi to lici na Pjotra Ilica, pricu o jezeru
O dobru i zlu
Hajde, povedi me, crni labude
Ja sam slutio da ces doci
Daj poljubi me i pogubi me
Sad sam spreman, sad mogu poci
Upucujem joj pogled kao dodir na tren, hej, al' tren je jako dug
Znam, prob'o sam sve i sad sam konacno njen, ona zatvara krug
Ona je drukcija, s njom nema smekanja i mnogo bolje nosi moj stil
To nije putnica za listu cekanja, cim se spakuje
Startuje vec
Hajde, povedi me, crni labude
Ja sam slutio da ces doci
Daj poljubi me i pogubi me
Sad sam spreman, sad mogu poci
Trosio sam zivot kao secerni stap, hej, sladak i lep
I sarao i varao i stvarao bol, vuk'o vraga za rep
Ti nosis racun za sve te zablude, na tvome vratu vidim svoj krst
Ja sam te cekao moj crni labude, jos od ko zna kad, podjimo sad
Hajde, povedi me, crni labude
Ja sam slutio da ces doci
Daj poljubi me i pogubi me
Sad sam spreman, sad mogu poci
Sa tobom
Daj dotuci me crni labude
I ne stedi me ove noci
Hajde vodi me, oslobodi me
Svi to moramo jednom proci
Pa neka
Hajde, povedi me..
The song "Crni labud" tells a story of a man who meets a woman for the first time but feels like he has known her for a long time. He is fascinated by her elegance, mysticism and style. He pays close attention to her every move and gesture, and he is deeply drawn to her. As he looks at her, he reflects on his life and all the mistakes he has made. He feels like he has wasted his life and that he has a lot of regrets. He realizes that the woman is different from anyone he has met before, and that she holds the key to his happiness. He begs her to take him with her, to lead him on a new journey of love and fulfillment. He wants her to kiss him and obliterate him, to free him from his past and all his mistakes.
Throughout the song, we see a man who is experiencing a deep sense of regret and longing for something more. He has spent his life seeking pleasure and avoiding responsibility, but now he sees that he needs to change. The black swan in the song represents change and transformation. The man is ready to take a new path, to let go of his past and embrace the future. He is willing to be led by the black swan and to be transformed by her.
Line by Line Meaning
Cim dosla je i prosla meni pade na um: Hej, to je moj par
As soon as she came and went, I realized: Hey, that's my match
I prvi put je vidim ali poznajem nju, sasvim lucidna stvar
Even though I see her for the first time, I recognize her, it's a clear thing
Gde je to zivela, gde se to skrivala, sto je nisam video pre
Where has she been living, where has she been hiding, why haven't I seen her before
Koga je ljubila, koga je snivala, nekakve folere
Who has she loved, who has she dreamed of, some deceptions
Mrzim ih sve!
I hate them all!
Porucuje kampari, mirno povlaci dim, lupka casom o sank
She orders a Campari, calmly takes a drag, taps her glass on the counter
Okrenula se karta, sad sam nacisto s tim, ona sad drzi bank
She turned the card, now I'm clear about it, she's the one in charge
Sva elegantna, tanka i misticna, da l' pri hodu i dotice pod
All elegant, slender, and mystical, does she touch the ground when she walks
Sve mi to lici na Pjotra Ilica, pricu o jezeru
It all reminds me of Pjotr Ilich's story about the lake
O dobru i zlu
About good and evil
Hajde, povedi me, crni labude
Come on, lead me, black swan
Ja sam slutio da ces doci
I had a feeling you'd come
Daj poljubi me i pogubi me
Kiss me and ruin me
Sad sam spreman, sad mogu poci
Now I'm ready, now I can go
Upucujem joj pogled kao dodir na tren, hej, al' tren je jako dug
I send her a look like a touch for a moment, hey, but that moment is very long
Znam, prob'o sam sve i sad sam konacno njen, ona zatvara krug
I know, I've tried everything and now I'm finally hers, she completes the circle
Ona je drukcija, s njom nema smekanja i mnogo bolje nosi moj stil
She's different, there's no flirting with her and she carries my style so much better
To nije putnica za listu cekanja, cim se spakuje, Startuje vec
She's not a rider for the waiting list, as soon as she packs, she's already starting
Trosio sam zivot kao secerni stap, hej, sladak i lep
I've spent my life like a sugar stick, hey, sweet and beautiful
I sarao i varao i stvarao bol, vuk'o vraga za rep
I've cheated and deceived and created pain, been dragging the devil by the tail
Ti nosis racun za sve te zablude, na tvome vratu vidim svoj krst
You carry the bill for all those delusions, on your neck, I see my cross
Ja sam te cekao moj crni labude, jos od ko zna kad, podjimo sad
I've been waiting for you, my black swan, since who knows when, let's go now
Daj dotuci me crni labude
Come on, strike me dead, black swan
I ne stedi me ove noci
And don't spare me tonight
Hajde vodi me, oslobodi me
Come on, lead me, free me
Svi to moramo jednom proci
We all have to go through it once
Pa neka
So be it
Contributed by Eliana G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nebojsamihajlovic9066
Jedna od Đoletovih najboljih pesama,u top 10
@rada3844
Đole, hvala za sve prelepe pesme. Ova mi je omiljena. Počivaj među anđelima.
❤😇🙏🙏🙏😇❤
@Milenijalac
I meni je jako dobra.
@mitic8231
Tl nosis racun za sve te zablude na tvome vratu vidim svoj krst?! Ja sam te cekao moj "Crni Labude" jos od ko zna kad? Podjimo sad!!
@ivam342
И након 40 година ненадмашив хит 😍❤
@pidzoninikolagvozdenovic3144
E pa klinci.... da bi večito ostali klinci ,slušajte Balaševića.
Imao sam 14.god., sada imam 60.još uvek sam klinac,zahvaljujući Đoletu.
E ,Đole , Đole , mangupčino laloška , sve se vrti , oko Prve ljubavi ,
Da nije bilo nje , mislim , da i nas ne bi bilo.
Mnogo te volimo i mnogo nedostaješ , najveći pesniče na celom svetu .
@stewiegriffin6503
Pesma za sva vremena 👍👍👍👍👍,nakon 48 godina još uvek je prisutna u mom životu .2021 .👍👍👍👍👍
@jasminkadrobac3096
Nakon 37 god ponovo onaj isti osecaj kad cujem Crnog labuda.....i nakon svih ovih godina Djole Balasevic ,jedinstven i poseban ....drago mi je sto sam odrastala uz njegove pesme 80- tih...❤
@zivicamilojevic9113
Za njegove stihove samo❤️❤️❤️
@vladimirandjelkov3188
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