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".
Lunjo
Đorđe Balašević Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A tvoja soba na mandarine i przen kesten.
I toplo je tu, tu ispod tvog krova.
O, dobro je tu, u zamku iz snova, pa sretna ti nova.
Lunjo, sad cu ti reci i vise nikom i vise nikad:
Svako je od nas ponekom slican al' ti si unikat.
Procitas me, znam, od slova do slova.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Lunjo, ako me traze ti slazi da sam odavno mrtav.
Spusti roletne i navij sat na sredu, cetvrtak.
A napolju mraz i magla i zima.
A napolju mrak al' ovde sve stima, od kad tebe imam.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti uvek znas najlepse reci,
Ti cak i cutis vise od svih.
Ti imas smeh koji sve leci,
Ti od psovke nacinis stih.
The lyrics of Đorđe Balašević's song Lunjo tell the story of a person named Lunjo, whose old suitcase still smells of gray roads and whose room smells of tangerines and fried chestnuts. The singer finds comfort and warmth in Lunjo's home, beneath his roof which feels like a dream castle. The song is a tribute to the unique friendship the singer has with Lunjo, and how he finds solace in his company.
The singer speaks of Lunjo as an exceptional individual, whom he describes as a unique person. He acknowledges that Lunjo understands him as no one else does, and how he can read him like a book. He admires Lunjo's personality and character, his ability to help him overcome struggles, and his remarkable way of delivering comfort in times of need.
The song has a deep emotional undertone, and it describes the unique bond between two individuals with a shared understanding and mutual respect. The singer finds Lunjo to be a rare and special friend, whose presence brings joy, happiness, and a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Lunjo, moj stari kofer opet mirise na sive ceste
My dear Lunjo, my old suitcase still carries the scent of gray roads
A tvoja soba na mandarine i przen kesten.
But your room smells like tangerines and roasted chestnuts.
I toplo je tu, tu ispod tvog krova.
It's warm here, beneath your roof.
O, dobro je tu, u zamku iz snova, pa sretna ti nova.
Oh, it's good here, in this dreamlike castle. So happy new year to you.
Lunjo, sad cu ti reci i vise nikom i vise nikad:
Lunjo, now I'll tell you something I'll never tell anyone else ever again:
Svako je od nas ponekom slican, al' ti si unikat.
All of us resemble someone sometimes, but you're a unique and special person.
Procitas me, znam, od slova do slova.
You read me like a book, from letter to letter.
Precutis to, znam, k'o pametna sova, pa sretna mi nova.
You understand but don't say anything, like a wise owl. So happy new year to me.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
You always know the best way,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
With you, it's easy for me to rise to the top.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
You are that thread, that rare spice
Koji daje poseban ton.
That gives a special tone to everything.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
You are a little magician who brings salvation
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
And let all those clowns on the conveyor belt hurry past us.
Lunjo, ako me traze ti slazi da sam odavno mrtav.
Lunjo, if they're looking for me, lie and tell them I've been dead for a long time.
Spusti roletne i navij sat na sredu, cetvrtak.
Lower the blinds and set the clock for Wednesday, Thursday.
A napolju mraz i magla i zima.
While outside, there's frost, fog, and winter.
A napolju mrak al' ovde sve stima, od kad tebe imam.
While it's dark outside, everything is fine here, since I have you.
Ti uvek znas najlepse reci,
You always know the most beautiful words,
Ti cak i cutis vise od svih.
You even say more by staying silent than anyone else.
Ti imas smeh koji sve leci,
You have a laugh that heals everything,
Ti od psovke nacinis stih.
You can turn a curse into a poem.
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dianapetkovic5309
Lunjo, moj stari kofer opet mirise na sive ceste
A tvoja soba na mandarine i przen kesten.
I toplo je tu, tu ispod tvog krova.
O, dobro je tu, u zamku iz snova, pa sretna ti nova.
Lunjo, sad cu ti reci i vise nikom i vise nikad:
Svako je od nas ponekom slican al' ti si unikat.
Procitas me, znam, od slova do slova.
Precutis to, znam, k'o pametna sova, pa sretna mi nova.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Lunjo, ako me traze ti slazi da sam odavno mrtav.
Spusti roletne i navij sat na sredu, cetvrtak.
A napolju mraz i magla i zima.
A napolju mrak al' ovde sve stima, od kad tebe imam.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti uvek znas najlepse reci,
Ti cak i cutis vise od svih.
Ti imas smeh koji sve leci,
Ti od psovke nacinis stih.
@anaanaanaana3585
Lunjo, moj stari kofer opet mirise na sive ceste
A tvoja soba na mandarine i przen kesten.
I toplo je tu, tu ispod tvog krova.
O, dobro je tu, u zamku iz snova, pa sretna ti nova.
Lunjo, sad cu ti reci i vise nikom i vise nikad:
Svako je od nas ponekom slican al' ti si unikat.
Procitas me, znam, od slova do slova.
Precutis to, znam, k'o pametna sova, pa sretna mi nova.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Lunjo, ako me traze ti slazi da sam odavno mrtav.
Spusti roletne i navij sat na sredu, cetvrtak.
A napolju mraz i magla i zima.
A napolju mrak al' ovde sve stima, od kad tebe imam.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti uvek znas najlepse reci,
Ti cak i cutis vise od svih.
Ti imas smeh koji sve leci,
Ti od psovke nacinis stih.
@cunanesa7617
Lunjo, moj stari kofer opet mirise na sive ceste
A tvoja soba na mandarine i przen kesten.
I toplo je tu, tu ispod tvog krova.
O, dobro je tu, u zamku iz snova, pa sretna ti nova.
Lunjo, sad cu ti reci i vise nikom i vise nikad:
Svako je od nas ponekom slican al' ti si unikat.
Procitas me, znam, od slova do slova.
Precutis to, znam, k'o pametna sova, pa sretna mi nova.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Lunjo, ako me traze ti slazi da sam odavno mrtav.
Spusti roletne i navij sat na sredu, cetvrtak.
A napolju mraz i magla i zima.
A napolju mrak al' ovde sve stima, od kad tebe imam.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti si mali carobnjak koji donosi spas
A svi ti pajaci na pokretnoj traci nek zure bez nas.
Ti uvek znas najbolji nacin,
S tobom lako stizem na tron.
Ti si ta nit, taj retki zacin
Koji daje poseban ton.
Ti uvek znas najlepse reci,
Ti cak i cutis vise od svih.
Ti imas smeh koji sve leci,
Ti od psovke nacinis stih
@jocadjole09
Balašević treba da udje u obaveznu lektiru za srednju školu. Napisao je toliko predivnih pesama koje imaju daleko veću vrednost od onih koje deca uče već decenijama.
@vedranvlahovic
Đorđe, sad ću ti reći,
i više nikom i više nikad,
svako je od nas ponekom sličan,
al' ti si unikat...
@braindamage2701
Ovaj covek je bio ta nit, taj retki zacin, koji daje poseban ton ❤
@markostojanovic1325
Savršena.... zimski pejzež u svakoj strofi... jedinstveni Balšević.
@ljubaaleksic9685
e, moja Lunjo
@draganab8873
Prelepooo, nepopravljivi romantic Balaševiću legendooo!!!
Moja Lunjoo..
@milosnemanjaristic9121
Srecan bozic i nova godina i po gregorijanskom i julijanskom kalendaru. SVE NAJBOLJE ZELJE I ISPUNJENJE SNOVA SVIM LJUDIMA DOBROG SRCA.
@elmahodzic1035
S tobom lako branim naš tron. :)
@anadj4351
Volela bih da me momak zaprosi na Vasem koncertu ❤
@antebacic1141
Jer duplikati prvi ce znati 'ko je unikat!!!