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".
Menuet
Đorđe Balašević Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
U sest i deset je kretao voz s nekog perona na kraju sveta
mene je cekao taj voz...
Kraj mojih nogu je spavao pas, rekoh mu tiho, "Hej, bezi odatle".
Otvorih vrata, izadjoh na trem na kom su cvetale bele muskatle.
Pomislih, to je, mozda, taj dom.
Snila je dane, mirne i nezne, k'o crno - bele klavirske tipke.
A u zivotu, sama na svetu, u menuetu trazila spas.
Sidjoh pred kucu, na praznjavi put, k'o neki lopov, polako i tiho.
Ja nisam bio taj vitez za nju, mada mi govore da sam Don Quijote ,
al' to je sasvim druga stvar.
Bila je zvezda, bila je pesma, svaki dan druga, a vecito ista.
Snila je dobra stara vremena, i svog Chopina i Bacha i Liszta.
Mozda ce sama, u grubom svetu, u menuetu naci svoj mir.
Od tad je prosao vek ili dva, javi se retko ponekom kartom.
I ko zna gde je, ne zelim da zna, koliko ceznem za dalekim martom,
kad sam je sreo prvi put.
Bila je zvezda, bila je pesma, svaki dan druga, a vecito ista.
Snila je dobra stara vremena, i svog Chopina i Bacha i Liszta.
A u zivotu, sama na svetu, u menuetu trazila spas.
Jos uvek lutam, gde je kraj puta? Pamte me mnoge provincijske pruge.
Kriju me mracne, jeftine krcme, noci su, ponekad, puste i duge.
Nestajem tada u nekom svom svetu, i menuetu, i menuetu...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plEhhJXuC54
The lyrics of the song Menuet by Đorđe Balašević describe the memories of the singer about a woman he met a long time ago. The first verse sets the time and setting in which the singer recalls his memories. He remembers the hour and the train that he waited for, implying that he was leaving somewhere. The second verse describes the surroundings of the woman’s house where she lived, with her dog sleeping peacefully by her feet. The singer describes the musk roses that reminded him of home and makes him think that this house may also be a home for him. However, the woman inside the house is far from reality, sleeping peacefully and dreaming the days of her youth, like black and white piano keys. The woman is alone in the world, looking for salvation in the minuet dance.
In the third verse, the singer leaves the woman's house and feels like a thief in the night, walking slowly and quietly. He realizes that he cannot be the knight she is looking for, despite what people say. The woman is a star, constantly changing but always the same song. She dreams of the good old times and her favorite composers Chopin, Bach, and Liszt. The fourth verse tells us that years have passed since the singer met the woman, and he thinks about her rarely, only when he receives a postcard or hears news about her. The memories of the woman haunt him, and he wonders where she is and how she is doing.
Line by Line Meaning
U pet i petnest je zvonio sat, jednoga jutra na kraju leta.
The clock struck five-fifteen one summer morning.
U sest i deset je kretao voz s nekog perona na kraju sveta mene je cekao taj voz...
A train departed from the end of the world platform at six-ten, and that train was waiting for me.
Kraj mojih nogu je spavao pas, rekoh mu tiho, "Hej, bezi odatle".
A dog slept at my feet, and I whispered to him, 'Hey, go away from here.'
Otvorih vrata, izadjoh na trem na kom su cvetale bele muskatle.
I opened the door and walked onto the terrace where white musk flowers bloomed.
Pomislih, to je, mozda, taj dom.
I thought, maybe this is my home.
Nije me cula, mirno je snila svoje lepeze i svece i cipke.
She didn't hear me, she dreamed peacefully of her fans, candles, and laces.
Snila je dane, mirne i nezne, k'o crno - bele klavirske tipke.
She dreamed of peaceful and gentle days, like the black and white piano keys.
A u zivotu, sama na svetu, u menuetu trazila spas.
And in life, alone in the world, she sought solace in the minuet.
Sidjoh pred kucu, na praznjavi put, k'o neki lopov, polako i tiho.
I went down the empty street in front of the house, like a thief, slowly and quietly.
Ja nisam bio taj vitez za nju, mada mi govore da sam Don Quijote , al' to je sasvim druga stvar.
I wasn't the knight in shining armor for her, even though people tell me I'm Don Quixote, but that's a completely different matter.
Bila je zvezda, bila je pesma, svaki dan druga, a vecito ista.
She was a star, she was a song, different every day, but forever the same.
Snila je dobra stara vremena, i svog Chopina i Bacha i Liszta.
She dreamed of good old times and her Chopin, Bach, and Liszt.
Mozda ce sama, u grubom svetu, u menuetu naci svoj mir.
Maybe she will find her peace in the minuet, alone in the rough world.
Od tad je prosao vek ili dva, javi se retko ponekom kartom.
Since then, a century or two has passed, and she rarely contacts anyone with a letter.
I ko zna gde je, ne zelim da zna, koliko ceznem za dalekim martom, kad sam je sreo prvi put.
And who knows where she is, I don't want to know, how much I long for the distant land when I met her for the first time.
Jos uvek lutam, gde je kraj puta? Pamte me mnoge provincijske pruge.
I still wander, where is the end of the road? Many regional railways remember me.
Kriju me mracne, jeftine krcme, noci su, ponekad, puste i duge.
Dark, cheap inns hide me, the nights are sometimes long and empty.
Nestajem tada u nekom svom svetu, i menuetu, i menuetu...
I disappear then into my own world, and the minuet, and the minuet...
Contributed by Sophia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@anelaimasa1839
U pet i petnaest je zvonio sat
Jednoga jutra na kraju leta
U šest i deset je kretao voz
S nekog perona na kraju sveta
Mene je čekao taj voz...
Kraj mojih nogu je spavao pas
Rekoh mu tiho, "Hej, beži odatle".
Otvorih vrata, izađoh na trem
Na kom su cvetale bele muškatle
Pomislih, to je, možda, taj dom.
Nije me čula, mirno je snila
Svoje lepeze i sveće i čipke
Snila je dane, mirne i nežne
K'o crno - bele klavirske tipke
A u životu, sama na svetu
U menuetu tražila spas.
Siđoh pred kuću, na prašnjavi put
K'o neki lopov, polako i tiho
Ja nisam bio taj vitez za nju
Mada mi govore da sam Don Kihot
Al' to je sasvim druga stvar.
Bila je zvezda, bila je pesma
Svaki dan druga, a večito ista
Snila je dobra stara vremena
I svog Šopena i Baha i Lista
MOŽDA ĆE SAMA, U GRUBOM SVETU
U MENUETU NAĆI SVOJ MIR.
Od tad je prošao vek ili dva
Javi se retko ponekom kartom
I ko zna gde je, ne želim da zna
Koliko ćeznem za dalekim martom
Kad sam je sreo prvi put.
Bila je zvezda, bila je pesma
Svaki dan druga, a večito ista
Snila je dobra stara vremena
I svog Chopina i Bacha i Liszta.
A u životu, sama na svetu
U menuetu tražila spas.
Još uvek lutam, gde je kraj puta?
Pamte me mnoge provincijske pruge
Kriju me mračne, jeftine krćme
Noći su, ponekad, puste i duge...
Nestajem tada u nekom svom svetu
I menuetu, i menuetu
@stefanpetrovic3013
Tvoja muzika sa starog kevinog kasetofona je jedno od mojih prvih secanja,medju ostalim i ova pesma.
Uvek si bio deo muzickog repertoara,i u sreci i u tuzi.
Prerano si nas ostavio Djole.
Ne bih da silim neki dugacak tekst,jer reci mi jednostavno ne idu kao tebi.
Hvala ti sto si mi ulepsao zivot,detinjstvo,prve i kasnije,velike i male ljubavi.
Pocivaj u miru Djole,videcemo se u tom drugom gradu,na drugoj predstavi i u drugom cirkusu..
@udzbenicizaskolu1293
Zbogom pesnice-darovao si svetlost i lepotu nasim godinama. Plovis u beskraju secanja.
@vojislavninkov9002
Predivna pesma koju je retko izvodio uživo na koncertima💔😢😭🙏✨✨✨✨✨🌟💫⭐️🕊
@toske73
У пет и петнест је звонио сат, једнога јутра на крају лета.
У шест и десет је кретао воз с неког перона на крају света
мене је чекао тај воз...
Kрај мојих ногу је спавао пас, рекох му тихо, "Хеј, бежи одатле".
Отворих врата, изађох на трем на ком су цветале беле мушкатле.
Помислих, то је, мозда, тај дом. ❤
@mileking74
E moj Balaševiću, ja sa uskoro 46 godina u tebi tražim spas. Odavno sam digao ruke od Baha, Šopena i Lista. Imao sam šest godina kad si ovo napisao, kao da si me znao.
@Mladen_Hadzija
A on je tada imao 27 godina. Da čovek ne poveruje kakvo delo u 27. godini. Veliki je naš Đompara.
@themomentofpeace1
@@Mladen_Hadzija: @Milenko Jekic .. ja ... eto imala sam 1 godinu.... a on je napisao moju autobiogravsku ... sta bi...kako ... i prema cemu bi se moj zivot razvijao da nisu bile reci mog jedinog neponovljivog Balasevica
@supermediatv2636
Nedaj se brate!
@slavicamilanova5150
A moja mama je tada bila u skroz nekoj drugok vezi, i nije znala da ce tri godine posle ove da se uda za covjeka koga je svaki dan 15 godina pozdravljala u prolazu...i izrodi iz ljubavi dvoje djece... Sve generacije zive Balasa. 💗
@gorangoran6335
Predivno! ❤❤❤Jedan, jedini i neponovljivi. Živjet ćeš zauvijek u svojim pjesmama.