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".
Prica o Vasi Ladackom
Đorđe Balašević Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ja sam je tek onomad cuo
Jednom devet dana nije
Izlazio iz birtije
Kazu da je bio cudna sorta.
Otac mu je bio sitni paor.
Hranio je sedam gladnih usti
Sitna, nezna, nepricava
Umrla je s trideset i nesto
Imali su par jutara zemlje,
Malu kucu na kraju sokaka,
Na astalu navek hleba
Taman tol'ko kol'ko treba
Al' je Vasa hteo mnogo vise
Zeleo je konje vrane
Po livadi razigrane
Sat sa zlatnim lancem i salase.
Zeleo je njive plodne
Vinograde blagorodne
U karuce pregnute cilase.
Ali nije mog'o da ih ima.
Voleo je lepu, al' sirotu.
Uz'o bi je samo da je znao
Voles jednom u zivotu
Sad bogatu il sirotu
To ne bira pamet nego srce.
Sve se nad'o da ce ljubav proci
Zanavek je otis'o iz sela.
Nikad nije pis'o nikom
Venc'o se sa mirazdjikom
Jedinicom cerkom nekog gazde.
Dobio je konje vrane
Po livadi razigrane
Sat sa zlatnim lance i salase.
Dobio je njive plodne
Vinograde blagorodne
U karuce pregnute cilase.
Sve je im'o, nista im'o nije.
Propio se, nije proslo mnogo
Dusu svoju djavolu je prod'o
Znali su ga svi birtasi
Trazio je spas u casi
Ali nije mog'o da ga nadje.
Mlad je kazu bio i kad je umro.
Sred birtije od srcane kapi
Klonula mu samo glava
K'o da drema, k'o da spava
I jos pamte sta je zadnje rek'o.
Djaba bilo konja vranih
Po livadi razigranih
Djaba bilo karuca i salasa.
Djaba bilo njiva plodnih
Vinograda blagorodnih
U karuce pregnutih cilasa
Kad ja nisam s onom koju volem....
The lyrics of Đorđe Balašević's song "Priča o Vasi Ladackom" tell the story of Vasa Ladacki, a man who longed for a better life but ultimately succumbed to his demons. Vasa's parents were poor farmers, struggling to provide for their family. Despite their hardships, Vasa dreamed of a life filled with riches, including black horses, golden watches, and fertile land.
As a young man, Vasa fell in love with a beautiful but poor woman. However, he eventually left her and his small town, hoping to make a better life for himself. Vasa achieved his dreams of material wealth, but it came at a great cost. He became an alcoholic and lost himself in his vices, eventually passing away in a bar from a heart attack.
The lyrics highlight the tragic consequences of chasing material wealth at the expense of human connection and emotional fulfillment. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of losing oneself in the pursuit of material gain.
Line by Line Meaning
Znate'l pricu o Vasi Ladackom?
Have you heard the story of Vasa Ladacki?
I ja sam je tek onomad cuo
I recently heard it myself
Jednom devet dana nije
Once he didn't leave the tavern for nine days
Izlazio iz birtije
He was always seen coming out of the tavern
Kazu da je bio cudna sorta.
They say he was a strange fellow.
Otac mu je bio sitni paor.
His father was a small farmer.
Hranio je sedam gladnih usti
He had to feed seven hungry mouths.
Mati mu je bila plava
His mother was blonde.
Sitna, nezna, nepricava
She was small, fragile, and quiet.
Umrla je s trideset i nesto
She died in her thirties.
Imali su par jutara zemlje,
They had a few acres of land.
Malu kucu na kraju sokaka,
A small house at the end of the street.
Na astalu navek hleba
They always had enough bread on the table.
Taman tol'ko kol'ko treba
Just enough for their needs.
Al' je Vasa hteo mnogo vise
But Vasa wanted much more.
Zeleo je konje vrane
He wished for black horses.
Po livadi razigrane
To run wild in the fields.
Sat sa zlatnim lancem i salase.
A watch with a golden chain and a mansion.
Zeleo je njive plodne
He wished for fruitful fields.
Vinograde blagorodne
And noble vineyards.
U karuce pregnute cilase.
With carts loaded with goods.
Ali nije mog'o da ih ima.
But he couldn't have them.
Voleo je lepu, al' sirotu.
He loved a beautiful but poor girl.
Uz'o bi je samo da je znao
He would have married her if he only knew.
Voles jednom u zivotu
You only fall in love once.
Sad bogatu il sirotu
Whether they are rich or poor, love is not a matter of the mind but of the heart.
To ne bira pamet nego srce.
Sve se nad'o da ce ljubav proci
He hoped that his love will pass.
Zanavek je otis'o iz sela.
He left the village forever.
Nikad nije pis'o nikom
He never wrote to anyone.
Venc'o se sa mirazdjikom
He married a rich girl.
Jedinicom cerkom nekog gazde.
The daughter of a wealthy landowner.
Dobio je konje vrane
He got his black horses.
Po livadi razigrane
To run wild again.
Sat sa zlatnim lance i salase.
And a mansion with a watch with a golden chain.
Dobio je njive plodne
He got fruitful fields.
Vinograde blagorodne
And noble vineyards.
U karuce pregnute cilase.
Carts loaded with goods.
Sve je im'o, nista im'o nije.
He had everything yet had nothing.
Propio se, nije proslo mnogo
He drank too much, and not much time has passed.
Dusu svoju djavolu je prod'o
He sold his soul to the devil.
Znali su ga svi birtasi
All the tavern owners knew him.
Trazio je spas u casi
He looked for salvation in alcohol.
Ali nije mog'o da ga nadje.
But he couldn't find it.
Mlad je kazu bio i kad je umro.
They say he was still young when he died.
Sred birtije od srcane kapi
In the middle of the tavern, from a heart attack.
Klonula mu samo glava
His head fell to the side.
K'o da drema, k'o da spava
As if he was asleep.
I jos pamte sta je zadnje rek'o.
And they still remember what he said last.
Djaba bilo konja vranih
All in vain the black horses.
Po livadi razigranih
Running wild on the fields.
Djaba bilo karuca i salasa.
Empty mansions.
Djaba bilo njiva plodnih
Fruitful fields, but they didn't bring him happiness.
Vinograda blagorodnih
And noble vineyards.
U karuce pregnutih cilasa
Carts loaded with goods.
Kad ja nisam s onom koju volem....
When I'm not with the one I love...
Contributed by Thomas W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sofijahodak9990
Znate l' priču o Vasi Ladačkom? I ja sam je tek onomad čuo.
Jednom devet dana nije izlazio iz birtije,
kažu da je bio čudna sorta...
Otac mu je bio sitni paor, 'ranio je sedam gladnih usti'.
Mati mu je bila plava, tiha, nežna, jektičava,
umrla je s trideset i nešto...
Imali su par jutara zemlje, malu kuću na kraju sokaka.
Na astalu navek hleba, taman tol'ko kol'ko treba,
al' je Vasa hteo mnogo više...
Želeo je konje vrane, po livadi razigrane,
sat sa zlatnim lancem i salaše...
Želeo je njive plodne, vinograde blagorodne,
u karuce pregnute čilase, ali nije mog'o da ih ima.
Voleo je lepu al' sirotu, uz'o bi je, samo da je znao:
voleš jednom u životu, sad bogatu il' sirotu,
to ne bira pamet nego srce...
Sve se nad'o da će ljubav proći. Zanavek je otiš'o iz sela.
Nikad nije pis'o nikom, venč'o se sa mirazdžikom,
jedinicom ćerkom nekog gazde...
Dobio je konje vrane, po livadi razigrane,
sat sa zlatnim lancem i salaše...
Dobio je njive plodne, vinograde blagorodne,
u karuce pregnute čilaše, sve je im'o ništa im'o nije.
Propio se, nije prošlo mnogo, dušu svoju đavolu je prod'o.
Znali su ga svi birtaši, tražio je spas u čaši,
ali nije mog'o da ga nađe...
Mlad je kažu bio i kad je umro, sred birtije, od srčane kapi.
Klonula mu samo glava, k'o da drema, k'o da spava
i još pamte šta je zadnje rek'o...
Džaba bilo konja vranih, po livadi razigranih,
džaba bilo sata i salaša...
Džaba bilo njiva plodnih, vinograda blagorodnih,
džaba bilo karuca, čilaša...
Kada nisam s onom koju volem,
kada nisam s onom koju volem.
Kad ja nisam s onom koju volem,
E, kad nisam s onom koju volem.
Znate l' priču o Vasi Ladačkom? I ja sam je tek onomad čuo.
Čak i oni slični njemu, kada razmisle o svemu,
kažu da je bio čudna sorta..
@marioperanovic5980
Pjesma obavezno gradivo. Istinska životna priča.
@josipkrusec5499
Istina. Znamo sve isuza teče
@milannikolic1098
Balašević u čitanke!
@fudbaltransfers9272
Mnogo pjesama je danas poucnije od gradiva ali eto...
@snjezanakapetan5541
Pravi komentar!
@lellalo9653
Ostat će zauvijek tvoji stihovi! I ti u njima. Zauvijek. ❤
@noname-dq1vv
hvala Zagrebe grade lijepi....
@milospejovic2840
"Sve je im'o, nista im'o nije"
Eeee koliko jednostavno, a tesko
@biggytenk
Mladost, izviđači, logorska vatra, gitara...Đole. Pozdrav iz Zagreba! ❤
@ivanbrtan3144
“U oblacima ne živi niko. Samo neostvareni snovi.”
19.2.2021. ⌛🕊️