#novy ja

[tvoja-tt]

Ovo mi je tako jedna tužna jesen, sve su drugde bile lepe i šarene ali ova je tako nekako depresivna, hladna i čudna.

Tvoja.t.t.

[amons-hat-enthusiast]

U subotu svi u Novi Sad!! Vidimo se!!

[abokdorazumel]

ne znam za sebe

sem izgubil svoja tla

in to je stresen dan še preden se zbudim

sedam dana traje ko godina

kam od tu naprej, če že zdaj zažigamo obzorje

mogoče pa ni dovolj jasno bilo, kako sva se bala

ni besed pravilnih, celo noč sem jih iskal

[mitamicah]

confession time: After sleeping on it, I actually think I miss the Joker Out guys a bit more than I miss Jere and crew atm. That might be because it has been longer since I've watched them live comparred to Käärijä ...

... but because of this I'm actually tempted to do something very scandalous *gasp - I know; how nonkääryle of me* and only go for Hamburg tomorrow in hopes that Joker Out will get some Europe dates this fall as well :'D

(and if they don't then I hope the Käärijä shows in germany won't sell out too quickly :'D)

[eurovisionart]

Novi fosili - Ja sam za ples

[wardancefm]

Track of the Day;

Niko Kao Ja - Šarlo Akrobata, 1981

From Paket Aranžman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVeMNsl1MSk

— My Instagram —

[crescentaureola]

nu fejerverky byli krasne ale njam njam moje poseljenje sejčas smrdi v huj sěru (plus gusta mgla sěry)

[jokeroutsubs]

Yugoslavia and yugo rock

Joker Out’s new song, Šta bih ja, was inspired by yugorock! Not sure what that means? JokerOutSubs has got you!

‘Yugo rock’ or ‘Yu rock’ is rock with some elements derived from traditional/ethnic/folklore music, as well as other musical genres, including blues, country, reggae, jazz rock and rockabilly. They were added to appease the public, since rock itself was considered a western influence. 

Rock music in Yugoslavia became popular in the sixties. Before that, after the second world war, partisan songs were more popular. This is music associated with resistance groups that fought German occupation across Yugoslavia, Italy and other parts of Eastern Europe. However, in 1956, the Cominform (a coordinated body of communist parties across Europe, designed to keep all communist governments following Stalinist principles) was dissolved. After this point, the connection with the Soviet Union was severed and music tastes began to change accordingly. 

With influences from the west, rock music started gaining popularity. At first, musicians only sang covers of foreign songs (as closely to the original as possible) but in the sixties, bands such as Indexi started making original music. In the seventies, Bijelo dugme were formed and became incredibly popular. At the same time, Parni valjak were also rising to fame. However, the ‘new wave’ of Yugo rock was said to be started by a group called Buldožer.

Some characteristics of New Wave were more political lyrics and taking inspiration from punk. The most famous New Wave bands in Yugoslavia were Azra, Idoli, Prljavo kazalište, Električni orgazam, Psihomodo pop and, in Slovenia at the time, Lačni Franz, Buldožer and Pankrti (an interview with their singer Peter Lovšin can be found at    • [ENG SUB] Bojan Cvjetićanin about roc...  ). 

A second New Wave generation from Belgrade emerged in later years. Among their representatives were Partibrejkers (formed 1982). They combined the blues with British R and B, rockabilly and classic rock and roll. 

In 1982, the groups Ekaterina Velika and Disciplina Kičme (Disciplin A Kitschme) were established, contributing to the second New Wave generation, along with Slovenian group Videosex (formed 1983) with singer Anja Rupel. One of their most famous songs, a cover of 'Zemlja pleše,' can be found at    • Videosex - Zemlja Plese - The Original

The New Wave was characterised by a burst of creativity and activity in the music scene across the region, with many artists emerging and creating excellent music in a short period of time. Many have drawn parallels between the New Wave era and today, where in Slovenia many young bands are gaining recognition. This parallel is only strengthened by the fact that Joker Out, one of the most successful young bands in Slovenia today, have a song named Novi val (New Wave). 

The socio-political significance

Yugoslavia (1918–1992), a federal republic, was made up of six republics (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia). Despite the differences between the republics one could argue that the pop-cultural identity was so strong, having influence that went beyond government control and the ability to connect people through the region, that it could be named as the seventh republic. Besides sport, yugorock was one of the last connecting links within a  country that was drifting apart in a variety of areas, including economic. 

Important yugorock bands 

Bijelo Dugme: Considered by many to be the biggest Yugo rock band, Bijelo Dugme were formed in 1974 in Sarajevo. They were the biggest trendsetters in rock music at the time. They had a huge influence on Joker Out since their earliest days as a band. In the 'Kofi brejk' interview Bojan shared that the first concert he ever attended was by Bijelo Dugme, and they were also mentioned several times by Joker Out as having had a big influence on the whole band. In addition, Joker Out covered two of their songs, ‘Selma’ (Radio Koper, 32 min) and ‘Djurdjevdan’ (Belgrade concert, 3.11.2023). You can check out some more of their songs on our playlist linked at the bottom of this post!

Plavi orkestar were formed in 1983 in Sarajevo and had a rich career with eight albums, releasing hits such as ‘Ako su to samo bile laži’, ‘Lovac i košuta’, ‘Odlazim’, ‘Bolje biti pijan nego star’, ‘Suada’ and many more. Some media outlets, like Jutarnji list and Mladina have compared Joker Out’s style to theirs, and Bojan also mentioned Plavi orkestar as one of the bands that influenced him.

Parni valjak are a Croatian band, formed in 1975 in Zagreb. They had many ‘evergreen’ hits, including ‘Sve još miriše na nju’, ‘Jesen u meni’ and ‘Zastave’. In the Carpe Diem series, when asked whom they would listen to forever if they could only choose one artist, Jure chose Parni valjak. At Arsenal Fest in 2023, Bojan interrupted an interview to sing along to ‘Jesen u meni’ as they were playing in the background! 

Indexi were a Bosnian band, who were active from 1962 to 2001. They were extremely influential, with hits like ‘Svijet u kome živim’ and ‘Negdje u kraju, u zatišju’, and became known as the ‘pioneers of psychedelic rock and roll.’ In the Kurir interview, Bojan mentions them as one of his musical role models.

Ekatarina velika, sometimes shortened to EKV, were a Serbian band who were active between 1982 and 1994. They are considered one of the most influential artists in the yugorock scene, with popular songs like ‘Krug’, ‘Par godina na nas’ and ‘Srce’. In the Rdeče in črno interview, Bojan’s voice was compared to that of the lead singer in Ekatarina velika. 

Idoli were one of the most remarkable new wave bands based in Belgrade, active during the early 80's. They are regarded as one of the most outstanding and influential representatives of the Yugoslav rock music and their album 'Odbrana i poslednji dani' ('Defense and The Last Days') was voted as the greatest Yugoslav rock album of all time. During the Kurir interview, Bojan mentioned that ‘Ona’ was inspired by Idoli and their unique sound.

Songs Joker Out have mentioned 

‘Računajte na nas’ by Đorđe Balašević is a very important yugorock song in Joker Out’s history, as it inspired the lyrics of ‘Carpe Diem’. While ‘Računajte na nas’ (‘Count on Us’) is about a generation standing up and fighting for peace, Bojan switched the lyric to ‘ne računajte na nas’ (don’t count on us), meaning that you cannot count on them to join in with the ‘game of hatred’ pervasive in modern society. 

‘Kreni prema meni’ is a song performed by Partibrejkers, a Serbian rock band from Belgrade, known for their rebellious energy, both in sound and spirit. The band is still active and well received all over former Yugoslav countries. The song was covered by Joker Out at the Lent festival in 2018.

‘Sanjao sam moju Ružicu’ by Leteći odred was covered by Apokalipsa, Bojan’s former band, in 2015 during Vičstock Avdicija. Bojan also sang it at the Prulček bar with Buržuzija, Kris and Jan’s former band. Leteći odred is a Croatian pop band with a prosperous and successful musical career and performances for over 30 years.

In September 2016, Joker Out posted a setlist from one of their earliest gigs on their Instagram. It included three notable yugorock song covers - ‘Frida’ by Psihomodopop, ‘Motori’ by Divlje jagode and ‘Ne Zovi Mama Doktora’ by Prljavo Kazalište.

If you’d like to listen to any of these artists or songs, check out our curated playlist on YouTube or Spotify!

Sources:

Kregar, Tone, et al. Za domovino - z rockom naprej! Jugo rock: slovensko-srbske paralele. Muzej novejše zgodovine Celje. 2020.

Perković, Ante, and Lah, Klemen. Sedma republika: pop kultura in razpad Jugoslavije. Zenit, 2018.

[anxious-witch]

So, my (likely very scrambled) gig report from Zagreb, 3rd of December 2024.

-First of all, @xianvar and @chibi-chellist it was so lovely to meet you yesterday, thank you for letting me hang out with you before the concert, you guys were amazing

-I think I experienced the gig in a way that others do for the first time. Exchanging bracelets, talking to people I didn't know before, meeting international friends...honestly it was so amazing, I totally get why people travel so much for these concerts

-also big thank you to @spockowhales for not only sticking with me but also laighing at my swooning during some part (and a shade for screaming "NOGE" into my ear, I laughed through half of the song because of it)

Okay, onto the actual concert

-there were less people than the last time, but it was easier to breathe so I am not complaining. And the atmosphere was amazing, I think the audience was pretty much on fire during "Šta bih ja" especially. Definitely a song that's even better irl

-Bojan wearing a shirt with Jure and Jure wearing a shirt with Bojan on it? Perfection. I loved it

-Kiki being called onto the stage because it was his birthday recently, and all of us singing "Happy birthday" to him in croatian and him blushing so hard, it was adorable

-Bojan saying "and now, our DJ Maček will play one song for us" cue Jure coming down with the radio playing Stephanie was SO hilarious

-also Jure was so flirty with everyone while he was there. Especially with Bojan but he went from one momeber of the band to the other and honestly? Good for him

-bonus points for when Nace got close to Jan and it seemed they were gonna have a moment but then-here comes Jure! Lemme in the middle, you guys are around each other all the time! 10/10

-someone in the audience holding a rose and a sign "a rose for a pick?" Bojan upon reading it, in a true himbo fashion, saying: "the rose's name is pick?" And when we all laughed and he REALIZED he laughed and gave them a pick. And then received another rose and said: "oh, lovely! But I don't have any picks left now!" But then Kiki came to the recue and gave him another, so that fan also got their pick

-I don't remember at which song this was, but someone threw male underwear at Bojan. He picked it up, laughed and put it on the mic stand and then later on his head. Bonus points because there were no bras thrown that night, only male underwear. Truly, the gays have taken over 😂

-during Lips, when Bojan sang "put your lips on mine" he got into Jan's personal space and Jan slightly induldged him before stepping back and Bojan laughed and kind of, pretnded to grap his face except he only grabbed air? Weird shennanings as always

-During Tokio, Jan and Nace spinning and running at the first part and then Kris and Nace doing the same thing as some weird 3 in 1 dance. Very cute

-UMK, Bojan saying at the beginning: "and here we have 5 people who want to sing today!" Then after 2 people sang saying: "now we have...5 more people left who want to sing!" cue my friend groaning in despair 😂

-korean version went hard tho

-loved how Nace and Jan immediately went to talk to one another when karaoke started. As my friend put it: "they need UM karaoke just so Jan and Nace can have a yap session"

-Bluza goes sooo hard live too, oh my god. The way you can feel the emotions of the song?? I was dead

-during Omamljeno Telo, Bojan either threw or spat water at Jan again(I couldn't see well, I am short), and then IMMEDIATELY Nace appeared next to Jan after 😂 (protective bf activated)

-I can't remember during which song was this, but at one point, Bojan caressed Jan's face and rhen went and did the same with Kris' arm and it looked like Kris was trying very hard not to laugh

-ofc, Novi Val beloved, with all of them together on the stage. Magical, as always, I have no further notes to share

I wasn't feeling too well afterwards so I wasn't there for the stamp event so someone else will have to relay the details of it, but yeah! It was absolutely amazing experience for me and thank you for everyone who was there to share it with me ❤️

[negobeauriva]

New Music Analysis Part 1: Souvenir Pop - From Music for Children to Burnt-out Ballads

Last Friday I got to listen to both Joker Out and Käärijä's new albums, and I enjoyed them throughly. I loved the new experiments in music in the case of Joker Out, and the perfect mix of feeling and party music in Käärijä's case.

My friends pointed out some theories as to what stories were being told in each case, and I've decided to write this kind of critic/storytelling post to tell you both my opinions about the songs, the story I think the albums want to tell and how they relate to each other.

This post is about Souvenir Pop, because if I do a single post for everything I want to touch, I'll be here for like a thousand years. I based myself off the translations of @jokeroutsubs to do my interpretations.

People's Champion review will be [here] when I post it, and then the analysis of both [here], when I post it too. Stay tuned and follow me if you want the rest!

Without further ado, enjoy my yapping. And if you are Joker Out or any of their components - you guys are insane for reading all this but I love you.

This album has "discovery" written all over it. Joker Out know who they are - Balkan rockstars that go with their own flow, in a scene where passion is loved only if it's presented in the most marketable way. They are disruptive and unapologetic about it, which is why I love them in the first place. After Eurovision Song Contest, they gained a bunch of fans and started experimentating the hard punches of musical stardom, something that was fairly foreign to them, given the fact that they had never gone out of the Balkan zone.

It speaks about them adjusting themselves to the changes, about how the excitement for the music world became some sort of bittersweet grief they now live with. Let's be honest, they love what they do, and it shows in their music. But there is a hint of sadness, of heaviness to some songs, that I would like to explore a bit further.

I'll also add a "Souvenir" (which I'm also taking in it's literal sense, from the French word for Memory) associated to each song, because I discovered that all the songs in both Umazane Misli and Demoni talk about the theme of their title - let me know if you'd like me to elaborate on that too.

Let's go track by track!

Muzika Za Decu - This ain't rock and roll, this is music for children

A very strong start to the album that's sure to sweep you off your feet. I remember listening to this the first time and headbanging like crazy. In their last album, Demoni, Joker Out had a song called Novi Val (New Wave) in which they described the "Generation of Love" that would change the world and seek for what seemed to be lost. Muzika Za Decu takes this message again, as a "where we left off", and talks about the other side of it. No revolution is made without disruption, after all. It perfectly encapsulates the chaos, the naivety of being young and revolutionary, and of course, how great their music is.

This is the prologue of the story: Joker Out, the disruptive children of Balkan music that lead a revolution, who don't care about what others say and go forward with their ideas. This is their presentation card.

Souvenir: Revolutionary hearts tend to remember the lost values. This souvenir is about remembering good times and keeping them alive with music.

Šta Bih Ja - What would I do in this black night without you?

I'm going to be completely honest, and you all can judge me, but I don't really like this song. It's okay if you do, I see why you like it, but it's not for me. The change of pace at the end is strange for me and the vibe of the lyrics is completely different to what I expected the instrumental to be. Still, I must say that this song is the perfect power anthem when you need a pick-me-up. The guitars are immaculate as usual, and Bojan's voice adds an extra layer of unpredictability and flavor. It's a mini-storm inside a song, packed-full with flavors, like popping candy.

Chapter one of the story tells us about these heartbreakers. Bojan is Slovenia's sweetheart, the boyfriend of the Balkans. The city they might be referencing might be Liverpool, or even every city they've been for the pre-parties. But this paints the picture of the band: Pure rock music, party vibes, and vague love song lyrics. These boys are here to play and have fun.

Souvenir: This song is about the memory of someone who you love at long distance. You take their memory with you to get on by.

Carpe Diem - Let's dance and play until the stars fade

This is a classic. This song was a surprise for me when I saw it in Eurovision, and it struck me like lightning. Admittedly, I did not watch the semifinals last year because I was busy with my admission to law school (which requires you to do a previous course), but when I saw them in the final? I was sold. This is a perfect party song. It deserved so much more than it did. It's fun, it's catchy, it's everything.

Chapter two is about the Eurovision chapter of their life. How they conquered Europe and took it by storm, and how they gained most of their worldwide popularity thanks to the exposure.

Souvenir: The Eurovision Song Contest, the most important night of their lives.

Stephanie - Love ain't built for people like me

This is one of my favorite songs in the album. Bojan's English pronounciation has matured a lot and now it has deep, rich layers of tonality. This song is about finding and losing the love of your life and the despair that you'll never be able to make that connection again. After listening to it a couple times, I realized there's a subtle detail that makes me love the commitment to this song even more - Bojan mentions drinking to forget he lost Stephanie, and through all the song, his voice sounds slurred. His voice inflections make him sound drunk. Pair this with the vintage guitar sounds and the 80's pop beat, and you have the perfect "crying on the dancefloor" anthem for when you've gotten your heart broken.

Chapter Three is about the heartbreakers realizing how ephemeral love truly is, and how you don't know what you have until you lose it. Their switch to fame is bringing things in, sure, but it's also costing them some others.

Souvenir: That feeling of love at first sight, the memory of someone you loved for one night, but wasn't meant to be.

Ako Toga Više Neće Biti - If that won't exist anymore, love is nothing but a lie

A slow song, both beautiful and sad at the same time. Bojan has said that it's easier for him to talk about love in Serbian, and it's completely true. In this song, we can hear the process of a withering relationship, when you realize that you've lost something precious and it's not coming back, no matter how much you want it to. This song beautifully walks you through the five stages of grief and makes you feel like you're floating in the Dead Sea, wondering where all you used to love has gone.

Chapter Four of this story is about wanting to keep everything under control, but ultimately failing. It's realizing that things change inevitably, and dealing with the loss and the grief of things you love. It's wanting to keep it together, but being unable to.

Souvenir: The memories of a relationship you've had for years and now you have to let go.

Bluza - If the sun rises, I'll be alone

I don't know what kind of sorcery Bluza has, but everytime it comes on my random player, I have to stop and listen to it in its entirety (what kind of drugs did they put to that song, really?) and I inevitably cry. This song is just what falling in love feels like. I personally covered this song in my native language (Spanish) and got a nice feedback from Bojan, but that's a story for another time. This song was paired up with a great MV that also told a story of not wanting to lose something precious. I'd say that Bluza is a dream that happens right after Ako Toga ends, coincidentally, those two songs are in the same key and on a similar beat, so they could well be twin sisters. It's dreaming about that person you love, that for a moment you are back where you wanted to be, but knowing that it's just a dream and it won't last. It might seem like a love song, but the final lyrics seal the deal on this only being a fantasy, a place where you find comfort, but aren't meant to stay.

Chapter Five is about ephemeral dreams, and about finding those small pieces of comfort you want to keep but know you can't. This is about them falling in love with cities, crowds, places, but deep down knowing that once the party is over, it's time to go back to the grind, to planning concerts, protecting themselves and trying not to die in the attempt. You can notice the exhaustion on Bojan's voice in some points of the song (which can also be a nice nod to Ako Toga where he says he hasn't slept well).

Souvenir: A dream from which you don't want to wake up from, the warmth and comfort of a place you know you're not meant to stay in.

Lips - True love and pain go hand in hand

The first time I heard Lips, I was overwhelmed. Too much noise, the reverberation of Bojan's voice was more than I could take, and I remember texting my friend "this song needs drums" halfway through. This song has received mixed criticism, and with due reason. Nace was the mind behind this song and I have to say I am impressed. He is a through musician indeed. I've given this song a fresh new listen for this review, and I have to say that I don't dislike it as much as I did the first time, I'm getting used to it. Lips feels like a fever dream, like an overdose with lyrics that try to be about love, but somehow are about tragedy. This is the song I'm the most excited to talk about for some reason. Props to the bass and guitars in this song, by the way. Unsung heros, that paired with Bojan's breathy, silky voice, build a sensual, toxic and dangerous feeling.

Chapter Six is the fall of the rockstars. If I had to pair this song with another, I'd definetely go with Padam (Falling) from Demoni. This song is what comes to mind if you ask me to think about that fatidic Ptuj concert in August 2023, where Bojan had his biggest mental breakdown that forced him off the stages for some time. This is burnout catching up to them and making them realize that they aren't indestructible. The fact that the lyrics try to be about love, but ultimately end up being about despair, makes me think of Bojan making everyone believe he's okay and he can go on, but knowing deep down he can't.

Souvenir: Ptuj concert in 2023, and all the incidents that sent Bojan to the hospital before that.

Mesto Duhov - Music has died, laughter has gone out

This song feels like the opening to a beloved shonen anime. It's a fast paced song, which comes witht he added element of the slow portion that serves as a chorus, which sounds like a funeral march, very adequate for a song called City of Ghosts. The lyrics talk about a town where everything has died and there is nothing left. Where once stood a beautiful city, now there is sorrow and grief, just memories of what once used to be. The themes of loss in this album are pretty strong after you get past the initial euphoria Carpe Diem gave us. The mixture of rock and the haunting funeral song is one of those strange combinations you're gonna crave as a midnight snack. Definetely one of the best songs of the album.

Chapter Seven is reflection on the overdose that Lips put us through. The attempt at rock at moments is the rockstars trying to get back on their feet and give their fans that sound they crave, but when they get back to the funeral sounds, is when they know they can't ignore the pain anymore. The City of Ghosts is not a town, it's a heart, it's a mind, it's the enthusiasm that died out and is starting to fade away and disappear. It's almost like they're questioning if it's worth it to try again. Is the pain superior to the joy, or the other way around?

Souvenir: I associate this with Sunny Side of London. A cheery song that was released right after the storm. There is some sense of recovery, but it isn't quite there yet. At the same time, this is about memories of a familiar place that used to bring comfort but now has dread associated to it.

Sonce - I've lost everything that you called the sun

This is a gorgeous song. I am a pianist myself, so hearing Jan at the keys was very touching. This song reminded me a whole lot of a popular Argentinian song called "Alfonsina y El Mar" (Alfonsina and The Sea) which talks about poet writer Alfonsina Storni and how she left this world by jumping into the sea. This song feels like an elegy, and it ceirtainly is one. As far as I know, this song was inspired by "current social events", and I can see why. This is a song about despair, pure and unfiltered, with no more attempts at rock or love. This song is about fear of darkness, of feeling helpless and worthless in a world that keeps being violent and wild, and being a bystander, unable to do anything beyond singing to bring comfort. This world, this society we live in, is a chaos far beyond what we could imagine or control. The Generation of Love seems to lower their head, cover their ears and ask themselves "When did it get like this?".

Final Chapter is about the rockstars sulking and seeing how everything around them is crumbling down inevitably. The band has had it share of incidents and backlash, and it's been a particularly rough road, mentally and physically. There is a need for musicians to be involved in the world they live in, and when they don't speak up, there is backlash. This is a song where they arrive to a dead point. It seems like this story is not bound to have a happy ending.

Souvenir: Memories of easier times, when everything was a bit less terrible, and the feeling of familiarity that's lost in an everchanging world.

Everybody's Waiting - No one's ever gonna make it easier, you're the only one who can

The perfect final touch for an album that talks about changing world perceptions. The first time I heard this song, I cried, after knowing all that was behind it. Bojan's story with music and balance is not an easy one, not after all that he's been through. A kid who thought he could have the entire world in his hands but ultimately lost balance, tripped and fell. Luckily, Bojan has a support network composed by friends, family and even music producers, who wouldn't let him fall further and did everything in their power to bring him back up. Everybody's Waiting is a cathartic song that gives perfect closure to a cycle of self-torture and doubt. While it might not seem like a victorious or happy song, it's definetely a way to celebrate you made it out alive. By acknowledging the feelings of loss and the pressure he is in, Bojan was able to finally get it off his chet and realize he's not alone. And with this release, he sent a message to all of us who are in the dark and feel like they are lost - You are not alone. If he can make it out alive, you can. And there is no shame in asking for help.

This Epilogue is about finding balance, and the rockstars realizing that this world isn't perfect, nor is how they expected it to be. Everybody is waiting for them to do something good or bad, because anything goes in a world where talk runs cheap and fast. Everyone wants them to always shine and be perfect. But as much as they try, they can't always be perfect. This song is them embracing the fact that there might be expectations, but it's okay to take a break if necessary even if you don't meet them. The only one who can make your life easier is yourself. If you choose to hold out that hand and let someone reach it, if you choose to set boundaries and keep what's worth close to your chest, you'll be making your life easier. Just like that. It doesn't have to be a long journey. Just a step is enough.

Souvenir: Everybody's Waiting release. I also want to add Ptuj 2 because I feel that was the real moment where Bojan closed that chapter, by returning to that stage he once was frightened in, and now being able to be himself to a crowd that would not judge him. This is about closure, about accepting memories as they are.

Final words

Overall, this album has a great storytelling pace. It tells a story beautifully in very well told chapters, and it sums up perfectly the rollercoaster Joker Out has been through. It's very notorious that they have grown up as musicians, and the variety of music styles is proof of that. This is a perfect CD to show to someone who wants to see a newer face of the Slovenian boys who conquered Eurovision, even though they did not touch top 10. Not all losses are defeats, definetely speaking. I cannot wait to see what else these boys have in store, and I definetely want the album release tour to start already because I am very, very sure that the live performance will add just the perfect touch to cement these songs as masterpieces.

Overall rating score of the album: 8.5/10.

[sepetajmikolikomehoces]

I seriously do not know how to make this coherent. I think if we just dive in not expecting it, it won't feel so disjointed.

This was one of the most magical weekends of my life, by far the best one this year so far and I think it will hold up pretty damn well in the long run. I am so, so happy that I didn't end up selling my Saturday ticket, despite it being an upper level seated ticket. I was afraid I'd feel very removed and that the view would be obscured, but it was all but.

Like that is pretty dang good.

Didn't queue for overly long either day, and met some really, really lovely people. If you feel like you at any point talked to me, hi, hello, I am so happy to have met you!!

Openers were really good, I enjoyed both Pilvet pilvet and JC Stewart, and I hope to hear more from both in the future.

Saturday's setlist was a bit of a shock, ngl. No ASTP? No NGVOT? No Barve?? On the other hand: my soul ascended during the Gola opening and I was very emotional during Vem da greš. It's been an anthem for me since last fall, and getting to experience it live, even from my seat, was just... yeah. A Lot. We'd gotten folded paper butterflies to hold up if they played Metulji and it was one of the most beautiful renditions I have heard of it, with Jan on the piano, Bojan singing and a sea of paper butterflies floating. I could be wrong, but Bojan seemed a bit taken by the whole thing in a positive way.

I had maybe had a feeling that Everybody's waiting would be a song that would come into its own right live and it definitely did. This weekend really made me fall even more in love with it, and though Bojan was clearly nervous about it, it was nice to see a bit of humour around the performance, with Jan having to help play the intro notes.

The two new songs they premiered on Saturday were such bangers, I have not been able to get them out of my head. Between Šta bih ja and Bluza, I am leaning more towards Bluza. There is something about it that gives me the same kind of emotional response as Vem da greš, but they are both going to be on heavy rotation, the sound is just... chef's kiss for both.

I know there had been a lot of hype and expectations re: Käärijä and the possibility of him doing a song with them. As much as it would have been fun, I'm actually happy he didn't, and simply got to enjoy the show as a spectator. Getting Häärijä as Hojan was more than enough, I think I pulled something laughing so hard.

We got the band out for a second encore (after Carpe Diem and Novi val), and they did Šta bih ja again, and it made my heart so fucking happy to see them so excited and bouncy.

For Sunday, I had early entrance, and let me tell you... when Bojan announced they were soundchecking ASTP... my soul left me, I was fucking LEVITATING. Getting NGVOT with Kris after that (following a very random rendition of Ring of Fire by Bojan) was just perfection. I also completely froze when Jure came over and talked to the girls in front of me. Like I fully just glitched, couldn't make myself speak, couldn't make myself take a picture, just stood there like the personification of bluescreening. That sunshiney fucker has too much power.

They switched up the setlist for Sunday and as sad as I was at losing out on Vem da greš up close, I felt more than happy about instead getting Barve oceana and Padam, as well as another new song. Setlist said it was called Schlager, Bojan said it might be named Behind Those Eyes OR Galaxy of Me, so it's going to be fun to see what they settle on finally. Either way, the song was a whole damn vibe, and I hope people going to the rest of the tour will get to enjoy both these and other new songs.

Padam had me up in my feels HARD. Again with Jan accompanying on the piano, it was just a really raw and intimate rendition that hit me right in my soul. I've had "Zdaj padam in padam, a me bo kdo ujel?" on my letterboard at home for the last two months, and hearing this line... ooft, my heart.

Having seen recordings of Novi val live is NOTHING compared to experiencing it live. It is one of the best songs out there and the chorus hits me every. single. time. There is something so sweet and gentle about the setup of it, Kris on guitar, Bojan singing and the rest of them just enjoying the moment, taking everything in.

I think the thing that I'll ultimately cherish the most is the easy atmosphere, the connection the band had with the audience, and the fact that I got to be there and that I got to do all of this with friends. This weekend has been a beacon for me since they announced it and since I got the tickets. Going to a JO gig has been on my bucketlist. I got to cross that off and have so much fun while doing it, and you can bet your fucking ass I will try to get tickets to Ruisrock this summer.

[belog-grada-crna-princeza]

Your love has drawn red from my hands. [25.12.2024.]

Plakala sam pod tušem i setila se scene od letos... Bili su rani jutarnji sati, tik pred svitanje, puste ulice i domaća pop pesma na radiju, neka novija pevačica. Činio si se pospan, dok si držao ruke na volanu i odsutno gledao put ispred sebe. "Volim te", pomislila sam tad, "volim te i želim da ti dam toliko ljubavi, da te volim više nego bilo ko drugi". Umesto toga sam rekla: spava li ti se? Meni i ne.. toliko. Slagao si me, ne, ni meni, i ukratko nakon toga zevnuo. Glupo je, ali pamtim takve trenutke, osećaj mira, prisutnosti. Pamtim kako bih nakon tih noći u svom kupatilu puštala Meni se dušo od tebe ne rastaje dok skidam maskaru micelarnom. I mislila bih jedino o tome koliko želim našu realnost, samo našu. Ali.. ona je bila puki plod moje mašte, zar ne? Moja stvarna uloga je bila hrana za tvoj ego, sredstvo kojim krpiš rupu u svom životu i popunjavaš prazninu na dnu samog sebe. Voleo si me onako kako se voli ornament, kao dete novu igračku, koja brzo gubi sjaj i postaje dosadna. Svi mi već mesecima govore da odem i sada kada najzad jesam, srećni su zbog mene. I ja znam da zaslužujem nekog koga će iskreno radovati sve što ja jesam, nekog kome ću dovoljna biti ja, takva. Bez uloge, kostima, scenarija. Samo.. lagao si tako slatko, i to je problem. Postala sam zavisna od tih trenutaka, kada bi se nasmejao na neko moje lupetanje, a ja bih u nežnosti tvog pogleda poželela da živim. Postala sam zavisna od nade da me možeš voleti i lomila svoje srce poput stakla koje bih zarivala samoj sebi u kožu svaki put kada bi postajao hladan, dalek, nezainteresovan. Neko ti je to radio, zar ne? Činio te je toliko malim, nevidljivim, nevažnim da si u glavi presekao da možeš biti ili onaj koji se tako oseća, ili taj koji to izaziva u drugima i odabrao si ovo drugo. Znam, jer mi se isto desilo. Treba li da kažem šta sam ja izabrala? Čestitam, jer si me ubio, your love has drawn red from my hands. Ali, rekla sam ti, još na početku. Ja sam feniks i vratiću se iz pepela, poleteću neki novi let. Nisi ugasio moju vatru, ali više nikad nećeš osetiti njenu toplinu. I dok pahulje padaju na beli grad, nadam se da te svaki otisak ��izama u snegu iznova seti na moj odlazak.

-Katarina

[mrasicc]

Nisam voleo rastanke, iako bih se na svakoj sledećoj stanici rastajao. Znam da posle svakog putovanja, dolazi neki novi voz. Da li za sreću ili tugu? Ne znam.

Ja sam samo putnik.

[patty-the-otterette]

Gig report time!

Last Saturday I had a chance to go to my 4th Joker Out's gig - and my first international one - before I went to 3 Polish gigs.

It was amazing 😍 I was with my friends, in the middle section, around 6th-7th row (with General Access). The venue was really nice, with several toilets and lockers instead of cloakrooms. Excellent idea 💡 No queueing for cloakrooms!

SSOL intro hit so much! It is always giving me chills!

"Padam" with Jan on piano, amazing, so moving 😭

Then Šta bih ja... What can I say... I love this song so much! I love the Joker Out punk era! 🎸🎸🎸 I was shouting and jumping as if it was a hard rock concert 😂

I'm so happy I could witness Gustaph + Joker Out's performance! It was a blast!

Novi Val... Always so moving 🥹

More pics:

And I met Nace and Jan after the gig! They were both super cute and I'm happy I could thank them for all the joy they brought to my life!

My heart is warm and full! I'm so so happy I could participate in yet another Joker Out concert and that on this occasion I finally met in real life my dear friends who gathered from all around Europe for this occasion! I love you so much my dear clowns ☺️☺️ 🤡🤡!

More videos are coming!

[pathofpatience]

„Ubiše me ova nadanja i nastojanja, sustizanje nedostižnog, nezasitost duše... trčim dunjalukom prolaznim, a znam, kraj mi je već odavno znan. Umorio me dunjaluk, Gospodaru, daj mi pobjedu nad njim, daj mi pobjedu nad sobom... Snagu ulij mi, pravac pokaži, glas duše Jedini čuješ... Zadovoljna sam Ti Gospodar da si moj, moli te ovaj rob Tvoj, budi zadovoljan sa mnom. I u novi dan, nova ja, Tvome zadovoljstvu da hrlim.“

[gordijev-cvor]

Zivotna

svaka odluka je bitna za ishod zivota

svaka odluka, koliko god sitna bila

vodi u novi rulet desavanja

igra kojoj se ne nazire kraj

zivot je igraliste, pa se igram

svaki momenat je bitan

jer svaki vodi u neki svijet

nijedan momenat nije bitan

jer svakako svaki vodi u neki svijet

ako ja sjedim na jednom kraju klackalice

zar je bitno ko je na drugom

il je to najbitnije od svega

ko umire da bi zivio

a ko zivi samo da bi umirao

jel se zivotom zove izdah i uzdah

il se zivotom zove druga osoba

koja je mogla i da ne bude tu nikad

da neka druga osoba nije kasnila

da nije pala kisa i da nije bio petak

da li je sve slucajno ili planirano

precizno i tacno da bude strasno

jer sve sto necu vise nikad

totalno sam ponovo

i sve sto sam morao da ponovim

totalno nisam nikad

neki dozivljaji su ljepsa slika

nego sjecanje u glavi

neka su sjecanja predobra

ali slike su zaista ocajne

ciklicnim putevima se vozam

cetiri godine treba za puni krug

na kruznom punom rupa od zivota

sve cu vam priznat

nije me sramota

samo niko nema muda

da pita ono sto stvarno zeli da zna

kad bih govorio sta zelite da cujete

usao bih u film gdje nisam protagonist

u toj mocvari se necu okupat

puna su vam usta mene i mojih

tarifa gibeta za mene je skupa

dodji u lice reci sve sto se skuplja

otvori sebi novi ili neki stari put

zivot je igraliste

igraj se do kraja