Archives for February 12th, 2004

Nostalgija is stuffed full of ex-Yugoslavia stuff, including over 10.000 MP3s of music. It’s pretty great.

Slovenes will probably know what to look for. I’m not much of an expert, but I can suggest a few things of interest. First is Djordje Balasevic, who on certain occasions sounds like a Serbian Leonard Cohen. (Try the fantastic Neki Novi Klinci, for example.)

Second, the most depressing song in the world is Igra rnr cela Jugoslavija by Elektricni Orgazam. (It’s in the middle of the page.) It’s a really cheerful, cheesy 80s rock song that’s still very popular at parties today. The chorus goes:

Igra rok in rol cela Jugoslavija,
sve se oko tebe ispravlja i savija!

(Playing rock ‘n’ roll all over Yugoslavia,
Everybody’s straightening up and then twisting down!)

A few years after the song came out, the whole country started (literally) “twisting down” and instead of rockin’ and rollin’, people were diggin’ and fillin’ graves. All over Yugoslavia. I don’t know why I make that association, but the fact that the song is so cheerful makes it all the more depressing.

Finally, if you’ve ever wondered what Ceca (widow of the notorious warlord Arkan) sounds like: She’s there as well. In full force.

Note: The site works best with Internet Explorer.