- Michael M.: Too much going on. Life in flux, etc..
- Sunshine: Wow, I was soooo happy to see a new post in my rss reader. I was hopping this is already the comeback! :(...
- gandalf: Did you only get caffeine through Dr.p or did you drink coffee as well? I’m interested, since...
- neeka: nine kilos… wow… :) happy holidays to you, michael, and to all your loved ones! veronica
- m: It was a bargain. No strings attached.
Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Maribor, Slovenia.
Portoroz, Slovenia.
• AlienMelon
• Burger.si
• Heck
• Izklop
• si.blogs
• Sloblogi
• Blogorola
• Natalija Verboten
On Nov. 29, 1945, the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia was declared.
Yesterday would have been the 59th anniversary of socialist Yugoslavia. As it was, Yugoslavia only lived to be 47 — lower than the average life expectancy in Liberia.
Nevertheless, here are five patriotic songs (and one speech) that would have been appropriate back then:
- Hej Slaveni.mp3 — The national anthem of Yugoslavia. It literally means "Hey Slavs!" and had versions in Serbo-Croatian, Macedonian and Slovenian. This is the instrumental version. [History and lyrics]
- Druže Tito mi ti se kunemo.mp3 — Literally, "Comrade Tito, we pledge ourselves to you." A bombastic, patriotic song performed by the former Yugoslav superstar (and still active) Zdravko ÄŒolić. The Zagreb Philharmonic backs him up.
- Yugoslavia.mp3 — During one of the final communist party meetings between delegates from all the republics: "It seemed that they could not agree on a single thing. They even quarreled about what song should open the extraordinary Fourteenth Congress of the Yugoslav Communist Party; the Internationale, the national anthem, "Hej Slaveni" (Hey Slavs), or the popular song, "Yugoslavia." At one point, [Croatia’s communist leader] RaÄ?an said: "It is not important how we begin, but it is important to finish with Yugoslavia," apparently missing the irony until the others broke out in laughter." [From Yugoslavia: Death of a Nation, page 79]
- Svobodna Slovenija.mp3 — "Free Slovenia."
- Na juriÅ¡.mp3 — A popular partisan song meaning "Charge!" During World War II, Yugoslavia lost around 1.7 million people — an astounding 10% of its population. In terms of total losses, it finished in sixth place, globally. More Yugoslavs died than British and Americans combined. In fact, even if you double American and British losses, the Yugoslavs still have more dead. Like in other countries with heavy losses, the majority of people killed were civilians.
- Excerpt of a speech by Tito.mp3 — A prophetic excerpt from a speech by Tito. He says: "We spilled a sea of blood for our brotherhood and for the unity of our nations. We won’t allow anyone to touch or undermine it from inside, so that our brotherhood and unity would be destroyed." Yugoslavia outlived Tito by only ten years.
There are many more songs available here.
(Thanks Miran!)
Comments
Ah yes, the olden days. Remember saluting the flag, reciting in the morning: “I pledge my allegiance to the flag, one nation under God…”
Oh wait, my bad…
In my mind, having little kids swear on their life and blood and such things in any country or regime is pretty sick. We swore to die for our country as 7 year old pioneers. Such oaths should not be expected out of little kids, anywhere. I have no qualms with 18 year olds doing similar..
Anyhow, Tonii, I hope you’re a hot italian chick. Feel free to visit any time, in that case! Well in either case, but I prefer o imagie the best case scenario 
by crni on November 30, 2004 at 5:09 pmIf being a nationalist means standing up for a FREE and DEMOCRATIC Slovenia then I’m proud of calling myself a nationalist.
And Tonii you have to learn to listen and you might learn something. We no longer call Slovenians yugos just like we no longer call Russians soviets. If you were learned and cultured you would know that these one party states (Yugoslavia and USSR) no longer exist.
We all know that poor Italy feared a strong and independent Slovenia.
And something else to think about while you munch on that pasta; Slovenia beat Italy 1:0 in the world cup qualifiers. Don’t you just love it!
by Andrej on December 1, 2004 at 4:00 amI wonder if tonii is nostalgic about Mussoloini’s Italy or the former Soviet Union. Like the former Yugoslavia they were dictatorships where there was no free elections, no free press, no opposition, no freedom of speech, a cult of personality and citizens were imprisoned for speaking out against the government.
by blank on December 1, 2004 at 4:56 amI wonder if tonii is nostalgic about Mussoloini’s Italy or the former Soviet Union. Like the former Yugoslavia they were dictatorships where there was no free elections, no free press, no opposition, no freedom of speech, a cult of personality and citizens were imprisoned for speaking out against the government.
I did not make the above post, although…I might as well have (sound like me)! Still, time to choose another moniker I guess. Arrgh..
by blank on December 1, 2004 at 5:49 am
Do we want to be nostalgic about such a regime? No of course not. Its like telling Jews about the anniversary of the third reich!
Hear here! I “so agree”. 
by Dr. Kruegell on December 1, 2004 at 12:03 pmThe Yugoslave propaganda on Koper-Capodistria TV was successful!
by Anonymous on December 1, 2004 at 3:49 pmComments for this post are closed.
Republic Day. Who cares?
This was a dictatorship and failed social experiment responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent Slovenians in the name of ideology. Do families of the victims want to be reminded of this?
And they hated freedom and democracy. When Slovenia expressed its freedom they invaded us and killed 55 Slovenians.
Do we want to be nostalgic about such a regime? No of course not. Its like telling Jews about the anniversary of the third reich!
Your blog is a perfect ID
I remember with sincere nostalgia Koper Capodistria TV broadcasting… a ray of light in my childhood… as for many italians of my generation.
At that time we had just 2 italian channels (black and white) and the really really boaring swiss tv. The happy, colourfull, Koper TV was my companion during the 70s. And it was much much less censored than Rai.
I drink a toast to all yugos.
Nationalism is just a mask for troglodits & bandits.
I’ve never been in your country, so close so far. One day I will, be sure.
a kiss
post scriptum: I’m not marxist, but I did not blow my mind following bloody cults like neocons, freemarket dictatorship or nationalism.
“yugoslavia, mañana, serà republicana!”
55? I think 13. 55+ Serbs died.
Never been a communist myself and never been a yugonostalgic but I nevertheless think that you simply cannot erase 50 or 70 years of our history. Wether we liked it or not we were part of Jugoslavija. And MANY MANY people were out on the streets, crying, the day Tito died. Such were the times.
I think it is wrong of the nationalists to try and “hijack” all the memories of Jugoslavija telling the rest of us what to remember and what to forget about that nation.
Peter Zrinski
If someone wants to see some ‘yugonostalgic’ photos of Slovenians in Germany: take a look at
by Trubar on November 30, 2004 at 4:27 pm