2005-03-03

No mountaineering or shepherding songs, then

In Blic, football legend Dragan Stojković Piksi, now president of the Football Council of Serbia and Montenegro, politely requests that the state adopt a hymn that audiences will not greet with hoots and whistles. Apparently nobody is willing to show respect for «Hej Sloveni,» and last year's attempt to breed a hybrid compromise by hiring a composer to combine «Tamo daleko» and «Oj svijetla majska zoro» didn't start a new dance craze either. When Savo Milošević (no relation to that other guy, nor to Sladjana) agrees with Piksi, it has to be true.

Nobody seems to like my suggestion that Disciplina kičme's «Novac neće doći» would be a good hymn. So what do you recommend?

9 comments:

Bora Zivkovic said...

I don't know, ...but here in the States, whenever I hear "Don't Know Much About History, Don't Know Much Biology...", I stand up and put my hand on my heart.

Eric Gordy said...

I'll agree that the US needs a new anthem too, to replace the one nobody can sing. How about Dzoni Stulic, "Od Aljaske do Meksika"?

Anonymous said...

Alternate Serbian anthems:

*Presing, Ritam U Kojem Stojis
*Sila, Government Call

Though judging by my last Belgrade visit, anything from the Belgrade Coffee House compilations will do.

As for the USA, may I suggest Johnny Cash's I've Been Everywhere?

Eric Gordy said...

Would that be Richard Byrne, itinerant musical journalist? This blog has such a distinguished readership that sometimes I feel like I do not belong here!

Anonymous said...

Yep, it's me.... I'm at the Chronicle of Higher Education now... I've been lurking for a bit. Your blog is wonderful...

BTW... Did you see that story on b92 the other day about the village (Batuse) that "gave itself electricity" in Kosovo? The spirit of Tesla is alive and well... Rb

Eric Gordy said...

Welcome!
Your suggestions bring to mind a couple of other good possible hymns:

Kanda Kodza i Nebojsa, "Proci ce njihovo"
or
Jarboli, "Nemoc"

Works for either country!
The tradition of sabotaging electrical facilities is a distinguished one, people got good at it trying to prevent their two-hour "restrictions" from taking place. Sometimes with unanticipated consequences...

Katja R. said...

r byrne, I used to get to read old copies of the Chronicle of Higher Education due to my late step dad's job. Great publication!

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