Zdravo
Zdravo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1976–1978 |
| Labels | PGP-RTB, Suzy, Beograd Disk |
| Past members | Boban Petrović Dragan Jovanović Branko Kojić Vlastimir Cvetković Boža Jeremić Vladislav Kukolj Branko Popović Branko Pešić |
Zdravo (Serbian Cyrillic: Здраво; trans. Hello) was a Yugoslav disco and funk group formed in Belgrade in 1976. Formed and led by vocalist and keyboardist Boban Petrović, Zdravo were a prominent act of the 1970s Yugoslav popular music scene. After the group disbanded, Petrović started his short-lasting solo career.
Band history[edit]
1976–1980[edit]
The group was formed in 1976 Boban Petrović.[1] Petrović was previously a disk jockey and had decided to venture into performing.[1] Having gathered several handsome teenagers and several promising musicians from Belgrade, Petrović intended to form a band which would perform communicative disco and funk music.[1] In order to attract media attention, Petrović chose the name Zdravo after the youth magazine Zdravo, which Politika Newspapers and Magazines started publishing at about the same time.[1] The first lineup consisted of Boban Petrović (vocals, keyboards), Dragan Jovanović (guitar, later a member of the hard rock band Generacija 5), Branko Kojić (bass guitar, later a member of the new wave band Grupa I), Vlastimir Cvetković (drums), and vocalists and dancers Boža Jeremić, Vladislav Kukolj, and Branko Popović.[1] The band also performed with several female dancers, African girls from Zaire.[1]
The band's only major hit was their debut single, "Vikend fobija" ("Weekend Phobia"), released in 1977.[1] Although the song became a hit, it was generally disliked by the critics.[1] Soon after, Jovanović left the band to form Generacija 5, so Popović invited at the time little-known guitarist Momčilo Bajagić to join the band.[1] However, Bajagić refused the invitation, and the new member of the band became a former Innamorata member Branko Pešić "Amerikanac".[1] In 1977, a live version of their song "Sugestivni rok" ("Suggestive Rock"), recorded on their performance in Pinki Hall, appeared on the various artists live album Pop parada I (Pop Parade I).[1] In August 1977, Zdravo performed as one of the opening bands on Bijelo Dugme concert at Hajdučka česma, and at the end of the same year, they performed as an opening band on Indexi's Yugoslav tour.[2] As Petrović was at the time dating singer Slađana Milošević, the band played on her debut single "Au au", and on several occasions Milošević made guest appearances on the group's concerts.[2]
In 1978, the original Zdravo lineup disbanded, and Petrović continued to perform under the name Zdravo with various musicians, simultaneously performing with the band Orion.[2] After releasing the 7-inch single with the songs "Sugestivni rok" and "Žalba" ("Complaint"), Popović disbanded the group,[2] and released the following two singles under the Boban Petrović & Zdravo moniker.[2] The latter, released in 1979, was a duet with vocalist Gordana Ivandić.[2]
Post-breakup[edit]
At the beginning of the 1980s, Petrović dedicated himself to his solo career.[2] In 1981, he released the EP Meteorology and his first solo album, Žur (Party), the latter recorded in New York with studio musicians. Although Žur brought several minor hits, like "Prepad" ("The Raid"), "Đuskaj" ("Dance") and "Kupatilo je shvatilo" ("The Bathroom Realised"), the record did not see expected success.[2] His following album, Zora (Dawn) saw little attention by the audience and the media, and Petrović retired from music.[2] At the time of his short-lasting solo career, Petrović was the manager of the Klub M and Zvezda (Star) discothèques.[2] In 1986, he published the novel Rokanje (Rocking), inspired by the 1980s Belgrade nightlife.[2]
In the late 1980s, Petrović moved abroad, starting a business career.[2] For a certain period of time he was the owner of the Spanish football club CA Marbella and the Marbella nightclub Long Legs.[2][3]
Petrović's solo works gained new attention of the audience in the early 2000s, after his songs were frequently broadcast on Radio B92, and his song "Prepad" was in 2006 ranked No. 82 on the B92 Top 100 Domestic Songs list.[4] In 2008, Macom Records published a new edition of Rokanje and reissued Žur with bonus materials consisting of several tracks, videos and a newsreel about Petrović made by a Spanish TV station.[2] Petrović returned to music in the 2010s, producing and writing part of the songs for the album Potraga za magičnim violončelom (The Quest for the Magic Cello) recorded by Jela Cello & Power Symphony Ochestra.[2] In 2020, he published the autobiographical book Rokanje 2, accompanied by a CD with Petrović's songs.[2]
Discography[edit]
Singles[edit]
- "Vikend fobija" / "Roditeljski savet" (1977)
- "Disko je prava stvar" / "Raspust i kraj" (1977)
- "Sugestivni rok" / "Žalba" (1978)
- "Kuc-Guc-Štuc" / "'Ajmo na žurku" (1979)
- "Moram" / "Balada o šampionu" (1980)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Janjatović, Petar (2024). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2023. Belgrade: self-released. p. 328.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Janjatović, Petar (2024). Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2023. Belgrade: self-released. p. 329.
- ^ "FUDBAL I POP KULTURA (3): Domaći teren", Popboks.com
- ^ The B92 Top 100 Domestic Songs list at B92 official site Archived March 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine