V slepých uličkách

"V slepých uličkách" (On Dead-End Streets) is a duet by Miro Žbirka and Marika Gombitová released on OPUS in 1980.

The song, written by Žbirka and Kamil Peteraj was originally issued as B-side of the Žbirka's solo single "Klaun z domu č. 6", taken also from his debut studio album Doktor Sen. An international, however solo version of the composition entitled "The Love Song" featured on the Žbirka's export album Doctor Dream (1981).

In 2007, the duet competed in the Slovak national poll organized by Slovenská televízia, being nominated as Hit storočia (Hit of the Century), but lost in favor of Gombitová's solo track "Vyznanie".

Original text
1.: Ako víno žiari chutí ako v ústach med Ak ju nosíš v tvári krajšej tváre niet Je taká zvláštna rozpovie ju kvet Je taká zvláštna rozpovie ju kvet Ako dúšok vína ako nápoj omamný Sladko opojí ma na sto nocí na sto dní Ak budem šťastná nelám krásne sny Ak budem šťastný nelám krásne sny R: No tak daj mi svoju lásku, na pomoc mi rýchlo leť No tak požičaj mi nádej, dvakrát ti ju vrátim späť No tak daj mi svoju lásku, na pomoc mi rýchlo leť No tak požičaj mi nádej, dvakrát ti ju vrátim späť 2.: Som ten krásny blázon, čo má rád tvoj strach Predstavím ti šťastie v slepých uličkách To krásne šťastie v slepých uličkách To krásne šťastie v slepých uličkách Som ten krásny blázon, ktorý kráča v oblakoch Túžim s tebou lietať aj túlať sa po vlakoch Predstav mi šťastie, zázrak pre mňa sprav Predstav mi šťastie, zázrak pre mňa sprav.

Official versions

 * 1) "V slepých uličkách" - original version, duet, 1980
 * 2) "The Love Song" - international version, only solo (by Žbirka), 1981
 * 3) "You Know I Love You (Love Song)" - re-released international version, only solo (by Žbirka), 2008

Credits and personnel

 * Miro Žbirka - lead vocal, writer, acoustic guitar
 * Marika Gombitová - lead vocal, writer
 * Kamil Peteraj - lyrics
 * Laco Lučenič - bass, guitar, percussion
 * Janko Lehotský - keyboards
 * Dušan Hájek - drums, percussion
 * Karel Witz - guitar
 * Martin Karvaš - synthesizer
 * Ján Lauko - producer
 * Jozef Hanák - sound director, harmonica
 * Štefan Danko - responsible editor

Hit storočia
The Hit storočia (Hit of the Century) was a national TV competition organized by Slovenská televízia. Within its three-month run (beginning April 20, 2007), the viewers voted live the most popular Slovak songs from the 1930s to 1990s. Overall, nine songs were picked to compete in the Finale evening (July 6, 2007). Gombitová entered the show overall with three songs, however winning with a song written by Janko Lehotský and Kamil Peteraj, "Vyznanie" from 1979.

Villach Music Festival
A solo version of the composition performed by Žbirka himself at a music festival in Villach, Austria in 1982 won the main award. Simultaneously, he also received an award from Ö3 radio station broadcast by ORF.

You Know I Love You (Love Song)
A new international version of the song, entitled "You Know I Love You (Love Song)", Miro Žbirka recorded for his remixed greatest hits set Like a Hero: The Best of Miro (Remixed 2008), released on Universal Music. Although, with no contribution by Gombitová, the new record appeared also as the second album's track.

In media
In 2005, the American actor/director Eli Roth used the original version of the duet, "V slepých uličkách", in a sequence of his horror film Hostel, co-produced by Quentin Tarantino in 2005. The composition wasn't attached also to the original soundtrack album, however.