Crvena jabuka

Crvena Jabuka
Crvena jabuka performing live in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 15 January 2016.
Background information
Origin	Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Zagreb, Croatia
Genres	Pop rock, rock, pop, new wave
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Diskoton, Croatia, Tutico Records
Associated acts	Plavi orkestar, Valentino, Ozbiljno Pitanje, Đavoli
Website	https://crvena-jabuka.com/
Members	Dražen Žerić
Past members	Dražen Ričl Aljoša Buha Darko Jelčić

Crvena jabuka ("Red Apple") is a Bosnian rock/pop band that originated in 1985, and since then has remained very popular.

Crvena Jabuka has undergone many lineup changes through the years, and the only member to last in every lineup is Dražen Žerić. On 4 July 2017, drummer Darko Jelčić left the band.^[1] He is the second longest-standing member of Crvena Jabuka, playing in every album until 2017. He was replaced with .^[2] Žerić played keyboards and sang backing vocals on their debut album, but then became the lead singer with the death of Drazen Ričl and Aljoša Buha. Krešimir Kastelan, and Nikša Bratos come in third and fourth as the longest-standing members respectively.

The band's heyday was between 1985 and 1992. In 1992, long-time contributor, rhythm guitarist/songwriter Zlatko Arslanagić quit the band which resulted in a major rift in the band. However, the group re-located to Zagreb around late summer 1994 and by 1996 had reinvented their image and continue their career to this very day.

During the mid 2000s, the group's popularity started declining. However, with the beginning of the 2010s, the band seems to have gotten back on track.

Biography[]

The 80s[]

Crvena jabuka was founded in 1985. The first line-up of the band consisted of drummer Darko Jelčić, lead guitarist/singer Dražen Ričl "Zijo", bassist Aljoša Buha, rhythm guitarist/lead songwriter "Zlaja", and keyboardist/vocalist Dražen Žerić "Žera." The band's name was derived from an occasion when Darko Jelčić brought a red apple to one of the band's meetings. Although Tomislav Ćorković was offered an initial space for guitar, he did not accept at the time and never played with the band. They released their self titled debut album in 1986, and it was an instant success. The album contained their singles "Bježi kišo s prozora", "S tvojih usana", and "Dirlija". The band quickly gained popularity all over former Yugoslavia, and on September 18, 1986 the band headed to Mostar for a promotional concert, and suffered a car accident that claimed the lives of two members. - Dražen Ričl and Aljoša Buha.

In tribute of this tragic moment, a concert was done in Skenderija palace in Sarajevo in which musicians and bands from all generations performed. Crvena jabuka would end with their work.^{[clarification needed]}

Because the material for 1987's "Za sve ove godine" was already ready, the band decided to first record that before undergoing a one-year hiatus. The band decided to stay a trio with Drazen Zeric (who originally sang backup vocals) taking on lead vocal duties. Guitarist Zlatko Arslanagić also switched to mostly lead/bass guitar, and Darko Jelcic decided to remain on drums. Next to him, Zeric was the only original member present in the band. Also, as the 1987 album was meant to be a tribute to the late Ricl and Buha, there were no promo ads. Nor was there a tour because of the requests of the band members.

It was, however, 1988's Sanjati that proved the band's commercial success. While the album was recorded in the same fashion as Za sve ove godine, the band brought in two more musicians, bassist Srđan Serberdžija, and keyboardist Zlatko Volarević. This allowed Zera to focus primarily on vocals, and Zlaja to go to just lead guitar. The album sold 250,000 copies, and following its release, Crvena Jabuka embarked on a 180 concert tour.

The band made some major changes during the recording of Sanjati. First, the band worked in Rockoko studios in Zagreb. They would record every future album there. Secondly, the band dropped producer Željko Brodarić (who had produced their first two albums), and got Niksa Bratos. (Niksa would eventually be inducted as another full-time member, and the third long-standing member next to Jelcic and Zeric.) Not only was Bratos a producer, but a multi-instrumentalist. He could put all the band's ideas to work, and even did string arrangements. He would be put on rhythm guitar, and would also play many woodwind instruments on future albums.

January 1989 was when the recording contract for the band's fourth album called Tamo gdje ljubav počinje was signed. Serberdia, having grown tired of touring with the band, quit right after the first session so was replaced by professional guitarist/bassist . Immediately after this release, a tour took place. During the tour Niksa Bratos was not available, but suggested a good friend of his, Igor Ivanovic. The significant moment was at the Sports Arena in Zagreb where a double album was recorded live called "Uzmi me (kad hoćeš ti)".

The 90s[]

In 1991, the band released their fifth studio album. This album was titled Nekako s proljeća, and had the singles "Moje najmilije", "Da nije ljubavi", and the title cut which has Kemal Monteno as a guest. This would be the first time that Jabuka has collaborated with another singer. For this album, Niksa Bratos was once again replaced. This time, by former bassist Srdan Serberdia's father, .

A tour was meant to happen, but it was never done due to the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. After this album, Zlatko Arslanagić left the band and eventually moved to Toronto. Žera opened his new cafe in Sarajevo called "Broj jedan" (Number one). Even the remaining members parted ways. Niksa moved to Zagreb (and so would the rest of the band eventually), Igor Ivanovic to Germany, and Zoran Serberdia to Macedonia. Furthermore, Croatia Records released, in 1993, an 18-hit compilation entitled Ima nesto od srca do srca. The album was put into chronological order, but for unknown reasons, omitted both "Bježi kišo s prozora", and a cover of Bacila je sve niz rijeku (a hit for Indexi in 1974). This album would, in 2005, be re-released but dubbed Zlatna Kolekcija. It would include the two said songs that were previously omitted, and also be in chronological order with 20 songs more than this one.

In the fall of 1994, Cunja, and Zera both relocated to Zagreb to re-unite with Niksa Bratos who now was to play on every album, and attend most shows. A backing vocals trio of , , and Mirza Treterac was established to the band, and so were three more members: guitarist -Jimmy, bassist "Kreso" (4th long-standing member), and keyboard player . There was a big tour once again covering: Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, and Armenia, and of course, the former Yugoslavia countries.

With this new lineup, the band released their next album in 1996 called U tvojim očima. This album featured two guests as well as various authors of songs including Saša Lošić of Plavi orkestar. Immediately a tour went of all over including: Zagreb, Tuzla, Mostar, and Sarajevo.

In 1998, yet another studio album was released titled Svijet je lopta šarena. This was another best selling album of the band. In that same year they recorded their next live album simply called "LIVE", and in 1999, Crvena jabuka released an unplugged album called Riznice sjećanja.

2000 to Present Day[]

In 2000, the band went on a new chapter with their next studio album entitled Sve što sanjam. On this album the band had the hit singles "Ti si lijepa", "Tvoga srca vrata", the title track, "Ni zadnji ni prvi", and another good hit "Niko nije lud da spava".

In 2002, Crvena jabuka returned with Tvojim željama vođen. After releasing this album, guitarist Zlatko Bebek, and keyboard player Danijel Lastrić left the band. The replacements were on keyboards, and on guitar.

In 2005, Žera reformed the band. The result was . With this album, the band started to lose its popularity. However, a 20th anniversary concert was held on April 24, 2005.

2005 also saw the release of an updated hit singles collection that the band called Zlatna kolekcija. It contained hits from 1986 to 2002.

In 2007, Crvena jabuka announced yet another album called Duša Sarajeva. The album has 11 new songs.

During the time of 2007-2008 the band was mostly doing concerts touring Canada and USA.

Singer Dražen Žerić-Žera got married on October 5, 2008^[3]; which is the reason for the band's album entitled Volim te, which has songs more in the style of the old Crvena Jabuka rather than what they've showed in and Duša Sarajeva .

The band released an album in 2011 entitled "Za tvoju ljubav", which was an even more intense approach to the new, more modern sounding Crvena Jabuka. The album featured hits such as "Do neba", "Kletva (feat. Željko Bebek), and more.

In mid 2013, the band released their latest album entitled "Nek' bude ljubav". The evolution of the band's sound is quite evident on this album. The first single released for this album is for the track entitled "Imam neke fore".

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

• Crvena Jabuka (Red Apple) March 22, 1986
• Za sve ove godine (For All These Years), 1987
• Sanjati (To Dream) June 6, 1988
• Tamo gdje ljubav počinje (Where Love Begins), January, 1989
• Nekako s proljeća (In Springtime), 1991
• U tvojim očima (In Your Eyes) November 17, 1996
• Svijet je lopta šarena (The World is a Colourful Ball), 1998
• Sve što sanjam (Everything I Dream), 2000
• Tvojim željama vođen (Led By Your Wishes), 2002
• Oprosti što je ljubavna pjesma (Forgive Me for This Love Song), 2005
• Duša Sarajeva (The Soul of Sarajevo), 2007
• (I Love You), 2009
• (For Your Love), 2011
• (Let There Be Love), 2013
• (2016), 2016
• (Nocturno), 2018
• (Fortress), 2020

Live albums[]

• Uzmi me (kad hoćeš ti) Take me (When You Want To) 1990
• LIVE 1998
• Riznice sjećanja-unplugged 1999
• - unplugged live u Lisinskom 2014

Compilations[]

• Ima nešto od srca do srca (There Is Something from Heart to Heart) 1993
• Moje najmilije (My Dearest) 1996
• Antologija (Anthology) 2003
• Zlatna kolekcija (The Golden Collection) 2005
• Da Nije Ljubavi - 25 Godina (If there's no love) 2010

Band members[]

Lineups[]

See also[]

• New Primitives

References[]

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (October 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

• "Bend s planeta Zemlja Dražen Žerić - Žera, pevec zasedbe Crvena jabuka". 7dni. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-30.^{[permanent dead link]}
• OGNJEN TVRTKOVIĆ, glazbeni kritičar Dela, Ljubljana/Slovenija (30 March 2000). "Skladbu "Zarjavele trobente" napisali su Subašić i Buha, a "Zemlja pleše" Sepe i Strniša". Vjesnik. Retrieved 2009-11-30.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)^{[permanent dead link]}
• "Nova plošča - Oprosti što je ljubavna". Si21. 2005-07-17. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
• "Crvena jabuka bodo prestolnico obarvali rdeče". Dnevnik. 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2009-11-30.

External links[]

• MP3 source
• Crvena jabuka discography
• Crvena Jabuka song lyrics