WATCH: Zeljko Joksimovic and Tony Cetinski duet on Zabluda

Yugoslavia no longer exists as a nation or republic, but its former constituent nations are still making some mighty fine music together. Case in point: this duet from Serbia’s Zeljko Joksimovic and Croatia’s Tony Cetinski, two heavyweights of folk and masters of the Balkan ballad.

Zabluda may mean “misconception,” but one thing is clear: the track builds on Joksimovic’s well-known folk offerings. However, he has replaced his ever-present flute with the bouzouki, a staple of traditional Greek music. One may be forgiven for thinking that this record is another Zeljko solo. Cetinski doesn’t appear on the track for the first two and a half minutes. But when he does the music really takes flight! It is already making waves in Slavic region, and deservedly so.

Rating: 4/5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic8ZJbozYFY

ZABLUDA LYRICS — English translation

The moon is in the sign of Scorpio
It’s her time
Later on, they were all copies
Colorless and silent
When I imagine her figure
Momentarily I froze
In views I am looking for the contours
that looks like her
Head against the heart I fight
but at the end of the story
Heart sell an old trick
so I tear away
And I wander
to the roads of old days
Magic it was, creased silk
on her breasts

And to the people…
I am hiding and not talk about that
because how to explain them
even though someone’s else you are mine,
I’m still fed with the same fallacy
She could dance for ever
such presumptuous young
Days started just
when the twilight reign
and silent find the road
in the nights of silver
And I wander
to that places where she was mine
But the mornings sneak up
and take away all hope
while I’m waking up

And to the people
I am hiding and not talk about that
because how to explain them
even though someone’s else you are mine,
I’m still fed with the same fallacy
even though someone’s else you are mine,
even though someone’s else you are mine,
every day i paint with a sad note
every dream intersect with the life
and then you are here and I’m going crazy…

To the people
I am hiding and not talk about that
because how to explain them
even though someone’s else you are mine,
I’m still fed with the same fallacy

Photo: Zeljko Joksimovic