Donesi mi grudu zemlje
Donesi mi grudu zemlje (lit. Bring me a lump of earth) is the second patriotic album by singer Duško Lokin, made before the war, released in April 1990, around the time of the first multi-party elections in Croatia.
Background
Political situation
The political situation in Croatia, like in the rest of Yugoslavia, was changing by 1989. The first political parties were being established and on the 10th of December 1989 the League of Communists of Croatia adopted the decision that the next elections in early 1990 would be free, multiparty elections. On the 11th of January 1990 the League of Communists amended legislation to permit the establishment of political parties. The first political parties were registered on the 5th of February. The first round of elections was scheduled on the 22-23rd of April and the second on the 6-7th of May. The main political organization was the nationalist party Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) led by Franjo Tuđman, which fought for the independence of Croatia and which would subsequently win the elections.
The music scene at the start of the 90s
The political changes were also visible in the music scene of that time. The first Croatian patriotic songs, mostly old folk songs, were recorded in late 1989-early 1990. Despite the ban of such materials in Yugoslavia, there seemed to have been little intervention from the authorities and the songs spread both inside the country and abroad. Duško himself already recorded an album in 1989 entitled Najljepše Hrvatske rodoljubne pjesme, consisting of both folk and newly composed patriotic songs. The album was released outside Croatia, in Switzerland, and it spread across the diaspora. Duško was afraid that the authorities might question him, but they did not.[1]
The album
With this situation in mind, Duško wanted to make a patriotic album:
"At the beginning of the nineties, Đorđe (Novković) and I decided that we should make a patriotic album" [2]
Despite the mention, Đorđe Novković was not credited on the album. The music was composed by Duško, while the main lyricist was Željko Pavičić. The album was arranged by famous composer and arranger Ivo Lesić. The 10 songs would be recorded at Nenad Vilović's studio in Split and produced by Božo Medić, who worked previously with Ivo Fabijan on his 1989 patriotic album Riječ Hrvatska.
Release
The album came out in April 1990 and would be promoted in Večernji list on the 13th and 19th of April. The lead song was an adaptation of the poem Gospa Marija by famous writer AG Matoš (1873-1914). The album contained both patriotic and love song. Apart from the title track, other notable songs on the album were Ja Hrvatsku zaboravit neću, a big hit in the diaspora, A cover of the folk song Marjane, marjane and Majko zemljo, written by Duško himself and first released on his 1989 patriotic album under the name U tebi da sklopim oči, now in a new arrangement.
The album was released by Jugoton on both LP and cassette, and it was also rereleased by HDZ together with other patriotic albums in their electoral campaign and rereleased in Switzerland by IVS as well. IVS would also released a VHS tape by the same name later the same year.
Popularity
The album would became one of the best selling patriotic albums at that time[3] and would also attract the attention of Croatian president Franjo Tuđman who made Duško one of his campaign singers.
"And it was because of that song that Franjo Tuđman chose me and the late Ivo Fabijan to sing in the campaign. We were his first singers and we didn't take a kuna in fees."[2]
According to him, he sang for two years gathering money for Croatia and not getting paid at all during that time.
"I am particularly proud to have participated in it. We collected money for the defense of Croatia from throughout the world. Of course I liked it and was glad, but I was never a member of the HDZ. I never asked or received anything from them. Many have profited because their fees increased as soon as they joined. I can proudly say that Ivo Fabijan and I sang for two years without a fee, and I'm not sorry for that."[2]
The songs were also well received by the general public and still remains well liked.
"Even today, when I sing it, people stand up and cry, so you can imagine what it was like back then."[2]
Ja Hrvatsku zaboravit neću and Donesi mi grudu zemlje became anthems of the diaspora and were adored by emigrants.[4]
References
- ↑ Večernji list, 01.07.1994 - Sitna mafija vlada Hrvatskom estradom - interview with Duško Lokin
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://www.24sata.hr/show/tudman-se-pored-estrade-vise-volio-druziti-sa-sampionima-659072
- ↑ Slobodna Dalmacija, 28.09.1990,- Nacionalne pjesme i kompakt-diskovi
- ↑ https://www.24sata.hr/show/lokin-je-spretan-na-pucini-i-na-bini-more-mi-je-najveca-radost-553864