Ćuti, ćuti ujko

From Savez

"Ćuti, ćuti ujko" (Serbian Cyrillic: "Ћути, ћути ујко", lit. "Shut Up, Shut Up, Uncle!") is a song written and performed by prominent Serb war singer Baja Mali Knindža, featuring Riblja Čorba front man Bora Čorba.

"Ћути, ћути ујко"
Cuticutiujko-still.png
Still from official video.
Song by Баја Мали Книнџа
from the album Још се ништа не зна
English titleShut Up, Uncle!
Released1993 (1993)
GenreNovokompovana
Length2:20
LabelSuperTon
Producer(s)Цветин Тодоровић

Music and lyrics

"Čuti, ćuti ujko" was written based on a personal experience Baja had where he would send banter to a childhood friend on the opposing front via Motorola. The original version written on location is identical to the final studio recording, though the line "Halo Ujko, ovde Čedo, jebo li te pas!" was originally "alo Čedo, ovde Ujko, ajd' dođi kod nas", "ćuti" is only said once, and the mention of "Ne volim te Alija" is not present.

Baja would meet Riblja Čorba front man Bora Čorba on the show "Minimaksovizije". After the show, the two would chat where Baja would find out that the two shared similar ideas and in turn, become friends. Bora would the agree to be a guest in the song.[1]

"Ujka", derived from the word for maternal uncle, "ujak" is pejorative slang to reffer to a Croat due to its similarity to the word "ustaša". "Čedo" (English translation: "kid"), often mistakenly transcribed as "đedo" is the Serbian equivalent due to its similarity to the word, "četnik". The Bosnian equivalent to these terms should not be confused with the derogatory word "balija". Rather, the pejorative equivalent that is also featured in the song is "Mujo", which derives from the name "Mujo", a diminutive of "Mustafa". These terms were used during the war, though it is not known if either terms were widely used within Serbia itself.

Both Baja and Bora take turns singing the verses with the ladder adding his own flair rather than mimicking the former's tone. Two songs are mentioned from Baja's discography: "Krv nije voda" (referred to as "Stiže Vojvoda") and "Ne volim te Alija".

Music video

 
The duo meeting at the rendezvous point.

The music video is the first video in Najveći hitovi. Baja emerges from the bushes and scans the area. He then sings the first verse of the song via a walkie talkie while holding a pistol. Bora pops up and follows along with the song. The pair group up and share Baja's walkie talkie during the chorus. They then sneak off and the camera pans out of the bushes. Baja lights a cigarette, talking into the radio with Bora following up, enthusiastically singing and lighting a cigarette. Both start singing the chorus as Baja scans the area and Bora dances. They then lie on the ground, steaking out the area where Bora brandishes his weapon. Baja becomes disappointed that someone has interrupted his conversation whereas Bora shrugs it off with the pair once again sharing the radio. They get up, finish the song, put their arms over each others shoulders and dance happily.

Lyrics

Lyrics:

Na radio stanici čujem neki glas,
"Halo Ujko, ovde Čedo, jebo li te pas!"

Ćuti, ćuti ujko, ubiću te ja,
znaš li onu našu "Stiže Vojvoda"

Palim cigaretu, dok pričam za njim,
opsuje mi majku, ja mu uzvratim

Ćuti, ćuti ujko, ubiću te ja,
znaš li onu našu "Stiže Vojvoda"

Razmišljo sam dugo kako bi ga prešo,
ali nam se Mujo u vezu umešo

Ćuti, ćuti Mujo, ubiću te ja,
znaš li onu našu "Stiže Vojvoda",
ćuti, ćuti mujo, ubiću te ja,
znaš li onu našu "Ne volim te Alija"

Lyrics (English):

[TBA]

Ćuti, ćuti ujko (instrumental)

"Ћути, ћути ујко (инструментал)"
 
Title card for the VHS where the instrumental would play.
Song by Баја Мали Книнџа
from the album Још се ништа не зна
English titleShut Up, Uncle! (Instrumental)
Released1993 (1993)
GenreNovokompovana
Length2:20
LabelSuperTon
Producer(s)Цветин Тодоровић

Instrumental version

An instrumental version of the song is featured on the album. This version would be used for the opening and closing themes on the Najveći hitovi VHS. Although it is listed as having the same length as the regular version on the j-card, the actual length of this version and the regular version are 2:13 and 2:22, respectively. This version also has a proper ending, whereas the original version ends on a fadeout. The instrumental also has more sound effects than the regular version, most noticeably with the laugh sample. The use of sound effects are not randomly sequenced and is more akin to a solo. These sound effects are more louder in the instrumental mix than in the original version, though it is likely due to the lack of vocals.

References

  1. Zorica Konić. "Pričuvaj se ratni profiteru!". TV Novosti. 28 September 1993. Retrieved 8 February 2024.