Komunjare

"Комуњаре"
One of the more popular scenes from the music video.
Song by Баја Мали Книнџа
from the album Живеће овај народ
English title	Commies
Released	1993 (1993)
Genre	Novokompovana
Length	4:23
Label	Nina Trejd
Producer(s)	Жељко Грујић

"Komunjare" (Serbian Cyrillic: "Комуњаре", lit. "Commies") is a song written and performed by prominent Serb war singer Baja Mali Knindža. Since its initial appearance in Živeće ovaj narod, it has been a set list favorite and recieved some radio play in its time. In the present day has gained a cult following in the West due to its anti-communist themes following its exposure to a wider, international audience from the YouTube channel, Naša Srpska Arhiva.

Music and lyrics

While it is not likely this is the book Baja is referring to, this communist brochure and others like it were usually smaller than a passport.

"Komunjar" is a derogatory version of "komunist". The translation of "komunist" in English is the cognate, "communist" and the English equivalent to "komunjar" is "commie". It should not be confused for the English term "Communard" which sounds similar, but refers to members of a movement that predated and is otherwise unrelated to communism.

The song tells about communists insisting that the narrator should join them with no luck with its chorus stating that the communists are in it for the money not the people. It is unknown if the song is based off of a real life experience Baja had. It is not clear which kind of small red book Baja is referring to, but it is a communist book of some sort. While it is plausible that he is referring to the Communist Manifesto, surviving images of the book show that only the title text is red. Contrary to popular belief, Baja was allowed to join the military, but was not permitted to be in any combat-related positions due to only having one kidney. He completed mandatory service, which is why singing about a time where he was in the army is not so out-of-the blue.

Music video

"All of you communists are made from the same mold."

Shortly before the video plays, a skit from comedian Milan Milbaša is shown. The video fades to yellow and transitions to the music video. The video occasionally shows a figure in painted glass and Baja with a brown bomber and aviator sunglasses. When Baja sings "Molili me svaki dan", he picks up two phones, a scene that has gained notoriety for how silly it looks, especially in the West. When he sings "svi ste vi komunisti/pravljeni na kalup isti" he makes a mold gesture. The girl who appears in a few videos in the Najveći hitovi VHS suddenly appears after the first recital of the chorus. Baja pretending to do paperwork hands her the papers and she goes on her way, never to be seen again in the video. When he sings the line "vi volite samo pare" for the last time, he gets crumpled bills out of his pocket and throws it on the table.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Kad sam bio ja u školi, nudili mi knjižicu, onu malu crvenu molili me svaki dan, da postanem njihov član, ali nisam, nisam hteo ja molili me svaki dan, da postanem njihov član, jače reči đede Krstana Komunjare, komunjare vi volite samo pare, svi ste vi komunisti, pravljeni na kalup isti Kad sam bio ja u vojsci, donosili hartije, sve članovi partije, Kad sam doš'o ja na pos'o, direktori zvali mene, poslovođa i šef smene molili me svaki dan, da postanem njihov član, ali nisam, nisam hteo ja molili me svaki dan, da postanem njihov član, jače reči đede Krstana Komunjare, komunjare vi volite samo pare, svi ste vi komunisti, pravljeni na kalup isti Kad sam doš'o ja na pos'o, direktori zvali mene, poslovođa i šef smene, molili me svaki dan, da postanem njihov član, ali nisam, nisam hteo ja molili me svaki dan, da postanem njihov član, jače reči đede Krstana Komunjare, komunjare vi volite samo pare, svi ste vi komunisti, pravljeni na kalup isti

Lyrics (English): [TBA]