21.12.16

"Živim Po Svom" by Doris Dragović (1997)


It seems like another lifetime now, but when Doris Dragović first came to public attention, she was a member of fine pop band "More" and that particular line up left breezy, light funk 1983. album that sounded as a perfect summer music. Than came whole decade of hugely successful solo years where she somehow got distracted (or should I say sidetracked) into folksy weepy schlagers that were immensely popular but it made you wonder whatever happened to pop music - collaboration with composer Zrinko Tutić was profitable and fruitful, however with time it started to sound predictable and formulaic so when change of composers took place, it really came as a breath of fresh air.

Almost everything on this album came from Vjekoslava and Tonči Huljić, established songwriting team from Split who connected the dots and skillfully brought Dragović to upbeat, current pop music while simultaneously preserving just a touch of folksy ingredients that already became her trademark. As result, singer sounds invigorated, energized and inspired as she have not been in a long, long time, in fact this is probably what her old band would play had she stayed with them. Its really uplifting to hear her sunny and young again, after spending way too long with melodramatic folk ballads that threatened to pigeonhole her in certain box - occasionally she even dares to stretch vocally, as in rock ballad "Zapjevaj" where she wordlessly vocalises together with snarling guitars, this is definitely something we never heard from her before. Petar Grašo guests as a duet partner and even contributes previously mentioned song. There is also gentle, atmospheric ballad "Nespokoj" that might be the highlight of the album (it comes in two versions here) and one song by Pero Kozomara ("Tek iz navike") that fits perfectly with the rest of the selection. One of strongest albums in her discography.

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