8.12.20

Marjana Deržaj debut LP (1960)

"Let's dance Rock and Roll!" cheerfully announces Slovenian songbird Marjana Deržaj and than goes straight into some wild Dixieland that has absolutely nothing to do with Rock - it is clear that Rock mentioned here meant more like latest dance novelty, Cha Cha Cha or Twist. We are still in pre-Beatles era when artists on the old continent mostly hark back to previous decade, old-style jazz and doggy in the window - even the song itself is cover of Italian original (Adriano Celentano) so its kind of second-hand Rock, as translated in Italian and than re-imagined again for Slovenia. 

Deržaj is of course forever associated with breath of fresh, modern pop sound in her native country - one of the first artists in post-WW2 era, she embraced Western sound, dances, lighthearted fun and basically family mainstream entertainment - not unlike some Slovenian Alma Cogan or Teresa Brewer - it was all terribly urban and modern for audiences back than, specially her hit "Vozi Me Vlak V Daljave" that in hindsight seems to have been not about the trains at all. It is bit unfair to judge her recordings today because they all sound very dated - this is pre-Beatles era, when artists were perpetually cheerful and Deržaj is not an exception. She is actually perfectly fine for a song or two, but the whole LP is a bit too much - her Dixieland band and backing vocal quartet Optimisti are suitably energetic on such old chestnuts as "Careless Love", "Jeepers Creepers" and 1950s hits by Perry Como and Paul Anka. Make no mistake, this has absolutely nothing to do with Rock but is instead a nice, polite and swinging collection of 1950s hits. 

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