Jasna Benedek

Jasna Benedek belongs to very early generation of croatian pop singers from 1950s - after Ivo Robić paved a way with his example (but he started even before WW2) others followed, notably Zvonimir Krkljuš, Bruno Petrali and Rajka Vali. Sometime in late 1950s completely new generation of new singers came along ready to take their place on the stage, usually starting in amateur contests at the than-famous "Variete" and if somebody spotted them there, they would hopefully proceed to famous pop festivals that were covered nationally. 

The very first time I heard her name was during interview with Zdenka Vučković who mentioned her with great affection - in the late 1950s Vučković was just a kid and a few years short of her big break but she clearly modelled herself somehow on Benedek's example, following similar innocent voiced approach. Not much is known about Jasna Benedek and she appears to had just a short little twinkle of career, long forgotten now - most of the people would probably not remember her now because later it became norm that stars would have long careers - only occasionally colleagues would lovingly mentioned her name so it seems she did left a warm spot in many hearts.

This cute little four-song EP recorded in 1959. is a historical document now of a time long passed. Just as the cover photo shows a young girl fresh from a school, her voice is a sweet, tender and sentimental but with a personality. Ubiquitous Mario Kinel wrote lyrics for two covers and other two songs are originals - its all light swing with a romantic touch and Benedek sounds like a darling, probably inspired by movies with Doris Day. "Srcem svim" is her croatian version of than-famous pop hit "Gondolier" that Petula Clark recorded as "With all my heart" and "Bezimena ljubav" surprisingly sombre version of the theme from a movie "Barefoot contessa" that might be a highlight of the whole recording. Two croatian originals are sweet but somehow clumsy compared to international hits - "Susret pod kišobranom" has a story about meeting in the rain where two protagonists fall in love under the umbrella (how innocent and appropriate for times,but it does sound a bit strange today) while "To je moj ples" has Benedek singing from a point of the girl who is ignored on a dance. The latter song was written by somebody with name Korbar and I have to do some research here because the song actually surfaced many decades later on the album of another croatian singer, Višnja Korbar who might have remember it for sentimental reasons. 

Sweet little recording with fresh-voiced singer who fell in obscurity soon afterwards - Benedek might be found on several pop festival LPs of the early 1960s and than every trace of her disappears. Every information about her is welcome.