Josipa Lisac rarities

While I'm writing about Josipa Lisac, it occurred to me to look back at two of rarities in her back catalogue - she is known as eccentric and eclectic rock singer capable of turning unexpected directions and still sounding recognizable.

In 1975. Josipa Lisac was playing main female role in hugely successful "Gubec beg" rock opera (clearly modeled on "Jesus Christ Superstar" as way to bring rock music on theatre stage) where female folk choir "Ladarice" were invited as special attraction. "Ladarice" had a particular, throaty sound of village girls singing on top of their lungs and they usually sang traditional folk songs, but in "Gubec beg" they were functioning like a greek chorus echoing the story.  Almost like outtake from "Gubec beg" comes song "Dvanaesta je majka Slavonije" written for festival of patriotic songs that year, where famous Rock Lady sings backed by "Ladarice" - it is true rarity, not only because of lyrics (celebrating famous Partizans of Slavonija) but also because music sounds like genuine traditional folk song.

"Dvanaesta je majka Slavonije" starts with Josipa Lisac solo - she uses her voice just like "Ladarice" usually do, full throated, echoing from one village to another, than "Ladarice" join in with their heavenly harmonies. Its such a shock that it takes a moment or two before surprised listener realize this is actually Josipa Lisac who camouflaged her voice to sound like "Ladarice" and is singing hymn to WW2 partizans. The song is hard core traditional folk and beautiful in its own way - even if lyrics sound strange today, its only because we are distanced from WW2 and its following decades, in 1975 it was completely common to sing revolutionary songs and this is what we learned and sang in schools. Songs about war, partizans and Tito. Today its very fashionable to question and criticize it all but not so long ago it was our reality.

"Omer beže" and "Niz polje idu babo sejmeni" was a brave and completely unexpected experiment - our Rock Lady sining "sevdah" (Bosnian variation on Otoman folk music) backed by authentic Bosnian folk musicians. According to interviews, her lover/composer Karlo Metikoš listened when Lisac hummed around the house and convinced her to record a single just for a sake to show that she is capable to expand in different directions. Known as a young and angry rock singer ("screamer") Lisac already had a reputation trough her various festival performances and stunning rock album debut, but nobody knew or expected she was capable of this kind of singing - she completely follows rules how "Sevdah" is supposed to be sung (with long phrasing, feeling and respect) but adds her own twist to it, so its immediately recognizable that is Josipa Lisac who sings this. Songs were ancient stories from centuries-old days so nobody could accuse of of selling out (however, it did sold very well). Highly praised for this experiment (even by true "sevdah" singers like Beba Selimović) Lisac refused to follow obvious commercial success and hardly ever sang this again, it was never compiled on her official compilations and today only music connoisseurs know about this.