There is simply no going around the fact that Senka Veletanlić - who started as one of also-runners on early 1960s pop festivals and was sweetly chirping if not particularly exciting singer in her own right - spent the whole life in shadow of her younger sister. Even mighty Bisera did not have huge discography (her recordings were mostly singles) but that powerful voice had often attracted first-class composers and she did left a mark. Unfortunately Senka kind of lagged behind and you really have to search high and low to find her occasional pop festival performance, seems that lady simply wasn't the one to push or promote herself. There is one jazzy EP recording from early 1960s, handful of singles and than when probably nobody expected anymore, finally her LP debut.
Since they did not write their own material, both sisters depended on composers. Bisera had Arsen Dedić and Kornelije Kovač (even Goran Bregović) but her one and only LP album released in 1980. sank without a trace because she left it all in hands on one man - Gabor Lenđel. Who was not a slouch himself, guy worked with everybody from Indexi, Neda Ukraden, Đorđe Balašević and Seid Memić Vajta to his own band "Teška Industrija" but his work for Veletanlić sisters is less than inspired.Why did Senka decided to play all her cards on only one composer, when her sister did not had luck with him, I don't really understand but she did and it went nowhere.
Lyrics are fairly OK (written by her husband Zafir Hadžimanov), often humorous and witty look at middle-aged woman who is not in the first youth anymore and aware of it all. She is even conscious of younger sibling's supremacy ("Pa Šta"), laughs at herself ("Pevačica") and croons gently as always but final result as album does not really work because there is nothing remotely exciting or interesting here, the collection is really extremely mild and unadventurous. Its really interesting that someone who is in music her whole life could not use this rare chance to come up with something else than musings about telephone relationship or let's-stay-together-so-we-won't-be-alone type of song. Looking back at her jazz covers and all those 1960s covers anyway, seems that Senka Veletanlić really suffered from lack of strong material. No hits from this and no more albums either. You can complain about new, young and unwashed generations being aggressive and unsophisticated but kids at least always know how to get attention. Luckily her own son seems to grow into talented, original and creative musician.
No comments:
Post a Comment