Ceznja

Čežnja
Studio album by Hanka Paldum
Released	1980
Genre	Folk

Čežnja is the first album released by the Bosnian folk musician Hanka Paldum.

Background

After significant success with the single "Volljela sam, voljela" , she recorded another single “Odrecu se I srebra I zlata” (I will give up silver and gold) and at the same time is in preparation for her first album named after one of the songs which it includes “Ceznja” (Yearning). Along Milic Vukasinovic as the author, Nikola Borota as music producer, engineer and arranger, other recognized names from the world of folk, pop and rock music are present: Goran Bregovic, Slobodan Bodo Kovacevic, Mijat Bozovic, Blagoje Kosanin…For the first time in Yugoslavian folk music the synthesizers, electric guitars and full drum kits were used, songs had different arrangement than traditional, Hanka’s interpretations were different and original.

With the song “Voljela sam, voljela” and the album “Ceznja” new norms and standards were set in folk music, a new direction, in a way a small revolution: merger of folk and rock music and breaking of barriers between genres. With many music critics, composers and colleagues the album wasn’t faced with acceptance and praise, yet on claims that this kind of music undermines the traditional folk music. However, Hanka, along with her team, believed in herself and her success and was certain that the material, even if unusual and untraditional, was something new and possessed quality. That was confirmed later because “Ceznja” was overwhelmingly accepted by the public, broke many industry records, and is sold in over a million copies, and the songs in new folk-rock manner attracted listeners who never listened to her or folk music.

With non-traditional business approach Hanka started attracting the media as well as the public: as the singer promoted the album “Ceznja” on Opatija festival of music, she also promoted it in Belgrade and had her first solo concert in “Dom sindikata.” Tour of the whole ex-Yugoslavia followed, and almost every song from the album is a hit. Till this day “Crne kose” (Black hair), “Zbog tebe” (For you), Ceznja, and Zbogom (Goodbye) are listened and are part of her collection of folk evergreens.

Track listing

1. Hej, ljubavi
2. Ne trazi me
3. Kamo srece da ga nisam srela
4. Najdrazoj ljubavi
5. Ceznja
6. Zbog tebe
7. Bez ljubavi tvoje
8. Hocu lijepe reci
9. Crne kose
10. Zbogom