- Rambo Amadeus
Infobox Musical artist
Name = Rambo Amadeus
Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Antonije Pušić
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1963|6|14|mf=yKotor ,Montenegro
Died =
Origin =Montenegro
Instrument =Electric guitar
Genre = Rap,alternative rock , rock, pop
Occupation =Singer-songwriter
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.ramboamadeus.com/ www.ramboamadeus.com]Rambo Amadeus (
Serbian Cyrillic : Рамбо Амадеус, bornJune 14 ,1963 inKotor ,Montenegro , formerYugoslavia ) is the stage name of theBelgrade -based Montenegrin singer-songwriter Antonije Pušić, popular all over the formerYugoslavia . A self-titled "musician, poet, and media manipulator" continues to be one of the most interesting phenomena on music scene(s) of the formerYugoslavia .His songs combine
satirical lyrics on thenature of common people and silliness of local politics. He uses a mixture of musical styles (converging towardsdrum and bass in later works, but involving a lot ofturbo-folk elements in earlier songs), and self-conscious ironic wit (for example, one of his aliases is "Rambo Amadeus Svjetski Mega Car" (RASMC) — "Rambo Amadeus World Mega Tzar"). His stage name itself is made fromJohn Rambo andWolfgang Amadeus Mozart . Known also as a "charming king of jovial pop", his concerts are never mere repetitions of recorded songs, but amixture of musicalimprovisation andhumor exploiting all aspects ofhuman nature in a crude manner. Some fans compare his style and career path with those ofFrank Zappa orCaptain Beefheart .He is a graduate of the
University of Belgrade 's Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and he also completed six grades of elementary music school for piano before dropping out.Before taking up music as a career choice, Rambo was an accomplished competitive sailor. Between 1972 and 1984, he represented Yugoslavia in numerous international
regatta s. During this period he was champion ofMontenegro several times, an 8-time South-Adriatic champion, national title winner in the junior category, as well as InternationalĐerdap Cup winner in 1980. He still occasionally attends and participates in some recreational sailing regattas in theGulf of Kotor .He began to sing and compose during first year of high school (gymnasium) which soon led to involvement with various local bands in
Herceg Novi andTitograd . One of his first performances saw him play themandolin in an orchestra that entertained guests ofHerceg Novi 's Plaza hotel.In 1985, he moved to
Belgrade in pursuit of higher education. Parallel to his university studies, he also played with various amateur bands and musicians.Musical career
1980s
In 1988 he dropped onto the music scene right out of nowhere with a debut album "O, tugo jesenja". His sound was a seemingly coarse blend of folkish
ululation s, rap and evenopera , further mixed in with humorous lyrics and classic guitar riffs. Since very few people had any prior knowledge of him, Rambo delighted in creating confusion by introducing himself as Nagib Fazlić Nagon, mine shaft operator who saved up enough money to record an album. He referred to his own musical style asturbo folk , long before the term would obtain grave social connotations and come to symbolize moral and cultural decline throughout the Balkans during the wars of the 1990s.In reality, it was actually thanks to producer
Saša Habić that Rambo got the opportunity to sign for the state television's record companyPGP RTB (Rambo later wrote an anecdotal tribute to that event, in the hit song "Balkan boy"). Habić also played thesynthesizer on this album, from which a track named "Vanzemaljac" (Extraterrestrial) continues to be very popular to this day. The record's sales weren't particularly high, but Rambo certainly created enough of a buzz to be able to remain active on the scene.Next album "Hoćemo gusle" came out in 1989 and gave a small taste of much of Rambo's future musical direction - overt political activism. The track "Amerika i Engleska (biće zemlja proleterska)" was originally supposed to be named "Kataklizma komunizma" (Cataclysm of Communism) but powers that be wouldn't allow it. The album title pokes fun at a bizarre event from the 1989 protests in Montenegro that eventually grew into the
anti-bureaucratic revolution that sweptMilo Đukanović ,Momir Bulatović , andSvetozar Marovic into power. Protesters were heard chanting "Hoćemo Ruse" ("We want the Russians"), but when the authorities and state-controlled media criticized them for it, many quickly began backpedaling by claiming they actually chanted "Hoćemo gusle" ("We wantgusle ").Other songs like "Glupi hit" and afore mentioned "Balkan boy" would also become considerable hits and Rambo even received solid critical acclaim for chances he took in "Samit u buregdžinici Laibach". On that track, he created a catchy hybrid by mixing pretentiously heavy sound of Laibach with poetry of
Laza Kostić andDesanka Maksimović , as well as with folk "kafana " standard "Čaše lomim" and his own turbo-poetry. Album sleeve lists the lyrics of a song that wasn't actually recorded and explains that "it was dropped at the last moment because there was no room for it" but gives assurances it would appear on the next album. Since the song in question, named "Pegepe ertebe", was all about taking shots at Rambo's label PGP RTB it isn't surprising that it didn't appear on the next, or any subsequent album for that matter.1990s
As the 1990s were beginning, Rambo was growing into an established performer. His third album "M-91" came out towards the end of 1991 at a time when the conflict across former Yugoslavia was already in full swing. For obvious reasons, the least of which was the album's subtitle - "psychological propaganda package", many songs contained heavy lyrics and a dark, militaristic atmosphere. In your face profanity and descriptive cursing was also par for the course, making this the first major music release in former Yugoslavia to take such narrative liberties. Tracks like "Smrt popa Mila Jovovića" (30-year old poem by Božo Đuranović), "Jemo voli jem" (incorporating samples from Yugoslav aviators' anthem "Hej vojnici vazduhoplovci" as well as
Šemsa Suljaković 's "Izgubila sve sam bitke"), "Inspektor Nagib" and "Zdravo damo" became instant hits.The discrepancy between what's listed on the cover and what is actually recorded is there again as sleeve announces the track called "KPGS" which would, this time for real, appear on the next live album, but does not list "Halid invalid Hari" and "Prijatelju, prijatelju" which were included and became big hits. Many consider the two tracks to be classic Rambo: observant, opinionated, direct and profane. The latter of the two originally included excerpts from
Slobodan Milošević andFranjo Tuđman speeches, but the record company censors took them out.This album further solidified Rambo's presence on the scene as he started playing bigger arenas like Sava centar. Due to outspoken and entertaining nature he would often get invited on various TV and radio outlets across the country.
Trying to take the new situation in stride, he hit the road, becoming one of the first performers from FR Yugoslavia to regularly start touring Macedonia and
Slovenia in the years following those states' declarations of independence.After live album "KPGS" (taped on
December 29 ,1992 inSkopje ) that included new studio track "Karamba karambita" followed by a greatest hits compilation "Izabrana dela 1989–1994", Rambo recorded peculiar new material during July 1995 inParis withGoran Vejvoda . Released the following year as "Mikroorganizmi", it featured inaccessible, moody sound garnered with terse, experimental lyrics marking a sizable departure from his usual antics.He simultaneously released "Muzika za decu", personal musical take on
Ljubivoje Ršumović 's poetry featuring two bonus new tracks - "Sex" and "ABVGD".Old-school Rambo fans did not have to wait long for a return to earlier style. Towards the end of 1996, on "Titanik" he delivered a new batch of traditional fare like "Šakom u glavu", "Sado-mazo", "Zreo za penziju" and "Otiš'o je svak ko valja" (dedicated to
Toma Zdravković and members ofŠarlo Akrobata ). Seasoned musicians likeOgnjan Radivojević (later to perform withGoran Bregović andZdravko Čolić ),Goran Ljuboja ,Dragan Markovski andMarija Mihajlović took part in recording sessions for this album.Extensive tour followed and it again included
Slovenia (live album was recorded over twoLjubljana concerts in April 1997 and later released as "Koncert v KUD France Prešeren"), as well as Bosnia where Rambo appeared as a guest atSejo Sexon 'sZabranjeno pušenje gig inSarajevo . That appearance in December 1997 was the first post-war visit by a Serbian-Montenegrin performer to the Muslim part of Bosnia.On
June 9 ,1998 , Rambo played Belgrade'sDom sindikata hall in what he announced to be the farewell performance before retirement. Even if many doubted his sincerity, the concert was a memorable one. Soon, Rambo packed his bags and left for theNetherlands , though not before squeezing in two more shows in Bosnia. In the Netherlands, he worked a series of menial jobs including construction, before deciding to return toBelgrade after only 4 months abroad. Back home, not surprisingly, he also returned to music and continued to break down inter-ethnic barriers: onDecember 10 ,1998 , he andMargita Stefanović played a show inPula at the local cinema withKUD Idijoti , which was a first opportunity since the war for a Croatian audience to see performers fromSerbia andMontenegro .2000s
Throughout the year 2000, Rambo worked on what would eventually become the "Don't Happy, Be Worry" album. This album included the song "Laganese" in which sampled the Norwegian
journalist Åsne Seierstad singing the NorwegianFolk song "Eg rodde meg ut på seiegrunnen " andswearing . By this time, sampling and local pop-cultural references became two more staples of his sound, and this material, too, was heavy on both. Produced by Iztok Turk, it featured tracks like "Čoban je upravo napustio zgradu" (loose cover ofNeda Ukraden 's "Zora je svanula"), "Moj skutere" that borrows fromOliver Dragojevic 's "Moj galebe", and "Izađite molim" with sprinkled in dialogues fromGoran Marković 's 1975 movie "Variola vera".In 2004, Rambo released his third live album "Bolje jedno vruće pivo nego 4 ladna", which was followed by the studio album "Oprem dobro" in mid-2005.
He made a song "Dikh tu kava" in collaboration with ethno-jazz fusion band Kal, and in 2007. he appeared on their album as a featured artist in the song "Komedija" ("Comedy").
He gave us another extraordinary performance called "Mixing of alternative rocks" in autumn 2007, when he "played" on 12 concrete mixers in front of the audience, during The Alternative Rock Festival in SKC, Belgrade.
For the purpose of the New Year's show on
RTV , he appeared in the song "Rakija" followed byZorule , the traditional folk orchestra. This song was used later as one of the tracks for "Vratiće se rode " tv serial.In February 2008, Rambo Amadeus performed as a guest star of The
RTS Big Band jazz orchestra, for their 60th Anniversary."Hipishizik Metafizik" is his latest studio album, released for
PGP in July 2008.Other endeavours
In addition to a prolific solo recording career, Rambo frequently engaged in different, often bizarre side projects.
*In 1989 in
Sarajevo , for a short while, he hosted an erotic quiz show with actressJasna Beri named "Turbo-lilihip", which aired on a local TV station SA3.*He wrote music for different theatre plays such as " _sr. Đetić u parlament", " _sr. Oksimoron", as well as " _sr. Lažni car Šćepan Mali" for which he was awarded Sterija prize in 1994.
*Rambo also wrote lyrics for commercial folk stars like
Lepa Brena andVesna Zmijanac , as well as the entire score for 1994 film " _sr. Slatko od snova", which was a star vehicle for another folk performerDragana Mirković .*That same year he wrote a musical base for 1927 silent movie "Metropolis" by
Fritz Lang . At a movie screening atSava Center , Rambo's music was played by Belgrade Philharmonic. The material was later recorded by Rambo himself along with Miroslav Savić and Heavily Manipulated Orchestra, and released as "Metropolis B Tour de Force".*A year later, he arranged a
cadenza within "A concerto for piano and orchestra in C-minor" by W.A. Mozart. In 1995, candenza was performed byIvan Tasovac , while the entire concert was conducted byOskar Danon atBelgrade 's Kolarac concert hall.*From early 2005 Rambo has been writing a column " _sr. Megacarska razmišljanja" ("Mega-Imperial Thoughts") for the daily tabloid "Blic".
Discography
tudio albums
*1988 - "O tugo jesenja" ("Oh Autumn Sorrow"),
PGP RTB
*1989 - "Hoćemo gusle" ("We WantGusle ") , PGP RTB
*1991 - "Psihološko-propagandni komplet M-91" ("Psychological Propaganda Set M-91"), PGP RTB
*1995 - "Muzika za decu" ("Music for Children"),B92
*1996 - "Mikroorganizmi" ("Microorganisms"), Komuna
*1997 - "Titanic", Komuna
*1998 - "Metropolis B (tour-de-force)", B92
*2000 - "Don't happy be worry", Metropolis (Released as "Čobane vrati se" ("Shepherd, Come Back") in Slovenia and Croatia byDallas Records )
*2005 - "Oprem dobro ", B92
*2008 - "Hipišizik metafizik ",PGP RTS Live albums
*1993 - "Kurac, Pička, Govno, Sisa" ("Dick, Cunt, Shit, Tit"),
Gema & DE
*1998 - "R.A. u KUD France Prešern",Vinilmania
*2004 - "Bolje jedno vruće pivo nego četri ladna" ("One Warm Beer is Better than Four Cold Ones"), MetropolisCompilationas
*1994 - "Izabrana dela" ("Selected Works"),
PGP RTS
*1998 - "Zbrana dela 1" ("Selected Works 1"), Vinilmania
*1998 - "Zbrana dela 2" ("Selected Works 2"), VinilmaniaReferences
*Janjatovic, Petar. "Ilustrovana ex-Yu rock enciklopedija 1960–2000" (dopunjeno izdanje). Novi Sad: Prometej, 2001.
External links
* [http://www.ramboamadeus.com Official website]
** [http://www.ramboamadeus.cg.yu/downloseumaudio.html Freely available songs] (ogg andmp3 format)
** [http://www.ramboamadeus.cg.yu/musicmain.html Sound clips]
* [http://www.myspace.com/ramboamadeus Official MySpace Page]
* [http://www.youtube.com/RamboAmadeusSMC Official YouTube Page]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rambo-Amadeus/11905338353?ref=s Official Facebook Page]
* [http://www.akordi.co.yu/arhiv/rambo/rambo1.htm www.akordi.co.yu]
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