Crvena jabuka

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Crvena jabuka is a pop band from former Yugoslavia that originated in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, but is stationed in Zagreb, Croatia since the beginning of the Yugoslav Wars. In former Yugoslavia they were one of the most successful and productive bands ever. The group was, together with Bijelo Dugme, Plavi Orkestar, Dino Merlin, and Zabranjeno Pušenje a prime example of the famous Sarajevo school of pop rock, but the origins of the band were closely related to the punk-oriented New Primitives movement.

Crvena jabuka, which means "Red Apple", was founded in 1985. In the first row of the band was: Dražen Ričl - vocal, guitar, songwriter; Zlatko Arslanagić - guitar, songwriter; Dražen Žerić - synthesizers, back vocals; Aljoša Buha - bass guitar; Darko Jelčić - drums. Their music was inspired by the Beatles and Indexi, a popular Sarajevo band from the '70s. The first album is issued in 1986, and was an instant success. The band quickly gained popularity all over former Yugoslavia. In the summer of 1986 the band headed to Mostar for a promotional concert, and suffered a car accident, in which two of the members died - Drazen Ričl and Aljoša Buha.

After one year of silence and sadness the band released the second album "Za sve ove godine", that was widely considered a sort of "in memorium". The band seemed to be destroyed, since Ričl was widely known as the personification and soul of the band, but the success of the second album encouraged the remaining members to go on as a trio, with Zlatko Arslanagić as prime songwriter, Dražen Žerić on vocals and Darko Jelčić on drums. Their third album "Sanjati", released 1988, was even greater success and is considered one of the best pop albums of the former Yugoslavia.

In the '90s, due to war erupting in their native city, the band relocated to Zagreb, Croatia. All of its members are bosnian Croats. Primary songwriter Zlatko Arslanagić left the band in 1992 and now lives in Canada.

The band is signed to Croatia Records, former Jugoton. In 1993, the band moved to Zagreb where they reformed with new members. This lineup consisted of Drazen Zeric vocals, Darko Jelcic drums, Zlatko Bebek guitar, Kresmir Kresten bass guitar, and Danijel Lastric keyboard. That same year an 18 hit compilation was released entitled "ima Nesto od Srca do Srca". This includes all the hits the band had recorded from 1986 to 1993.

[edit] Albums

Crvena jabuka (The Red Apple), 1986
Za sve ove godine (For All These Years), 1987
Sanjati (Dreaming), 1988
Tamo gdje ljubav počinje (Where The Love Begins), 1989
Uzmi me (kad hoćeš ti) (Take Me (Whenever You Want To)) - Double LP live 1990
Nekako s' proljeća (In The Springtime), 1991
Ima Nesto od Srca do Srca (There is Something from Heart to Heart) 1993 compilation
U tvojim očima (In Your Eyes), 1996
Svijet je lopta šarena (The World Is A Colourful Ball), 1998
Live, 1998
Unplugged, 1999
Sve što sanjam (Everything I Dream), 2000
Tvojim željama vođen (Led By Your Wishes), 2002
Oprosti što je ljubavna (Excuse Me For This Love Song), 2005