Lepa Brena

Lepa Brena
Photo of Lepa Brena, taken in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Fahreta Jahić
Also known as	Fahreta Živojinović
Born	(1960-10-20) 20 October 1960 Tuzla, Yugoslavia (modern-day Bosnia)
Genres	Pop-folk, pop, dance, folk
Occupations	Musician, actress
Years active	1980–present
Labels	PGP-RTB, Diskoton, Grand Production (previously called Zabava miliona/ZaM)
Associated acts	Slatki greh, Alisa, Vesna Zmijanac, Mira Škorić, Dragana Mirković, Halid Bešlić, Kemal Monteno
Website	www.jednajebrena.com

Fahreta Živojinović (née Jahić; born 20 October 1960), known by her stage name Lepa Brena, is a Bosnian pop-folk and pop singer, actress and talent manager. She is arguably the most popular singer of the former Yugoslavia, and the top-selling female recording artist from Yugoslavia with more than 40 million records sold.

Early life

Lepa Brena was born as Fahreta Jahić to a Bosnian Muslim family in the Bosnian city of Tuzla, Yugoslavia in 1960, but grew up in Brčko. She was the third-born child of Abid Jahić (died 22 October 2010) and Ifeta Jahić. She has two older siblings, a sister Faketa and a brother Faruk.

Career

Fahreta's nickname "Brena" was given to her by her gym teacher. Later on, Serbian showman Minimax added the prefix "Lepa" (English: beautiful), creating the stage name "Lepa Brena".

In 1980, she started singing with the band Slatki Greh when the group's original singer Spasa left the band because of her marriage. Saša Popović, the band's frontman, was initially opposed to the idea that Lepa Brena should be the band's new singer, but later changed his opinion. She subsequently moved to Novi Sad and then to Belgrade. Brena started to sing in hotel TURIST in Backa Palanka. She and Slatki Greh released their first album, Čačak, Čačak, in 1981. It was named after Čačak, Serbia. The album was written mostly by Milutin Popović-Zahar, and the career-manager was Vladimir Cvetković. That same year Lepa Brena and Slatki Greh appeared in the first part of Yugoslavian classic comedy Tesna koža, which raised their profile and brought them almost instant fame. She would again team up with songwriter Milutin Popović-Zahar for her second album Mile voli disko (Mile Loves the Disco), was released in 1982. The album had a few hit songs: "Mile voli disko", "Duge noge" (Long Legs), "Čini Gajle" (Gajle Does), "Ovaj život vara nas" (This Life Tricks Us), "Danas plačem ja, a sutra ćeš ti" (Today I Am Crying, Tomorrow You Will) and "Dama iz Londona" (The Dame From London.)

She is arguably the most popular singer of the former Yugoslavia, and a top-selling female record artist with more than 40 million records sold.

In 1983, Lepa Brena ended her collaboration with Milutin Popović-Zahar and Vladimir Cvetković. That year Lepa Brena and Slatki Greh participated in Jugovizija (Yugoslav selection for the Eurovision Song Contest) with the song "Sitnije, Cile, sitnije" (Less, Cile, Less, which was a track on the extended play of the same name, Sitnije, Cile, sitnije). Her appearance caused confusion among the audience, since Jugovizija was considered exclusively reserved for pop singers. Although they did not qualify for the prestigious European competition, Lepa Brena and Slatki Greh won the contest, gaining even more popularity.

The following year, Brena and the band started a cooperation with a new manager/producer Raka Đokić. Bato, Bato, her third album, was released the same year. A new provocative image was accompanied by a new musical style, different from the one fostered by Popović. Later that year, she held a concert in neighboring Romania, at the stadium in Timisoara to an audience of 65,000. It was the first successful concert of a Yugoslav singer outside their home country.

Her next three albums, Pile moje (My Dear, 1985) and Voli me, voli (Love Me, Love Me) and Uske pantalone (Short Shorts) (both 1986) would propel her to the throne of the Yugoslav music scene.

Along with these albums, she established a cooperation with Yugoslav folk star Miroslav Ilić and recorded a collaborative extended play Jedan dan života (One Day of Life), which featured four songs, including a romantic duet called "Jedan dan života", and the song "Živela Jugoslavija" (Long Live Yugoslavia), which was received with a mixed response. The latter song was in line with Brena's only official political stance: an uncompromising support of a united Yugoslavia, with her becoming a symbol of this view.

By the end of 1986, Lepa Brena has already become the most popular public figure in Yugoslavia. Later that year, her manager Raka Đokić came up with the idea that her next studio album should be followed by a movie in which would Lepa Brena should play a major role. This idea was successfully implemented in 1987 when the motion picture Hajde da se volimo was filmed. The film had the same name as the album. Many then-popular Yugoslav actors co-starred in the film, including Dragomir Gidra Bojanić, Milutin Karadžić, Velimir Bata Živojinović, Milan Štrljić etc.

Based on the success of the original, two sequels were produced: Hajde da se volimo 2 (1989) which was followed by the studio album Četiri godine (Four Years), and the film Hajde da se volimo 3 which was followed by the studio album Boli me uvo za sve (I Don't Care About Anything) in 1990.

In the turbulent years of the late 1980s and early 1990s, Lepa Brena held more than three-hundred and fifty concerts yearly, and would often hold two concerts in one day. Lepa Brena set a record by holding thirty-one concerts consecutively at Dom Sindikata, and seventeen concerts consecutively at the Sava Center. In the late 1990s Brena held a concert at Levski stadium in Sofia (Bulgaria), with an audience of 100,000 people.

Brena and Slatki Greh released their second-to-last album together: Zaljubiška (I Fell in Love), in 1991. Her manager and producer, Raka Đokić, died suddenly on 30 October 1993.

Besides her career as a singer, she is one of the founders of Grand Slam Group and Grand Production (formerly Zabava miliona/ZaM) since 1998.

In 1994, after a nearly three-year break, Brena recorded her first solo album Ja nemam drugi dom (I Have No Other Home), and held a famous "Concert in the Rain" at Tašmajdan stadium which was attended by 35,000 people. After that, she recorded two more solo albums: Kazna Božija (God's Punishment, 1995) and Luda za tobom (Crazy For You, 1996).

Lepa Brena and Slatki Greh released their twelfth and final album together in 2000: Pomračenje sunca (Solar Eclipse.)

Press Conference, March 2012

After eight years of absence from making music, Lepa Brena returned in 2008 with a studio album, Uđi slobodno... (Enter Freely....) The album contained ten new songs, nine of which were written by Brena's old song-writer Marina Tucaković and Aleksandar Milić Mili. She then released her sixteenth album, Začarani krug (Magic Circle), in 2011. Both albums were major successes.

Personal life

She married Serbian tennis star Slobodan Živojinović in 1991, but did not convert to Serbian Orthodoxy and stayed a Muslim. Their wedding on 7 December 1991 was a supreme media event throughout the then-still-existing Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The lavish ceremony took place at Belgrade's InterContinental Hotel. The level of interest in the event was such that Brena's manager Raka Đokić even released a VHS tape of the wedding. Their very public relationship has been providing steady fodder for various yellow media publications ever since. The couple has three sons - Filip (Brena's step son), Stefan (born 1992) and Viktor (born 1998).

She broke her leg in a skiing accident in November 1992 and it took six months for her to heal.

On 23 November 2000, their son Stefan was kidnapped. After they had paid a ransom of 2,500,000 deutsche mark in cash, he was released, having been held for five days. She resides in Belgrade with her husband and sons.

After her marriage, she moved to the United States and ceased cooperation with Slatki Greh. However, in 2000 they recorded another album together Pomračenje sunca, their last album to date. After the debacle and family drama, she went on hiatus once again, for eight years.

Brena and her husband have a home in Coconut Creek in Pompano Beach, Florida, where they lived during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. She also has an apartment in Monte Carlo and another townhouse on Fisher Island in Florida. More recently, in 2010, Brena and her husband purchased a five bedroom villa with an in-ground heated pool on one of Miami's Islands. Purchase price of $1.6 million in cash.

In October 2010, her father Abid Jahić was severely injured when a bus hit him as he walked in the city of Brčko. He was transported to a hospital in Tuzla where he died on 22 October 2010 aged about 82 years. He was buried in a Muslim funeral three days after his death. Brena and her two siblings, along with their mother and other family members and citizens of Brčko attended his funeral.

Brena was hospitalized on 27 July 2012 when she complained of pain and was diagnosed as having venous thrombosis, a blood clot. She remained in the hospital for three days, then was released. A similar incident occurred in 2004 when a blood clot in her hand was removed. In August 2012, she was forced to cancel three months of scheduled concerts to deal with further complications with her illness.

Controversy

In 2009, Bosnian and Croatian people protested her concerts in Sarajevo on 30 May and in Zagreb on 13 June. The reason behind the protests were pictures printed of her in 1993 during the Bosnian War wearing the uniform of the Army of Republika Srpska in her besieged hometown, Brčko. The Army of Republika Srpska were Serbs who were ethnically cleansing Bosnian Muslim and Croat populations. That combined with the fact that she herself was a Muslim woman, born in Bosnia, who married a Serb, moved to Serbia, gave her two children Serbian names and allegedly legally changed her Muslim name "Fahreta" to the Serb name "Jelena" (which she denied.) Croatian and Bosnian protesters were angered that she was performing in their countries and called her a "traitor" and "Chetnik". The concerts went ahead as scheduled with no incident and she claimed the uniform was from the set of a 1990 music video for her song "Tamba Lamba", in which she wore a similar uniform while filming at a zoo in Kenya for the movie, Hajde da se volimo 3. Although, when compared side by side, the uniforms are different. Brena also claimed she was only in Brčko in 1993 to rescue her parents.

Discography

During her 30+ year career, she has released a total of sixteen studio albums, two EP's and two compilation albums:

Čačak, Čačak (1981)

Čačak, Čačak (1981, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Čačak, Čačak
2. Otišla si sa salaša
3. Bez ljubavi srece nema
4. Snela koka jaje
5. Moj deda je bio kavaljer
6. Lala iz Banata
7. Ljubi me, Omere
8. Žeravica
9. Daleko je moja Mica
10. Snove snivam

Mile voli disko (1982, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Mile voli disko
2. Duge noge
3. Danas plačem ja, a sutra ćeš ti
4. Došlo vreme da se pođe
5. Čini Gajle
6. Dama iz Londona
7. Ne postoji juče, ne postoji sutra
8. Ovaj život vara nas
9. Još juče za tebe dala bih sve
10. Ilijo, mori bekrijo

Sitnije, Cile, sitnije (1983, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Sitnije, Cile, sitnije
2. Hej, najluđe moje

Bato, Bato (1984)

Bato, Bato (1984, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Bato, Bato
2. Bosanac
3. Šta ti je
4. Čik priđi ako smeš
5. Brani me, brani
6. Volim te sve luđe
7. Nemoj reći da me voliš
8. Moj je lola zvezda rock'n'rolla
9. Boc, boc
10. Igraj Boro, moje oro
11. Epidemija ljubavi
12. Recite mu da ga volim
13. Dečko mi je školarac

Pile moje (1985, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Pile moje
2. Mani zemlju koja Bosnu nema
3. Ljubi me, Šabane
4. Perice, moja merice
5. Moram nešto ljubiti
6. Bobo, Bobo
7. Šeik
8. Mače moje
9. Nežna žena
10. Janoš
11. Đorđe
12. Šećeru, šećeru

Jedan dan života (1985, PGP-RTS) with Miroslav Ilić

1. Jedan dan života
2. Pričali su pričali
3. Živela Jugoslavija
4. Volimo se iz inata

Voli me, voli (1986, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Voli me, voli
2. Lažu te dušo moja
3. Jedna pesma za hiljadu dece
4. Sve bih dala da si moj
5. Nova šota
6. Miki, Mićo
7. Što si mala mršava k'o grana
8. Ljubim te ja
9. Priznaj mi, priznaj
10. Dud
11. Sta mi vredi čak i zlato

Uske pantalone (1986, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Uske pantalone
2. Sviraj Rock 'n' Roll
3. Disko urnebes
4. Oj, Dragana, Dragana
5. Zakuni se
6. Moja Roso
7. Okrećeš mi leđa
8. Širi dragi ruke
9. Pazi šta radiš
10. Afrika

Posle devet godina (1987) single with the band Alisa

1. Posle devet godina

Hajde da se volimo (1987, Diskoton) with Slatki Greh

1. Hajde da se volimo
2. Golube
3. Učenici
4. Evo, zima će
5. Sanjam
6. On ne voli me
7. Zbog tebe
8. Udri, Mujo
9. Rodiše me nežnu i sirotu
10. Suze brišu sve

Četiri godine (1989)

Četiri godine (1989, Diskoton) with Slatki Greh

1. Četiri godine
2. Biseru beli
3. Jablane
4. Igraj dragi
5. Poželi sreću drugima
6. Čuvala me mama
7. Jugoslovenka (featuring Alen Islamović)
8. Imam pesmu da vam pevam
9. Ja pripadam samo tebi
10. Vrati mi srce
11. Sokole
12. Robinja

Lepa Brena & Slatki Greh (1990, Diskoton) with Slatki Greh

1. Četiri godine
2. Biseru beli
3. Imam pesmu da vam pevam
4. Jugoslovenka
5. Ja pripadam samo tebi
6. Robinja
7. Poželi sreću drugima
8. Hajde da se volimo
9. Golube
10. Evo zima će
11. Zbog tebe
12. Sanjam
13. Udri Mujo
14. On ne voli me

Boli me uvo za sve (1990)

Boli me uvo za sve (1990, Diskoton) with Slatki Greh

1. Boli me uvo za sve
2. Čik pogodi
3. Hiljadu suza
4. Umirem ti ja
5. Tamba Lamba
6. Kazni ga Bože
7. Biće belaja
8. Pokloni mi noć
9. Evo moga delije

Zaljubiška (1991, PGP-RTS) with Slatki Greh

1. Zaljubiška
2. Ljubavne igrarije (featuring Dzej)
3. Momci na vidiku
4. Kuc, kuc
5. Neka ljubav pobedi
6. Pesma narodna
7. Zatvori oči
8. Beli se golubovi vraćaju
9. Opa, opa, opa
10. Sretna Nova Godina

Ja nemam drugi dom (1994, ZaM)

1. Ja nemam drugi dom
2. Dva dana
3. Nema leka apoteka
4. 2, 3, 303 noći ja i ti
5. Moj se dragi englez pravi
6. I da odem iza leđa bogu
7. Ma gde baš ti
8. Ti ne znaš
9. Bol za bol
10. Vatra se diže

Kazna Božija (1995, ZaM)

1. Muškarci (featuring Vesna Zmijanac and Mira Škorić)
2. Kazna Božija
3. Izdajice
4. Šta bi bilo moje milo
5. Ona ili ja
6. E, moj Miko
7. Kolo, kolo
8. Nekoj drugoj decu pravi
9. Suze kraljice
10. Noćas mi srce pati (a cover of the Silvana Armenulić song Šta će mi život)

Luda za tobom (1996, ZaM)

1. Šta je bilo bilo je
2. Ti si moj greh
3. Lagarija lagara
4. Sve mi dobro ide osim ljubavi
5. Luda za tobom
6. Takve i Bog čuva
7. Ljubav je...
8. Otvori se nebo
9. Dominantan
10. Ne mogu da te prebolim
11. Pariški lokal
12. Prokleti zlatnici

Pomračenje sunca (2000, Grand Production) with Slatki Greh

1. Pomračenje sunca
2. Meni je teško najteže
3. Kolovođa
4. Crna kafa
5. Zaboravljena žena
6. Gde si ti
7. Ti me podsećaš na sreću
8. Ali Baba
9. Voleo ne voleo
10. Lepa Brena

Lepa Brena (The Best of – Dupli CD) (2004, Grand Production)

Disc 1:

1. Sanjam
2. Janoš
3. Perice
4. Mače moje
5. Sitnije cile, sitnije
6. Biseru beli
7. Bato, Bato
8. Miki, Mićo
9. Četiri godine
10. Imam pesmu da pevam
11. Jugoslovenka
12. Ja pripadam samo tebi
13. Robinja
14. Poželi sreću drugima
15. Čik pogodi
16. Udri, Mujo
17. Jedan dan života
18. Čačak
19. Mile voli disko
20. Dama iz Londona
21. Duge noge

Disc 2:

1. Luda za tobom
2. Dva dana
3. On ne voli me
4. Lagarija, lagara
5. Ja nemam drugi dom
6. Ti si moj greh
7. Sve mi ide dobro osim ljubavi
8. Noćas mi srce pati... (a cover of the Silvana Armenulić song Šta će mi život)
9. I da odem iza leđa bogu
10. Pomračenje sunca
11. Pariski lokal
12. Šta je bilo, bilo je
13. Okrećeš mi leđa
14. Golube
15. Evo zima će
16. Ti ne znaš
17. Takve i bog čuva
18. Šeik
19. Ti me podsećaš na sreću
20. Gde si ti
21. Hajde da se volimo

Uđi slobodno... (2008, Grand Production)

1. Uđi slobodno
2. Pazi kome zavidiš
3. Kuća laži
4. Grad
5. Zašto
6. Kralj
7. Sledeći
8. Dobra grešnica
9. Zrno tuge
10. Dva asa

Začarani krug (2011, Grand Production)

1. Metak sa posvetom
2. Biber
3. Ne bih ja bila ja
4. Još sam živa
5. Briši mi
6. Stakleno zvono
7. Valja se
8. Ćutim k'o stvar
9. Uradi to

17th studio album (mid-2013, Grand Production)

Filmography

Film

• Tesna koža (1982)
• Nema problema (1984)
• Kamiondžije opet voze (1984)
• Hajde da se volimo (1987)
• Hajde da se volimo 2 (1989)
• Hajde da se volimo 3 (1990)

Television

• Në orët e vona (1982)
• Jugovizija (1983)
• Kamiondžije 2 (1983)
• Jugovizija (1986)
• Obraz uz obraz: Novogodišnji special (1991); TV film

Tours

• Uđi slobodno Tour (2008-2010)
• Začarani krug Tour (2011-2013)

External links

• Official website
• http://www.bhraja.ca/Vijesti/Magazin/Lepa-Brena:-Nisam-ni-Hrvatica-ni-Srpkinja,-ja-sam-Jugoslovenka!.html

Awards
New title	Serbian Oscar Of Popularity The Female Folk Singer of the Year 2009	Succeeded by Radmila Manojlović