Let 3
Let 3 | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Rijeka, Croatia |
Genres | |
Years active | 1987 | –present
Labels |
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Members |
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Let 3 (Croatian pronunciation: [lêːt trîː]; transl. 'Flight 3') is a modern rock band from Rijeka, Croatia formed in 1987. The frontmen are Damir "Mrle" Martinović (born 15 July 1961) and Zoran "Prlja" Prodanović (born 18 December 1964). Particularly popular in the former Yugoslavia, the band is known for their original approach to rock music and their obscene live performances.[1] Their songs often contain provocative and vulgar lyrics. They are set to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Mama ŠČ!".
History
Let 3 was formed in Rijeka in the late 1980s. The band soon gained a reputation for their unprecedented, controversial and sometimes obscene performances, exemplifying the eclectic nature of Rijeka's music scene.[2] The band's members have voiced support for liberal causes, such as women's and LGBT rights, and have taken a vocal stance against conservative politics and the Catholic Church.[3][4][5]
1997–2000: Nečuveno and Jedina
In 1997, the band released their fifth album, titled Nečuveno (translated as 'Outrageous' or 'Unheard-of'). It was distributed as a CD, but it had nothing recorded on it.[6] Nonetheless, 350 copies of the album were sold.[7] Their follow-up Jedina (transl. 'The only one') initially had just one copy, which the band refused to sell or distribute. The record company eventually released the album in slightly different versions. As a protest, the band staged a (fake) suicide by firing squad on Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb.[6][7]
In late 2000, the band unveiled a four-metre tall statue titled Babin kurac (transl. 'Grandma's penis'), depicting a woman with a horseshoe moustache and a one-metre long phallus.[8] It was exhibited in various cities throughout Croatia.[7]
2001–2010: Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka and controversies
In 2005, Let 3 released the single "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)" (transl. 'The Serb gladly enlists in the army (Cunt)'), a play on the Serbian patriotic song "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike". In the song's music video, extras dressed in Serbian and Albanian national costumes are seen masturbating. The single featured on the studio album Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka, which parodies Balkan machismo and militarism. The band stated: "We wanted to create an album of what people here fear the most; namely peasantry… and pornography".[9]
In December 2006, the band was sanctioned by police after perfoming naked at an open-air concert in Varaždin. The band's defence that they had not been naked because they had corks in their anuses did not convince the judge; the court found them guilty and fined each member kn 350 (€47.78).[10][11] On 14 December 2008, the live talk show Nedjeljom u dva finished early after two of the band members simulated the ejection of a cork from their rectums.[12]
2023: Dora and Eurovision Song Contest
On 9 December 2022, Let 3 was announced as one of eighteen participants in Dora 2023, the Croatian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, with the song "Mama ŠČ!".[13] For their performance, they were joined by artist Žanil Tataj Žak as the character "Njinle" (meaning 'Lenin' in Šatrovački).[14][15] They went on to win the competition on 11 February 2023 with a total of 279 points, thus gaining the right to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.[16]
Band members
Current members
- Damir Martinović (Mrle) – bass guitar, effects, vocals
- Zoran Prodanović (Prlja) – vocals
- Ivan Bojčić (Bin) – drums
- Dražen Baljak (Baljak) – guitar, mandolin
- Matej Zec (Knki) – guitar, backing tracks
Former members
- Branko Kovačić (Husta) – drums, percussion
- Kornelije Đuras (Korni) – keyboards, samples
- Ivan Šarar (Faf) – keyboards, programming, samples
- Ivica Dražić (Miki) – guitar, vocals
- Nenad Tubin – drums, vocals
- Igor Perović (Gigi) – guitar
- Zoran Klasić (Klas) – guitar, vocals
- Orijen Modrušan – guitar
- Alen Tibljaš – drums
- Marko Bradaschia – drums
- Dean Benzia – drums
- Siniša Banović – drums
- Ljubomir Silić – bass guitar
- Raoul Varljen – keyboards
Discography
Studio albums
- 1989 – Two Dogs Fuckin'
- 1991 – El Desperado
- 1994 – Peace
- 1996 – Živi kurac (transl. 'Live cock')
- 1997 – Nečuveno (transl. 'Unheard-of')
- 2000 – Jedina (transl. 'The only one')
- 2005 – Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka (transl. 'Bombardment of Serbia and Čačak')
- 2008 – Živa pička (transl. 'Live cunt')
- 2013 – Kurcem do vjere / Thank You, Lord (transl. 'By dick to faith')
- 2016 – Angela Merkel sere (transl. 'Angela Merkel shits')
Awards and nominations
Year | Association | Category | Nominee / work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Porin Award | Best Original Vocal or Instrumental Composition for Theatre, Movies and/or Television | "Pipi" | Won | [17] |
2001 | Best Alternative Album | Jedina | Won | [18] | |
Crni Mačak | Best Performer | Let 3 | Won | [19] | |
Song of the Year | "Profesor Jakov" | Won | |||
2006 | Zlatna Koogla | Album of The Year | Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka | Won | [20] |
Band of The Year | Let 3 | Won | |||
Performer of The Year | Won | ||||
Best Music Video | "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)" | Won | |||
Producer of The Year | Iztok Turk for Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka | Won | |||
Best Album Design | Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka | Won | |||
Porin Award | Rock Album of The Year | Won | [21] | ||
Best Music Video | "Ero s onoga svijeta" | Won |
References
- ^ Peddie, Ian; Rajko Muršič. Popular Music and Human Rights; Vol. II. Ashgate Publishing. p. 102. ISBN 9780754668534.
The Croatian band Let 3, for example, is well known for provoking outrage, including by sometimes performing nude on stage.
{{cite book}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Bousfield, Jonathan. "Rijeka Rock City". Stray Satellite.
- ^ "Let3 – Proglas Slovencima: "Zabranite djelovanje Katoličke crkve!"". muzika.hr.
- ^ "Mrle o splitskom Prideu: Neka se svi lijepo jebu u guzicu, možda poslije promijene mišljenje". Index.hr.
- ^ Morić, Danijela. "'Žene, pederi i crnci jednako su važni u društvu'". Vecernji.hr.
- ^ a b Rowlands, Marc. "Let 3: 'I went to high-school in Bakar and we beat each other onto the school bus. It was great.'". Time Out.
- ^ a b c "LET 3: GLAZBENA AVANGARDA IZ RIJEKE; 'Mrle i ja smo ko guzica i gaće'". Nacional.hr.
- ^ "Zagreb - "Babin Kurac" na Trgu žrtava fašizma". Net.hr.
- ^ Tomić, Ante. "Naš album govori o seljaštvu i pornografiji". Jutarnji.hr.
- ^ "Let 3 golotinjom ipak uvrijedio građane Varaždina?". rirock.com.
- ^ Post on Let 3 blog about the lawsuit
- ^ "Prekinuta emisija Nedjeljom u 2 nakon što su Mrle i Prlja iz Leta 3 pucali čepove iz stražnjice". Index.hr.
- ^ Granger, Anthony (9 December 2022). "Croatia: Dora 2023 Participants Announced". eurovoix. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Tko je Njinle? Tip koji je ispalio rakete na pozornici i prije je surađivao s Letom 3". Index.hr (in Croatian). 14 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Filipović, Miroslav (15 February 2023). "Let 3 na Eurosongu – spektakularna rokerska buka ili obična bruka?". Al Jazeera Balkans (in Bosnian). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Santos, Pedro (11 February 2023). "Let 3 win Dora 2023 in Croatia with "Mama ŠČ!"". Eurovision World. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 1997" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 2001" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "4. Crni Mačak 2001" (in Croatian). Z'brda Z'dola. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ Rudar, Željka (3 April 2006). "Dobitnici Zlatne Koogle 2006" (in Croatian). Muzika.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 2006" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
External links
- Media related to Let 3 at Wikimedia Commons
- Croatian rock music groups
- Musical groups established in 1987
- Yugoslav rock music groups
- Yugoslav punk rock groups
- Musicians from Rijeka
- Culture in Rijeka
- Croatian post-punk music groups
- Croatian dark wave musical groups
- Obscenity controversies in music
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Croatia
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2023