Zabranjeno Pusenje

Zabranjeno Pušenje formed in Sarajevo during the early 1980s, a period when Yugoslavia's political tensions were becoming harder to ignore. Their name translates to 'Forbidden Smoking,' which set the tone for their approach. The band's early albums like 'Das ist Walter' and 'Dok Čekaš sabah sa šejtanom' mixed rock with local folk influences, but it was their lyrics that drew attention. Songs like 'Anarhija all over Baščaršija' and 'Test za dženet' used humor and street-level observation to comment on everyday life under an increasingly strained system.

Authorities didn't always appreciate the commentary. In 1984, a planned concert in Belgrade was canceled, which led to protests from fans. The band's material often critiqued political hypocrisy and social control, which resulted in occasional bans and scrutiny. Despite this, they kept recording through the decade, putting out albums such as 'Male priče o velikim ljubavima' and 'Poslednji dani' before the outbreak of the Yugoslav wars.

Their 1989 song 'Otpor, Stoko!' became particularly well-known for its direct anti-authoritarian message, arriving just as nationalist rhetoric was intensifying. The track's title translates to 'Resist, Herd,' and it urged listeners to question blind conformity. After the wars, the band regrouped in the late 1990s and released 'Srce, ruke, glava' in 2001. Their later work includes songs like 'Sigurna vremena' and 'Selena, vrati se, Selena,' which continued to blend rock energy with lyrical sharpness.