Serbia
Foreign Songs
Reviews

Riblja Čorba (or Fish Stew) are by far the longest-lasting rock band in Serbia and also one of the most influential bands ever to operate within the limits of the former Yugoslavia. They are very well-known by numerous Serbian generations and have influenced the music scene in the region since the late 1970s.

"Riblja Čorba (or Fish Stew) are by far the longest-lasting rock band in Serbia and also one of the most influential bands ever to operate within the limits of the former Yugoslavia."

Their career began in 1978 and their popularity peaked during the 1980s. At that time, in communist Yugoslavia, they were known for the rebellious and progressive political attitude they openly promoted through their songs, which was more than a brave thing to do during that period. During the 1990s and 2000s, their popularity declined due to their right-wing attitudes, but they are still active nowadays and many people are still interested in their music.

Their style is strongly influenced by the punk movement in their early albums, and even today, they have managed to keep their edge, mostly because of their harsh language. No topic is too sensitive for them and, since the beginning, they have always been completely sincere and haven’t shown any intentions of going along with the current. Disregarding historical circumstances and public opinion, they have always advocated their views, and that is one of the most important elements that have allowed them to survive this long.

"This song not only refers to the genocides committed against the Serbian population in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo during World War I, World War II, and during the civil war, but also to the crimes committed against Serbians by their own leaders."

They have released some truly memorable ballads during their 35-year-old career, and some of them have reached cult status. In Serbia, it is enough to mention “Stay The Bastard Until the End,” “The Front-Page Doll,” and “My Only” and most people will know how to sing them by heart, no matter what their age. It is fair to say that they are masters of the ballad form and that this is what will allow their music to live as long as there is a Serbian language. On the other hand, their social and political songs have less artistic value, but they have been a voice in the wilderness at certain points in time. When no one else dared speak up, they always spoke their mind, no matter if they concurred with the majority.

One song, called “Behold Your Home, Angel,” is one of their trademarks. It is extremely heavy and speaks about the pogroms suffered by the Serbian people during the 20th century. It not only refers to the genocides committed against the Serbian population in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo during World War I, World War II and during the civil war, but also to the crimes committed against Serbians by their own leaders: “Look upon your flock, angel/ They are only the crippled and the beggars/ The blind crowd is wandering/ Their spines are broken/ And they look upon you as a saviour/ Look at the scum, angel/ Their souls are cursed/ They have been put all in harnesses/ They have built temples to themselves/ Their hands are covered in blood.” These verses clearly point towards the deepest problem in Serbia, and Fish Stew were brave enough to spit this truth out in the face of an entire nation, although such a thing was simply unimaginable at the time when the song was released. The language is simply perfect in these lines, and there is a strong presence of the types of metaphors that are so common in Serbian. These lines completely marked their career, and the verses are still echoing through the minds of every single Serbian. For a rock band, they did more than they could ever hope to achieve.