Roger Taylor once refused to include the line ‘I’m happy at home’ in Queen’s hit ‘You’re My Best Friend’ as he deemed it unfitting for a rock song. Luckily, Slovenian rock band Joker Out seem to have no problem with showing their vulnerable and romantic side. In fact, with their new release ‘Bluza’, which saw the light of day on September 27th, they delivered arguably the most romantic song of their discography so far.
The five-piece band, consisting of bassist Nace Jordan, drummer Jure Maček, singer Bojan Cvjetićanin, and guitarists Kris Guštin and Jan Peteh, has been busy preparing the release of their third studio album that will come out on November 15th.
‘Bluza’ gives fans a taste of what’s to come. While the self-proclaimed shagadelic rock n’ roll group is known for fast-paced tracks bursting with energy, they are no strangers to penning down slower, more emotional songs. The heartbreak anthem ‘Metulji’ from their debut album remains a fan favourite, as does ‘Padam’, an acoustic guitar ballad on their sophomore album. Earlier this year, Joker Out released a thought-provoking song in English titled ‘Everybody’s Waiting’, and with ‘Bluza’ now comes their fourth Serbian track.
Starting off with a simple but beautiful acoustic guitar tune, ‘Bluza’ tugs at the heartstrings right from the start. Later on, subtle synthesisers are woven into the guitar melody, simultaneously giving the song both a nostalgic and a timeless quality. The chorus is a straightforward declaration of love, and its simplicity makes it all the more meaningful. Lyrics such as ‘Ja mislim da sam se zaljubio u tebe’, translating to ’I think I’ve fallen in love with you’, have an almost juvenile innocence to them, perfectly embodying the levitating feeling of falling in love. At the same time, there’s a heavy undertone of longing and only at the end is it revealed that it’s in fact not an entirely happy love song. The last line, ‘Ako svane sunce, ostaću sam’, which translates to ‘If the sun rises, I’ll be alone’, confirms this feeling of yearning that is tangible throughout the song – the feeling of this love being more of a fantasy than reality.
It’s clear that Joker Out were aiming for a classic rock ballad with ‘Bluza’, and they succeeded. Especially the last third, consisting of a dramatic bridge that builds up to a high note where Cvjetićanin’s vocal prowess comes through, is reminiscent of some great nineties rock ballads. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Joker Out song without an epic instrumental finale that gives the electric guitar a moment to shine. ‘Bluza’ is yet another gem in the impressive discography of Joker Out and heightens the anticipation for their upcoming album!
Written by: Melanie Falkensteiner
Edited by: Nèri Cliteur
