silverpanther13 said:In my view, the former Yugoslavia space encompasses all those former republics—which would include modern-day America. I’ve been weighing everything from PC&VC and Mothers to Jinxe, all the way up to Pavel.
It isn't inaccurate at all—not even close—everything stated there is correct. The issue, I suppose, is just one's perspective on it. I tend to look at things through the lens I mentioned earlier, which caused a bit of a muddle.
I was actually wondering if the author intended to cover the entire spectrum from start to finish, but once I noticed most people immediately jumped to the pre-war acts—specifically the New Wave crowd—I decided to stick to my own definition of "songs from the old Yugoslavia."
Benjamin Harris2 said:Jeeee, Rubber Cheek, thank youuu 😍
Sušac Blues—personally, for me, it’s a mandatory staple of the coastal music canon... hmmm, basically an encyclopedia entry 😁 There isn't a better song out there that captures the essence of sailing.
Tumba is such an underrated classic; it's a shame more people don't recognize its worth—it always feels like it's missing that orchestra of drunken voices 😁
And since I always love asking those who listen to Far, here goes again: Rank the songs by Far that are named after a woman, from best to worst. I don't care who tries to argue—nobody is going to convince me that Roz is better than Tonka 😁
The issue is that today's mainstream listeners only know a handful of Far tracks, so naturally, Tumba feels like some obscure exotic rarity to them.
Sušac is essential listening for any sailor.
Tonka is the one and only. (Not the one with the little bell 😬) Nobody can quite "sing" that part like Ban does: she gave me this dark look and said—with you, I wouldn't go anywhere even in my dreams, please just get away from me, just go
I’d probably also throw in Nightingale—which might be my personal favorite, though I suspect most people haven't even heard of them—along with Nema Te and Lažne Žene...
If I’m being honest—and I suppose I should be, given my affinity for the sea—my absolute favorite has to be "Sušac Blues." It just hits different. Aside from that, if I had to single anything out, "Stain" would definitely make the cut. And, well, once you've had a few drinks in you... it becomes all about "Tumba."🤣Everything. Just everything.
Oh, Rock. 😍 And that whole plagiarism situation involving Iron Maiden's "Running Free"—if anyone happens to have the time to look into it, I guess. 😁
I guess you mean... Rubber CheekThe beginning was alright, I guess—but the rest? Not so much. They were always more about Deep Purple than they were about Maiden. 😁 That is precisely why "Manipulator" is the gold standard.
Hey, my bad—I actually wrote Marin Linić up there, though I suppose it wasn't Slavko. 🤦 It really should have been "m". 🙂
Lisa Young83 said:Mods, please move my old ramblings and the comments on them over here. Thanks! 🙂
Well, I suppose I'll just quote things until everything gets moved. 😁
Lisa Young83 said:...because most things just send me straight to sleep (kind of like Azra, Idols, some of those elegiac tracks from Bijelo Dugme, Devil...
Honestly, you're even more likable now—though, if I'm being completely honest, you were already there before. 🙂 That first "Love and Fashion" album is an absolute gem from that era, easily one of the best.
...but what about Rock, Far Coast, or maybe Tutti Frutti... or Par Valjak with those eternal love songs of theirs... 🙏, and how many others am I just waiting to mention, or perhaps I'll just slap my forehead because they didn't cross my mind this second.
Oh gosh, Rock—goodness, I completely forgot about Rock!! 🙂 The underrated Linić and all those incredible female vocalists he used to scout. Yes, please, do include them. And kudos to whoever remembered Tutti Frutti since I clearly didn't. Man, that takes me back to the days when the legend Bego was still around. 🙂 Par Valjak will almost certainly show up, and while I never really experienced Far Coast (nor Midnight Express) as part of that old regional scene, technically speaking, with their first album plus those older demos, they fit right in. I feel quite bad now for leaving them out. Just mentioning Roz or Pink or Night and the legendary Tonka immediately transports me back to those summer days, not to mention those unforgettable Far Coast concerts, especially at the Colored venue in Split.
So, look—this article is dated May 24, 2015, which is almost irrelevant since it’s an open secret that they’ve been pulling this stunt for years. And it isn't just them; you have dentists right there in the mix, followed by everyone else. What’s truly infuriating is that everyone—including the regulators and even the Secretary—is fully aware of what's happening.
And yet, nothing ever changes. They always hide behind the excuse that they paid for the equipment out of their own pockets. Honestly, who cares if they run it through Medicare? If the regulations say I’m entitled to a free scan once a year—not to mention other coverage options I won't even get into—then it shouldn't be classified as some sort of "extra" service just to skirt the rules.
It’s actually why I suspect Walton will find a way to pull this off regardless. Instead of just grabbing a few easy wins, he’ll probably end up with the whole golden goose.
Chloe Fox59 said:I suppose there isn't even much of a need for specialized equipment or space reconfiguration in those massive Walmart locations—everything could probably just be handled through the meat department section. 🙂
In a worst-case scenario, I could always just throw on some improvised curtains. It wouldn't be much different from the setup in an ER, I guess. Just grab three or four cots, partition them off with some curtains—or maybe just use the deli paper they wrap ham, cheese, and rotisserie chicken in. There you go. Space and privacy, sorted.
Once we finally move past this whole butcher shop phase of medical training, practitioners will essentially be forced to specialize in specific branches of medicine—there really isn't any other way forward. From there, I suppose we’ll just see those typical "buy two, get one free" service bundles being rolled out. 😬
🤣 Well, this is just wonderful—classic American efficiency at its finest. You head out to grab some groceries, check your blood sugar and liver enzymes while you're at it, and then swing by the local butcher shop on your way out to get a second opinion and maybe some brisket. 😬
It’s probably for the best that they banned it. Given what Sam Ramos85 was saying about our local conditions, it seems like these issues aren't isolated to healthcare—they're everywhere, really, though I suppose one would hope the medical field might be an exception. Unfortunately, based on his description, I see evidence of this at every turn; even this whole situation involving Walmart Lab feels like just another extreme example.
Just another one of those mediocre remakes that can't even begin to touch the original—and I’m talking about a genuine masterpiece here. Every time I see the title, my mind immediately drifts back to little H. O'Rourka—bless her soul. It was easily one of my absolute favorite movies growing up; we used to constantly borrow the VHS tapes from neighbors just to make sure someone always had a turn at the player.
I suppose I'll give it a watch, if only out of pure curiosity, though honestly, I’d much rather they just stopped trying to remake brilliant films like this one in the first place.
I’m being a little hesitant here—I probably need some time to let this all sink in (if it even settles at all, I suppose). 😁And, naturally, I suppose one should leave some room for the rest of it.
Richard Fox63 said:I mean, honestly—it would be pretty incredible if the guys actually got back together again... just so we could look forward to seeing some kind of Battle Vol. 2 by 2015. I guess we can dream.😁
Oh, no, no... 😲 That whole thing was so aggressively pushed by the media—honestly, it felt incredibly overhyped—that it actually leaves me a little uneasy to consider what kind of damage today's social media landscape might be capable of. 😁
It’s true, they are. 🧐 Though, if we're being honest, I’ve actually swallowed parts of those common houseflies myself—back when I was just a little kid, I guess. I remember finding one dead on the floor under the dining table because my late grandmother was constantly swatting at them with one of those... what do you call them? 🤔 those fly swatters?
Mind you, I didn't go after the blowflies—those things are a bit chunkier and larger than your standard housefly, and they have this lovely habit of circling the dinner plate and leaving little "surprises" on your food. It's just delightful. 😁
Take a seat—here’s one last thought to wrap up the year.
Honestly, can we talk about the sheer volume of these threads? It feels like every single day, someone decides to start some pointless little drama—something along the lines of "I accidentally ate a fly" or "there’s a worm in my food..."—as if anyone actually cares. I mean, it’s not that it matters to me, or anyone else, really, but it’s just... constant. It’s almost impressive how much space these trivialities take up.
I’ve personally swallowed hundreds of them while tearing down the Pacific Coast Highway on my bike—and as you can see, I’m still typing just fine. ☕
No worries at all, man. 👍 As soon as I can carve out a bit more breathing room—since I’m barely finding time for myself lately—I’ll dive into everything in detail and get back to you. Don't sweat the early stages. Honestly, nobody sounds perfect during those first few weeks or months, nor do technicians ever nail their jobs flawlessly right out of the gate. It’s something that just smooths out over time; some things simply can't be rushed or forced, they come with experience, so don't worry about it. The main thing is that you're actually executing the idea and not just copy-pasting content from some mainstream radio stations. With a few tricks, some guidance, and maybe a little bit of trial and error, you'll get there—just be yourself. I'll reach out, and sorry in advance if it takes me a little while to respond. 🙂
I spent some time listening on YouTube, and—speaking as a former long-time radio veteran—I’d say it’s actually quite decent for a start. Perhaps it could be a bit more laid back; right now, it feels a touch too much like someone is simply reading from a script, though I suppose that level of polish comes naturally with time. I'm not entirely sure if this is how you sound live when you're on air, but if it is, there might be some technical adjustments needed to help the voice pop—making it feel a bit more dynamic against the background music—unless, of course, the intention is a total one man show situation, which can be tricky to manage (though I will say, having a talk-over button is a fantastic feature). But that’s just my two cents on the technical side. 🙂
Now, regarding the other, more VITAL aspect: it’s excellent. The show's structure, the selection of bands (honestly, kudos to many of the 🙏 choices here), and the way the setlist is curated—it's all great. There isn't any tedious, drawn-out rambling or aimless storytelling to put listeners to sleep. Generally speaking, the concept itself is highly commendable. 👍 So, keep pushing forward! Eventually, a show like this grows into something much larger, and it would be a genuine shame if it didn't reach a wider audience—especially since the whole project is being handled with such passion and for free.
Rebecca Flores33 said:Not even then—because if it’s already planned that way, they’re just running a playback track. If you don't plan for it, you won't have it.
That holds true for most cases. As for the other side of things, it’s pretty obvious there are certain moments that are absolutely critical for organizers; they don't want to leave anything to chance, so there's always that backup ready, heaven forbid something goes sideways. In most instances, that backup is never actually needed, though I suppose there have been moments in music history where everything was set for a live performance, only for things to shift at the very last second—for one reason or another—and they ended up relying on playback. I'm not talking about full-blown concerts here, but more like a minor appearance or maybe just a couple of songs.
Ultimately, it falls on the promoter to ensure everyone actually knows who they're paying to see—though I'm honestly not sure how much mainstream recognition this guy has as a solo artist—and to pull in as large a crowd as possible. Still, it feels a bit cheap to me, almost like a gimmick. I’d bet my life that at least a third of the people showing up to his show will be sitting there hoping for at least one A-ha track, thinking, "maybe he'll surprise us with it at the end."
It seems a segment of any audience expects the hits from the glory days, even if it's just half a single. It was the same thing with Roger Waters; at least a third of the crowd, those less familiar with his specific setlists, were clearly waiting for some (other) Pink Floyd songs. There was a similar vibe when Michael Jackson performed during the Symphony tour, where a huge chunk of the crowd—especially here in the States—was expecting the greatest hits in a new arrangement. When they didn't get it, well, the complaining started. The setlists had been published for ages and were available to anyone with two clicks. It's quite similar to when Robert Plant played in Miami near Times Square about six or seven years ago with his backing band, The Strange Sensation. People were practically vibrating with anticipation for the Led Zeppelin repertoire. And frankly, that's exactly why most of them showed up.
So, this is really just about drawing a crowd. I don't think the guy is exactly Robert Plant, so it's not like everyone recognizes him instantly. To be honest, I've never been able to commit his name to memory, even after reading it countless times. Even if you hadn't mentioned A-ha, you would have had to Google him. 😁 In his case, adding that detail to the posters is probably almost necessary. Or maybe just a decent photo so people can look at it and go, "ohhh, that's the guy from A-ha" (😬).
P.S. Should we start a new thread? It would be easy to spin this off into its own discussion if you're up for it...
Playback? Honestly, I can't even wrap my head around it. I don't think any true music lover could find it acceptable to watch someone just... mouthing words. If you can’t actually sing—don't bother. If you can't catch your breath because you're too busy dancing—then maybe skip the dance moves. 😁
However, we have to acknowledge certain realities—specifically what some people have already pointed out regarding the established pattern where organizers set specific rules and opt for playback (for instance, certain festivals, big events, or even those Miss USA pageants 😁 we've discussed). Though, personally, I always find it quite ridiculous—or perhaps awkward—to watch someone just moving their lips.
For example, one of the longest-running and most iconic musical shows ever, the Billboard Hot 100 era hits, relied heavily on playback for a long time; every possible musical act, from superstars to indie artists, went through it. Even the musicians themselves found it incredibly stressful to pretend to sing, and drummers had to deal with those weird "isolation" movements (🤣), but well—it was a massive TV show with huge cultural influence. You just grit your teeth, try not to blush, and move your mouth. 😂
I suppose that might have been somewhat tolerable until a few decades ago, but nowadays, I find it genuinely laughable.
The only time I could ever stomach playback is in the event of an accident, an illness, or some sudden, terrible issue with a singer's voice—but a live performance is supposed to be *that* moment. Come on, man, just step up and give it everything you've got.
Patrick Martin said:you can't mess with the hall monitor—take his set for example:
1 2 3
Good grief, Ajutokintumi just took me quite literally, didn't they? 🙏 I suppose you simply cannot argue with the boss. Also, if I may offer a suggestion, perhaps you should dig up some of his older material from the Great Wall of China—his most famous one, I believe, is: I Want You To Know.
That classic American wave—pop-rock, 80s dance—it’s a formula that stays pretty much timeless.
If you happen to be interested in slightly different takes on certain American hits—those massive chart-toppers where you feel like adding a bit more flavor—you might try hunting down those versions on the Levi's red Tab cassettes that used to be given away with jeans and other gear back in the day. Sadly, they're quite hard to find now, but there were some truly clever and high-quality versions out there. The same goes for the remixes of that era, or even the old demo recordings (though today's versions tend to be a bit too "polished" and over-produced).