Digging through new Serbian folklore again. After twittering with Eniac couple of days ago about the alleged Nirvana album sticker that says “forbidden for dogs and Serbs” (mentioned here on the blog before), I found out that this is not the lone case of such hear-say urban legend, but that there are many other bands and singers who allegedly, for some strange reason hate Serbs and all that is Serbian. Stories like this are relatively easy to spread, because a) they contain some element which connects the artist with Serbia and b) it’s nice when some celebrity mentions your country, even if it’s in a bad manner – it makes people feel important in a way.
Bono Vox / U2: rumor says that during or after Sarajevo concert he stated that he will never play in Serbia, as a sort of punishment for starting the war. This statement is nowhere to be found on the net. On the recent gig in Zagreb, however, he said “For all the visitors from out of town – we are going to be back next summer maybe in your town.” Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean Belgrade, but one can always hope.
Eminem: This one is actually a copy cat of the Nirvana legend – supposedly Slim Shady as well has the same inscription of one of his albums. Nobody knows which one, which is strange because you would think things like this are easy to check. This is a rumor that I can’t figure out, because Eminem never really mentions anything even remotely connected to Serbia in his songs.
Dolores o’ Riordan / Cranberries: Same thing as with U2/Bono – supposedly she said that they will never play in Serbia. Best guess is that someone thought this rumor will spread easily because both bands have dedicated one of their songs to Sarajevo [U2] or Bosnia [Cranberries]. And it did.
Michael Jackson: Rumor says that, to show his disrespect to Serbia he pinned a medal of the Royal Serbian army up-side-down on his jacket. As much as I find the image of Michael Jackson reading Serbian history books at the Neverland library amusing, somehow I am closer to believing that poor Jacko didn’t even know what he was wearing that day.
It is possible that I have missed some other examples so if you would be so kind to share your findings with the other readers in the comments, I’m sure everyone would be grateful. Also, if you have managed to confirm any of these rumors mentioned in the post, speak now (or later).
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hard to believe any competent marketing manager would allow such a clumsily-worded strap to escape into the public domain.
You forgot Bjork.
NME
Bjork has released a statement following the controversy surrounding her recent vocal support for independence for the Kosovo region, which she made recently during a gig in Tokyo.
The Icelandic singer has outlined again that she supports Kosovo’s claim for independence. The country’s parliament made a declaration of its independence from Serbia last month.
Bjork’s management claimed that she was dropped from the bill of the forthcoming EXIT festival in Serbia following the outburst, although the EXIT organisers have disputed this. , who dedicated the track ‘Declare Independence’ to Kosovo at the Tokyo gig, does not address this issue in the statement.
Bjork’s statement reads: “I would like to put importance on that I am not a politician, I am first and last a musician and as such I feel my duty to try to express the whole range of human emotions.
“The urge for declaring independence is just one of them but an important one that we all feel at some times in our lives. This song (which appears on the star’s 2007 album ‘Volta’) was written more with the personal in mind but the fact that it has translated to its broadest meaning, the struggle of a suppressed nation, gives me much pleasure.
“I would like to wish all individuals and nations good luck in their battle for independence. Justice! Warmth, Bjork.”
Yeah, but the case with Bjork is – it’s not a rumor. Also she does not claim she will never play in Serbia in the future, although there was a rumor she was banned from the Exit festival because of this.
One more interesting thing surrounding James Blunt is that he allegedly wrote “No Bravery” inspired by “Serbian soldiers laughing over the dead bodies of the Albanians they just killed.” He actually said this, but the question is – is it true? He’s the only one who knows the truth.
Most of these superstar groups are very ignorant about the real issues going on in former Yugoslavia and take the side of the “politically correct” zombies. It amazes me how many celebrities are USED for propaganda purposes and haven’t got a clue what they’re doing. Serbians lost the war (to protect their country) because the Catholic Church (murders and haters of all people) and the Muslims (also murderers who think they’re the best and should be #1 in the world) have money & power to back up their sick agendas. Serbians are poor in material goods but are honest, kind, loving people who know how to love others without agendas. They’re also a threat to “those” who feel the Serbian people will not conform to the ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT. So, (per “their” agenda) let’s give them a bad name to the rest of the world and let’s get everyone to despise them. How did “they” do that? “They” enticed the hatred by controlling the media, musicians, government leaders, etc., etc. and ignorant people believe it all. God help them who listen to lies, or do we want to becuase we don’t really care about TRUTH anymore. We’ve become a NUMB society and LAZY. Our god is the almighty DOLLAR. Now American will pay for her laziness in more ways than we can imagine. God help us and He does for those who care.
Mr.Easy Muslims in ex-Yugoslavia are the poorest people. You got on the white list and you can travel without any visas. Croats too.
YOU SERBS killed and raped my mom in srebrenica, executed my 12 year old brother you…
“JUST SAYING”
Dude
Your mother deserved to be raped just as ur granny and granpa in Auswitz..
Janketa this is terrible to say and I am sure you are not Serbian but a provocator. Serbs were killed in Auswitz and no serb would wrte this – more loks like Croats who were nacists and sent people ( serbs, jews, gypsies etc) to auswitz too. I cannot believe that clever or good person coud write something like your mother should be raped or killed . That is stuid evel and terrible.
Just Saying you should stop seeding this hate to Serbs. In the war many bad things happen. Espcially when the war is not normal war but para-military war where everyone has weapon and anyone can do what he wants. And there are many bad and sick people everywhere in wevry country, manicas are killing and raping women in any coutries and it is bad. If you go on porno sites you will see how many sick people are there who just dont have oportunity to express themselves and do something bad they would like to do. So the problem in your war was that there was no control of people everybody coud do anythng, people were fighting for survival, and all those sick people used it to rape, kill, and steal around. Everyone did it , Croats , Muslims and Serbs. That is not connected to the cougry , nationality or religion or any side in the war but to sick people. I knw many serbs personally who survived or wiessed terrible evel bllody torturing killing and raping by Bosnian muslims or Croats too. But I do not think all Corats or all Bosnians are like this- at least I still dont think so. I think thay ar emostly normal good people beleiving in good and justice just seeing it differently than us on serbian side, I can understand their point of view but I also hope that by time everything will be clarified and understood and agreed and people will can lve together be good and support each other.