Biography

 

 
Zoran Predin (born on 16 June 1958 in Maribor) is a renowned Slovenian musician, poet and songwriter.
He is famous for his exceptional music, featured in a number of Slovenian films,

television serials and theatre performances, countless lyrics which have almost become folk songs,

and unforgettable chansons.

 

His first romance was basketball.

As a promising youngster he spent days at a time at the basketball court and even managed to participate in the Men's Cadet Team preparations; however, then his shallow hips demanded that he become a recreational player.

Even today he chases the ball at least twice a week and follows all basketball matches.

 

 

When the ball was replaced by the guitar, it was time for hedonism and poetry.

Basketball players were pushed aside by poets and writers :
Miller, Jones, Mailer, Beaudlaire, Sartre,

Camus, Bulgakov, Vonnegut, Boll, Heller, Gombrowich,

Hesse, Kafka, Bukowski and many others.

 

 

For days upon days, his record player spun

Van Der Graaf Generator, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Pink Floyd,

Tangerine dream, Boba Dylana,
The Rolling Stones, Franka Zappo, Colloseum and King Crimson,

to mention just the first ten bands from the high school years.  

 

 

Zoran's imagination and taste were forged by his favourite tracks of that time –

Refugees, Dazed and confused,

The End, Echoes, Phaedra, Masters of war,

Angie, Hot Rats, Lost Angeles and Ephitaph.

 

 

 

On 18 June 1979 he formed his own rock band and unloaded all his cynicism, sarcasm and flair for parody on its shoulders with the name

Lačni Franz (Hungry Franz).
Lačni Franz was the premier league band of the former Yugoslavia.

In eleven years of constant performing, with fifty concerts er year on average,

Predin as the main author in the Lačni Franz lineup recorded

 

16 albums and some of his best songs:

 

 

Čakaj me (Wait for Me) –

a song, chosen by an expectant mother for her childbirth
Praslovan (The First Slav) –

an epic ballad of the genetic guilt of our great grandfathers
Naj ti poljub nariše ustnice (Let My Kiss Draw Your Lips) -

on a tour, in the morning, everybody is sleeping, you miss your loved one and start drawing her image on a misty window:

her face, hair, eyes, nose, and a kiss is the best way to draw her lips...

Ne mi dihat za ovratnik (Don't Breathe Down My Neck) -

political criticism through a statement of love
Na svoji strani (On Your Own Side) –

if we know the end, we can prevent the beginning
Čustveno stanje mlade krave, druge največje slovenske živali (The Emotional State of a Young Cow, the Second Largest Slovenian Animal) –

the longest title for a political satire
Lačni Franz (Hungry Franz) –

a black allegory, inspired by a real hero
Ko si rdeče zvezde šivala (As You Sewed Red Stars) -

Yes to partisans, no to communists!
Pazi, da mi ne pohodiš podočnjakov (Don't Tread on My Hangover) -

the morning after a night out
Tam bi rad bil pokopan (I Wish to Lie Buried There) -

ode to an overgrown partisan cap
Varovalke padajo (Fuses Blowing) -

a beautiful love song with an electrical engineering title

 

  
He wrote music for texts by other authors :

Nič ni bolj nespodobnega kot sreča (Nothing is as Indecent as Happiness) (D.Jančar),
Stari vojak (Old Soldier) (James Jones) 

 
He wrote lyrics to famous melodies:

Zadnja večerja (The Last Supper) (Russian national anthem) -

ecology
Rad te imam (I Love You) ( Jai Uttal ) -

about three most important women of his life
Žalostna (Elegy) ( Perry ) -

on the fragility of happiness
Balada o baletki (Ballad of a Balerina) ( McGough ) -

on the tragic love between Kajuh and Brina 

  
He presented his versions of famous songs:

Zdravljica (A Toast), Počiva jezero v tihoti (Tranquil Lake), Štajerc (Merry Man from Maribor),

Zarjavele trobente (Rusty Trumpets), La vie en rose, Green fields ,

Le Meteque, Edelweiss,

Natacha, Katjusha 

 

During his solo career he recorded 17 albums, containing some of the best songs of this period:

 Skuštrana (Ruffle-Haired) –

the wind and the sun love each other
Dolce far niente –

inspired by the film Do konca in naprej (To the Limit and Beyond)
 Bolj star bolj nor (The Older the Crazier) –

autobiographic
Žarnica za boljši jutri (Signpost to Better Tomorrow) –

a signpost from the wasteland of tastelessness
Vsi koščki so celi (All the Pieces are Whole) –

 children need security
Mentol bonbon / Menthol Candy –

money is not everything
Pridi k meni (Come to me) –

a song about a coward
Ne mine niti dan (Not a Day Goes By) –

for his father
Utrujeni čarovnik (Tired Magician) –

how easy it is to be smart for others
Ljubimec iz omare (All-purpose Lover) –

an alternative to bedroom boredom
Vse je tvoje (Everything is Yours) – 

struggle against drugs
Alfa samec (Alpha Male) –

L'etat c'est moi
Moj vsakdanji kruh (My Daily Bread) –

an anti regime prayer

 

 

 Croatian versions: 

Ljepa dok me ljubiš, Ostani danas tu, Vilenjak,

O mladom studentu i udanoj ženi, Sve je tvoje, Osoba A, Za šaku ljubavi,
Umorni čarobnjak, Čekaj me,

 

Traži se dečko

Traži se dečko !
Što zgodan, što jak !
Na pola anđeo čuvar
i na pola vrag.

Nevin ko suza
i stasit ko bor !
Frajer sa otrovnim smiješkom.
Simpatično spor.

On će me grliti, on će me maziti,
on će me ljubiti po čitav dan.
A ja ću vrištati, i ja ću stenjati,
odmah ću mijenjati zbilju za san.

Ref.:  Budi moj lav,
budi moj vuk,
biću ti janje !

Traži se dečko !
Što mio, što krut !
Model za praktične dame :
I bogat i lud !

Pjesnik po duši.
Košarkaš po tjelu.
Romantično srce mornara
u bijelom odjelu

On će me grliti, on će me maziti,
on će me ljubiti po čitav dan.
A ja ću vrištati, i ja ću stenjati,
odmah ću mijenjati zbilju za san.

Ljubi me, moja divlja zvijer !
Mili moj, snažni buldožer ! 

 

English versions: 

Our planet is a dancer, From partizan to Krischna fan,

Let there be night, All-purpose lover,

Queen of pleasures,

 

 

My freckled girl

 

I remember how I met her.
First I heard her wooden clogs.
She was wearing a hippy outfit,
which included a small black dog.

"Charm the dog !" , was the final answer.
He gave me one fair chance.
I became her dearest dancer.
So we started our dance.

REF.: She's the one I want for me.
          She's the one I want to touch,
          just like moonlight caresses the sea.
          My freckled girl, I love so much.

I discovered new sensations,
a revolution in my head
and I'm sorry for each moment,
that we didn't spend in bed.

I'm so glad, that I'm a victim
of the energy I got.
I want to kiss each sexy freckle
and, good god, she has a lot. 

 

French versions: 

Le tour de'honneur, Le magicien fatigue,

 

                                                                                          En mille morceaux

 

A la premiere page de ton historie,
Mon rayon de solei, ma petite fee.
T'attend un monde plein de rires et d'espoirs.
Quand la jalousie gronde, que le mensonge s'abat ;
S'il pleut des mechane'tes.
Mes bras te feront le meilleur des tois.

Que tes reves soient doux
Mon bout d'chou.
Que tes reves soient doux
Mon p'tit loup.

La nuit tes ours prennent vie :
Sourires de peluche,
Et les griffes a leurs paluches,
Brillent pour toi comme de bonnes etoiles.
C'est l'heure pour ta poupee Barbie
De te reveiller par ses baisers,
Aiguille trouant de ton reve le voile.

Et si quelqu'un te brisait le coeur,
Crois-moi, n'aie pas peur.
Car il n'est pas parti en mille morceaux.

Je s'rai ton bon genie, ton doberman,
Un pied de nez.
A la figure longe d'une aune du gigolo.
Pour toi, l'oeil vif, le mollet fringant,
Et les cheveux aux quatre vents,
Le rayon chaud d'un espoir secret. 

 
Italian versions: 

Il genio dell'armadio

Care donne, non lo nego,
sono schiavo delle vostre voglie,
dono la felicita,
la passione che vi scioglie.

Care donne, non lo nego,
per voi sfido l'ira dei mariti,
sono il genio dell'armadio,
rintanato tra i vestiti.

Miro dritto al sodo,
curo sempre tutto,
esaudisco ogni tentazione.
Prono ai vostri piedi,
amo a coomando,
garantisco ogni discrezione.

Care donne, non lo nego,
tra sospiri, maschere e mistero
che lo faccio per denaro,
principe senza destriero.

Ma gli eroi senza macchia,
sono fuori moda adesso
e percio rimpiangerete
di non avermi amato che per sesso. 

 
Spanish versions: 

No me respires en la nuca

No me respires en la nuca!
No me voy a esfumar!
No me respires en la nuca!
Es tarde ya para dejar
De desabrocharte los botones.

Me voy a beber la sonrisa de tus labios
Y rasgaré la seda que te cubre la espalda.
Mis manos no pararán en tus rodillas
Cuando te suban la falda.

No me respires en la nuca!
Tu padre no esta dormido .
No me respires en la nuca!
No saltare por la ventana
Y escapare por el jardín.

No me respires en la nuca!
Pronto no daré un carajo
No me respires en la nuca!
Mejor escondeme en tu cama.

 

 

German versions: 

Hänsel Pinsel
Ich bin der Hänsel
Hänsel für Gretchen
Der Chefarzt, der fleißige Pinsel,
einer der kann!

Ich hab´ einen Hänsel
für alle Mädchen
Du steigst in mein Auto
friesiert und tiefergelegt!

Du wartest nur auf mich,
auf meinen Bienenstich
auf mein Absprungbrett,
auf mein Muskelpakett.

Du willst mein starkes ich
Mein Auto nur für dich
Bei mir tankst du Normal
Immer  fünf Mal.

Ich bin nicht Dick!
Ich bin nicht  Doof!
Ich bin der Hänsel. Hänsel Pinsel !

Babe, tut me sorry!
Du schaffst es nie!
Du verlierst den Verstand, deine Hymne
den inneren Klang.

Hab´ keine Zeit zu verlieren
Kein Tuch zu spendieren.
Tausend Verliebte stehen lange
Schlange für mich!

Komm zu mir, oh, mein wildes Tier!
Bring mir ein Bier, sei mein Kavalier!

 

Collections of poems and lyrics:

Praslovan (The First Slav), Sonček je in ti si skuštrana (It's Sunny and You're Ruffle haired),

Brez kravate in vezalk (Without a Tie and Shoelaces)

Poljub, ki riše ustnice (A Kiss Draws the Lips)

 

 

Music for theatre performances:

Nočni prizori (Night Scenes) – The Tespisov voz theatre group (directed by T. Pandur)
Vida vidim (I See Vid) - 
Stella – Ljubljana City Theatre (directed by J. Pipan)
Domači učitelj (Private Teacher) – SNG Drama, Ljubljana (directed by J. Pipan)
Češnjev vrt (The Cherry Orchard) – SSG Trieste (directed by B. Kobal) Mein Kampf – SSG Trieste (directed by B.Kobal)

 

 

Music for feature films:

Kormoran (A Cormoran) - Viba film (directed by T. Tomašič)
Trinajstica (Thirteen) – TV Slovenia (directed by T. Tomašič)
Decemberski dež (December Rain) – TV Slovenija (directed by B. Šprajc)
Triangel (Triangle) – directed by J. Pervanje)
Junaki petega razreda (Heroes of the Fifth Grade) – TV Slovenia (directed by B. Jurjaševič)

 

 

 

Music for TV serials:

Pripovedke iz medenega cvetličnjaka (Tales from the Honey Flowerhouse) – Slovenia (directed by B. Šprajc)
Posel je posel (Business is Business) – Studio 37
Junaki petega razreda (Heroes of the Fifth Grade) – TV Slovenia (directed by B. Jurjaševič)
Moj prijatelj Arni (My Friend Arni) - TV Slovenia (directed by B. Jurjaševič)

 
Awards:

Sedem sekretarjev SKOJ-a
Zlata ptica
Zlati Petelini
Viktor 2006

 

 

He himself says that his work has only been halfway done, and that the best has yet to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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