Bel Tempo
Encyclopedia
Bel Tempo wаs a Serbia
n and former Yugoslav pop rock
duo.
by brother and sister Vladimir "Vlada" Petričević (guitar
, keyboards
, vocals) and Suzana Petričević
(vocals). They chose the name after Bora Ćosić's play
Bel Tempo. Suzana previously graduated at the Belgrade Drama Arts Academy and became an actress in the National Theatre in Belgrade
, but had also acted in Zvezdara Theatre and Atelje 212
. She had her singing debut on Momčilo Bajagić
's album Pozitivna geografija
in the song "Papaline" ("Bristlings
"). Vlada previously graduated at the Belgrade Music Academy as a pianist
, but at the same time learned to play guitar
.
They released their eponymous debut album in 1987 through PGP-RTB
, featuring pop rock sound with jazz
elements. The songs were written by Vlada, while the lyrics for the song "Povedi me" ("Take me") were provided by Suzana. The album also featured a cover of a Hungarian
romance
entitled "Zašto ne smem da te ljubim" ("Why I Can Not Kiss You"). The album featured Nenad Stefanović "Japanac" on bass guitar
, Alekandar Ralev on keyboards, and Papa Nik on percussion. It also featured brass section on some of the songs. Bel Tempo was produced by Vladimir Racković, who was previously the leader of the acoustic rock band Odiseja. The album was better accepted in Zagreb
than in Bel Tempo's home city of Belgrade, so the band often performed in the Zagreb club Kulušić
.
After five years, in 1992, the band released their second album Modesty. The album concept was inspired by the comic strip
character
Modesty Blaise
. The authors of the songs were both Vlada and Suzana. The album featured Saša Lokner on keyboards, Aleksandar Jelić on bass guitar, Nenad Petrović on saxophone, and other musicians. After the album was released Bel Tempo ended their activity. Suzana continued to perform in the Belgrade jazz club Tabu. Vlada started working as a Radio Television of Serbia
editor.
Bel Tempo made a brief comeback to appear on the 1996 MESAM festival with the song "Ljubomora" ("Jealousy"). After this appearance Vlada retired from music, appearing only as an author of the songs "Budi mi drug" ("Be My Friend") and "Jedna pesma koju volim" ("A Song that I Love") released on Marina Perazić's 1998 album Ista kao more (The Same as the Sea).
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n and former Yugoslav pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
duo.
History
Bel Tempo was formed in 1986 in BelgradeBelgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
by brother and sister Vladimir "Vlada" Petričević (guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals) and Suzana Petričević
Suzana Petričević
Suzana Petričević is a Serbian actress and singer.-Acting career:Suzana Petričević graduated from the Belgrade Drama Arts Academy on the Department for Actors...
(vocals). They chose the name after Bora Ćosić's play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
Bel Tempo. Suzana previously graduated at the Belgrade Drama Arts Academy and became an actress in the National Theatre in Belgrade
National Theatre in Belgrade
The National Theatre was founded in the latter half of the 19th century. It is located on Republic Square, in Belgrade, Serbia.The National Theatre was declared a Monument of Culture of Great Importance in 1983, and it is protected by the Republic of Serbia....
, but had also acted in Zvezdara Theatre and Atelje 212
Atelje 212
Atelje 212 is a theatre in Belgrade, Serbia. It was officially founded on 12 November 1956 in the premises of the Borba building, in front of 212 chairs. The opening play was Faust, directed by Mira Trailović....
. She had her singing debut on Momčilo Bajagić
Momcilo Bajagic
Momčilo Bajagić "Bajaga" is a highly popular Serbian rock musician born in Bjelovar. He is best known as the leader of the Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Bajaga i Instruktori, as well as a former member of the hard rock band Riblja Čorba.-Early career:Bajagić started his musical career as a...
's album Pozitivna geografija
Pozitivna geografija
Pozitivna geografija is the 1984 debut album from Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Bajaga i Instruktori, released in 1984...
in the song "Papaline" ("Bristlings
European sprat
The European sprat, Sprattus sprattus, also known as bristling, brisling or skipper, is a small, herring-like, marine fish. Found in European waters, it has silver grey scales and white-grey flesh. Specific seas in which the species occurs include the Irish Sea, Baltic Sea and Sea of the Hebrides...
"). Vlada previously graduated at the Belgrade Music Academy as a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, but at the same time learned to play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
They released their eponymous debut album in 1987 through PGP-RTB
PGP-RTB
PGP-RTB was a major record label and chain record store in the former SFR Yugoslavia based in Belgrade, Socialist Republic of Serbia. PGP-RTB was established in 1958...
, featuring pop rock sound with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
elements. The songs were written by Vlada, while the lyrics for the song "Povedi me" ("Take me") were provided by Suzana. The album also featured a cover of a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
romance
Romance (music)
The term romance has a centuries-long history. Applied to narrative ballads in Spain, it came to be used by the 18th century for simple lyrical pieces not only for voice, but also for instruments alone. During the 18th and 19th centuries Russian composers developed the French variety of the...
entitled "Zašto ne smem da te ljubim" ("Why I Can Not Kiss You"). The album featured Nenad Stefanović "Japanac" on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Alekandar Ralev on keyboards, and Papa Nik on percussion. It also featured brass section on some of the songs. Bel Tempo was produced by Vladimir Racković, who was previously the leader of the acoustic rock band Odiseja. The album was better accepted in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
than in Bel Tempo's home city of Belgrade, so the band often performed in the Zagreb club Kulušić
Kulušić
Kulušić was a Yugoslav Concert Club in Zagreb, Croatia, which hosted many famous international acts and all the important acts from the region. It is particularly associated with the Yugoslav New Wave acts of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Many Live albums which today are part of the Ex-Yugoslav...
.
After five years, in 1992, the band released their second album Modesty. The album concept was inspired by the comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
character
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
Modesty Blaise
Modesty Blaise
Modesty Blaise is a British comic strip featuring a fictional character of the same name, created by Peter O'Donnell and Jim Holdaway in 1963. The strip follows the adventures of Modesty Blaise, an exceptional young woman with many talents and a criminal past, and her trusty sidekick Willie Garvin...
. The authors of the songs were both Vlada and Suzana. The album featured Saša Lokner on keyboards, Aleksandar Jelić on bass guitar, Nenad Petrović on saxophone, and other musicians. After the album was released Bel Tempo ended their activity. Suzana continued to perform in the Belgrade jazz club Tabu. Vlada started working as a Radio Television of Serbia
Radio Television of Serbia
Radio Television of Serbia or Serbian Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster in Serbia. It broadcasts and produces a variety of news, drama, and sports programming through radio, television and the Internet. RTS is, since July 2001, a member of the European Broadcasting Union. RTS is...
editor.
Bel Tempo made a brief comeback to appear on the 1996 MESAM festival with the song "Ljubomora" ("Jealousy"). After this appearance Vlada retired from music, appearing only as an author of the songs "Budi mi drug" ("Be My Friend") and "Jedna pesma koju volim" ("A Song that I Love") released on Marina Perazić's 1998 album Ista kao more (The Same as the Sea).