Iztok Mlakar
Encyclopedia
Iztok Mlakar is a Slovenia
n singer-songwriter
, chansonnier
and theatre actor. Known as the "bard
of the Slovenian Littoral
", he is most famous for his songs in the Slovene dialect from Goriška
. Together with Adi Smolar
, Mlakar is among the most famous chanson
niers in Slovenia after 1990.
He was born in Postojna
in western Slovenia (then part of former Yugoslavia
), but spent his youth in the town of Nova Gorica
on the border with Italy
. His parents were from Cerkno
, and Mlakar composed several songs in the distinctive highland dialect of his parents' native region.
, Mlakar studied acting at the Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television
in Ljubljana
, graduating from drama play in 1986. He pursued a career as an actor in the Slovenian National Theatre of Nova Gorica
, where he is currently working. He is an author of many songs for theatre plays, but he is best known as an author and a singer of his own songs of chanson
style. In the year 1993 he received the Ježek's award.
, they are often bitter comments on the daily life struggle and the injustice of social and political settings.
His early songs contain many commentaries on the daily life during the Socialist system
in former Yugoslavia
, which are presented in an ironic way. Mlakar doesn't use the standard literary Slovene language, all of his songs are sung in a dialect of the Kras
region, which is also spoken in the areas around Nova Gorica
, especially in the settlements of Solkan
and Šempeter-Vrtojba
. Fewer of his songs are based on the dialect of the lower Vipava Valley
(Bose noge), while others (such as Pubi, usidma se, Var'se, čeča, and Očenaš) are sung in the Alpine
dialect of Cerkno
in north-eastern part of the Slovenian Littoral
, which differs considerably from the dialect of his other songs. The vocabulary of most of Mlakar's songs is frequently difficult to understand for seakers from other Slovenian regions. The use of dialect and juicy expressions conveys a sense of familiarity to his song.
Survival tactics, idiosyncrasies, disappointments, and rageful reactions of simple people are constant themes of Mlakar's songs, as are their joy for life, and seek of pleasure. In Mlakar's songs, a typical Slovene national character is presented. Mlakar sings about the simple Slovenian man and women of the 20th and 21st century, frequently squeezed by big historical events, such as world war
s, expansionistic policies of big nations, changing political regimes, unstable economic situations, and shifts in morals and social customs. The heroes of Mlakars songs cope with these circumstances in different ways; they either stubbornly defy them (Karlo Špacapan), frequently resulting silly and pathetic (Pepi Žbaradorija), accept them with a sense of poetic fatalism (Bertolin in Štefana), or try to accommodate to them (Politik Gvido). Many lyrics are an intelligent ironic comment on acute problems of contemporary Slovenian society, such as alcoholism
(Beštija), drug abuse
(Marjo Špinel), and suicide
(Briškula). Some lyrics ridiculize the provincial customs of an enriched post-Communist society (Fool cool, Truckin' rap, Bogatašev song). Many of them convey a frequently unusual life philosophy or acquired wisdom (Credo, Počasno življenje, Pismo). Most of them, however, are about love and sex, and the often difficult relations between man and woman (Furlanka, Brika, Valentinčič Rudi in Pepa Žgabucin, Dešpet, Vandima, Valentin, Pokora), although few are classical ballades of failed love (En glaž vina mi dej).
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, chansonnier
Chansonnier
A chansonnier is a manuscript or printed book which contains a collection of chansons, or polyphonic and monophonic settings of songs, hence literally "song-books," although some manuscripts are so called even though they preserve the text but not the music A chansonnier is a manuscript or...
and theatre actor. Known as the "bard
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
of the Slovenian Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
", he is most famous for his songs in the Slovene dialect from Goriška
Goriška
Goriška is a traditional region in western Slovenia on the border with Italy. The name means "the Gorizia region" because it is named after Gorizia, Italy. It is part of the wider traditional region of the Slovenian Littoral . Its principal urban center is Nova Gorica...
. Together with Adi Smolar
Adi Smolar
Adi Smolar is a Slovenian singer-songwriter and composer.He made his first appearance in 1981 with a full repertoire of his own songs. He continued to perform for eight years before releasing his first tape Naš svet se pa vrti in 1989...
, Mlakar is among the most famous chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
niers in Slovenia after 1990.
He was born in Postojna
Postojna
Postojna is a town and a municipality in the traditional region of Inner Carniola, from Trieste, in southwestern Slovenia. Population 14,581 .-History:...
in western Slovenia (then part of former Yugoslavia
Former Yugoslavia
The former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
), but spent his youth in the town of Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
on the border with Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. His parents were from Cerkno
Cerkno
Cerkno is a small town and a municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.It has around 2,000 inhabitants and is the administrative centre of the Cerkno hills...
, and Mlakar composed several songs in the distinctive highland dialect of his parents' native region.
Career
After finishing the Nova Gorica Grammar SchoolNova Gorica Grammar School
Nova Gorica Grammar School is a coeducational nondenominational state secondary general education school for students aged between 15 to 19. It is located in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. It is considered among the best secondary schools in Slovenia...
, Mlakar studied acting at the Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television
Academy for Theatre, Radio, Film and Television
The Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television is an academy of the University of Ljubljana in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It is the only college and graduate school in Slovenia with a similar curriculum. It is composed of three colleges: the College for Theatre and Radio, the College for Film and...
in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, graduating from drama play in 1986. He pursued a career as an actor in the Slovenian National Theatre of Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
, where he is currently working. He is an author of many songs for theatre plays, but he is best known as an author and a singer of his own songs of chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
style. In the year 1993 he received the Ježek's award.
Chansons
Iztok Mlakar is best known to Slovenian public as a chansonnier of witty chansons, composed in his local Slovene dialect. His songs are frequently witty and unusual reflections on eternal subjects such as love, passing and death, and also about joys of life (particularly wine and good food). Always written from the perspective of the little manLittle Man
Little Man may refer to:In history:*Little Man , a Cheyenne Holy ManIn music:*"Little Man" , a 1999 single by Alan Jackson*"Little Man" , a 1966 single by Sonny & Cher...
, they are often bitter comments on the daily life struggle and the injustice of social and political settings.
His early songs contain many commentaries on the daily life during the Socialist system
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
in former Yugoslavia
Former Yugoslavia
The former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
, which are presented in an ironic way. Mlakar doesn't use the standard literary Slovene language, all of his songs are sung in a dialect of the Kras
Kras
Karst ; also known as the Karst Plateau, is a limestone borderline plateau region extending in southwestern Slovenia and northeastern Italy. It lies between the Vipava Valley, the low hills surrounding the valley, the westernmost part of the Brkini Hills, northern Istria, and the Gulf of Trieste...
region, which is also spoken in the areas around Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
, especially in the settlements of Solkan
Solkan
Solkan is a suburb of the town of Nova Gorica in the Goriška region of western Slovenia, close to the border with Italy. Although it is nowadays completely integrated into Nova Gorica, with which it forms a single urban area, it has maintained the status of a separate urban settlement, due to its...
and Šempeter-Vrtojba
Šempeter-Vrtojba
Šempeter-Vrtojba is a municipality in Slovenia. The municipality comprises the town of Šempeter pri Gorici and the adjacent village of Vrtojba....
. Fewer of his songs are based on the dialect of the lower Vipava Valley
Vipava Valley
The Vipava Valley is a valley located in the Slovenian Littoral, between the towns of Nova Gorica and Vipava.-Geography:It is a narrow valley, serving as the main passage between Friulian lowland and central Slovenia, and thus also an important corridor connecting Northern Italy to Central Europe...
(Bose noge), while others (such as Pubi, usidma se, Var'se, čeča, and Očenaš) are sung in the Alpine
Julian Alps
The Julian Alps are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretches from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav. They are named after Julius Caesar, who founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of the mountains...
dialect of Cerkno
Cerkno
Cerkno is a small town and a municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia.It has around 2,000 inhabitants and is the administrative centre of the Cerkno hills...
in north-eastern part of the Slovenian Littoral
Slovenian Littoral
The Slovenian Littoral is a historical region of Slovenia. Its name recalls the historical Habsburg crown land of the Austrian Littoral, of which the Slovenian Littoral was a part....
, which differs considerably from the dialect of his other songs. The vocabulary of most of Mlakar's songs is frequently difficult to understand for seakers from other Slovenian regions. The use of dialect and juicy expressions conveys a sense of familiarity to his song.
Survival tactics, idiosyncrasies, disappointments, and rageful reactions of simple people are constant themes of Mlakar's songs, as are their joy for life, and seek of pleasure. In Mlakar's songs, a typical Slovene national character is presented. Mlakar sings about the simple Slovenian man and women of the 20th and 21st century, frequently squeezed by big historical events, such as world war
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s, expansionistic policies of big nations, changing political regimes, unstable economic situations, and shifts in morals and social customs. The heroes of Mlakars songs cope with these circumstances in different ways; they either stubbornly defy them (Karlo Špacapan), frequently resulting silly and pathetic (Pepi Žbaradorija), accept them with a sense of poetic fatalism (Bertolin in Štefana), or try to accommodate to them (Politik Gvido). Many lyrics are an intelligent ironic comment on acute problems of contemporary Slovenian society, such as alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
(Beštija), drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
(Marjo Špinel), and suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
(Briškula). Some lyrics ridiculize the provincial customs of an enriched post-Communist society (Fool cool, Truckin' rap, Bogatašev song). Many of them convey a frequently unusual life philosophy or acquired wisdom (Credo, Počasno življenje, Pismo). Most of them, however, are about love and sex, and the often difficult relations between man and woman (Furlanka, Brika, Valentinčič Rudi in Pepa Žgabucin, Dešpet, Vandima, Valentin, Pokora), although few are classical ballades of failed love (En glaž vina mi dej).
Public acts
Mlakar is known for avoiding the lights of publicity. He has never performed in a big concert or public event, preferring small and selected audiences. His public acts are rare, and usually there is a very high interest in them, resulting in a difficult accessibility of the tickets. Such a style of performance usually goes well with topics of his songs. With a good food and wine, the audience gets in a good domestic mood, and participates in singing his songs.Discography
- Štorije in baldorije (1992)
- 1. Pepi Žbaradorija
- 2. Republika Palma de Cocco
- 3. Puntarska
- 4. Vandima
- 5. Pubi, usidma se
- 6. Karlo Špacapan
- 7. Beštija
- 8. Štefana in Bertolin
- 9. En glaž vina mi dej
- Balade in štroncade (1994)
- 1. Od Franca Frančeškina god
- 2. Soča
- 3. Full cool
- 4. Božična
- 5. Politik Gvido
- 6. Valentin
- 7. Počasno življenje
- 8. Brika (ki b' rad)
- 9. Betula
- Rimarije iz oštarije (2001)
- 1. Blues
- 2. Rudi Valentinčič in Pepa Žgabucin
- 3. Credo
- 4. Dešpet
- 5. Čikorija in kafe
- 6. Marjo Špinel
- 7. Ivo Balila
- 8. Var'se, čeča
- 9. Briškula
- Romance brez krjance (2008)
- 1. Oda
- 2. Bose noge
- 3. Pismo
- 4. Furlanka
- 5. Žena al flaša
- 6. Pokora
- 7. Truckin' rap (Recitativ za bariton, kamion in basso continuo)
- 8. Bogatašev song
- 9. Očenaš