Jakarta (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Founder | Igor Popović, Jane Parđovski |
| Defunct | 1988 (first period) |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Serbia, Yugoslavia |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Jakarta was a rock ensemble originating from Serbia and Yugoslavia, established in Belgrade in 1981.
Initiated by vocalist Igor Popović alongside guitarist Jane Parđovski, the group experienced multiple personnel alterations before settling into a lineup that included Popović, Parđovski, bassist Rade Bulatović, keyboardist Miloš Petrović, and drummer Ivan Fece. The band introduced themselves with their 1984 synth-funk debut Maske za dvoje, which was well-received by both critics and the Yugoslav public. Their follow-up release, the pop rock-focused Bomba u grudima (1986), did not achieve the same acclaim, ultimately leading to their dissolution two years later. Following a 2013 compilation of their best work, Popović resurrected Jakarta for the 2020 album Letim, recorded with musicians based in Belgrade.
1981–1988
Jakarta came together in Belgrade in 1981. After initial changes in membership, founding members Igor Popović (vocals) and Jane Parđovski (guitar), who had previously been part of Butik, solidified the band with Rade Bulatović on bass, Miloš Petrović—an accomplished jazz musician and music graduate—on keyboards, and Ivan Fece on drums, formerly of Luna. The band attracted attention through opening performances for U Škripcu and secured a deal with PGP-RTB.
Their first album, Maske za dvoje (1984), produced by Saša Habić and featuring guest horn musicians, garnered both commercial success and critical praise with tracks such as "Spiritus," "Piromanija," and "Pozovi me." A planned duet with Massimo Savić titled "Nebo je još plavo zbog tebe" was canceled due to contractual exclusivity constraints. Additionally, Popović lent his vocals to Rex Ilusivii's "Arabia" (1985) and participated in YU Rock Misija, Yugoslavia’s contribution to Live Aid, performing at the charity event held at Red Star Stadium.
In 1986, Jakarta released their sophomore album Bomba u grudima, again produced by Habić but featuring a new drummer, Miroslav Karlović. This record marked a transition towards pop rock but failed to connect with critics or audiences despite some radio exposure for songs like "Reci gde je lova." As a result, the group quietly disbanded by 1988.
Post breakup
Following Jakarta’s breakup, Igor Popović relocated to Italy, where he briefly operated a small fashion business. Miloš Petrović obtained a magister degree from Belgrade’s Faculty of Music and pursued careers in classical music and jazz until his passing in Belgrade on 13 November 2010. Rade Bulatović concentrated on jazz collaborations with Serbian artists and composed music for Milutin Petrović’s TV series Dome, slatki dome (1988-1989) as well as Vladimir Blaževski’s 1992 film Boulevard of the Revolution. In 2019, Bulatović released his solo jazz album titled Very True. Jane Parđovski retired from the music industry to serve as a high court judge; he tragically died in a railway accident on 3 June 2011.
2014–2020
December 2013 saw the release of the compilation album San je jak (The Dream Is Strong), compiling 12 tracks recorded between 1982 and 1986. Shortly thereafter, in January 2014, Popović announced plans for a new Jakarta album. The comeback record Letim (I'm Flying) was released in November 2020 featuring Popović on vocals; guitar contributions from Vuk Parđovski—son of Jane Parđovski—and Dejan Grujić (including 12-string guitar); keyboardists Goran Antović and Darko Grujić; and drummer Dadiša Aksentijević. Notably, brothers Dejan and Darko Grujić had been members of Jakarta during its early 1980s period.
Promotion for the album included singles such as "Selo Banja" ("Village Banja") and "Tamna strana meseca" ("The Dark Side of the Moon"), both produced by Saša Habić. The record contains multiple cover versions: the title track is adapted from Simple Minds' "Someone Somewhere in Summertime"; "Dodole" ("Dodola") reinterprets The House of Love's "Gotta Be That Way"; "Jug" ("South") is a rendition of Negrita's "Rotolando verso sud"; and "Selo Banja" covers Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" with Serbian lyrics penned by writer Goran Skrobonja. Additionally, two versions of Fleetwood Mac's "Big Love" appear—one retaining original lyrics and another translated into Serbian as "Prava ljubav" ("True Love")—alongside a cover of Yugoslav group Korni Grupa's "Jagode i maline" ("Strawberries and Raspberries").
Legacy
In 2012, the Serbian heavy metal group Trigger included a cover of "Spiritus" on their album EX. The following year, Serbian DJ SevdahBABY teamed up with vocalist Djixx to release their rendition entitled "Ti mi se tako sviđaš" ("I Like You so Much") featured on the album Sega Mega, ti i ja.
The fictional ensemble Kalkuta and its lead singer Lazar Petronijević, depicted in the 2017 novel Kada kažeš da sam tvoj by Serbian author Goran Skrobonja, drew inspiration from both Jakarta’s history and Igor Popović’s professional journey.
In 2011, listeners of Radio 202 voted "Pozovi me" among the top 60 tracks issued by PGP-RTB/PGP-RTS throughout its six-decade existence.
Studio albums
- Maske za dvoje (1984)
- Bomba u grudima (1986)
- Letim (2020)
Compilation albums
- San je jak (2013)
Singles
- "Amerika" / "Put u bajano" (1983)
- "Spiritus" / "Problem" (1984)
- "Osvojiću svet" / "Osvojiću svet – Instrumental" (1985)