Merlin (Yugoslav band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1985 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia |
| Founder | Edin "Dino" Dervišhalidović |
| Defunct | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Sarajevo , Yugoslavia |
| Products | Studio albums, compilation albums |
Merlin was a Yugoslav pop rock ensemble established in Sarajevo in 1985 by singer and songwriter Edin "Dino" Dervišhalidović. The group rose to prominence with their initial 1985 album Kokuzna vremena, which showcased a sound reminiscent of Bijelo Dugme. Their 1986 record Teško meni sa tobom (a još teže bez tebe) connected them with the Sarajevo-based New Partisans movement. Merlin went on to produce three additional studio albums that fused folk elements with pop rock, generating multiple hits before disbanding amid the Bosnian War. Subsequently, Dervišhalidović embarked on a prosperous solo career under the name Dino Merlin.
1983–1991
In the early 1980s, Edin Dervišhalidović was an aspiring musician employed at a factory. He formed Merlin in 1985 alongside Amir "Tula" Bjelanović (guitar), Mili Milišić (bass), Džafer Saračević (drums), and Mensur Lutkica (keyboards). Although the lineup frequently shifted, Dervišhalidović and Bjelanović remained the band's foundational members.
Merlin's first album, Kokuzna vremena (translated as Broke Times), produced by Brano Likić, achieved sales of 60,000 copies despite critics often branding them as imitators of Bijelo Dugme. Standout tracks included "U kandžama jastreba," "Jutro u Split," and "Ljubav nije paradajz."
Their follow-up in 1986, Teško meni sa tobom (a još teže bez tebe), featured collaborations with notable artists such as Bijelo Dugme's leader Goran Bregović and vocalist Mladen Vojičić "Tifa." This album embraced themes related to the New Partisans movement with songs like "Cijela Juga jedna avlija" and the popular "Nek padaju ćuskije," which enhanced their visibility in the media.
The 1987 release Merlin marked a shift away from the New Partisans motifs and experienced less commercial success. Memorable tracks from this period include "Lelo," "Božić je," and "Niko kao ja." During this time, Dervišhalidović also penned hits for folk singer Vesna Zmijanac, including their duet "Kad zamirišu jorgovani."
In 1989, the album Nešto lijepo treba da se desi adopted a stronger folk influence consistent with prevailing Yugoslav pop trends. It featured the hit "Mjesečina," a rendition of UB40's "Where Did I Go Wrong," along with well-received songs like "Bosnom behar probeharao" and "Je l' Sarajevo gdje je nekad bilo." The album’s success led to songwriting opportunities for prominent Yugoslav performers including Lepa Brena, Zdravko Čolić, and Hari Varešanović.
Their last studio project, Peta strana svijeta (1990), included successful singles such as "Harmonika," "Sa mojih usana," and "Šta ti značim ja." Shortly before the onset of the Yugoslav Wars, Merlin released a greatest hits compilation titled Hitovi and contributed to the soundtrack of the film Bračna putovanja, in which they also appeared. In 1991, Dervišhalidović performed at the Yutel for Peace concert. The band ceased activities following the outbreak of the Bosnian War.
Post breakup
During the Bosnian War, Dervišhalidović recorded patriotic music, including "Jedna si jedina" ("You're the One and Only"), which served as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s anthem until 1998. He represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest with "Sva bol svijeta" ("All the Pain of the World"). In 1994, he released a compilation titled Balade 1984 - 1994, dedicated to former band members and management who had been lost during the conflict. That same year marked his solo debut with Moja bogda sna, initiating a successful solo career across markets of the former Yugoslavia.
After Merlin disbanded, Bjelanović focused on studio work, collaborating notably with vocalists Mladen Vojičić "Tifa" and Zlatan Fazlić. In 1999, he released his solo album Pancirna duša (Bulletproof Soul), which included instrumental pieces composed during wartime and featured a cover of the traditional sevdalinka song "Mehmeda majka budila". Bjelanović passed away on 11 September 2019.
Studio albums
- Kokuzna vremena (1985)
- Teško meni sa tobom (a još teže bez tebe) (1986)
- Merlin (1987)
- Nešto lijepo treba da se desi (1989)
- Peta strana svijeta (1990)
Compilation albums
- Hitovi (1991)
- Najljepše pjesme 1984 - 1994 (1994)
- Balade 1984 - 1994 (1994)
- The Rest of the Best 1984 - 1997 (1997)