The Kuguars
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Serbia |
| Products | Comedy rock music albums |
The Kuguars—a play on words derived from The Cougars—were a brief-lived Serbian comedy rock ensemble based in Belgrade, primarily composed of well-known Serbian actors. Established in 1997, the group produced two albums filled with comedic tracks before dissolving in 2001.
History
The band was formed in 1997 by Dragan Jovanović (vocals), Dejan Matić (triangle, vocals), Nikola Ðuričko (guitar, vocals), Rade Marković (guitar, vocals), Boris Milivojević (bass), Bogdan Diklić (drums), Papa Nick (percussion), and Tibor Tot (percussion). Their initial purpose was to create and perform music for theatrical productions. The name originated from the theatre group Kuguari, inspired by the condition of their dressing room, which resembled a cougar's lair.
Their first album served as the soundtrack for the theatrical show Smešna strana muzike ("A Funny Side of Music") and included clever renditions of rock classics like Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," reworked with lyrics from Jovan Jovanović Zmaj's children's poem "Leptiriću šareniću," alongside a reinterpretation of "Raw Hide" titled "Gipsy Hide." The collection also featured adaptations of children’s tunes such as "Ocka" and "Kad si srećan." Among the standout tracks were "Zidareva ljubav," a parody in the turbo folk style with words by director Srđan Dragojević, and "Dejo," a soccer anthem covering Harry Belafonte's "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" dedicated to Yugoslav football star Dejan Savićević.
Their sophomore release, Open de dor ("Open the Door"), adopted a somewhat more earnest approach while maintaining humorous elements. It included a risqué parody of ABBA's "Chiquitita," an English-language version called "I Was Born" adapted from Miroslav Ilić's hit "Ja zavoleh devojku iz grada," and a Serbian rendition of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" from Cabaret, retitled "Budućnost je samo za nas." The album also featured a nationwide favorite: a Serbian cover of the blues classic "Fever," named "Zima," as well as an a cappella interpretation of Bijelo Dugme's "Ne spavaj mala moja muzika dok svira," with lead vocals by Bogdan Diklić, reminiscent of his role in the 1979 film Nacionalna klasa.
The group discontinued its activities following the tragic death of percussionist Tibor Tot in a car crash on November 30, 1999.
Discography
- Smešna strana muzike (1998)
- Open de dor (1999)
External links
- The Kuguars on MySpace
- The Kuguars on Facebook
- The Kuguars on Discogs
- The Kuguars on Last.fm
- The Kuguars on YouTube