Valentino (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia |
| Founder | Zijad "Zijo" Rizvanbegović |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Serbia |
| Products | Pop rock music albums and singles |
Valentino is a pop rock ensemble that originated in Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia in 1982 and is currently based in Belgrade, Serbia.
The band, spearheaded by guitarist and chief songwriter Zijad "Zijo" Rizvanbegović, initially featured vocalist Suad Jakirlić "Jaka" as the frontman. During the mid-1980s, Valentino achieved notable acclaim across Yugoslavia with their blend of pop rock and power pop infused with traditional folk music motifs. They produced three albums with Jakirlić before his departure, after which Gordan "Gogo" Prusina took over vocal duties. Following two additional albums, the group disbanded in 1991 due to the onset of the Yugoslav Wars. Rizvanbegović revived Valentino in 2001, assuming the role of lead singer and subsequently releasing two studio albums alongside various singles and compilations.
1982–1991
The formation of Valentino traces back to Sarajevo guitarist Zijad "Zijo" Rizvanbegović, who, after gaining musical insights during a stay in London, returned to Sarajevo to produce demos and film videos for tracks like "Figure voštane" ("Wax Figures") and "Randevu" ("Rendez-vous"), which were later broadcast on TV Sarajevo. To complete the band, Rizvanbegović placed an advertisement in Oslobođenje, recruiting vocalist Suad Jakirlić. The original members comprised Rizvanbegović on guitar, Jakirlić handling vocals, Emir Čolaković on bass, Dubravko Smolčić playing drums, and Mladen Miličević on keyboards. Early gigs included opening performances for the prominent Yugoslav band Bijelo Dugme.
In 1984, their debut album ValentiNo 1 was issued by Zagreb's Suzy. The standout track "Volim te još" ("I Still Love You") featured Amila Sulejmanović on vocals and guest contributions from Bijelo Dugme leader Goran Bregović on bass and guitar. Additional collaborations included musicians such as Milić Vukašinović, Srđan Jevđević, Mladen Pavičić, and backing vocalists Lejla Trto and Amila Čengić. That same year, Valentino made their Belgrade debut opening for Bajaga i Instruktori.
Prior to recording their sophomore album, Smolčić and Miličević departed; they were succeeded by Ademir Volić "Kufi" and Joško Gujinović, along with multi-instrumentalist Nikša Bratoš. Both Volić and Bratoš had previous experience with Bonton Bay; Volić also contributed to recordings with Gari Garincha. Released in 1985 through Sarajevo's Diskoton, ValentiNo 2 produced hits such as "Bez tebe (Đubre volim te)," "Jugovići," and the ballad "Ne, ne boj se."
Their third release, ValentiNo 3 (1987), produced by Bratoš, continued the band's signature pop rock sound enriched with folk elements. Tracks like "Oka tvoja dva," "Nema je nema," "Potonule lađe (Ne, ne, ne...)," and "Kad me više ne bude" became popular. Despite this success, repetitive stylistic choices led to waning popularity and personnel changes. Jakirlić left due to compulsory military service and subsequently exited the music scene, relocating to Germany where he became a mechanical engineering professor. Volić pursued architectural studies in London, while Bratoš joined Crvena Jabuka.
Gordan "Gogo" Prusina stepped in as vocalist following Jakirlić’s departure; Denis Habul replaced Volić on bass. Prusina brought prior recognition from his work with Ime Ruže. This lineup produced ValentiNo 4 (1988) under Jugoton, featuring hits like "Samo sklopi okice," "Idu ptice selice," and the instrumental piece "Saksofoni lete u nebo," inspired during Rizvanbegović’s trip to Thailand.
The fifth album, ValentiNo 5 – Ponekad noću dok grad spava (1989), introduced keyboardist Samir Šestan and guitarist Zoran Petrović; production was handled by Željko Brodarić "Jappa." The album included the hit single "Zima devedeseta." Early in 1990, Valentino performed alongside leading Yugoslav rock artists at concerts held in Timișoara, Romania shortly after the Romanian Revolution. In 1991, they appeared at the MESAM festival presenting the song "Kada struje nestane," indicating intentions for a sixth album. However, their activities ceased due to the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars.
Post breakup
After the Yugoslav Wars and the dissolution of Valentino, Rizvanbegović moved to Visoko where he produced the album "Bila kuća u centru grada" ("There Was Once a House in the Town Center"). Subsequently, he emigrated first to Amsterdam and later to Germany. In 1996, under the Valentino name, he released Moja kuća putujuća (My Travelling House), collaborating with Samir Šestan and guitarist Nihad Rahić. This album featured guest contributions from Sarajevo vocalists Hari Varešanović, Saša Lošić, and Alen Islamović. Throughout the 1990s, Rizvanbegović remained active by performing at charity events and composing scores for both film and theatre productions.
Following Valentino's breakup, Prusina established himself in Mostar, where he took on the role of editor at Herceg-Bosna Radio. He also competed in the Melodije Mostara festival during 1996 and 1997, as well as participating in the Cro Fest held in Neum, before eventually withdrawing from the music scene.
2001–present
Rizvanbegović re-entered the music scene in 2001 at the Sunčane Skale festival with the song "Odlazim, korak napred, nazad dva" ("I'm Leaving, a Step Forward, Two Steps Backwards"). That year, he released the Valentino album Sve su se moje cure udale (All My Girls Got Married), produced by Nikša Bratoš, who also performed most of the instrumentation. This release combined fresh compositions with reimagined tracks from Moja kuća putujuća. The recording featured backing vocals by Vrele Usne, horn players from Croatian Latin ensemble Cubismo, and former members of Valentino. Following this, Rizvanbegović revived Valentino as a band, embarking on tours across the former Yugoslav territories and Europe, culminating in a North American tour in 2004.
In 2004, Valentino issued a compilation entitled 20 pjesama – 20 godina (20 Songs – 20 Years), which included timeless hits alongside new material such as "Miriše mi na tebe" ("It Smells of You"), performed at the 2003 Budva Festival. The 2006 compilation Balade (Ballads) was distributed through Serbia’s Kurir newspaper. That same year saw the release of their seventh studio album ValentiNo 7, produced by Vlada Negovanović, who also contributed guitar and bass parts. This album featured Belgrade-based musicians including Srđan Jovanović on drums, Bojan Vasić handling keyboards, Marin Petrić on percussion, Biljana Kitanović playing violin, and Martina Vrbos providing vocals. It presented both new songs and a revamped version of "Pazi na ritam" from their debut record. The track "Ja te Mićo ne volim" included a collaboration with turbo folk artist Stoja Novaković.
The 2008 release Platinum Collection combined greatest hits with the new track "Šuplje cipele" ("Hollow Shoes"), showcasing lead vocals by Rizvanbegović’s wife, actress Marta Keler. In 2011, Valentino issued a live album titled Live! Samo sklopi okice, recorded during their performance at the 2009 Belgrade Beer Fest. Their most recent compilation, Hit do hita (Hit by Hit), was released in 2014 featuring updated versions of their classic repertoire.
Valentino continued producing music into the 2020s with singles such as "Medley" (2021), "Da se rodim ponovo" ("If I Was Born Again", 2021), and "Neću kući" ("I Don't Want to Go Home", 2023).
Legacy
The Croatian tamburica group Agrameri created a folk rendition of Valentino’s song "Oka tvoja dva" for their 1997 album, earning them the Porin Award for this adaptation.
Studio albums
- ValentiNo 1 (1984)
- ValentiNo 2 (1985)
- ValentiNo 3 (1987)
- ValentiNo 4 (1988)
- ValentiNo 5 – Ponekad noću dok grad spava (1989)
- Moja kuća putujuća (1996)
- Sve su se moje cure udale (2003)
- ValentiNo 7 (2006)
Live albums
- Live! Samo sklopi okice (2011)
Compilation albums
- Najbolje godine (1988)
- Moje najljepše pjesme (1996)
- Naj Valentino (1998)
- Miriše mi na tebe + Hitovi (2003)
- 20 pjesama – 20 godina (2004)
- Balade (2006)
- Platinum Collection (2008)
- Hit do hita (2014)
- The Best Of (2021)
External links
- Valentino on Discogs