Introducing European Turbo Folk Music
Looking for something new to listen to? Check out European turbo folk music! This high-energy genre is a fusion of traditional folk music and modern pop, resulting in a sound that’s both catchy and unique.
What is Turbo Folk Music?
Turbo folk music is a subgenre of folk music that developed in the Balkan region in the 1990s. It is a fusion of traditional folk music with pop, rock, and electronic music. Turbo folk music is often associated with the working class and is often considered to be a symbol of national pride.
Origin of Turbo Folk Music
Turbo folk music is a music genre that began in the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s. It is a blend of Serbian folk music and electronic dance music. The name “turbo folk” comes from the turbo-charged engines of the Serbian warplanes that bombed Bosnia and Croatia during the war.
Turbo folk music was popularized by Croatian singer Ceca Raznatovic, who is credited with helping to start the genre. Raznatovic’s husband, Arkan, was a Serbian paramilitary leader who was wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for war crimes. He was killed in 2000 while attending his wife’s concert in Belgrade.
After Arkan’s death, Ceca Raznatovic became one of the most popular turbo folk singers in Serbia and Bulgaria. Her song “Arkanović – Zavet (Arkan’s Oath)” became an anthem for Serb paramilitaries during the war.
Turbo folk music has been criticized for its glorification of crime and violence, as well as its sexist and homophobic lyrics. However, it remains popular in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Macedonia.
Characteristics of Turbo Folk Music
Turbo folk music is a unique genre that originated in the Balkans. It is a combination of traditional folk music, pop, and electronic dance music. The sound is characterized by heavy beats, simple melodies, and often contains elements of traditional folk music.
The lyrics of turbo folk songs are often about love, friendship, and patriotism.They are also often very patriotic and promote positive messages about the nation. The genre has been very popular in the Balkans for many years, but has only recently begun to gain popularity in other parts of the world.
Turbo Folk Music in Europe
Turbo folk music is a type of music that is a mix of traditional folk music and modern pop music. It originated in the Balkans and has spread to other parts of Europe. Turbo folk music is a popular type of music in Europe and is often played at festivals and parties.
Turbo Folk Music in Serbia
Turbo-folk (Serbian: Турбо фолк / Turbo folk) is a musical genre that originated in Yugoslavia during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The music was initially popularized in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Originally a blend of Serbian folk music with modern pop and dance elements, turbo-folk went through several changes and evolved into various regional subgenres that incorporated electronic music.
Turbo-folk arose in the 1980s as a result of the interaction between Serbian folk music and modern pop music. The first turbo-folk artist was Lepa Brena, who blended traditional Bosnian folk music with modern pop and disco elements. By the early 1990s, turbo-folk had become one of the most popular genres in Yugoslavia.
After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, turbo-folk continued to be popular in the successor states of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia. In the 2000s, turbo-folk underwent a transformation as various subgenres emerged that incorporated electronic music. Today, turbo-folk is one of the most popular genres in Serbia and has also gained popularity in other parts of Europe and Asia.
Turbo Folk Music in Croatia
Turbo-folk music is a musical genre that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Yugoslavia. The style is a mix of Serbian folk music, pop music, and electronic dance music. turbo-folk music is very popular in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Croatia.
Turbo-folk music originated in the city of Novi Sad in Serbia. The style emerged as a result of the interaction between traditional Serbian folk music and various genres of pop music. Turbo-folk artists often use traditional folk instruments such as the gusle, accordion, and tamburica in their recordings. However, they also incorporate elements of electronic dance music, such as synthesizers and drum machines.
The lyrics of turbo-folk songs often deal with themes such as love, patriotism, and the struggles of everyday life. Turbo-folk artists often sing in both Serbian and Croatian, which makes the genre popular among Croatians living in Serbia.
Turbo-folk music has been criticized for its close association with nationalism and for its negative portrayal of women. However, turbo-folk artists have also been praised for their ability to create catchy and danceable songs that appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Turbo Folk Music in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Turbo-folk (Serbo-Croatian: Турбо фолк / Turbo folk) is a music genre that emerged in the late 1980s in Yugoslavia. It is widely considered to be a musical expression of Bosnian Serb nationalism, although migration and internationalization has contributed to its spread throughout Central and Southeast Europe.
The genre is characterized by synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic instrumentation; as well as by traditional folk instruments such as accordions and clarinets. The lyrics are often patriotic or nationalistic, and often deal with themes of love, loss, and nostalgia.
Turbo-folk originated in the rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it was popular among Serb refugees from the Croatian War of Independence. It quickly spread to Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey, and countries with large Serbian diaspora communities such as Australia and the United States.
The genre has been denounced by many Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) as being chauvinistic and extremist. However, it has also gained popularity among Bosniaks, particularly in urban areas.
Turbo Folk Music outside of Europe
Turbo Folk Music has become popular throughout Europe in the past few years. The sound is a unique mix of traditional folk music and modern pop music. Turbo Folk Music is now starting to become popular in other parts of the world as well.
Turbo Folk Music in the United States
Turbo folk (Serbian: турбо фолк / turbo folk) is a musical genre that emerged in Yugoslavia during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The music is a cross between traditional Serbian folk music, contemporary pop, and electronic dance music, with influences from the Middle East, Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia.
The genre developed in nightclubs in Belgrade and other Serbian cities, and quickly gained popularity among young people in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia. Turbo folk reached its peak of popularity in the early 2000s before declining in the 2010s.
In recent years, turbo folk has been gaining popularity outside of its traditional Balkan stomping ground. In the United States, turbo folk artists such as Sabrina Claudio, DaniLeigh, Saweetie, and Jasmine Sokko have been incorporating elements of the genre into their R&B-influenced pop music. These artists are helping to introduce turbo folk to a whole new audience outside of its European homeland.
Turbo Folk Music in Canada
Turbo-folk music is a genre of music that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s in Yugoslavia. Turbo-folk is a blend of traditional folk music and modern pop, often with Yugoslav folk instrumentation such as the gusle or accordion. The term “turbo-folk” was first used by Croatian journalist charisma in 1992.
In recent years, turbo-folk has seen a resurgence in popularity outside of Europe, particularly in Canada. Turbo-folk arose in Canada as a result of immigration from Yugoslavia during the late 20th century. Many Canadian turbofolk musicians are second or third generation immigrants who have adapted the sounds of turbo-folk to fit a Canadian context.
Turbo-folk has been described as “a cross between Lady Gaga and Shania Twain”. The genre is characterized by its use of highly synthesized keyboards and drum machines, as well as its reliance on auto-tune and other vocal effects. Turbo-folk songs often deal with themes of love, patriotism, and nostalgia, and are generally sung in Serbian or Croatian.
some well known Turbo Folk artists from Canada include:
• Ana Kirovska
• Dino Merlin
• marek Zelenika
• Neda Ukraden
• Severina Vučković
Turbo Folk Music in Australia
Turbo-folk (Serbian: Турбо фолк / Turbo folk) is a musical genre that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s from Serbia. turbo-folk music is typically a mix of traditional folk music with Serbian pop music, characterised byAttribute List:
Up-tempo
Easy to dance to
Catchy melodies
often utilising synthesizers, accordions and electric guitars.
Turbo-folk entered Australia in the early 2000s through migrants from the Balkans. The first recorded instance of turbo-folk music in Australia was at a wedding in 2001, where the band “Turbofolk Express” played a mix of Serbian pop and traditional folk music. The genre has since become popular among Australians of Balkan descent, as well as non-Balkan Australians. There are now a number of turbo-folk bands in Australia, such as “Turbofolk Express”, “Balkan Beats”, and “Turbofolk Mania”.
