Sanja Ilić Сања Илић | |
|---|---|
 Ilić in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Aleksandar Ilić (1951-03-27)27 March 1951 |
| Died | 7 March 2021(2021-03-07) (aged 69) Belgrade, Serbia |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Keyboard |
| Years active | 1963–2021 |
| Formerly of | San, Mag,Balkanika |
Aleksandar "Sanja"Ilić (Serbian Cyrillic:Александар "Сања" Илић; 27 March 1951 – 7 March 2021) was aSerbian andYugoslavmusician andcomposer.
Ilić started composing as a teenager. In 1971 he formed therock bandSan, which disbanded in 1975, after the band's vocalist Predrag Jovičić died in concert from anelectric shock. After San split up, Ilić continued his career as a composer, authoring several hit songs for Yugoslavpop and rock artists. He collaborated with composer and keyboardist Sloba Marković on theelectronic music albumDelta Project and with actor and lyricistIrfan Mensur on the albumPlava ptica. In 2000, Ilić formed theethnic music ensembleBalkanika, with which he recorded five albums and had numerous performances across the world. During his career, Ilić wrote music for theatre, film, television shows and various performers. He died in 2021 inBelgrade. He was the brother of rock musician and composerDragoljub Ilić and husband of actressZlata Petković.
Ilić was born on 27 March 1951 inBelgrade.[1] Ilić's father, Miodrag "Beli" Ilić was a well-known composer.[2] Sanja Ilić composed his first song when he was 12. At the age of 16, he composed the song "Baj baj baj" ("Bye, Bye, Bye"), which was later performed byBisera Veletanlić atJugovizija 1976 festival.[3] In 1967, he joined the high school band Vragolani (The Imps).[2] He graduated from theUniversity of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture.[3]
In 1970, Ilić formed the bandSan (The Dream) with former members ofBele Višnje and Smeli.[4] With San Ilić recorded five7" singles.[4] Durig the band's run, Ilić also wrote music for the filmITD (ETC.) and therock operaArhanđeli i automati (Archangels andAutomatons) performed in Belgrade'sDadov Theatre.[4] On 2 February 1975, during a concert inČair Hall inNiš, San vocalist Predrag Jovičić died from anelectric shock.[4] After this event Ilić disbanded San and decided not to perform live with a band again.[4] In 1977, as a tribute to Jovičić, the members of San recorded songs they prepared for their debut album with singersZdravko Čolić,Dado Topić,Bisera Veletanlić,Zdenka Kovačiček andZlatko Pejaković.[4]
In 1979, Ilić was a member of thesupergroup Mag (Wizard), formed for the recording of the soundtrack forGoran Marković's filmNational Class Category Up to 785 ccm. Mag consisted of formerKorni Grupa member Josip Boček (guitar), formerElipse and Korni Grupa members Bojan Hreljac (bass guitar) and Vladimir "Furda" Furduj (drums), composer and musicianSloba Marković (keyboards) and Ilić (keyboards). Mag recorded songs written by composerZoran Simjanović and lyricistMarina Tucaković. The vocals were provided by popular Yugoslav singersDado Topić,Oliver Dragojević,Slađana Milošević,Oliver Mandić,Zumreta Midžić "Zuzi" and the members of the bandLaboratorija Zvuka.[5]
Ilić continued his career as a composer. In 1982, he composed the song "Halo, Halo" ("Hello, Hello"), with which the groupAskarepresented Yugoslavia in theEurovision Song Contest 1982.[2] In 1984, he composed the hit song "Princeza" ("Princess"), performed by rock singersDado Topić andSlađana Milošević.[2] In 1987, Ilić recorded theelectronic music albumDelta Project with composer and keyboardist Sloba Marković.[2] In 1992, on the lyrics of actorIrfan Mensur, Ilić composed music for the theatre playPlava ptica (Blue Bird). The songs were released on the albumPlava ptica.[2] The title track, performed by well-known Serbian actors, became a hit, largely due to its anti-war lyrics.
In 2000, Ilić founded theethnic music ensembleBalkanika. In 2000, they released their first album, entitledBalkan 2000.[2] Ilić composed all the tracks on the album, played piano andsaz on the album recording and produced the album.[2] The album featured more than 90 musicians, including Brankica Vasić, Svetlana "Ceca" Slavković, Nataša Jelić, Marijana Kalajić, Đorđe David and Pavle Aksentijević on vocals,Dragoljub Ilić on keyboards,Slobodan Trkulja ongajde andkaval, Dragomir "Joga" Milenković oncümbüş, Veljko "Papa Nick" Nikolić onpercussion, Branko Kljajić onbouzouki,Bora Dugić onflute, Ljuba Dimitrijević onblowing horn andshawm, Darko Karajić onoud and saz, St. George String Orchestra,Radio Television of Serbia Choir, and others.[2] The album songs inspired the TV show entitledOstrvo Balkan (Island of Balkan), directed by Miša Vukobratić.[2] After the album release, Balkanika performed acrossEurope, inChina and inMexico.[2] In 2000, Ilić also took part in the Balkan Horses Band project. On 10 November 2000, Ilić performed, alongsite guitaristVlatko Stefanovski, vocalist and flutist Tamara Obrovac and vocalist and kaval andmelodica playerTheodosii Spassov, on a concert inSofia,Bulgaria.[2] The recording of the concert was released in 2001 on the live albumBalkan Horses Band – Sofia 2000.[2]
In 2004, Ilić released his second album with Balkanika,Balkan koncept (Balkan Concept). Among Ilić's new collaborators were Izet Kizil (percussion), Peter Kostadinov (gajde), Miljan Miljanić (gusle) and Rastko Aksentijević (šargija).[2] Once again, Ilić authored all the tracks and produced the album.[2] The album featured a new version of the song "Plava ptica".[2] On 21 September 2005, the band held a concert entitledPutem Teslinih misli (FollowingTesla's Thoughts) at Belgrade'sKalemegdan Fortress.[2] The performance featured a choir and asymphony orchestra, and the recording of the concert was released on theDVDLive at Kalemegdan in 2006.[2]
In 2009, Sanja Ilić and Balkanika released the albumCeeepaj (Gooo), with which they moved towardsBalkan brass sound.[2] The album featured a cover of the song "Maljčiki" (Russian for "Boys"), originally recorded by the Yugoslavnew wave bandIdoli.[2] In 2013, Ilić composed the workConstantinus Magnustantinus Magnus, which was performed in Belgrade andNiš as a part of the celebration of 1700 years since theEdict of Milan. The work was performed by more than 200 performers, including the members of Balkanika,Belgrade National Theatre orchestra, choir and ballet dancers.[2]Constantinus Magnustantinus Magnus featured elements of themusic of ancient Rome and was partially performed on ancient Roman instruments.[6] In 2018, Ilić and Balkanikarepresented Serbia in theEurovision Song Contest 2018 inLisbon,Portugal, with the song "Nova deca" ("New Children").[2]
In 2020, Balkanika released their fourth studio album,Stand Up.[2] The album featured a new version of "Nova deca" as the bonus track.[7] Part of the album songs were in English language, with vocals provided by Mladen Lukić.[2]
Ilić composed songs for numerous Yugoslav performers, includingBisera Veletanlić,Lutajuća Srca,Zdravko Čolić,Zlatko Pejaković,Jadranka Stojaković,Suzana Mančić,Zdenka Kovačiček,Neda Ukraden,Maja Odžaklievska,Leo Martin,Slađana Milošević,Gabi Novak,Radmila Karaklajić,7 Mladih,Jasna Zlokić,Doris Dragović,Bora Dugić,Louis, and others.[8]
During his career Ilić wrote over 1000 compositions for theatre, films, TV shows and commercials.[2] He wrote music for filmsDark Echoes (1977),Transfer (1980),Strange Night (1990),Vukovar: A Story (1994),The Border Post (2006),Ambulance (2009) andIce (2012).[2]
Ilić died on 7 March 2021, in Belgrade, at the age of 69, due to complications caused byCOVID-19 during theCOVID-19 pandemic in Serbia.[9] He was buried at theAlley of Distinguished Citizens in theBelgrade New Cemetery, next to his wife,Zlata Petković.[10]
On 28 June (Serbian national holidayVidovdan) 2021, Ilić was posthumously awarded theGolden Medal for Merits by thePresident of Serbia.[11]
Ilić's brother Dragoljub Ilić is the leader of thehard rock bandGeneracija 5. The band was named after Sanja Ilić's suggestion; after reading a newspaper article aboutfifth generation computers, Sanja Ilić suggested the name Generacija 5 (Generation 5).[12]
Ilić was married to Serbian actress and modelZlata Petković until her death in 2012. They had one son together, Andrej, who was born in 1984.[13]
| Preceded by | Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 (withBalkanika) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Beovizija winner 2018 | Succeeded by |
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