Once upon a time, the biggest star in the Serbian and Yugoslav music scene was Lepa Brena. Today, that title belongs to her daughter-in-law, Aleksandra Prijović, who after six sold-out concerts in Zagreb and five in Belgrade, proved this status once again last night in Chicago.
And convincingly so, in front of around 6,000 people who gathered at the Now Arena from literally all over America, making it the largest attendance at a single concert in our diaspora, not just in America, but on the entire planet! Ever!
Prija has thus made history, surpassing Čola, Brena, her mother-in-law, and all other greats of domestic music, and her American fans had their moment to shine, which lasted two hours. Two hours of excellent entertainment and an equally brilliant stage experience, for which, besides Prija and her superbly played band, the organizers from Pure Live Music also deserve credit.
And for this reporter, a man of a certain age who can barely mumble a few lines of Prija’s songs, it was immediately noticeable how, in one place, I saw three, or maybe even four generations of Balkan immigrants, literally from all nations of the former Yugoslavia.
Here in America, these people are clearly brought together more by the music of Aleksandra Prijović than they are divided by everything else in their home countries. And that’s Prija’s first good deed…
The second is that, believe it or not, this music preserves our mother tongue, whatever you call it in the Balkans.
Namely, there were many young people in the audience who don’t speak or stutter the language of their fathers and grandmothers, but they know all of Prijović’s songs by heart.
THEY HAD THEIR MOMENT: Prijovićka brought her biggest fans on stage
And maybe, in that regard, we should think about introducing Prija’s lyrics as mandatory reading material in our local churches and schools. Judging by last night’s concert, that would certainly cause a big stir and interest among our children born far from their homeland.
Everyone had at least one favorite song last night, and some even knew the entire repertoire. Prija pleased everyone, even the American police officers, who were asking where they could see the next concert when they were off duty.
When all is said and done, we witnessed a historic concert, at which a new star was born, at least when it comes to the American diaspora. Aleksandra Prijović has definitely cemented that aura of a pop queen in Serbia and the Balkans.
THE BIGGEST CONCERT IN THE DIASPORA EVER: Prija sang in front of 6,000 fans
Aleksandra Prijović was humble when we told her that no other singer from the former Yugoslavia had ever gathered so many people in one place in Chicago, or any other city…
“I don’t know if that’s true, but if it is, then I am truly honored and pleased that my name will be mentioned alongside the names of all those great stars. I didn’t know what to expect in Chicago, but this tonight truly exceeded all my expectations. So many people, a wonderful atmosphere, an audience that sang along with me from start to finish. I’m going home with many beautiful memories and I hope we’ll see each other again soon”, Prija told Serbian Times.
BOW FOR THE END: Aleksandra Prijović bows to the audience at the Now Arena
And we are left to wish the young star that she may shine for a long time and delight her fans.
Soon, an exclusive interview with Aleksandra Prijović and a video report from the concert, all on Serbian Times!
Text: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Antonije Kovačević, Saša Lukić – STV