Dragisa Nedovic‘s song “Pluca su mi bolna“, which was first performed by Zaim Imamovic, was composed in 1950, and this ballad was inspired by the author’s struggle with tuberculosis, which was usually fatal at the time. At the time of the song’s creation, Nedovic was in an extremely difficult state of health, which is felt in every word of the song, which begins with the lines: “My lungs are painful, I no longer have health, because my last days are very close…”
The track quickly gained popularity, but it also had its dark side. After the publication of the album, a large increase in the number of suicides among tuberculosis patients was recorded. According to stories, that trend attracted the attention of the authorities, including Josip Broz Tito himself and the Central Committee of the Communist League, who decided to ban the sale of records and the public performance of the song, explaining that it encourages suicide, reports Krstarica.com.
It was certainly not without influence, and probably a decisivefactor, that Tito’s great love, Davorjanka Paunovic, died of tuberculosis after the Second World War. He loved her so much that she was buried next to the White Palace in Dedinje.
The ban reportedly lasted ten years, until the song was unexpectedly performed again at a celebration. How, and why? Jovanka Broz, Tito’s wife, allegedly wanted to hear the song, and the legendary singer Nada Mamula sang for the first lady of Yugoslavia. This, according to the stories, brought an end to the ban and the return of the song to the public.
“Pluca su mi bolna” was first sung by Zaim Imamovic. In addition to Nada Mamula’s version, the strong interpretation of Bora Spuzic – Kvaka is also known.
