Hungarian Baby Boo

LOVE after a Biblical flood

With Joker Out after the concert that tore hearts and Bojan's pants

After an hour and a half of one of the fiercest storms Ljubljana residents could recall in recent times, it seemed as though the spectacular concert marking Joker Out’s tenth anniversary had literally been washed away; yet the guys said: "That’s not an option, we have to do this; we’re even better when we’re wet." Once assured that the concert could proceed safely, they took the stage, free of stage fright for the first time. They had already weathered the worst of the relentless downpour, and then Jan Peteh pointed a finger at the sky, realizing they had nothing left to lose. Perhaps a bit of electricity, maybe. But they were backed by thousands of voices and hearts, ready to burn right along with them. And they did.

The community and generation not only pulse with their music, but are in tune with their hearts. (Photo: Vita Orehek)

When the heavens opened, did you first curse everything or did you start to hope more than ever before?

At first, everyone was optimistic that it would pass quickly. Then, we saw that it wouldn't, and then silence and concern fell among us, among the workers on the scene, and ultimately among the audience. It was the most unimaginable crisis scenario that we had ever experienced all of a sudden. We couldn't believe it.

Did you perhaps believe so strongly and were you so in tune deep down, that you simply knew that you would eventually go on stage and give it your all?

Until the last moment, we didn't know whether we would be able to perform the concert or not, but we knew that if the rain stopped and we managed to get the stage and venue back up and running with 100% certainty, we would have the most unforgettable and emotionally charged concert of our career. With that kind of energy, we went on stage. We knew we had to give it our all.

Bojan Cvjetićanin united the crowd of thousands into one single voice with energy and sincerity. (Photo: Vita Orehek)

The weather cannot be bought or fully predicted, how were you prepared for rain, even a storm? With spare props (circus), clothes, even a spare date?

We had all the infrastructure and staff on site ready for the rain, but what we got was a Biblical flood. We couldn't have predicted this kind of weather, but despite everything, the staff on site weathered the storm and very selflessly took care of the safety of everyone on site first, and only then did they save the stage and props. There's no need to guess what would have happened if that hadn't happened. It had to be that day, there was no other option.

If people hadn't come back in such large numbers, and if it had kept raining, what would you have done?

We would've played our best and most emotional concert for the few thousand fans who had stayed at the venue all day—who, despite the storm, waited for the sun and our performance. Performing for them alone makes it all worthwhile.

Joker Out's anniversary concert attracted an audience of several thousand people to the venue. (Photo: Vita Orehek)

Even without the storm it would have been magical, I believe, but with the storm that could have taken the magic away, everything changed. What is your biggest takeaway from this?

The storm cast a shadow of doubt over us, and the audience, whether the concert we had spent a year and a half planning would actually happen. Consequently, the news that the show would go on after all was met with the greatest collective sense of relief in our history. From that moment on, we knew we couldn't take the experience for granted, and we savoured every last drop of the evening together. We realised that Joker Out is something greater than just the five of us. What we thought we were creating for ourselves evolved into a story, a movement, and a love that reaches far beyond what we can even comprehend. It was incredibly moving to see people of all generations and walks of life merge their energy with ours at Karneval, becoming one and joining our new wave.

Your tears at the end were the clearest proof of the storm raging inside you. Have you ever felt anything like that before? How many conversations and how much reflection have you gone through, and needed, to release everything that had built up during the preparations for Karneval and leading up to that decisive evening?

The tears of happiness during Novi Val are an indication of the 10-year turmoil inside us. They surfaced out of pure gratitude to all the people who were there and supported us all these years. We have cried many times to this song, but never so hard and so unburdened as at Karneval.

The acrobatic performances of Circus Fuskabo were an important part of the big show, which was not stopped even by a storm. (Photo: Vita Orehek)

Today, everyone congratulates you, bows to you and thanks you – for the music and the show, but above all for your sincerity, heart and love. Do you realise that in this world, where there is too much hostility and which does not show any bright prospects, especially for the younger generations, this is something really special? Is this an invaluable gift for you, a commitment for the future – or even a bit of a burden?

It's a privilege for us, one that we hold in high regard and don't take lightly. But it's something that comes from a genuine relationship between the five of us and our fans. Nothing is staged or contrived. So we know that we can carry this energy and hope forward as long as we stay true to ourselves and the people around us.

Where do we go from here, dear Joker Out?

We go on vacation, to new concerts and back to the studio to create new magic. Carpe Diem never ends.

The hugs after the concert said more than words – an evening marked by a storm ended in tears of happiness. (Photo: Mediaspeed)

Catharsis

Few events deserve so many emotional records by authors of different generations. Even those who are reluctant to associate the word love with it, this time wrote it with a capital letter. Bojan, Nace, Jure, Kris and Jan are boys who inspire admiration and have won us over not only with their infectious music, but also with their connection and modesty.

There is something special between them, and when you are close to them, you can feel it. They give and therefore receive. The sky has heard them. Musician Astrid Kljun recognised that invisible force in the storm that cleared the "field" so that the purest feelings could come to the surface. And that everyone appreciated that moment a hundred times more. Everything happens for a reason, she wrote.

You are ours, we are yours!" Bojan Cvjetićanin shouted from the stage. (Photo: Vita Orehek)

Life lessons

Crisis communication expert Dr. Damjana Pondelek, in her post on the website urednica.si, assessed that Joker Out also showed what rock'n'roll crisis management is. In this test of endurance and character, they showed that a crisis is not only a threat, but also an opportunity to strengthen the emotional connection with the audience (of course, if you survive said crisis).

"It turns out time and again that the true value of great projects is not in the smooth execution, but in how we deal with the unpredictable. Joker Out proved that rock’n’roll is not just a stage pose, but a way of life.

Even when everything seems impossible, we don't give up. We search and find a way. When it's the most difficult, we gather our courage, take our people by the hands, and do what needs to be done and do it the best we can."

The words of another Damjana also resonated. Golavšek. She was not captivated by the luxury of the spotlights and the acrobatic feats, nor the technically perfect moments, but the ending: the piano and the song 'Novi val' and the singing crowd.

"Then something happened, which happens very rarely. The whole spectacle receded into the background. What remained were the music, the people and the emotions. When the boys started hugging and crying, I cried myself in front of the TV screen. So did Čarli.

We watched a successful group, but above all we watched sincere people. Young men who dare to feel. Who dare to show their tears. Who dare to remain human even as thousands applaud them.

And that's where the song 'Novi val' hit me right in the heart. Maybe because it's not just about them. It's about us too. About the world we're leaving behind, and the world that will be inherited. What's left is music, heart, and love."

(Photo: Vita Orehek.) The song 'Novi val' became the highlight of the evening, as sincere emotions flooded the stage.

Dedication, courage and trust

Circus Fuskabo, whose artists created an unforgettable show, relived that Saturday evening on their Facebook as something truly special, unforgettable. After the storm, no one gave up. "No one looked for excuses. We stood together: Joker Out, technicians and organisers.

Photo: Mediaspeed. Despite the flooded venue, the visitors persisted and waited for the concert to begin.

Firefighters were pumping out water while we simultaneously mopped the stage, swapped out wet silks and ropes mid-air, prepared costumes and makeup for 40 performers, ran to our circus tent for dry gear, and sought solutions to problems that seemed insurmountable. All of this in just one hour. In those moments, we realised what a team truly means: heart, dedication, courage, and mutual trust. Everyone played their part, and that is exactly why we succeeded."

And so an evening that would never be forgotten, was created. 

Original printed versions of the Jana magazine below: