Alfapop ( sr-cyr, Алфапоп,

transliteration Transliteration is a type of conversion of a text from one writing system, script to another that involves swapping Letter (alphabet), letters (thus ''wikt:trans-#Prefix, trans-'' + ''wikt:littera#Latin, liter-'') in predictable ways, such as ...

for: ''Alphapop'') was a

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...

power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and ch ...

band. The band was formed in

Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...

in 2000 under the name Tir na n'Og. Initially, the band performed

Irish folk Irish traditional music (also known as Irish trad, Irish folk music, and other variants) is a genre of folk music that developed in Ireland. In ''A History of Irish Music'' (1905), W. H. Grattan Flood wrote that, in Gaelic Ireland, there w ...

and

Celtic rock Celtic rock is a genre of folk rock, as well as a form of Celtic fusion which incorporates Celtic music, instrumentation and themes into a rock music context. It has been extremely prolific since the early 1970s and can be seen as a key foundat ...

and was a prominent act of the Serbian Celtic rock scene, releasing one Celtic rock-oriented album. In 2008, the band changed the name to Alfapop and turned towards power pop sound, releasing their second album in 2010 and disbanding soon after the album release.

Band history

Tir na n'Og (2000–2008)

The band was formed in 2000 by a group of Irish music enthusiasts and was named Tir na n'Og after

Tír na nÓg In Irish mythology Tír na nÓg (; "Land of the Young") or Tír na hÓige ("Land of Youth") is one of the names for the Celtic Otherworld, or perhaps for a part of it. Tír na nÓg is best known from the tale of Oisín and Niamh. Other Old Iri ...

, the land of eternal youth in

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths native to the island of Ireland. It was originally passed down orally in the prehistoric era, being part of ancient Celtic religion. Many myths were later written down in the early medieval era by C ...

Studentski Kulturni Centar Studentski Kulturni Centar ( en, Student's Cultural Center; abbr. SKC) is a cultural center in Belgrade, Serbia. History The center opened in 1971 in the building of the former Officers' Club, that had up to that point been used by the State Sec ...

Čikine bombone, Zbogom Bruce Lee & Tir Na N'Og
At first mostly playing Irish folk and songs by

The Pogues The Pogues were an English or Anglo-Irish Celtic punk band fronted by Shane MacGowan and others, founded in Kings Cross, London in 1982, as "Pogue Mahone" – the anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic ''póg mo thóin'', meaning "kiss my arse". T ...

and Young Dubliners, they gained audience's attention. Having changed a number of members the band got a stable lineup featuring Jovana Vujnović (

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

), Jovan Dragumilo (

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

and vocals), Miroslav Kočić (

violin The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...

), Damir Žigić (

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

) and Ranko Radovanov (

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

). The band started recording their debut self-titled album in the autumn of 2005. The album was released in 2006 through One Records. The album featured songs both in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and

Serbian language Serbian (, ) is the standardized variety of the Serbo-Croatian language mainly used by Serbs. It is the official and national language of Serbia, one of the three official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina and co-official in Montenegro and Kos ...

, with elements of punk rock and both

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

and Serbian

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

. Three promotional videos were recorded, for the tracks "Brodovi", "

Danny Boy "Danny Boy" is a ballad, written by English songwriter Frederic Weatherly in 1913, and set to the traditional Irish melody of "Londonderry Air". History In 1910, in Bath, Somerset, the English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly initial ...

" and "River".

Alfapop (2008–2011)

In 2008, the band, now consisting of Vujnović, Dragumilo and Radovanov only, changed the name to Alfapop and turned towards power pop, continuing, however, to perform songs they recorded as Tir na n'Og.Interview with Alfapop at nadlanu.com
/ref> In 2008, the band took part in the action entitled "Zdrav život - moj stil" ("Healthy Life - My Style") initiated by the Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sports, performing with other bands across Serbia. In 2010, the band released the album ''Alfapop'' through

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...

n record label AMAdea Records. The album featured nine songs in Serbian language, and the

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...

song "Fantasy", recorded by Vujnović, as the bonus track. Promotional videos were recorded for the songs "Sati" ("Hours") and "Hoću još" ("I Want More"). The song "Kao prvi put" ("Like the First Time") is a duet recorded with Lazar Drecun, vocalist of the band Charlie B. Soon after ''Alfapop'' release, Dragumilo stated that the band is planning to record a live album. However, although Alfapop never officially announced their disbandment, nothing was heard from them since 2011.Alfapop official Facebook page
/ref>

Band history

Tir na n'Og (2000–2008)

Alfapop (2008–2011)

Discography

as Tir na n'Og

as Alfapop

References

External links

See also