Author’s words

I remember listening to and watching Bijelo dugme’s song “Sta bi dao da si na mom mjestu” on TV when I was about three in 1970. I could not contain my joy so I sang and jumped around. I remember my dad telling my mom: “What’s wrong with this kid? Calm him down.” She defended me and said something like, let the child sing and have fun. So I continued to sing and dance.

In the fall of 1973, I started school. In music class, we were told to choose one of three musical instruments – flute, melodica, or harmonica. Since my dad did not want to buy a melodica for me, I chose the other possible option, the harmonica. We were given a music manuscript book and little by little, we learned notes and how to play.

Anyway, I had to go to sleep every evening after the cartoon and before the news at about 7.30 p.m. One evening, I cannot remember which, but I stayed up longer. It was probably a Friday or a Saturday so they let me stay up for a bit longer. A music show was on after the news. I listened and soaked it in. I remember Dubrovacki trubaduri performing their song “Na kantunu kuca stoji.” Then, there was the song “Vracam se Zagrebe tebi” and then another one, I cannot remember which. When they finished, I took my music manuscript book, pencil and harmonica. I started singing the songs one by one, playing the harmonica, and writing the notes in the music manuscript book. Dad “complained”
again and asked mom: “What is it with this kid, is he ill? Take him to bed.” Mom was silencing and soothing him, telling him: “Leave him be. Can’t you see that he’s singing and playing? Can’t you see that he’s writing notes?” So I stayed until I wrote down all three songs.

Some time passed and in one music class, our teacher asked: “Do any of you know how to play any songs besides the ones we have learned?” I volunteered and she asked me to come to the front of the class. I stood there, turned toward the class, and played the three songs.

After that, the teacher called my dad for a meeting. After a few days, I accompanied my dad to the meeting with my music teacher. I remember her saying that I have musical talent and that I should be taking music classes to learn how to play a musical instrument. She suggested the piano. My dad said that our apartment had no room for an upright piano, much less a grand piano. He asked about the harmonica and the teacher suggested the guitar. And so it was – the guitar. We went to music school, which was located across the road from my primary school, and we reached the guitar teacher. He told dad that it was necessary to buy a such-and-such guitar, plastic wires, and several booklets of classical music for the guitar. After a few days, we all sat in the car and headed for Trieste because that was the closest place at which those supplies could be purchased. So I started music school to learn how to play the guitar. However, I had a “technical” issue. My fingers were somewhat short so I found it difficult or impossible to play certain notes. As a result, I gave up on learning further after some time.

I did not play for a while. Then there was a record player, followed by a cassette player. I started purchasing records and cassettes of popular music. Little by little, I started listening and recording words and music. I spent my afternoons and evenings listening to and recording texts and chords. I sometimes neglected learning for school, but I never got bad grades.

I often sang and played at our children and youth parties. Then there was the war. I graduated from the Faculty of Hospitality and got a job at Croatia osiguranje. I got a son called Teo. He would often cry so I sang to him a lot. Unfortunately, some other songs. Then the Homeland War ended with our glorious victory.

At that time, my colleague from school was getting married and her husband’s klapa Fortunal was at her wedding. We sang and rejoiced. At one point, they said that I was an excellent tenor and asked if I would like to sing with them. Instead of them and klapa singing, I choose a career in Croatia osiguranje. It was one of my biggest mistakes in life. However, I continued to sing and sometimes play at my company’s and my own parties. Then Croatia osiguranje was privatized so many, including me, parted ways with it.

At that time, I met my wife Iva and my son Ivan arrived. He was born on 26 January 2015. Croatia osiguranje gave me a paid leave for several months before Ivan was born and several months after, which I used in full and focused on my wife and son.

When my wife was holding him once and putting him to sleep, she sang him the lullaby “Nunaj, nunaj”. I later sang that same song when I was holding Ivan and putting him to sleep. I would repeat it countless times until Ivan would fall asleep. That could get a bit boring since the same words kept repeating over and over again. As I was singing one time, I came up with different verses and stanzas. Since I quickly forget what I come up with, I tried hard to repeat the verses until I would remember them. Later, when I had time, I would sit down and write them on the computer.

Since we had only one lullaby, the need arose for another. So the music from the song “Lili Marleen” was used for the verses of the song “Ivane, sine”. Unfortunately, we cannot publish that song yet since we have still not received permission from the owner of the music.

The song “Full bottom” was made while Ivan was struggling with digestion. The music and the text came from above. I later wrote it down and recorded the music on a recording device so I would not forget it.

“You are” is a song for three life events. Each stanza would be sung at the appropriate moment, whether it was time to go to sleep, eat, or for the third option.

Then it was time for teeth. There was trouble even before they came out. As a result of the father’s torment from watching his son cry, the song “Little tooth” was created.

“A baby in my arms” is a cheerful little song. It was created during play. As I carried my son in my arms, I would entertain him by dancing and spinning in a circle. I then swung him like a swing and rocked him like a cradle. We would dance, sing and have fun in that way for a long time. Ivan would laugh and say: “More, daddy, more”.

The song “Let’s go, beep, beep” is a little road song. It was created while we were driving Ivan in the baby carriage. We would later always sing it before going on a trip or while pushing him on the tricycle, tractor, or a similar vehicle. Then it was time for wheelbarrow rides. Empty with Ivan in it at first, and after he grew a little, with logs and Ivan on top. The song was sung while we carried him in our arms, along with the song “A baby in my arms”.

I like all the songs, but maybe I like the last one, “Ding dong”, a little bit more than the others. It was created in a slightly strange way. But I consider its words and music simply – nice.

I already knew then that I would record and publish them. I hoped to do so together with my wife and son after he gets a bit older and learns to speak and sing. Unfortunately, Ivan is not showing any interest in singing for now.

All these songs are gifts from Heaven. They should therefore be given to children. The point of these songs is for moms, dads, grandpas, and grandmas to sing them to their children and grandchildren. To ease, enhance and enliven their childhood by singing. Because children love to hear familiar voices. And those are the voices of moms and dads, as well as grandpas and grandmas.

Therefore, dear reader, sing to your children and grandchildren. If a song mentions dad and you are a mom, a grandpa, or a grandma, replace dad with mom, grandpa, or grandma. If a song mentions Ivan and your son or daughter has a different name, replace the name. If a song mentions a son and you have a daughter, replace it and sing, people. The songs ennoble the children to whom they are sung, as well as the ones singing them and the ones just listening.
Maybe you come up with a new song while singing. Maybe you add a stanza or a verse to these songs. Why not share them with us and become a part of this beautiful creation?

Life is a heavenly miracle!

Here is my example. With 55 years behind me, I am writing songs, singing, and recording them for the first time. I also hope to publish them soon.

Dear reader, this is not the end. This is the beginning of a beautiful creation. A creation in which you can weave a part of you, a part of Heaven, and become a part of eternity.

Until we hear again 😊

God bless,

Igor Franov