Blue Mountain u drzavi Pennsylvania

Vozili smo po sirokom i polupraznom autoputu u drzavi Pennsylvania: sunce je dodirivalo vrhove Blue Mountain lanca, klinci su bili zadovoljni i mirni, svaki u jednom redu sjedala u nasem komfortnom kombiju, a moj suprug kraj mene. Pred nama su bila tri tjedna prekrasnih koncerata i divne glazbe. Osjecala sam duboku radost i zahvalnost.

Veselila sam se susretu s prijateljima iz ovog kraja, medu ostalima mojoj dragoj Sue i njenom suprugu Marku.

Sue i ja smo izmjenjivale SMS poruke svakih par tjedana: par rjeci ohrabrenja, izgovorena molitva, srce ili smajlic… tek toliko da joj dam do znanja da mislim na nju. Njena snaga, i osmijeh koji nije silazio s njenog lica ni kad su je fizicka bol i okrutna bolest potpuno preuzeli bili su mi inspiracija. Sue je zivjela u ‘sadasnjem trenutku’ – uvijek tretirajuci svaki moment kao delikatne niti koje tkaju zivot. I ona i njen suprug Mark (koji ju je neizmjerno i zaljubljeno volio), uvijek su nesebicno pomagali drugima, davajuci od sve od sebe.

Visiting Sue at St. Mary's on Nov 26, 201

Stigla sam ju vidjeti prije nego sto je otisla… Svi smo molili i vjerovali u Bozju milost da ozdravi Sue… Na zalost, njeno ozdravljenje nije bilo fizicko, ali svi koji su dozivjeli njenu vjeru, nadu, svijetlost bez sumnje ce reci da se dogodilo. Ja sam osobno osjetila iscjeljenje… Uz njenu vjeru i snagu, strah i neizvjesnost su nestajali ko oblaci na vrucem nebu.

Bilo mi je zao da nisam stigla snimiti pjesmu koju sam napisala za Sue… no znam da gledati unatrag i stalno zaliti za onim sto nismo uspijeli ostvariti, nema smisla. Forsirati nesto sto ne mozemo kontrolirati isto nema smisla. Znati i vjerovati da sve ima svoj ‘pravi’ trenutak, velika je mudrost. Prepustiti se “Bozjoj volji” o kojoj neki govore i u koju puno ljudi vjeruje – pustiti brigu o buducnosti i zalosti o proslosti.

Pustila sam da se trenutak kad cu snimiti njenu pjesmu jednostavno dogodi.

A trenutak je dosao lijepo umotan ispod okicenog bora kao najljepsi Bozicni poklon.

Nakon blagdana, primila sam se posla i snimila dvije pjesme: “Till We Meet Again” (moja verzija je posvecena jednoj lijepoj ljubavi – ispricana u video-montazi) i pjesmu za Sue: “Lay Your Hands”.

Mislila sam bilo bi jednostavno, iskreno i logicno sloziti mali montage-video pun slika iz zivota moje drage prijateljice, ali kao i njeno ozdravljenje, ova pjesma nije samo za nju, nego za sve koji imaju zelju prepustiti se ‘sadasnjem’ trenutku, zaboraviti tuge iz proslosti i pustiti brige o buducnosti. (“Kruh nas svagdanji daj nam danas”)

It was the day after Thanksgiving. We were driving eastbound on PA turnpike: the sun was setting in the cloudless sky, the road clear, the kids happy in the back and my husband next to me. Another month of beautiful music was ahead of us.  I was happy and grateful.

I was looking forward to see our friends in Pennsylvania: Sally and Ellen; Melanie, Alex and Daniel Fedoryka; David, Karen and Ashley; Zoltan, Tim and Alex; Mark and Sue.

I kept in touch with them. I texted Sue every few weeks. A quick prayer, a virtual hug, smilie face, <3, anything, just to let her know she was always on my mind and in my heart. Ever since I met her during Advent Tour a few years ago, she had been a source of inspiration to me. I drew strength from her faith and her ability to live in the present so joyfully, celebrating life, family and love. Even the pain from her frightening illness (pancreatic cancer) didn’t take away the hope and the smile from her face. Every time I saw her at a concert, she was filled with hope and life. Sue and Mark worked relentlessly and passionately on getting people to attend our concerts even when they had so much on their plate… I was humbled, honored, deeply grateful and inspired to give more.

Visiting Sue at St. Mary's on Nov 26, 2011

I saw Sue just days before she passed on… I held her hand, kissed her cheek, I sang her a song, and soaked up the precious moments of her beautiful smile. The healing she received wasn’t, unfortunately physical (despite all of us who believed that miracles still happen) – but it was palpable… Sue’s healing spread to all of us who experienced her light, her hope, her faith. For me personally, I felt being healed of fear. By being in my life, Sue was like a constant reminder of the importance of focusing on the Present – as in the ‘present moment’ – the most precious present we got -  and enough of a reason for a big smile and a grateful heart.

Learning to let go of the past regrets, ‘should-haves’ and ‘wish-I-did’s’ I prayed for the ‘now’ moment in which I would gift Sue’s song to her, her family, friends and those who will randomly accept it.

It wasn’t a surprise when it came as a ‘present’. A Christmas present. Properly wrapped and laid under the tree, and at the same time untouchable and invisible.  My husband Matthew organized a KickStarter project and invited our friends and fans to gift more music.

When kids went back to school after their Christmas break, I got to work and produced two songs, two gifts:  “Till We Meet Again” (my recording of it was inspired by a beautiful love story featured in the video) and “Lay Your Hands”.

Here is the quick video with the story behind the song “Lay Your Hands”. I wanted to make the entire video a collage of thoughts and photos of Sue, her beautiful smile and her family but decided to just like Sue’s healing, send it out into the world and letting it gift and touch as lead by God’s grace – one heart, one moment at the time.

DVA kontinenta, DVIJE karijere, JEDNA osoba s JEDNIM zivotom

Bio je jedan od onih maglovitih zagrebackih dana. Tata me je vozio do grada. Sutke sam sjedila na suvozackom mjestu i promatrala ljude u zimskim kaputima. Bilo mi je tesko. Moja odluka da odem na skolovanje u Ameriku nije bas odusevila ekipu. Brinula sam se da li radim veliku pogresku, da li cu ikad ponovo imati priliku pjevati, suradivati s izvrsnim muzicarima, raditi turneje i koncerte.

Teski uzdisaj kojeg nisam uspijela sakriti, iznenadio je mog tatu koji je odgovorio:

“Glupost. Niko i nista ti ne moze zabraniti da pjevas. Ako stvarno hoces pjevati, naci ces nacina. Uvijek ce biti i svadba i krstitki – ako ti je glazba vazna a ne karijera”. Polako je zaustavio auto, iz kojeg sam ja sutke izasla.

Bilo mi je skroz jasno o cemu je tata govorio. Zbog mojeg statusa ‘zvijezde’ vise nismo imali prilike pjevati zajedno. Nisam vise mogla doci na njegove gaze i spontano pjevati “Konobu” ili “Suzu”. Cak sam i cula kritike da se imidz mog tate koji je bio ‘gazer’ nije bas uklapao u imidz ‘projekta Tajci.’  Nitko nije imao pojma koliko mi je zbog toga bilo tesko.  Umjesto kreativne slobode, uspjesna karijera sputavala me je da budem svoja. Umjesto sigurnosti u ono sto radim i tko jesam, osjecala sam nelagodu i strah da ne pokvarim ono sto sam ‘trebala biti’.  Tatine rjeci su potvrdile da sam donijela pravu odluku, jer bez svog ‘ja’ pocela sam se gubiti.

Samo nekoliko tjedana kasnije, 5. sijecnja, sjedila sam u ‘koznoj fotelji na aerodromu u Zurichu” i cekala let za New York. Napisala sam u svoj dnevnik: “Ne placem, nisam tuzna i ne bojim se.”

Na audiciji za Dramsku i Glazbenu Akademiju u New Yorku, nisam imala ni zrno treme. Drzale su me tatine rjeci: rezultat audicije nece i ne moze definirati (ili umanjiti) moju ljubav prema glazbi. Naci cu ja nacina da pjevam.

Vec na prvom semestru (studentima je bilo zabranjeno da se profesionalno bave glazbom i glumom prva tri semestra), zaposlila sam se na kaputima u jednom restoranu pokraj Lincoln Centra u kojem je svake veceri svirao jazz trio. U razgovoru s muzicarima, spomenula bi kako bas ‘slucajno’ imam sa sobom svoje note, pa ‘ako su za, mogla bi nesto s njima otpjevati.’  Nije dugo trebalo da su gosti poceli dolaziti slusati zanimljivu ‘coat check girl’ s izrazenim akcentom kako pjeva Jazz standarde.

Backstage at the Big Band Show in LA, 1997

Kad nisam prosla na audicijama za mjuzikle, producirala bi sama neki event, predstavu ili koncert. Nista me nije sprijecilo da i dalje pjevam. Istina je da je bilo tesko vracati se s neuspjesne audicije; ili gubiti suradnje s pojedinim producentima i muzicarima jer su bili izvan mojih budgeta; ili odbijati poslove koji su dobro bili placeni, ali za koje sam znala da jednostavno nisu za mene.

Kad bi dosla doma u Hrvatsku, obavezno bi pjevala s tatom na nekoj od njegovih gaza, ali cisto anonimno, da slucajno ne bi podigla prasinu. Moja karijera je bila proslost, i tako mi je pasalo. Bojala sam se dirati u onu Tajci koja je svima ostala u dubokoj uspomeni. (Na trenutke sam se bila osjecala ko Simba iz “Kralja lavova” pjevajuci svoju Hakuna Matata pjesmu i skrivajuci se iza mog novog indetiteta.)

Ali u Americi sam bila slobodna da istrazujem, ucim, otkrivam, spoznajem zivot i samu sebe u uspjesima i u padovima. Bez opterecenja od medija, kriticara, top-lista, vanjskog imidza, menadera i publike, mogla sam pjevati gdje sam htjela i sto sam htjela, pronaci mjesto na kojemu se najvise osjecam ‘svoja’. Uspjela sam pokriti osnovne zivotne troskove s glazbom ali kao umjetnici, najveca ‘placa’ mi je bila cuti djecu koja pjevaju pjesmu koju sam im ja napisala kad su im skoro zatvorili skolu. Ili kad sam cula koliko je pjesma za Sue, prijateljicu koja je bolovala od teskog raka, pomogla da bol bude manja. Najvise od svega mi je znacila spoznaja da je kroz moju glazbu netko osjetio novu nadu, mir duse i ispunjenje Bozanskom ljubavlju.

Cinilo mi se da cu zauvijek ostati izmedu dva indetiteta: Tajci u narancastoj haljinici s velikim osmijehom na licu, i Tajci u dugom srebrnom plastu cija pjesma otvara i najtvrde srce. Cinilo mi se nemoguce spojiti te dvije slike u jednu.

Kad je moj otac otisao, pocela sam shvacati da sam ja sama sebe ogranicila dopustajuci da moju stvarnost definiraju vanjski imidz, ili necija tuda percepcija mene. Sto ce mi lijepa uspomena, ako me bas ona sprijecava da u potpunosti zivim ovaj cas? Sto znaci status ‘nekadasnje zvijezde’ ili ‘ikone’ ako zbog njega ne mogu isto tako iskreno pjevati u Hrvatskoj ko sto pjevam u daljini.

Crashing a Wedding in Zagorje, Summer 2011

Prosle godine, uoci dvadesete godisnjice odlaska od doma, organizirala sam si par posjeta Zagrebu na kojima sam: 1.) pjevala Tajci hitove u karaoke baru; 2.) upala mladenkama na vjencanja i pjevala ‘Hajde da ludujemo” – svaka mi je kroz suze i uzbudenje priznala da sam joj bila najdraza pjevacica dok je imala cetri ili pet godina; 3.) organizirala spontani nastup s malim bendom u lokalnom kaficu na Peljescu; i 4.) sudjelovala na Gala koncertu u Bjelovaru – prvom medijski popracenom nastupu nakon svih ovih godina. U svakom od tih trenutaka beskrajno sam uzivala i osjecala se iskrenom i sretnom. Svaki put, bilo je onih koji su totalno bili zbunjeni i pitali me da li sam ja zaista ona ‘prava’ Tajci, ali i onih koji su me srdacno izgrlili i sa sjajem u ocima potvrdili da je biti iskren, autentican i ne bojati se pokazati pravu ‘sebe’ jedino sto ima pravu vrijednost.

I najavila sam turneju, koncerte koje cu bez straha organizirati. I imala sam priliku snimiti “Dvije zvjezdice” s vrhunskim producentima Chrisom Gerom i Bryanom Lenoxom (Yamaha Entertainment), sto je samo potvrdilo rjeci mog tate da ako mi je glazba vazna, nitko i nista nece sprijeciti moju pjesmu (pa cak ni pojedinacne prepreke i necije postavljene rampe).

Ono sto najbolje potvrduje rjeci mog tate su preko 875 koncerata koje je moj dragi suprug Matthew organizirao u Americi bez sponzora, promotera, izdavacke kuce, i bez visokih honorara.

Priznajem da je put do spoznaje da imam samo JEDNU sebe s JEDNIM zivotom koji se proteze na DVA kontinenta i kroz DVIJE karijere, bio dug… mozda predug. Ali bas ta spoznaja mi je trebala da budem ‘svoja’ i pjevam bez straha, ogranicenja ili vanjskih definicija.

TWO Continents, TWO Careers, ONE Me on My ONE Life’s Journey

It was one of those foggy Zagreb days in early winter and my Dad was driving me to a meeting. I was quiet and worried. I had already announced to my producer, my manager and the entire “Tajci” team that I was leaving Croatia.  It didn’t go well. I was afraid that, as the result of my decision, I would never be allowed to sing in my homeland.

The heaviness in my heart was seeping into the air when my Dad finally broke the silence.

“It’s nonsense. No one can take the music from you. No one has the power to stop you from singing. If that’s what you really want to do, you will always find a way,” he said. He slowed the car down and parked. I got out without responding.

My status as a superstar had already taken away “our” songs – I wasn’t able to join my Dad’s band at his gigs to sing with him as I had done for years. I felt the sting of irony my fame had brought to me: instead of freedom, resources and abundance of creativity, I seemed to had only gained limitations, isolation and fear.  My Dad’s words were the confirmation I needed in order to follow through with my plan and leave.

A few weeks after that drive, on January 5^th I was sitting at the airport in Zurich waiting for my flight to New York City and feeling a bit confused by the absence of fear.

On January 12^th, I sang through my audition at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy confident that I had nothing to loose – the music would be there even if I wouldn’t be admitted.

At my first New York job as a coat check girl at an upscale restaurant next to the Lincoln Center I kept my jazz charts in the wardrobe hidden behind the coats.  I waited for opportunity to approach the trio and let them know that I was a singer and that I ‘happened’ to have my charts with me. They let me sit in and soon I became the restaurant’s best kept secret.

Backstage at the Big Band Show in LA, 1997

I produced plays and musicals when I didn’t get the parts I auditioned for. Nothing could stop me from singing. Yes, there were times when I wanted the jobs I auditioned for and didn’t get, producers that were way out of my budgets, and those I turned down because I didn’t like their motivations.

When I visited Croatia, I sang with my Dad but kept a low-profile, trying to stay away from the media. I had walked away from my status as a superstar and had no intention of going back to claim it. At times I felt like Simba singing my Hakuna Matata song – hiding behind my “new identity.”

In the USA, I was able to wander free, to grow and learn, to succeed and fail without the pressure of critics’ reviews. There was no competition to win, charts to climb, market to please. I was making a living with my music, and as an artist I found the deepest reward in a chance to write a song of hope for a school in danger of being closed down; in writing one for my friend who believed in healing till the last moment of her life; and in knowing that my music helped many to experience Hope, Peace and Love, perhaps even make a step closer to God.

It seemed to me that I would forever stay the girl who had two identities: the Croatian one in the orange dress and a big smile on her face and the one in the long silver coat who can move a human heart to tears.  The two would never cross paths again.

When my Dad passed away, I became aware of how silly I had been to have allowed all these labels to define me.  For many years I was content to let my status of a ‘pop icon’ rest in peace in order not to disturb the memory.  But what good is a memory if it prevents us from living in the present? What good is status if it prevents me from singing in Croatia and be the same artist, unafraid, authentic and honest as I am in America?

Crashing a Wedding in Zagorje, Summer 2011

So, last year, in honor of my twenty-years of journeying I set out across the Ocean and 1.) sang my own songs in a Kareoke bar in Zagreb; 2.) crashed a few weddings and sang for the brides (who all gushed I was their favorite singer in the whole world when they were 4 years old!); 3.) threw an impromptu performance with a band in a tiny bar on the Croatian coast; and 4.) sang at the Christmas Gala Concert in Croatia – the first major performance since I left. Each time, I was sincerely and thoroughly happy. Each time, the crowd was as confused as they were entertained. Each time there were screams and tears of those who claimed I had made their dreams come true (and it didn’t take a million dollars.)

I also got to work with Bryan Lenox and Chris Gero of Yamaha Entertainment Group who produced one of my favorite hits “Dvije zvijezdice” (a song that was once almost taken away from me), which only assured me that everything is possible (even with a few roadblocks on the way.)

“No one can take the music from you. No one has the power to stop you from singing. If that’s what you really want to do, you will always find a way,”

Still, the best confirmation of my Dad’s words are 875+ amazing concerts my husband Matthew had produced in the past 12 years, without a backer, music label, a corporate sponsor, or a steep performing fee; and the most recent, and most unusual Christmas gift he had for me – a KickStart project initiated with an invitation: “If Tajci has gifted you with her music, would you like to ‘gift’ her with music”. I have already received over 120% of the ‘wished’ goal – of the funds available to me to record whichever songs I choose to record – freely, authentically, without fear and just because they might reach someone out there and provide a bit of Hope, Peace and Love.

It took me a long time to finally have confidence that ONE me and my ONE life’s journey is enough to bring the TWO careers on TWO continents together without labels, limitations or fear.

Oduvijek mi je “Tiha noć” bila najljepša božićna pjesma. Mirna, jednostavna, skromna, a opet ispunjena snagom Svjetla koje onemogućuje mrak.

Kliknite na sliku da posusate "Tihu noc"

Nana (mama mog tate), koja je godinama živjela s nama, znala bi potiho, sebi u bradu, pjevati Tihu noć na Badnjak, dok bi u kuhinji spremala orehnjaču.

K’o mala, prebirala bih po klaviru melodiju kad bi svi već otišli spavati. Tiho, tiho da nikom’ ne smetam. Tiho, baš kao i sama pjesma.

Jedne godine smo nekako završili na polnoćki u Stenjevcu s rođacima s mamine strane (koji su bili aktivni vjernici i uvijek su išli na misu). Bila je gužva. Teta Verica je pjevala u zboru pa smo se s njom stisnuli na kor crkve. U jednom trenutku svi su počeli pjevati Tihu noć u spontanim, ali prekrasnim dionicama. I mama, i tata su se priključili… I ja sam željela pjevati, ali nisam znala riječi. Tata je pjevao svojim baritonskim glasom neki kontrapunkt koji nikad prije nisam čula. Bilo je čarobno… Vrh nosa mu se bio zarumenio (što ga je odavalo da pokušava suspregnuti suze od prevelikih emocija). Taj trenutak neću nikada zaboraviti…

Godinama već pjevam Tihu noć (zapravo, “Silent night”) oko koje se i bazira moja Bozićna priča… Prije par godina, odlučila sam pozvati publiku da pjeva sa mnom. Koncert za koncertom, na kraju priče, podignem ruku i čujem glasove kako se jedan po jedan uključuju u spontani zbor… Pjevamo zajedno. Neki brišu suze, a neki ih skrivaju. Neki pjevaju glasno, neki sasvim tiho… Uvijek, ali uvijek, moje srce drhti od radosti i Bozje ljubavi kojom smo povezani kroz pjesmu.

A onda, pjevam zadnju strofu na hrvatskom… I glasovi u publici zamru… I moj glas odjekuje sam… Tišina između stihova je teška. Ispunjena uspomenama, daljinom, a opet osviještena dubokom zahvalnošću za trenutak kojeg živimo i radošću koju ta zahvalnost u sebi nosi.

Zamišljam trenutak u kojem će stotinu glasova (ili barem tri-četiri) pjevati sa mnom Tihu noć. U spontanim al’ prekrasnim dionicama…

Tu na snimci je moj glas… Nadam se da će mu se pridružiti još poneki J

Click on the image to listen to "Silent Night" in Croatian

“Silent Night” has always been my favorite Christmas Carol. It’s melody is simple, easy, calming, soothing and yet powerful – like a single ray of light that voids the darkness.

My paternal Grandmother (Nana, as we called her), who had lived with us used to sing it on Christmas Eve quietly, more to herself than for anyone to hear.

When I was little, I would play the melody on my piano after everyone had gone to sleep. I played quietly, not to disturb the night that was “silent”.

One year, somehow we ended up at a Midnight Mass with my cousins from my Mom’s side of the family. Her sister sang in the choir (many of my Mom’s siblings, who were from a small village just north of Zagreb, were practicing Catholics). We were standing in the overcrowded choir loft, I had no idea what was going on, but at one point, everyone started to sing the “Silent Night” in perfect harmonies. My mom and my dad were singing too.. I wanted to sing as well, but I didn’t know the words. My Dad was singing in his beautiful, baritone voice a counterpart that was simply magical. The tip of his nose got red (it happened whenever he got emotional, and tried to hide his tears). I would never forget that moment…

For years now, I have been singing the “Silent Night” as a part of my concert “Emmanuel – the Story of Christmas). Actually, the whole Christmas experience for me is connected with that song… A few years ago, I started inviting the audience to sing along. Concert after concert, I would lift my arm to cue them in, and listened as the voices, one by one formed a powerful spontaneous choir. We sing together. Some wipe their tears, some try to hide them. Some sing out loud, some quietly, more to themselves than for others to hear. Every time, my heart trembles with happiness, feeling the connection that happens when people who belong to One creator join their voices.

And then, I sing the last verse… in Croatian.  And the voices in the audience disappear. The silence between the phrases gets heavy, loaded with memories and yearnings of the soul, and yet, at the same time, it’s filled with deep gratitude for the very moment we find ourselves in, and the joy this gratitude brings.

I imagine the moment when a hundred voices (or at least three or four) will sing with me the “Silent Night” in Croatian.. In perfect harmony.

Jucer je objavljena poruka za medije o mom nastupu na Bozicnom Gala Koncertu u Bjelovaru 22.12. Tom prilikom snimili smo prekrasnu verziju”Kyrie Eleison”.

Ovdje mozete procitati poruku u cijelosti:

Tajči božićnim singlom “Kyrie Eleison” najavljuje nastup u Bjelovaru 22.12.

Povodom nastupa na Božićnom gala koncertu u Bjelovaru, koji će se pod pokroviteljstvom Grada Bjelovara održati 22.12.2011. u organizaciji Jazz cluba Bjelovar i Turističke zajednice grada Bjelovara, Tajči je u suradnji s Branimirom Mihaljevićem snimila posebnu adaptaciju hrvatske tradicionalne pjesme “Kyrie Eleison”

[Zagreb, Croatia ~ 7.12.2011] – “Iznimno se veselim prilici da se i ja pridružim lijepom, i već tradicionalnom, glazbenom događaju u Bjelovaru i dam svoj doprinos humanitarnoj akciji prikupljanja sredstava za pomoć Udruzi oboljelih od cistične fibroze.”, izjavila je Tajči o svom nastupu na ovogodišnjem koncertu koji se odvija pod visokim pokroviteljstvom Predsjednika Republike Hrvatske. Ovaj vrhunski glazbeni događaj gledatelji će moći uživo pratiti preko satelita na HRT-u plus, dok će snimka biti prikazana u programu Hrvatske televizije na sam Božić u poslijepodnevnim satima.

“Kako je Božić obiteljski blagdan, zgodno je to što je cijela priča oko mog nastupa i izdanja “Kyrie Eleison” usko povezana uz obitelj – Tihomir Vondra, predstavnik organizatora koncerta, surađivao je s mojim ocem.  Svakog Božića moj tata bi me nagovarao da gostujem na tom poznatom koncertu. Tek su se sada datumi moje turneje u SAD-u i bjelovarskog koncerta poklopili.”, kaže Tajči o svom dugoočekivanome gostovanju, prvome na našim prostorima nakon mnogo godina.

“Branimir Mihaljević i ja smo isto povezani obiteljskim vezama – moj otac i njegov otac Mario bili su dobri prijatelji. Mario je i napisao singlove koje je moj tata snimio početkom 80-ih. Jako mi se sviđa Branimirov rad – posebno njegovi simfonični aranžmani i vrlo kreativni etno detalji – pa sam krajem ljeta odlučila kontaktirati s njim u vezi suradnje.”

Tom istom pjesmom “Kyrie Eleison” Tajči već godinama otvara svoj božićni koncert “Emmanuel- The story of Christmas”, koji ove sezone doživljava svoju 300-tu izvedbu.

“Božić je duboko mističan duhovni blagdan kojega, uz veselje, radost i titraj tisuću lampica, obilježava i čežnja duše za prelazom iz mraka u svjetlo, iz tuge i samoće u ljubav. Branimir je to savršeno preveo u glazbenu sliku.”

“Kyrie Eleison” jedna je od pjesama koja se našla na ovogodišnjem EP-u “Merry Christmas”. Tajči je sa svojim sinovima snimila još dvije originalne pjesme na engleskom s kojima sretna obitelj uveseljuje američku publiku.

U posljednje vrijeme Tajči često posjećuje rodni Zagreb, a sve s iskrenim željama da svoj put – od pop zvijezde do umjetnice čiji je rad odraz njenog životnog puta i duhovnih spoznaja – podijeli i sa svojim starim fanovima.

“Istina da je naporno živjeti na relaciji Cincinnati – Zagreb, ali postala mi je draga ta ruta na kojoj ću provesti puno vremena do ostvarenja svojih ciljeva. No, ništa nije ni teško ni nemoguće kad nas srce vodi.”

Suradnja s Branimirom Mihaljevićem, nove pjesme, nastup na bjelovarskom Božićnom gala koncertu, naglasak na važnost obitelji – samo su dio priče koju se Tajči sprema podijeliti na najavljenoj turneji “Ludujemo s Dušom”, koja je zaintrigirala čitav glazbeni svijet ovih prostora.

”Pomicanjem datuma velike regionalne turneje otvorio se novi, duži period u kojemu ću imati priliku dolaziti doma, surađivati s prekrasnim, talentiranim ljudima, stvarati nove pjesme i zaista na jedan iskren način obnoviti i uspostaviti vezu s publikom.”, zaključuje popularna Tajči te od srca želi svima mirne i blagoslovljene božićne blagdane.

Informacije o singlu:

”Kyrie Eleison”
Tradicionalna hrvatska pjesma
Adaptacija: Tajci i Denny Bouchard
Aranzman i glazbena produkcija: Branimir Mihaljevic
USA: ©2011 Tajko Music, BMI All rights reserved.
HR i Regija: © 2011 Karpo Media. All rights reserved.

Snimljeno u Zagrebu, 11/2011

Click on the Photo to Hear the Song on YouTube

Yesterday, a press release was sent out to Croatia and Region about my performance at Bjelovar Christmas Gala on Dec 22. For that occasion, we released a beautifully arranged “Kyrie Eleison”.

Here is the press release in full:

Tajci Announces a Special Performance in Bjelovar on Dec 22 with a Release of a Christmas Single Kyrie Eleison.

For the occasion of Tajci’s performance at the Christmas Gala on December 22, 2011 in the city of Bjelovar, Tajci has released a Croatian Traditional Christmas Song arranged and produced by Branimir Mihaljevic. The concert is sponsored by the City of Bjelovar and produced by the Bjelovar Jazz Club and Bjelovar’s Chamber of Tourism.

[Zagreb, Croatia ~ 7.12.2011] – “I am very excited about this chance to participate at this beautiful music event in Bjelovar and give my contribution to the humanitarian aspect of the gala which benefits the Cistic Fibrosis Fund, ” said Tajci about her performance at this year’s concert which is also endorsed by the President of the Republic of Croatia. The entire event will be broadcast live via satelite by Croatia’s National Television HRT and aired in prime time on Christmas Day.

“It’s really wonderful how my engagement at the concert and the release of the single have this family connection – especially since Christmas is a family holiday. Tihomir Vondra, who is one of the organizers, used to play in my father’s band.  For a few years before he passed away, my Dad was trying to talk me into participating – he loved the Big Band music and enjoyed when I sang the classics. The dates were always conflicting with my US tours – until now, ” says Tajci about her performance which will be her first major appearance since she left the Croatian music scene in 1992.

“Branimir Mihaljevic, who arranged and produced the song, is also a family friend – his Dad Mario wrote a few songs that my Dad released in the early 80s. They were very good friends and collegues. I really like Branimir’s work – especially beautiful symphonic arrangements, mixed with electronic and etno elements – so I contacted him last summer with an idea to collaborate with him.

“Kyrie Eleison” has been the opening song of Tajci’s “Emmanuel- The story of Christmas” concert with which she has been touring in the US for the past ten Advent Seasons.

“Beneath the millions of twinklling lights, Christmas trees and joys of Santa Claus’ gift giving, Christmas is a deeply spiritual, mistical holiday that marks the world’s passing from dark into the Light, from saddness to Hope. Branimir captured this masterfully in his arrangement of “Kyrie Eleison. ”

“Kyrie Eleison” is one of the songs included on this year’s “Merry Christmas EP”. Tajci’s sons made their appearance singing two songs she wrote for them.

Tajci’s has been frequently traveling to her hometown Zagreb in an effort to share her journey from the pop star to the artist whose music reflects her spiritual and personal discoveries, with her old fans.

“It’s not easy to commute from Cincinnati to Zagreb, but each trip opens a new door, a new chance to share my music with those I grew up with. Those chances make the trips tremendously inspiring and energizing. ”

Collaboration with Branimir Mihaljevic, new songs, performance at the Bjelovar’s Christmas Gala, focus on her family – are all parts of the story that will unfold in Tajci’s reunion tour “Ludujemo s dusom”, which intrigued the media since it was announced earlier this year.

“By postponing the tour dates, more time opened up: for my trips to Croatia, for discovering and working with talented local musicians, for writing new songs and, most importantly, for re-establishing a communication with my fan base, ” concludes Tajci and wishes everyone peaceful and blessed Christmas Holidays.

Single Info:

”Kyrie Eleison”
Croatian Traditional Carol
Adaptation: Tajci i Denny Bouchard
Arrangement and Production: Branimir Mihaljevic
USA: ©2011 Tajko Music, BMI All rights reserved.
HR i Regija: © 2011 Karpo Media. All rights reserved.

Recorded in Zagreb, Croatia, 11/2011

Ja inace najvise volim Bozicne pjesme u stilu Big Band glazbe – kao Michael Buble ili Diana Krall… a s druge strane volim i Trans-Siberian Orchestra i njihov show prepun jakih gitarskih aranzmana (moja sestra Sanja je s njima nastupala nekoliko godina za redom, pa sam imala priliku dozivjeti njihovu glazbu iz ‘prvog reda’

Tajci, Melanie Fedoryka, Denny Bouchard and the Boys

No, svake godine, na pocetku nase Bozicne turneje, kad se svijetla u crkvi ugase i ja kroz mrak i atmosfersku glazbu koracam dok ne zapocnem pjesmu rjecima: “Svijet u mraku ocekuje dan kad ce nada zavladati nad tugom.” pomislim kako je lijepo provesti ovih nekoliko tjedana prije Bozica u duhovnom docascu.

Biti svjestan sadasnjeg trenutka i u isto vrijeme biti u ‘iscekivanju’ se cini kao neka nemoguca kontradikcija. Kako je moguce biti potpuno u ‘sadasnjem trenutku’ i biti svjestan zudnje u dusi za necim (ili nekim) sto (ili koga) ocekujemo a ne predati se pasivnom ‘cekanju’ ili postati nestrpljiv, frustriran, nezadovoljan… Kolika dubina i koliko nadahnuce se nalazi u ovoj prilici da naucimo jos nesto vrijedno o sebi, svojoj dusi, svojoj ljudskosti (gdje nam Bozja providnost neprestano nudi nova otkrica i izazove), i svom putu…

Glazba koncerta “Emmanuel – prica o Bozicu” je smirena, duboka, misticna, na trenutke cak i teska…

U kontrastu, posljednju pjesmu “Tiha noc” zapocinjem na klaviru – sviram jednostavnu melodiju onako kako bi je djete sviralo: s velikom iskrenoscu i jednostavnoscu.  Svaka nota postaje kao jedna lampica na boru koja iz mraka zasvijetli dok se cijela soba, cijeli grad, cijeli svijet ne ispuni svjetloscu Bozjeg mira i radosti.

Ako ste negdje u susjedstvu nasih koncerata, navratite!  Pogotovo ako ste negdje u bogato okicenim americkim gradovima koji tako cesto pre-osvijetle svijet, da se one male, iskreno vrijedne lampice potpuno izgube…

Tour Dates at: www.idobelieve.com

I love the Big Band sound when it comes to Christmas Music – like Michael Buble, or Diana Krall… And I also love (a very different) Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Christmas concert experience…

Tajci with Melanie Fedoryka, Denny Bouchard and the Boys

But every year, when our Christmas Tour begins and I start singing the opening song: “O Come Divine Messiah” I am reminded of how much deeper the experience of Christmas gets when we spend some time in the spirit of Advent (in secular words: allowing some time between the fall’s harvest, the gratitude of Thanksgiving Holiday and the Christmas festivities).

Being aware and being present to the process of ‘waiting’ can seem like a contradiction and a physical impossibility. How can we be in the ‘now’ and at the same time experience the longing for something that’s going to happen? Oh, I think there is so much ‘good’ stuff there – and another opportunity to learn to appreciate the transition, the journey – not just the final destination.

The music of “Emmanuel – the Story of Christmas” is slow, deep, mystical, at times even dark…
And when towards the end of the concert I play the simple melody of “Silent Night” on my piano (like a child would, with wonder and innocence), every note seems like a little light that comes on through the darkness until the whole string, a whole room, a whole town radiates with the Light of God’s comfort and joy…

If you are anywhere near to our touring path, please stop by… It’s the subtle and profound music I am so eager for you to experience… Especially if you need a break from all the glitter and dancing Santas

Tour Dates at: www.idobelieve.com