Let 3

Let 3 (Croatian pronunciation: [lêːt trîː]; transl. 'Flight 3') is a Croatian rock band based in Rijeka, Croatia formed in 1987. The frontmen are Damir "Mrle" Martinović (born 15 July 1961) and Zoran "Prlja" Prodanović (born 18 December 1964). Particularly popular in the former Yugoslavia, the band is known for their original approach to rock music and their obscene live performances.[1] Their songs often contain provocative and vulgar lyrics. They represented Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Mama ŠČ!".

Let 3
Let 3 in 2023
Background information
OriginRijeka, Croatia
Genres
Years active1987 (1987)–present
Labels
Members
  • Damir Martinović
  • Zoran Prodanović
  • Ivan Bojčić
  • Dražen Baljak
  • Matej Zec

History
Let 3 in 2007
Let 3 performing in 2023

Let 3 was formed in Rijeka in the late 1980s. The band soon gained a reputation for their unprecedented, controversial and sometimes obscene performances, exemplifying the eclectic nature of Rijeka's music scene.[2] The band's members have voiced support for liberal causes, such as women's and LGBT rights, and have taken a vocal stance against conservative politics and the Catholic Church.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

In 1997, the band released their fifth album, titled Nečuveno (translated as 'Outrageous' or 'Unheard-of'). It was distributed as a CD, but it had nothing recorded on it.[9] Nonetheless, 350 copies of the album were sold.[10] Just one copy of their follow-up, Jedina (transl. 'The only one'), was initially made; the band refused to sell or distribute it. The record company eventually released the album in slightly different versions. As a protest, the band staged a mock suicide by firing squad on Ban Jelačić Square in Zagreb.[9][10]

In late 2000, the band unveiled a four-metre tall statue titled Babin kurac (transl. 'Grandma's penis'), depicting a woman with a horseshoe moustache and a one-metre long phallus.[11] It was exhibited in various cities throughout Croatia.[10]

In 2005, Let 3 released the single "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)" (transl. 'The Serb gladly enlists in the army (Cunt)'), a play on the Serbian patriotic song "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike". In the song's music video, extras dressed in Serbian and Albanian national costumes are seen masturbating. The single featured on the studio album Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka, which parodies Balkan machismo and militarism. The band stated: "We wanted to create an album of what people here fear the most; namely peasantry… and pornography".[12]

In December 2006, the band was sanctioned by police after performing naked at an open-air concert in Varaždin. The band's defence that they had not been naked because they had corks in their anuses did not convince the judge; the court found them guilty and fined each member kn 350 (€47.78).[13][14] On 14 December 2008, the live afternoon talk show Nedjeljom u dva was cut short by the host after two of the band members simulated the ejection of a cork from their rectums.[15]

On 9 December 2022, Let 3 was announced as one of eighteen participants in Dora 2023, the Croatian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, with the song "Mama ŠČ!".[16] For their performance, they were joined by artist Žanil Tataj Žak as the character "Njinle" (meaning 'Lenin' in Šatrovački).[17][18] They went on to win the competition by a landslide with a total of 279 points, thus gaining the right to represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.[19] They performed at the first semi-final on 9 May 2023, placing eighth and thus qualifying for the final, where they ultimately came 13th with a score of 123 points.[20]

Band members
Mrle (centre) and Prlja (right) in Rijeka in 2008

Members

As of 2023

  • Damir Martinović (Mrle) – bass guitar, effects, vocals
  • Zoran Prodanović (Prlja) – vocals
  • Ivan Bojčić (Bin) – drums
  • Dražen Baljak (Baljak) – guitar, mandolin
  • Matej Zec (Knki) – guitar, backing tracks

Former members
  • Branko Kovačić (Husta) – drums, percussion
  • Kornelije Đuras (Korni) – keyboards, samples
  • Ivan Šarar (Faf) – keyboards, programming, samples
  • Ivica Dražić (Miki) – guitar, vocals
  • Nenad Tubin – drums, vocals
  • Igor Perović (Gigi) – guitar
  • Zoran Klasić (Klas) – guitar, vocals
  • Orijen Modrušan – guitar
  • Alen Tibljaš – drums
  • Marko Bradaschia – drums
  • Dean Benzia – drums
  • Siniša Banović – drums
  • Ljubomir Silić – bass guitar
  • Raoul Varljen – keyboards

Discography

Studio albums
  • 1989 – Two Dogs Fuckin'
  • 1991 – El Desperado
  • 1994 – Peace
  • 1996 – Živi kurac (transl. 'Live cock')
  • 1997 – Nečuveno (transl. 'Unheard-of')
  • 2000 – Jedina (transl. 'The only one')
  • 2005 – Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka (transl. 'Bombardment of Serbia and Čačak')
  • 2008 – Živa pička (transl. 'Live cunt')
  • 2013 – Kurcem do vjere / Thank You, Lord (transl. 'By dick to faith')
  • 2016 – Angela Merkel sere (transl. 'Angela Merkel shits')

Charted singles
List of charted singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions
LTU
[21]
"Mama ŠČ!" 2023 24

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Nominee / work Result Ref.
1997 Porin Award Best Original Vocal or Instrumental Composition for Theatre, Movies and/or Television "Pipi" Won [22]
2001 Best Alternative Album Jedina Won [23]
Crni Mačak Best Performer Let 3 Won [24]
Song of the Year "Profesor Jakov" Won
2006 Zlatna Koogla Album of The Year Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka Won [25]
Band of The Year Let 3 Won
Performer of The Year Won
Best Music Video "Rado ide Srbin u vojnike (Pička)" Won
Producer of The Year Iztok Turk for Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka Won
Best Album Design Bombardiranje Srbije i Čačka Won
Porin Award Rock Album of The Year Won [26]
Best Music Video "Ero s onoga svijeta" Won
You're A Vision Award Most Notable Outfit Nominated

References
  1. Peddie, Ian; Rajko Muršič. Popular Music and Human Rights; Vol. II. p. 102. ISBN 9780754668534. The Croatian band Let 3, for example, is well known for provoking outrage, including by sometimes performing nude on stage. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. Bousfield, Jonathan. "Rijeka Rock City". Stray Satellite.
  3. "Let3 – Proglas Slovencima: "Zabranite djelovanje Katoličke crkve!"". muzika.hr. 27 January 2009.
  4. "Mrle o splitskom Prideu: Neka se svi lijepo jebu u guzicu, možda poslije promijene mišljenje". Index.hr.
  5. Morić, Danijela. "'Žene, pederi i crnci jednako su važni u društvu'". Vecernji.hr.
  6. "Let 3 i TBF koncertom na trgu pozivaju na toleranciju". tportal.hr. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  7. Le Zbor & Svi za ljubav - Ljubav za sve, retrieved 25 May 2023
  8. "Let 3 odgovorio zabrinutoj Mladeži HDZ-a: Fakat nije daleko od pizde do guzice". www.index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  9. Rowlands, Marc. "Let 3: 'I went to high-school in Bakar and we beat each other onto the school bus. It was great.'". Time Out.
  10. "LET 3: GLAZBENA AVANGARDA IZ RIJEKE; 'Mrle i ja smo ko guzica i gaće'". Nacional.hr.
  11. "Zagreb - "Babin Kurac" na Trgu žrtava fašizma". Net.hr. 4 December 2000.
  12. Tomić, Ante (18 December 2005). "Naš album govori o seljaštvu i pornografiji". Jutarnji.hr.
  13. "Let 3 golotinjom ipak uvrijedio građane Varaždina?". rirock.com.
  14. Post on Let 3 blog about the lawsuit
  15. "Prekinuta emisija Nedjeljom u 2 nakon što su Mrle i Prlja iz Leta 3 pucali čepove iz stražnjice". Index.hr.
  16. Granger, Anthony (9 December 2022). "Croatia: Dora 2023 Participants Announced". eurovoix. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  17. "Tko je Njinle? Tip koji je ispalio rakete na pozornici i prije je surađivao s Letom 3". Index.hr (in Croatian). 14 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  18. Filipović, Miroslav (15 February 2023). "Let 3 na Eurosongu – spektakularna rokerska buka ili obična bruka?". Al Jazeera Balkans (in Bosnian). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  19. Santos, Pedro (11 February 2023). "Let 3 win Dora 2023 in Croatia with "Mama ŠČ!"". Eurovision World. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  20. Morris, Lauren (14 May 2023). "Eurovision 2023 results: Full scoreboard and points". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  21. "2023 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  22. "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 1997" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  23. "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 2001" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  24. "4. Crni Mačak 2001" (in Croatian). Z'brda Z'dola. 12 April 2001. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  25. Rudar, Željka (3 April 2006). "Dobitnici Zlatne Koogle 2006" (in Croatian). Muzika.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  26. "Porin: Dobitnici po godinama - 2006" (in Croatian). Porin.hr. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  • Media related to Let 3 at Wikimedia Commons
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