Magnifico
Biography
During a family holiday in socialist Yugoslavia a quarter of a century ago, little Robert Pesut and his father set out to buy new shoes. Instead, dad bought him a guitar. At that moment, Magnifico was born, evolving over the years into a consumate showman who humorously and uninhibitedly sends up the mafia, homophobia, racism and corruption with a sly, Slavic wink. He began his solo career with the adaptation of 24.000 bacci, served up with macho irony in the chorus "Magnifico has balls, Magnifico gets us horny". On the cover of his first solo album, "From Heart to Heart", he appeared as Zeleni Jure, a Slavic god of fertility and spring, a mythological figure in a kitschy outfit, with grapes dangling from his belt. The album stormed the charts, followed by another taboo-breaking album entitled "Who is a Cefur?" (a common Slovenian insult for southerners), which grew into a massive movement against racism. He went a step further on the cover of his next album, appearing half-naked in leopard shorts as the new Sexy Boy; this time, his chorus "Magnifico is a Faggot" he addressed homophobia among Slovenians. Once an insult, faggot became the new mantra of audiences of all ages, sexes and sexual preferences.
Pretty much everything sold under the Magnifico trademark is connected with sex - "I have no idea why. My mother has always been loving to me, I swear", he says tongue firmly placed in cheek - "Sex really seems strong stuff to me. I am addicted to orgasms." His impressive collection of porn movies is supposedly kept due to the nostalgia he feels for his childhood obsession with porn divas Emmanuelle and Cicciolina.
In 2002 his provocations reached as far as European Parliament: he was the mastermind behind the Slovenian entry in that year's Eurovision Song Contest. "Only Love (Samo lijubezen)" was sung by a trio of transvestites and sparked anti-gay protests across Slovenia and furious debate in Slovenian Parliament, reaching as far as the European level.
A showman in all fields, Magnifico has acted in three Slovenian full-length films; the lead role in "Stereotype" as a far-out painter, in "Porno Film" as a Serbian mafia boss who looks after his harem of Ukrainian prostitutes, and in "Poker" as an angry poker player. His life in general seems like a film; adored at his concerts by audiences ranging from teenage girls to grey-haired men, he's a gay icon and an intellectual's delight. At the same time, he's a down-to-earth family man, "an exemplary father and a lover of his wife," he says. They met in a folk dancing group and fell in love because he found her similar to the fair-haired actress from the Scandinavian youth series "The White Stone". He was seventeen, she was eighteen, and they've been together for over 20 years.
It is therefore not surprising that he says: "I wish to remain normal as I wish anything. I wouldn't like to go nuts, neither from fame nor music." A key to explaining the Magnifico phenomenon probably lies in the fact that he is accepted by both the critics and the nameless multitude of hairdressers, workers, farmers and secretaries; his concerts are accompanied by the screams of teenage girls, the nodding of machos and deep discussions of intellectuals.
His latest songs are a well-mixed cocktail of various musical styles: pop, funk, techno, twist, R&B, Latino, turbofolk and Balkan rhythms. His latest release "Magnification" marks the first worldwide release for this master of visual and lyrical irony.
"While Magnification mixes strong sexual desires with rampant political activism, it also brings back exotic music branded with Magnifico's signature smirk. His catchy riffs will blend well with anyone who likes raunchy, European fun."
4 out of 5 stars
mandatorychaos.com, 8 July 2010
"Above all, Magnifico is a professional entertainer complete with cowboy hat and aviator sunglasses, serving up Balkan cliches with irony and a wink."
"Magnifico ist vor allem aber ein professioneller Entertainer mit Cowboyhut und Pilotenbrille, der Balkanklischees mit subtiler Ironie und Augenzwinkern begleitet."
WDR Funkhaus Europa, Nov. 2009
"Slowenian Heartbreaker - with a twinkle in the eye Magnifico exposes stereotypes against Machismo, Xenophobia and Homophobia. With his unresistable mix of surfguitars and mariachi brass, turbofolk and balkanfunk he should easily preach to the converted."
"Slowenischer Schwerenoeter - Augenzwinkernd stellt er Stereotype und Vorurteile bloss und machte mit Witz gegen Machismo, Fremdenfeindlichkeit und Homophobie
Front. Mit seinem unwiderstehlichen Mix aus Surfgitarren und Mariachiblaesern, Turbofolk
und Balkanfunk sollte er offene Tueren einrennen."
taz, Mai 2010
"The Balkan invasion of Europe has begun. Goran Bregovic blazed the trail, now Magnifico is at the ready to open up new terrains of fun. With his wacky mix and jaw-dropping presence, he's set for success."
"Die Invasion Europas durch Musiker vom Balkan ist angelaufen. Goran Bregovic hat das Terrain erstmals ernsthaft ausgekundschaftet, jetzt setzt Magnifico an, die Eroberung auf dem Spass-Level fortzusetzen. Mit seinem seltsamen Mix und dem umwerfenden Aeusseren koennte er durchaus Erfolg haben."
Laut.de
"Der Balkan POP nimmt immer einen hoeheren Stellenwert in Europa an. Neben den erfolgreichen Shantel werden immer mehr Kuenstler bekannt und deren Musik ist einfach zum verlieben. Dieser neuer Kuensler den ich persoenlich auch noch nicht gekannt habe heisst Magnifico wie auch Videos Zum Zum wir bereits vorgestellt haben moechten wir euch noch einen weiteren Dancefloor Track vorstellen. Giv mi Mani aus dem Album Magnifico ist eine Pop Balkan und noch weitere einfluesse die den Song so genial machen. Da kommt automatisch Stimmung auf."
Bass magazin 07/2010
"Magnifico masterfully conjures up cliches of a land filled with corruption, machos and upwardly striving nouveau riche. With ironically exaggerated style he scourges post-socialist turbo-capitalism, sung mainly in broken Balkan English... mariachi surf-guitars mix with Balkan brass,Turbofolk and cheap Eastern Europe techno hits...a combination that spread a super festival mood"
"Gekonnt beschwoert er die Klischees vom Balkan als Land voll von Korruption, Machos und neureichen Emporkoemmlingen. Auf ironisch ueberspitzte Art geisselt er den Turbokapitalismus der postsozialistischen Zeit. Gesungen wird dabei meist in einer Art gebrochenem Balkan English. Das aktuelle Liveprogramm von Magnifico kommt von seinem letzten Album "Grande Finale". Darauf stilisiert er sich zum Spaghettiwestern-Cowboyhelden des Balkan und mischt Mariachi Surfgitarren mit Balkanbrass und Turbofolk; dem billigen Technoschlager Osteuropas. In Rudolstadt verbreitete er damit beste Festivallaune."
Bayern 2, July 2009
"Magifico is glitzy and fascinating"
"Magnifico ist der slowenische Showman und Verwandlungskuenstler Robert Pesut. Er ist schillernd und faszinierend. Als "Magnifico" erscheint er in der Rolle eines schlecht rasierten, auffaellig gekleideten Zuhaelters aus den 70er Jahren. Magnifico mischt Funk, Techno, Twist, R&B und Latino mit Turbofolk und Balkan-Rhythmen."
HR4 Portrait
"Fuer mich ist es recht lustig zu sehen, dass dieses Genre so viele Menschen beeinflusst- dass deutsche Musiker Balkanstuecke spielen und sich dabei so ernst nehmen. Jeder versucht, Balkan zu sein. Slowenien ist sehr klein und eigentlich nur das Laboratorium. Ich muss meine Alben natuerlich auch verkaufen, und das ist in Slowenien allein fast unmoeglich. Ausserdem mag ich es viel lieber, vor Leute zu spielen, die ich nicht schon am Morgen auf der Strasse oder im Cafe getroffen habe."
Folker, March 2010
Celovska 32
1000 Ljubljana
Slowenia
Tel: +386 1 434 1700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +386 1 434 1700 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
E-mail: igor@arih.si
Frank Abraham
F-Cat Productions GmbH
Pohlstrasse 39
10785 Berlin
Tel: +49-(0)30 261 032 929
E-Mail: frank@f-cat.de
Web: http://www.f-cat.de
Pretty much everything sold under the Magnifico trademark is connected with sex - "I have no idea why. My mother has always been loving to me, I swear", he says tongue firmly placed in cheek - "Sex really seems strong stuff to me. I am addicted to orgasms." His impressive collection of porn movies is supposedly kept due to the nostalgia he feels for his childhood obsession with porn divas Emmanuelle and Cicciolina.
In 2002 his provocations reached as far as European Parliament: he was the mastermind behind the Slovenian entry in that year's Eurovision Song Contest. "Only Love (Samo lijubezen)" was sung by a trio of transvestites and sparked anti-gay protests across Slovenia and furious debate in Slovenian Parliament, reaching as far as the European level.
A showman in all fields, Magnifico has acted in three Slovenian full-length films; the lead role in "Stereotype" as a far-out painter, in "Porno Film" as a Serbian mafia boss who looks after his harem of Ukrainian prostitutes, and in "Poker" as an angry poker player. His life in general seems like a film; adored at his concerts by audiences ranging from teenage girls to grey-haired men, he's a gay icon and an intellectual's delight. At the same time, he's a down-to-earth family man, "an exemplary father and a lover of his wife," he says. They met in a folk dancing group and fell in love because he found her similar to the fair-haired actress from the Scandinavian youth series "The White Stone". He was seventeen, she was eighteen, and they've been together for over 20 years.
It is therefore not surprising that he says: "I wish to remain normal as I wish anything. I wouldn't like to go nuts, neither from fame nor music." A key to explaining the Magnifico phenomenon probably lies in the fact that he is accepted by both the critics and the nameless multitude of hairdressers, workers, farmers and secretaries; his concerts are accompanied by the screams of teenage girls, the nodding of machos and deep discussions of intellectuals.
His latest songs are a well-mixed cocktail of various musical styles: pop, funk, techno, twist, R&B, Latino, turbofolk and Balkan rhythms. His latest release "Magnification" marks the first worldwide release for this master of visual and lyrical irony.
Press quotes
"While Magnification mixes strong sexual desires with rampant political activism, it also brings back exotic music branded with Magnifico's signature smirk. His catchy riffs will blend well with anyone who likes raunchy, European fun."
4 out of 5 stars
mandatorychaos.com, 8 July 2010
"Above all, Magnifico is a professional entertainer complete with cowboy hat and aviator sunglasses, serving up Balkan cliches with irony and a wink."
"Magnifico ist vor allem aber ein professioneller Entertainer mit Cowboyhut und Pilotenbrille, der Balkanklischees mit subtiler Ironie und Augenzwinkern begleitet."
WDR Funkhaus Europa, Nov. 2009
"Slowenian Heartbreaker - with a twinkle in the eye Magnifico exposes stereotypes against Machismo, Xenophobia and Homophobia. With his unresistable mix of surfguitars and mariachi brass, turbofolk and balkanfunk he should easily preach to the converted."
"Slowenischer Schwerenoeter - Augenzwinkernd stellt er Stereotype und Vorurteile bloss und machte mit Witz gegen Machismo, Fremdenfeindlichkeit und Homophobie
Front. Mit seinem unwiderstehlichen Mix aus Surfgitarren und Mariachiblaesern, Turbofolk
und Balkanfunk sollte er offene Tueren einrennen."
taz, Mai 2010
"The Balkan invasion of Europe has begun. Goran Bregovic blazed the trail, now Magnifico is at the ready to open up new terrains of fun. With his wacky mix and jaw-dropping presence, he's set for success."
"Die Invasion Europas durch Musiker vom Balkan ist angelaufen. Goran Bregovic hat das Terrain erstmals ernsthaft ausgekundschaftet, jetzt setzt Magnifico an, die Eroberung auf dem Spass-Level fortzusetzen. Mit seinem seltsamen Mix und dem umwerfenden Aeusseren koennte er durchaus Erfolg haben."
Laut.de
"Der Balkan POP nimmt immer einen hoeheren Stellenwert in Europa an. Neben den erfolgreichen Shantel werden immer mehr Kuenstler bekannt und deren Musik ist einfach zum verlieben. Dieser neuer Kuensler den ich persoenlich auch noch nicht gekannt habe heisst Magnifico wie auch Videos Zum Zum wir bereits vorgestellt haben moechten wir euch noch einen weiteren Dancefloor Track vorstellen. Giv mi Mani aus dem Album Magnifico ist eine Pop Balkan und noch weitere einfluesse die den Song so genial machen. Da kommt automatisch Stimmung auf."
Bass magazin 07/2010
"Magnifico masterfully conjures up cliches of a land filled with corruption, machos and upwardly striving nouveau riche. With ironically exaggerated style he scourges post-socialist turbo-capitalism, sung mainly in broken Balkan English... mariachi surf-guitars mix with Balkan brass,Turbofolk and cheap Eastern Europe techno hits...a combination that spread a super festival mood"
"Gekonnt beschwoert er die Klischees vom Balkan als Land voll von Korruption, Machos und neureichen Emporkoemmlingen. Auf ironisch ueberspitzte Art geisselt er den Turbokapitalismus der postsozialistischen Zeit. Gesungen wird dabei meist in einer Art gebrochenem Balkan English. Das aktuelle Liveprogramm von Magnifico kommt von seinem letzten Album "Grande Finale". Darauf stilisiert er sich zum Spaghettiwestern-Cowboyhelden des Balkan und mischt Mariachi Surfgitarren mit Balkanbrass und Turbofolk; dem billigen Technoschlager Osteuropas. In Rudolstadt verbreitete er damit beste Festivallaune."
Bayern 2, July 2009
"Magifico is glitzy and fascinating"
"Magnifico ist der slowenische Showman und Verwandlungskuenstler Robert Pesut. Er ist schillernd und faszinierend. Als "Magnifico" erscheint er in der Rolle eines schlecht rasierten, auffaellig gekleideten Zuhaelters aus den 70er Jahren. Magnifico mischt Funk, Techno, Twist, R&B und Latino mit Turbofolk und Balkan-Rhythmen."
HR4 Portrait
"Fuer mich ist es recht lustig zu sehen, dass dieses Genre so viele Menschen beeinflusst- dass deutsche Musiker Balkanstuecke spielen und sich dabei so ernst nehmen. Jeder versucht, Balkan zu sein. Slowenien ist sehr klein und eigentlich nur das Laboratorium. Ich muss meine Alben natuerlich auch verkaufen, und das ist in Slowenien allein fast unmoeglich. Ausserdem mag ich es viel lieber, vor Leute zu spielen, die ich nicht schon am Morgen auf der Strasse oder im Cafe getroffen habe."
Folker, March 2010
Management
Arih d.o.o.Celovska 32
1000 Ljubljana
Slowenia
Tel: +386 1 434 1700 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +386 1 434 1700 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
E-mail: igor@arih.si
Booking
Frank Abraham
F-Cat Productions GmbH
Pohlstrasse 39
10785 Berlin
Tel: +49-(0)30 261 032 929
E-Mail: frank@f-cat.de
Web: http://www.f-cat.de
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Discography
-
Magnifico
"Magnification"
2010
Slovenia
