At a gala ceremony on the National Day of Culture, also called Prešeren Day, celebrated every February 8, the pop provocateur and singer Magnifico performed a crude song that met with a mixed response on social media. Some of the most offended commentators complained about the vulgarity and disrespect for the Catholic Church expressed in the lyrics, missing the fact that this was actually a text written by “Slovenia’s greatest poet”.
While France Prešeren (1800-1849) is mostly known for the lyrics to the Slovenia’s national anthem and masterfully written sonnets, he also wrote stacks of pornographic rhymes and satirical verse.
To better understand the outcry, here is a quick translation of what Magnifico was singing to the entire nation in Gallus Hall of Cankarjev Dom last Friday:
Kako da se dohtarjem
Trebuhi redé?
Zato ki nobeden
k njim prazen ne sme.
Kako da se uradnikom
Trebuhi redé?
Zato, ki se mazat
Vsi radi pusté.
Kako da se farjem
Trebuhi redé?
Za maše jim nosijo
Neumne žene.
Kako da se nunam
Trebuhi redé?
Zato ki se farjem
Porivat pusté.
