Editing Đorđe Balašević (section)

=== Early career: Žetva and Rani Mraz ===
After Balašević joined the group, Žetva recorded a humorous [[Tango (dance)|tango]]-oriented hit single "U razdeljak te ljubim" (I Lay a Kiss on Your Parting),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/%C5%BDetva-U-Razdeljak-Te-Ljubim/release/1430313|title=Žetva – U Razdeljak Te Ljubim|website=Discogs|year=1977 }}</ref> which was sold in more than 180,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kurir.rs/zabava/pop-kultura/3628319/u-razdeljak-te-ljubim-djordju-balasevicu-ova-pesma-nije-bila-draga-a-upravo-ona-ga-proslavila-na-pocetku-karijere|title=U Razdeljak Te Ljubim: Đorđu Balaševiću ova pesma nije bila draga, a upravo ona ga PROSLAVILA na početku karijere|date=19 February 2021|publisher=Kurir|language=sr-latn|website=kurir.rs}}</ref>
In 1978, he left Žetva and, together with Verica Todorović, formed the band ''[[Rani Mraz]]''. The band had its debut at the 1978 music festival in [[Opatija]] with the song "Moja prva ljubav" (My First Love). During 1978, former [[Suncokret]] members [[Bilja Krstić|Biljana Krstić]] and [[Bora Đorđević]] joined the band (forming the most famous Rani Mraz lineup), and together they recorded "Računajte na nas" (Count on Us), written by Balašević,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Rani-Mraz-Ra%C4%8Dunajte-Na-Nas/release/1119740|title=Rani Mraz – Računajte Na Nas|website=Discogs|year=1978 }}</ref> a song which celebrated the youth's adoption of the [[communism|communist]] revolution.<ref name="ppnnm"/> The song became popular with both the communist authorities and the people, becoming an anthem of the Yugoslav youth.<ref name="ppnnm">{{cite web|url=https://mondo.rs/Zabava/Muzika/a1437826/djorde-balasevic-biografija-preminuo.html|title=Napustio Nas Je Voljeni "Panonski Mornar": Sanjao da postane fudbaler, ušao u istoriju domaće muzike!|date=19 February 2021|publisher=Mondo|language=sr-latn|website=mondo.rs}}</ref> After just a few months of cooperation, Verica Todorović and Bora Đorđević left the band (Đorđević forming his famous [[hard rock]] band [[Riblja Čorba]]). Biljana Krstić and Balašević then recorded Rani Mraz's first album ''[[Mojoj mami umesto maturske slike u izlogu]]'' (''To my Mom instead of Prom Photo in the Shop-Window'') with the help of [[Session musician|studio musicians]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Rani-Mraz-Mojoj-Mami-Umesto-Maturske-Slike-U-Izlogu/release/2524569|title=Rani Mraz – Mojoj Mami, Umesto Maturske Slike U Izlogu|website=Discogs|year=1979 }}</ref>

At the 1979 [[Split Festival]], Balašević won the first prize with the single "Panonski mornar" (Pannonian Sailor).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alo.rs/vip/ovako-slavnog-muzicara-ispracaju-mediji-iz-nekadasnje-jugoslavije-otplovio-nas-panonski-mornar-foto-video/387211/vest|title=CELA BIVŠA JUGOSLAVIJA PLAČE ZA BALAŠEVIĆEM Ovako slavnog muzičara ispraćaju mediji iz nekadašnje Jugoslavije: ''Otplovio naš Panonski mornar''! (FOTO/VIDEO)|date=19 February 2021|publisher=Alo|website=alo.rs|language=sr}}</ref> A few months later, Rani Mraz sold out [[Belgrade]]'s [[Dom Sindikata]] Hall eight times in a row.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://direktno.rs/zabava/muzika/335697/djordje-balasevic-smrt-pesme-biografija.html|title=ZBOGOM, PANONSKI MORNARU! Bivša Jugoslavija plače za Balaševićem|date=19 February 2021|publisher=Direktno|website=direktno.rs|language=sr}}</ref> In 1980, Balašević served in the [[Yugoslav People's Army]] in [[Zagreb]] and [[Požarevac]],<ref name="ygppr">{{cite web|url=http://www.yugopapir.com/2012/10/zvezde-na-vojnickom-pasulju-ore.html|title=Đorđe Balašević u JNA: Ćerka mi se rodila pre četiri meseca, ali je za sada gledam samo na slikama|date=October 2012|publisher=Yugopapir|website=yugopapir.com|language=sr}}</ref> where he had a role in the TV show ''Vojnici'' (''Soldiers''),<ref name="ygppr"/> but also found time to write song "Zbog tebe" (Because of You) for [[Zdravko Čolić]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zdravko-%C4%8Coli%C4%87-Zbog-Tebe/release/1102711|title=Zdravko Čolić – Zbog Tebe|website=Discogs|year=1980 }}</ref> and lyrics for several songs recorded on [[Srebrna krila]] album ''Ja sam samo jedan od mnogih s gitarom'' (''I'm only One of Many with a Guitar'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Srebrna-Krila-Ja-Sam-Samo-Jedan-Od-Mnogih-S-Gitarom/release/1409519|title=Srebrna Krila – Ja Sam Samo Jedan Od Mnogih S Gitarom|website=Discogs|year=1980 }}</ref>

By the end of 1980, Balašević and Krstić released their second and final album under the name Rani Mraz, with a symbolic title ''[[Odlazi cirkus]]'' (''The Circus Is Leaving'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Rani-Mraz-Odlazi-Cirkus/release/1815192|title=Rani Mraz – Odlazi Cirkus|website=Discogs|year=1980 }}</ref> The album reaffirmed Balašević's status and delivered several hit songs, one of them being "Priča o Vasi Ladačkom" (Story of Vasa Ladački) which went on to become one of Balašević's [[List of signature songs|signature songs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nedeljnik.rs/kada-je-kemo-preminuo-osetili-smo-njegovu-podrsku-jako-nas-je-pogodila-vest-da-je-otisao-unuka-kemala-montena-o-dordu-balasevicu/|title="Kada je Kemo preminuo osetili smo njegovu podršku, jako nas je pogodila vest da je otišao...": Unuka Kemala Montena o Đorđu Balaševiću...|date=19 February 2021|publisher=Nedeljnik|website=nedeljnik.rs|language=sr}}</ref> However, Rani Mraz officially dissolved after that.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tekstomanija.com/biografije/rani-mraz/|title=Biografija o Ranom Mrazu|publisher=Tekstomanija|language=sr|website=tekstomanija.com}}</ref>