Uspavanka za Radmilu M.

Background and recording

The band's leader, guitarist Goran Bregović, originally intended to release Uspavanka za Radmilu M. as Bijelo Dugme's farewell album and to dismiss the band after the promotional tour. Unlike the band's previous albums, Uspavanka za Radmilu M. was not followed by a large promotion in the media.

The album was recorded in Skopje. Uspavanka za Radmilu M. was the band's first album since the 1977 live album Koncert kod Hajdučke česme to feature drummer Ipe Ivandić, who returned to the band at the end of 1982, replacing Garabet Tavitjan, who performed with the band only on the 1982 Bulgarian tour. The album was produced by Bregović and Gajo Vučićević and featured Leb i Sol member Vlatko Stefanovski (guitar), Blagoje Morotov (double bass) and Arsen Ereš (saxophone) as guest musicians. It was mixed in Britannia Row Studios in London. The songs "Ako možeš zaboravi", "U vrijeme otkazanih letova", "Polubauk polukruži poluevropom" (trans. "Half-Spectre Is Half-Haunting Half-Europe", the title referring to the first sentence of The Communist Manifesto) and "Ovaj ples dame biraju" featured diverse sound, illustrating various phases in the band's career. The album's title track is the only instrumental track Bijelo Dugme ever recorded.

The song "Kosovska" ("Kosovo Song") featured Albanian language lyrics. Written during delicate political situation in Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo, the song represented Bregović's effort to integrate the culture of Kosovo Albanians into Yugoslav rock music. Although lyrics were simple, dealing with rock music, the song caused certain controversies.

Album cover

The album cover was designed by Bijelo Dugme's old collaborator Dragan S. Stefanović. It featured an embossed print of a pillow on front and back cover.

Track listing

All songs written by Goran Bregović, except where noted.

Personnel

Additional personnel

Reception

The album received mostly negative reactions by the critics. Džuboks critic Ljubo Trifunović wrote:

Another Džuboks critic, Branko Vukojević, wrote: "It seems like Bijelo Dugme wanted to return, but had nothing to return to.

Uspavanka za Radmilu M. did not bring numerous hits as the band's previous releases, however, the tour was very successful, and the audience's response made Bregović change his mind about dismissing the band.

Video album

The release of the Uspavanka za Radmilu M. album was followed by the release of an eponymous VHS cassette featuring videos for all the album tracks. The cassette also included some recordings from the concerts from the beginning of the Uspavanka za Radmilu M. tour. The cassette was the first project of the kind in the history of Yugoslav rock music. The videos were directed by Boris Miljković and Branimir Dimitrijević "Tucko". The video for the song "Ovaj ples dame biraju" was the first gay-themed video in Yugoslavia.

Legacy

The song "Ako možeš, zaboravi" was polled in 2006 as the 51st on B92 Top 100 Yugoslav songs list.

The album's title track was used in 2006 mockumentary film Borat, but did not appear on the official soundtrack album.

Covers