Cokolada
Encyclopedia
Čokolada is the second studio album by Serbian rock
band Idoli. It is considered to be one of the best selling Yugoslav
records.
album, the band started working on new material. Since Jugoton
was unsatisfied with the sales of Odbrana i poslednji dani
, the band had to take on a more commercial sound. In the meantime, bass guitarist Zdenko Kolar
left to serve in the Yugoslav People's Army
and was temporarily replaced by Branko Isaković
.
The band went to London
and worked with producer Bob Painter who completely changed their style. The result was Čokolada. Originally planned to be released as a double EP entitled "U gradu bez sna", at Jugoton's insistence it was released as a long-playing record. The album turned out to be the greatest commercial success the band had ever achieved. It sold roughly 350,000 copies which, with the Riblja Čorba
album Mrtva priroda
, made it one of the best-selling albums in Yugoslavia. The record was later overtaken by Plavi Orkestar
and Bajaga & Instruktori
.
The album cover featured the girl from wrappers on "Seka" chocolates manufactured by Zvečevo
from Slavonska Požega. The album design was by the band members themselves with the help of Vladimir Galić and the photographs were by Goranka Matić.
Most of the songs from the album were hits. The romantic "Bambina
" and "Stranac u noći
", a sentimental piano oriented ballad, were released as a promo single, but due to large popularity, later appeared for sale as well. A lot of funk elements are recognizable on the album, especially on "Soda boj" and "Udri bogataša". The record also featured the ballads "U gradu bez sna" and "Tiho, tiho".
Even though the record credited Nebojša Krstić
, Srđan Šaper and Vlada Divljan
as the writers of all the tracks, it is known that Divljan did not work much on the album as he was working on his university degree dissertation at the time. He wrote "Radostan dan", "Vetar i zastave" and "Ja sam tu" (partially containing lyrics from the song "Proplakat će zora" written by Drago Britvić, performed by Mišo Kovač
on the festival Split 71). Guest appearances included the producer Bob Painter himself on synthesizer and Vivian Goldman on backing vocals.
After the album's release, the band went on an enormously successful tour. The concert in Zagreb
featured seven encore calls. However, due to differences within the band, they split up after the Ljubljana
show.
is the original lyrics writer of the "Čokolada" track. Srđan Šaper presented the track as an Idoli song and Gerzić was later credited as the partial writer of the song "Bambina
".
Serbian rock
Serbian rock is the rock music scene of Serbia. During the 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s, while Serbia was a constituent republic of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbian rock scene was a part of the SFR Yugoslav rock scene....
band Idoli. It is considered to be one of the best selling Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
records.
History
Having finished the tour in support of Odbrana i poslednji daniOdbrana i poslednji dani
Odbrana i poslednji dani is the first studio album by former Yugoslavn New Wave band Idoli released in 1982....
album, the band started working on new material. Since Jugoton
Jugoton
Jugoton was the largest record label and chain record store in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia based in Zagreb, Socialist Republic of Croatia. After the breakup of Yugoslavia the company continued to work in independent Republic of Croatia under the name Croatia...
was unsatisfied with the sales of Odbrana i poslednji dani
Odbrana i poslednji dani
Odbrana i poslednji dani is the first studio album by former Yugoslavn New Wave band Idoli released in 1982....
, the band had to take on a more commercial sound. In the meantime, bass guitarist Zdenko Kolar
Zdenko Kolar
Zdenko Kolar is a Serbian bass guitarist, most notable as the member of Idoli and Zona B.-Biography:Kolar was born in Zemun in 1956 where he lived until 1963 when he moved to inner town in Belgrade. He moved to a building where two of his future bandmates lived, Vlada Divljan and Boža Jovanović...
left to serve in the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
and was temporarily replaced by Branko Isaković
Branko Isakovic
Branko Isaković is a Serbian bass player born in Valjevo in 1958. He was a member of notable rock bands active in former Yugoslavia. He closely collaborates with Dejan Cukić and Bilja Krstić and has his own projects TeodulIja and Divine Sound, focusing on ambiental, ethno and spiritual music.-...
.
The band went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and worked with producer Bob Painter who completely changed their style. The result was Čokolada. Originally planned to be released as a double EP entitled "U gradu bez sna", at Jugoton's insistence it was released as a long-playing record. The album turned out to be the greatest commercial success the band had ever achieved. It sold roughly 350,000 copies which, with the Riblja Čorba
Riblja Corba
Riblja Čorba is a Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band. Their presence on the scene has lasted from 1978 to today. They reached their peak of popularity in the 1980s, but it has declined in the 1990s, partly due to controversial political attitudes of the band's leader Bora Đorđević...
album Mrtva priroda
Mrtva priroda
Mrtva priroda is the third studio album from Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Riblja Čorba, released in 1981....
, made it one of the best-selling albums in Yugoslavia. The record was later overtaken by Plavi Orkestar
Plavi orkestar
Plavi orkestar is one of the most popular bands from former Yugoslavia. The band was founded in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1983.The band has remained popular to the present day with 8 albums and more than 3500 concerts worldwide...
and Bajaga & Instruktori
Bajaga i Instruktori
Bajaga i Instruktori are a highly popular Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band...
.
The album cover featured the girl from wrappers on "Seka" chocolates manufactured by Zvečevo
Zvečevo
The company Stock Cognac Medicinal was founded 20 October 1921 in Požega, producing strong alcoholic drinks.In 1936 the company also started producing chocolate and candy products.The chocolate factory was rented to Nestlé from 1936 to 1946....
from Slavonska Požega. The album design was by the band members themselves with the help of Vladimir Galić and the photographs were by Goranka Matić.
Most of the songs from the album were hits. The romantic "Bambina
Bambina (Idoli song)
"Bambina" is the third single by the Serbian band Idoli. It was chosen to be the only single from the Čokolada album which was the band's highest commercial peak.- History :...
" and "Stranac u noći
Stranac u noci
"Stranac u noći" is the B-side of the third single by the Serbian band Idoli. The song is a piano-dominated ballad for which Vlada Divljan provided the lead vocals.- Track listing :...
", a sentimental piano oriented ballad, were released as a promo single, but due to large popularity, later appeared for sale as well. A lot of funk elements are recognizable on the album, especially on "Soda boj" and "Udri bogataša". The record also featured the ballads "U gradu bez sna" and "Tiho, tiho".
Even though the record credited Nebojša Krstić
Nebojša Krstic
Nebojša Krstić is an Advisor of the President of Serbia for public relations appointed by Boris Tadić. He was also a member of the Serbian rock band Idoli.- Biography :...
, Srđan Šaper and Vlada Divljan
Vlada Divljan
Vladimir "Vlada" Divljan , is a Serbian singer and songwriter. He is known as the frontman for the Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Idoli, as well as for his solo works.-Early activity:...
as the writers of all the tracks, it is known that Divljan did not work much on the album as he was working on his university degree dissertation at the time. He wrote "Radostan dan", "Vetar i zastave" and "Ja sam tu" (partially containing lyrics from the song "Proplakat će zora" written by Drago Britvić, performed by Mišo Kovač
Mišo Kovac
Mišo Kovač is a Croatian singer who was one of the most popular musical icons of the former Yugoslavia, and still popular today in Croatia.-Biography:...
on the festival Split 71). Guest appearances included the producer Bob Painter himself on synthesizer and Vivian Goldman on backing vocals.
After the album's release, the band went on an enormously successful tour. The concert in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
featured seven encore calls. However, due to differences within the band, they split up after the Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
show.
Title track controversy
Dušan Gerzić from the band Via TalasVIA Talas
VIA Talas were a former Yugoslav New Wave band notable as one of the participants of the Artistička radna akcija project...
is the original lyrics writer of the "Čokolada" track. Srđan Šaper presented the track as an Idoli song and Gerzić was later credited as the partial writer of the song "Bambina
Bambina (Idoli song)
"Bambina" is the third single by the Serbian band Idoli. It was chosen to be the only single from the Čokolada album which was the band's highest commercial peak.- History :...
".
Track listing
Source: DiscogsPersonnel
- Vlada DivljanVlada DivljanVladimir "Vlada" Divljan , is a Serbian singer and songwriter. He is known as the frontman for the Serbian and former Yugoslav rock band Idoli, as well as for his solo works.-Early activity:...
(guitar, vocals) - Nebojša KrstićNebojša KrsticNebojša Krstić is an Advisor of the President of Serbia for public relations appointed by Boris Tadić. He was also a member of the Serbian rock band Idoli.- Biography :...
(percussion, vocals) - Srđan Šaper (synthesizer, vocals)
- Branko IsakovićBranko IsakovicBranko Isaković is a Serbian bass player born in Valjevo in 1958. He was a member of notable rock bands active in former Yugoslavia. He closely collaborates with Dejan Cukić and Bilja Krstić and has his own projects TeodulIja and Divine Sound, focusing on ambiental, ethno and spiritual music.-...
(bass guitar) - Kokan PopovićKokan PopovicKokan Popović is a Serbian drummer notable for playing in bands Idoli and Propaganda.- Getting interested in music, first bands :Popović was born in Belgrade and lived at Alekse Nenadovica street connecting "Slavija" and "Metropol" hotel, inhabited by people from highest social positions, such as...
(drums)