After ill-fated American adventure that didn't quite work out, it took few years until Josipa Lisac regained her footing on local music scene but truth to be told there wasn't any competition anyway as no other of our female singers pursued rock with same determination. What was obvious to me even back in 1983. is how confining this all must have been to artist so much at odds with her surroundings - still rebellious veteran from late 1960s who firmly distanced herself from her middle aged generation, Lisac was fully mature, experienced woman at the peak of her powers amongst new kids on the block, while her contemporaries without exception all took easy listening route. She could still sing circles around just anybody but without strong material, all that was left was to constantly stimulate media interest with eccentric outfits and for a while there was almost perceptible crisis of identity - I dare to say that at this point Lisac seriously looked at herself and did some soul-searching. This was the first album ever where I perceived certain fatigue and lack of focus.
Created immediately after highly successful previous album, "Hoću samo tebe" was supposed to continue streak of bold steps establishing Lisac again after being away for so long. "Made in USA", "Hir, hir, hir" and "Lisica" all had their share of both supportive and averse reactions, in retrospective fascinating as Lisac was clearly very black-and-white artist - people either adored her fanatically or rejected her completely. Majority of opinions focused on either material or weak lyrics by her long-standing collaborator Ivica Krajač (vocals were never criticised) so the chance was given to completely new and fresh-faced lyricist. It is to credit to both Lisac and her partner/composer Karlo Metikoš that they recognized and took a chance on completely unknown, young Alka Vuica who presented them with beautifully crafted songs that for the first time gave lady some very appealing sensitivity, softness and femininity ("Da li sam ti rekla da te volim") and this must have been dream job for Vuica who instantly got fantastic spotlight. Following than-current, synth-pop music trends, Metikoš is fine although not terribly inventive and my impression was that he simply wasn't very inspired - it could be also that backing band "Karamela" surrounded everything with synthesisers that just didn't appeal to me, being so ubiquitous everywhere. Nice for collectors and fans, but honestly the only interesting thing here is unusual and rare attempt of Lisac to compose song herself on lovely "Sanjala sam". After this, it will take almost four years until another album and for that one, Lisac will assemble completely different team, resulting in complete rejuvenation and renaissance of her music.
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