After 45 years of dignified career, my all-time favorite singer got herself a concert in ancient roman amphitheater - performing in Arena cements the legendary status of any artist and this time Josipa Lisac celebrates 40 years of her debut album, rock masterpiece "Dnevnik jedne ljubavi" ("The Diary of One Love") originally released in 1973. with help of Ex-Yu Rock All-Stars Band. It was composed by late Karlo Metikoš and built as showcase for a young singer who from that moment on was recognized as our first and only female rock singer. Because "Dnevnik" was such a strong album, Lisac enjoyed very long success for decades and the respect for her was such that she was voted female singer of the year even when she was not even living here (from 1977-80 she lived in USA). The album was released in many various formats (I used to own it on vinyl, tape and CD) and has never been out of print ever since its original release.
Listening from today's perspective, "Dnevnik" still sounds shockingly good - enthusiasm of everybody involved (from backing vocals to musicians, composer and lyrics writer) is clearly audible and even though album can firmly be placed in early 1970s, the beauty of the music, its poetry and message are timeless. Than 23 years old Lisac forever distanced herself from easy-listening company of colleagues who performed on MOR festivals and if on her debut album she leaned on certain mannerisms (her recognizable nasal sound) she has built a nice career out of it. Generations of listeners have grown up adoring this album and even though Lisac bravely continued on trough 1980s, 1990s and beyond, with lots of hits along the way, people still demand these old songs, now "Dnevnik" celebrates 40 years and its just right that this occasion should be celebrated in a place so regal as Arena.
When I was a child growing up, I remember being completely besotted with Josipa Lisac who was above competition in any way - she was constant, huge star where others were just passing by.
She was also a cult singer with urban audience who followed and supported her even though she never was a commercial like big sellers - if anything, connection with rock music got her bad reputation expected from rock stars. Strangely enough, as a child I thought I must have been the only one who loved her because all of my friends were into other commercial pop singers, it came as a surprise to find out Lisac is in fact highly respected not only between colleagues but also with music connoisseurs who keep her going with concerts, albums and new projects, when her contemporaries are long retired (just check the list of All-Stars musicians involved in "Dnevnik" - they were all important back than but only Lisac still is today). Trough the decades she kept going on strong, adding new mannerisms to her voice (to me she sounds even better today), experimenting with hair, clothes and image but always being her recognizable self. Even though part of mainstream audience would never completely accept her, Josipa Lisac will forever be remembered as Croatian Rock Queen who cleverly cultivated her repertoire and audience, enjoying the fruits of her work even decades after other artist's music had passed its expiration date. Lisac always stated that she made her choice between "to have and to be" - she is an artist who stands behind her music and it shows - nobody else from her generation still works and is capable of having a concert in Arena. She recorded "Dnevnik" long before male stars Oliver Dragojević and Zdravko Čolić had their debuts and trough the decades had amassed huge reservoir of respect. As for the concert itself, I don't think she sang "Dnevnik" completely - her repertoire is far too rich to focus exclusively on 1973 songs - probably she peppered the concert list with hits from various decades and got her excellent backing musicians to show off in instrumental passages, dressing up old favorites in new clothes. Naturally, because of my work I was not able to enjoy her concert in Arena but I was there between the audience in my thoughts that evening.
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