Clash of the Titans, as this year's competition brings head-on two über-strong gladiators against each other, with results that both Tereza Kesovija ("Sunčane Fontane") and Oliver Dragojević ("Ča će mi Copacabana") had massive success with their respective songs. Up to this point, Dragojević was always somewhere around (as member of bands More and Dubrovački trubaduri) but to my knowledge this was the first time he really took spotlight and from now on he will be unstoppable. In hindsight, his song seems to have been inspired by equally irresistible latin-sounding "Tebe nitko ljubit neće" recorded previous year by Đorđi Peruzović on his one and only LP album "Mojoj Jedinoj Ljubavi" and its interesting to compare these two. Usual suspects were also present - Mišo Kovač, Radojka Šverko, Dalibor Brun, Pro Arte and even venerable godfather Ivo Robić - but surprises were artists who brought some fresh air, like gentle duo Buco i Srđan or bands VIS "Fortuna" ("Sto ljudi, sto ćudi"), Aspalathos Brass ("Dojdi mi, dojdi") and Mladi Batali (with very young and pre-fame Đurđica Barlović) who had some contagious, lively hits that defined summer.
Amongst the rest, this was the year when our local version of The Carpenters (Grupa 777) started and Slovenia have sent another wonderful artist (Elda Viler) on competition - unlike previous year where Slovenian singers sung Slovenian composers, Viler had song written by Slobodan M. Kovačević who was mastermind behind More and it sounds just as it could have been done by Meri Cetinić. More was also on Split this year but they had their own hit single ("Bakalar") performed with guest appearance by Đani Maršan. Another hit single absolutely worth tracking down is " Ponoćno sunce" by Đorđi Peruzović not only because its unforgettably beautiful ballad but because it also has energetic B side ("Hej, sviđaš mi se, mala") co-written by singer himself and Ljiljana Petrović. Even now-forgotten Mahir Paloš is actually quite good and he sounds very much like young Mirko Cetinski. Album ends nicely with spirited "Di su oni dani" tailored specifically for this occasion and performed by Žarko Dančuo, its just right kind of celebratory singalong that audiences of this festival always loved.
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