Hoćemo gusle (trans. We Want Gusle) is the second studio album released in 1989 by Montenegrin-Serbian musician Rambo Amadeus.

Hoćemo gusle
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 10, 1989 (1989-11-10)
Genre
LabelPGP RTB
ProducerSaša Habić
Digital Mandrak [sr]
Rambo Amadeus chronology
O tugo jesenja
(1988)
Hoćemo gusle
(1989)
Psihološko propagandni komplet M-91
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Ritam(unfavorable)[1]

The track "Amerika i Engleska (biće zemlja proleterska)" was originally supposed to be named "Kataklizma komunizma" (Cataclysm of Communism) but powers that be wouldn't allow it. The album title pokes fun at the anti-bureaucratic revolution protests in Montenegro that swept Milo Đukanović, Momir Bulatović, and Svetozar Marović into power. Protesters were heard chanting "Hoćemo Ruse" ("We want the Russians"), but when the authorities and state-controlled media criticized them for it, many quickly began backpedaling by claiming they actually chanted "Hoćemo gusle" ("We want the gusle").[2]

Other songs like "Glupi hit" and afore mentioned "Balkan boj" would also become considerable hits and Rambo even received solid critical acclaim for chances he took in "Samit u buregdžinici Laibach". On that track, he created a catchy hybrid by mixing the heavy sound of Laibach with poetry from Laza Kostić and Desanka Maksimović, as well as with the folk kafana standard "Čaše lomim" and his own turbo-poetry. Album sleeve lists the lyrics of a song that wasn't actually recorded and explains that "it was dropped at the last moment because there was no room for it" but gives assurances it would appear on the next album. Since the song in question, named "Pegepe ertebe", was all about taking shots at Rambo's label PGP RTB it isn't surprising that it didn't appear on the next, or any subsequent album for that matter.[3]

Track listing

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All songs by Rambo Amadeus except A5 and B1 whose lyrics were written by Zlatko Tarle.

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Glupi hit"4:25
2."Free Mendela"3:58
3."Santa Maria"4:12
4."Balkan boj"4:13
5."Plomba za Zelenog Zuba"1:39
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Sokolov Greben"3:40
2."Samit u buregdžinici Laibach"4:56
3."Amerika i Engleska (biće zemlja proleterska)"3:50
4."Intelektualac"3:03
5."Čovek sam, ženo"2:44

Personnel

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Legacy

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In 2015 Hoćemo gusle album cover was ranked 76th on the list of 100 Greatest Album Covers of Yugoslav Rock published by web magazine Balkanrock.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Mokranjac, Terminator. "Rambo Amadeus - Hoćemo gusle". Ritam (in Serbian) (12). Belgrade: Sportinvest, ROID Vuk Karadžić: 74.
  2. ^ Lampe, John, and Mark Mazower, eds. Ideologies and National Identities: The Case of Twentieth‐Century Southeastern Europe. Budapest: CEU Press, 2004. p. 301. ISBN 963-9241-82-2
  3. ^ soundclick: ramboamadeus
  4. ^ "100 najboljih omota YU rocka", Balkanrock.com
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