Radio

This spring, on April 17, it was 40 years since Radio Bar spoke. It is a significant anniversary for the whole of Bar, not only for the local radio station...

I came to Radio Bar on September 1, 1987. The then editor Zoran Živković called me to start working as an announcer, because I had previously participated in an audition. I was on probation twice for 45 days, and I started a permanent employment relationship on December 1 of that year.

And everything I achieved in my life, I achieved from Radio Bar: I got married, graduated from university, had children...

When I first stepped in front of the Radio microphone, in that legendary barracks, I thought my heart would jump out of fear. Even to this day, when I hear the opening credits for "Barska chronika" or "Promenade", I get butterflies in my stomach. That respect for Radio Bar and responsibility for the spoken word will follow me until retirement, which is rapidly approaching. At just under 60 years old, I am the oldest journalist in our newsroom, and it seems to me that yesterday I jumped for the first time those two steps that led to the barracks, in which, on the right, was the printing office, and on the left, the Radio.

In 1987, the director of Radio was Momčilo Popović, the editor of Radio Zoran Živković, the editor of "Barskih Novina" Gordana Vujović, and the journalists Ljiljana Đinđinović, Božidar Pavlović, Jovan Plamenac, Aćim Višnjić, Dubravka Janković, Vera Mirković, Nedeljka Pavlović, Dajana Šorović and Vasilije Lalošević, while the announcer was Brankica Goločevac, later Mandić. Vlastimir Bulatović was an unforgettable presenter with a striking voice. In the past 40 years, none of Radio Bar's editorial offices has been close to such a journalistic and intellectual capacity. Its members are crowned with numerous guild awards, as well as prizes for journalism and poetry.

Even then, Radio Bar was a springboard for its journalists: Momo, Goca and Jovo went to "Pobjeda"; Bozo on TV Montenegro; Zoran via Podgorica to Belgrade: Aćim, then Vasko and, later, Suljo Mustafić, into politicians; Ljilja became the director of the International TV Festival...

From the photo that was taken on May 9, 1989 in the desk, on the day when Radio Bar was shut down (the first and only time and, hopefully, never again), I am the only one still at Radio. Some, unfortunately, have passed away, some are retired, and some are engaged in other jobs. And in the picture are, from left to right: secretary Dejan Dašić, driver Zajko Đurović, Božidar Pavlović, Milan Vujović, Dajana Šorović, guard Baja Drašković, Vasilije Lalošević, Vera Mirković, Jovan Plamenac, Momčilo Popović, sound masters Viktor Dedaj, Željko Šekarić and Redžo Petović, then Dubravka Janković, Zoran Živković and Aćim Višnjić.

Of the three buildings where Radio Bar was located in the 32 years I was there, I felt (and still do) the most comfortable in the current premises, on Petrović Dynasty Boulevard. I guess because it was still the most peaceful there for all these years. But, I can't forget the smells of the Radio Bar barracks, respect for those, as we used to say, "unconditional rooms" from which the program that the entire Bar listened to and recounted flew into the air; the enthusiasm that carried us in the late eighties when we thought we were going to change the world; joy because of good shows, bad mood because of mistakes (I haven't reacted to praise or criticism for a long time); the preparation of tomorrow's program until deep into the night when, especially during the recording of entertainment-humorous shows, the barracks echoed with laughter that could be heard all the way to the top of Volujica; socializing outside of working hours, not only in bars but also in homes, with always good food, drinks and music; Mom's authority, Vlast's charisma, Bož's wit, Cica's kindness, Diana's charm, Željko's robustness (I'm talking about those who are no longer there, and with whom I worked in the barracks)...

Then came "Agava", which I remember most for the incredible energy we invested, under the leadership of Novak Noc Brajović, whose right-hand man was Boro Stanković, to make everything work as it should (in those still unconditioned rooms!) and for Radio Bar to assert itself again as a reliable and indispensable factor when it comes to informing about Bar and Barani. "Barske novine" was relaunched from "Agave" and those four issues that came out under the skillful hand of director Momo Popović and the seal of literacy of Dajana Šorović are still used as credible reading when I write about "those days and those years". But I also remember that time for the trepidation, nervousness, and impatience to be, as soon as possible, the vanguard among local radio stations. We even extended the program, in our own production, to 24 hours a day, although, objectively, we did not have the capacity for such a thing. Despite everything, we worked with dedication and we all tried to do our job as well as possible. Momo listened to the radio all day, and for Vasko and I, as editors, he bought small transistors with headphones, which we kept in our pockets, so we both had an insight into the radio program all the time and listened to what was being heard and what it is not.

In "Agava" we survived two shocks - one small and one big. DPS split into DPS and SNP, and that directly affected Radio. Only seven years later, in 2004, we transformed into a Public Service and since then politics has not had a hundred percent influence on Radio Bar. These percentages have been decreasing over the years, but occasionally stagnate. The big shock was the NATO aggression against FR Yugoslavia. It seems to me that, as a collective, we came out of it more compact.

The then director Budimir Buco Jovetić was responsible for this compactness. During his time, we moved to new premises, the best in Montenegro, at least when it comes to local radios; we became a public service and again started to socialize beyond the radio. We made a dozen unforgettable trips to Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia and Albania and, after his death, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Those trips were his weakness, he looked forward to them as a small child. We could discuss for hours which destination is better for us, where we will enjoy more... And all so that we would be even more compact, even more attached to our Radio.

Although the party brought him to Radio, he was not a party man. Under his leadership, Radio Bar became a real public service for all citizens. We no longer have the right to lose the journalistic freedom that he allowed us to enjoy.

Somehow, at the same time as the move to new premises, the quiet days of Radio Bar began. They suit me perfectly at this age.

I only miss those who are gone, especially Cica and Diane, who were the last to leave us. Of course, all the others, including Momo, from whom, along with Boško Milošević, I learned the most about journalism (Momo Popović was by far the best journalist with a Radio Bar workbook), and Božo, who was always ready for teasing, but he also knew how to make jokes about himself. And he knew how to help a colleague.

When the editor of Radio was Vesko Tomović, also deceased, who improved the program, we introduced some newspapers. Among other things, the key, second hour of "Promenade" was reserved for contant with the listeners. The presenter asks a question, and the listeners then answer and discuss the given topic.

One Thursday I asked the question: "What do you think about the bar market?" I played one song, another, then a third, no one answered. Then I called Bož and told him that the show was going to fail for me and that he had to push it somehow. Božo called, put on a voice as if he were a grandmother from "a hundred summers" (and he did it masterfully!) and announced that the market in Bar is one of the best-stocked in the country and that it is by far the cheapest. Then the phone got hot. Everyone wanted to explain to the "crazy" grandmother what the bar market really is. And indeed, at that time the market in Bar was poorly supplied and more expensive, according to the words of my school friend, the poet Igor Rems, than the one in Cologne, Germany.

In terms of seniority, only Selva, Noco and Brankica are older than me at Radio. And we will soon, one by one, leave Radio. And do you know how much the listeners and employees of the Radio will regret us? Not at all! Well, that is all the charm of the most popular local Montenegrin radio station, all its power and the secret of longevity - Radio Bar is always young, fresh, always singing. And he will get better and better, because his jersey will be worn by other, younger and smarter editors, journalists, sound masters...

* * *

That night when we celebrated 40 years of Radio in the "Franca" hotel, we remembered many anecdotes...

Then, when we decided to return the party booklets, as a sign of protest that the municipal leadership did not resign, we were caught in the wee hours. Director Momcilo Popović's office was full. Everyone wanted to make a contribution to breaking the "alienated regime" (for years I happily drink coffee with the honorable Milenko Sjekloca, the secretary of the Committee at the time, who forgave me for my youthful sins a long time ago).

Little could be seen of the tobacco smoke, and the vodka had run out. Everyone, especially Momo as the most responsible, was tense and nervous. In the midst of the biggest discussion, there was a knock on the glass door of the director's office.

His head was broken by a poet, friend and associate of Radio Bar.

“Good evening, good people.”

Vlastimir Vlasto Bulatović, who was crouching right next to the door, reacted nervously, probably to forestall Momo's potentially even more nervous reaction.

"Run away, man, you see that there is a discussion here about whether or not to be a Radio Bar, now you've come to bother us!"

"I apologize, I just wanted to bring you this bottle of vodka" - said the poet lightly, whispering a little in his cute way.

The legendary Val Kuper (Vlast's stage name), whose voice was and remains Radio Bar's trademark, suddenly changed his mood:

"Come in, man, why are you standing there at the door? Join us, now we need real friends the most" – Vlasto stood up, accepting the poet with his left hand and a bottle of vodka with his right hand.

* * *

For a long time, I wanted to post on this blog a poem that I used to enjoy singing, "Letter from Titograd", by Veselin Rakčević. Now is the right occasion: half a century since its creation.

A letter from Titograd

I'll sue tonight's rain

And the wind that rummages through my skull

I guess even the smallest child in this country knows

That the inviolability of the apartment is guaranteed

---

And so I pray for personal peace

Let the rain keep falling

Note to postmen

To access my room

I vetoed it

All letters from Titograd were plain to them

I already know all that by heart

---

My sister is writing to me

It's hard for her to gossip

And so keep it up mom

You know, son, we're all sick with the flu

And heard that shameless woman is cheating on you

You loved her very much

And she pinches herself

With a gilipter under an umbrella last night

And that's why they live through me

That whore won't come into this house

Then a wistful greeting

She would pack two or three tears

Goodbye son love you mommy

---

Forgive my mom

She is like any other mom

Forgive my sister too

A woman usually won't gossip

Forgive my dear too

She thought no one would see her

Last night under the umbrella

And my little girl

She was the daughter of a respected papa

And Mama Marta

She had a citroen

Studied high school

She read foreign magazines

She had an apartment on the whole floor

Driver's license

My little girl was a real miracle

---

I had too, not that I didn't

Food stamps

A six-bed room

In the dormitory

A visa for a tourist

And freedom of movement in every direction

And we talked and talked about all kinds of things

---

I told her about the Russians

On Roman law

About economic development between the two wars

We were against the war in Vietnam

She also talked to me

Not that it isn't

How she met a black man at sea

How until then she didn't trust the woman in some things

And that's usually how it happens

In the summer on vacation

---

And our love was not a secret

And everyone knew

Even her old one

To my respected dad, I was a respectable student

Bungee of the first order

Ready even for the end of the world

And I was really ugly

Looking from the floor or some kind of cabinet

And to her mom

Ah, mom

I was also nice

And once watching me over the piano

Which she didn't know how to play

A tear fell from the lady

And he said to me wistfully

How I remind her of my first love

On some Italian officer there.

* * *

And speaking of the jubilee: Luka Bar won the tenth title of champion of Montenegro in women's volleyball. Trophy coach Vladimir Milačić preserved the tradition - he again gathered talented, graceful and, most importantly, well-mannered volleyball players with a winning mentality.

* * *

It is true that the winners write history, but it is good that nowadays, in contrast to, say, 1948 and some other years, the defeated can also advertise and communicate their truth.