Pop Workshop in Vipolže, 1987
In the 1980s, Slovenia found its own answer to the popular BBC TV show Top of the Pops. New musical trends were gradually arriving from the West, and Radio Ljubljana began paying increasing attention to the so-called “new pop.” As the Slovenska popevka genre was already in decline at the time (the term popevkar had even become derogatory), the Pop Workshop was established in 1983 (the first edition still under the title Listen and Choose). It quickly became a regular Radio Ljubljana event and an important driver of modern Slovenian pop production.
The main force behind the television programme—held at various locations across Slovenia (Novo mesto, Velenje, Ljubljana, Vrhnika)—was editor, producer, and musician Tadej Hrušovar, founder of the legendary band Pepel in kri. Particularly significant for the Primorska music scene was the fifth edition of Pop Workshop, which took place on 3 June 1987 at Vipolže Castle (today Villa Vipolže), attracting several thousand visitors.
Fans of Slovenian pop history will be pleased to know that a cassette Pop Delavnica ’87 (ZKP RTV Ljubljana, 1987) exists. The competition programme featured 25 songs, with notable performers including Martin Krpan, Agropop, Janez Bončina Benč, Moulin Rouge, and Gu-gu. The concert segment, separate from the competition, featured bands such as Big Ben, Šank Rock, and Čudežna polja.
Audience awards were decided by listener juries from ten Slovenian radio stations. The award for best stage performance went to the group Igra, the most promising group was Davor Pink & Panter Kaja, and the award for best performance went to Mojca Vižintin (of the band Rose) for the song Jaz se ne igram. The professional jury selected Janez Bončina – Benč as the overall winner with the song Poet.
The Vipolže edition is best remembered for two songs chosen by the audience. The first is Še je čas by Martin Krpan, featuring Vlado Kreslin on vocals, which has since become a classic of 1980s Slovenian music. The second, less influential nationally but highly significant locally, is Gremo na pizzo by the band Bianco. With lyrics such as “in all Primorska towns we feel at home, every weekend we meet again,” the song evokes a more carefree time. “We’re going to Nova Gorica for pizza! Our hearts beat for margherita.” And of course, after pizza—disco. “How joyful it will be at the disco! Let’s go for pizza in Nova Gorica!” The song became so popular that in 1998 a compilation titled Gremo na pico was released by Helidon.
Avtor: Jaša Bužinel
Kraj: Vipolže