This is the story of a courageous group of young people living under Milosevic's repressive rule who waged a ten year battle for freedom, armed only with a radio transmitter, some rock'n'roll records, and a dream of truth, justice and another kind of life. They called themselves Serbia's 'lost generation'; the government called them traitors, spies and terrorists. Despite police raids and state censorship, they refused to be defeated, and kept on broadcasting their message. This is Serbia Calling chronicles a decade (1990-2000) in which B92, an extraordinary radio station, through its use of rock music, email and the Internet, kept alive the voices of dissent. The book ends with the fall of Milosevic and B92 going back on air.
| ||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
This is Serbia Calling is a fascinating portrait of how Serbia's "lost generation" expressed their resistance through the few channels left open to them. B92, an avant-garde Belgrade radio station run by a motley, courageous group of enthusiasts, provided a focus for young people who had "grown up thinking things were about to get better but had seen them get much, much worse".
War has come to rely heavily upon control of the media and the Balkans were were no exception. "Turbo folk", a tacky hybrid of Euro-pop and Serbian folk songs, emerged as the soundtrack to nationalism. Brash and corny, its young stars dated gangster politicians and filled the screens of the state-controlled TV stations. Just as symbolically, rock and roll, techno and rap joined the soundtrack for the resistance. In a country gripped by madness, young people alienated by ethnic hatred clutched at B92's anarchic broadcasts. In such brutal times, B92 was a lifeline--proof there were others out there too. In describing so much musical common ground, Matthew Collin, author of the successful history of British dance culture Altered State, conveys all the more powerfully the full bewildering horror of Serbia's disintegration. In this context, the familiar, from gangsta-style to ecstasy culture to absurdist satire, takes on new layers of depth and meaning. Vivid and moving, This Is Serbia Calling brings across the power of music to stave off despair and the terrible shame of how Europe ignored and betrayed Yugoslavia for so long. --Rebecca Johnson.
Review
"'Collin has not only found a way into the psyche of intelligent, tolerant young people suddenly swamped by a tide of fascist hate... he also shows how pop music can still ignite change, or quietly save souls, when life arrives at its most extreme' Uncut; 'Matthew Collin captures the conviction of a generation whose culture and identity were under siege' Independent on Sunday"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the story of Serbia's tragic decade and how, against a surreal political landscape, a small student radio station became something greater. B92 did more than play alternative music - it helped shape the destiny of a country. From beats to bombs, Matthew Colin has chronicled Serbia's troubles from a unique perspective.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Fascinating story of B92 radio and its importance to the opposition to milosevics rule. A very readable story of the lost generation of Serbia and how the Balkan wars affected youth culture. An insight not available to those outside of Serbia, it tells what the Serbs thought of the wars. They weren't all bad guys... The climax with the popular uprising and student movement leading to the overthrow of Milosevics regime is hard to put down.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By "cridders"
Format:Paperback
It's said that the news is the first draft of history. This book straddles history, media and politics with ease. It's a history lesson of the past decade in the Balkans seen through the eyes of a powerful little radio station who dared to differ. A minority radio station, with a defiant voice who informed the world, via their well publicised web site, what was really going on in Belgrade. The story comes from those involved, with testimonys from the broadcasters, who, while history unfolded around them in dramatic and depressing style, told the city there was still life out there. This presentation of the story makes it all the more poinient. An excellent and accessible read.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
5.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > History > Cultural History
- Books > History > Europe > Post-war Period, 1946-Present
- Books > History > Social & Economic History > Protest & Reform
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Rock & Pop > Styles
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Government & Politics > Civil Liberties & Political Activism
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Communication Studies > Media Studies
- Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Cultural Studies > Popular Culture
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
