New Partisans

New Partisans was a short-lived mid-1980s movement on the Yugoslav rock scene. The term was used to denote albums by Sarajevo-based bands Bijelo Dugme, Plavi Orkestar and Merlin which were characterized by pop rock and power pop sound with elements of folk music and lyrics and imagery heavily inspired by Yugoslav Partisans and Yugoslavism.

Emerging several years after Sarajevo-based New Primitivism subcultural movement, New Partisans appeared during the era of growing liberalization in Yugoslavia's political, social and cultural life, as well as political turmoil and rise of nationalism in Yugoslav republics. The veteran band Bijelo Dugme, which had enjoyed the status of the most popular Yugoslav rock group since its formation in 1974, and two younger acts, Plavi Orkestar and Merlin, incorporated Partisan- and Yugoslavism-themed lyrics into their blend of pop rock and folk. Bijelo Dugme's 1984 self-titled album is generally considered the inspiration for the emergence of the movement. Additionally, some characteristics of the movement can be found on Plavi Orkestar's 1985 debut Soldatski bal, which launched the band to the status of nationwide teen stars, and the subsequent promotional tour. The 1986 albums by the three bands, Bijelo Dugme's Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo, Plavi Orkestar's Smrt fašizmu! and Merlin's Teško meni sa tobom (a još teže bez tebe), are considered the most notable—and sometimes the only—releases of the movement, although similar folk-influenced pop rock songs with Yugoslavism-themed lyrics appeared on albums by other Yugoslav bands of the era, like Valentino, Hari Mata Hari, Crvena Jabuka and Jugosloveni.

The 1986 albums were met by mixed reactions of the audience – while Bijelo Dugme's album saw large sales, Plavi Orkestar's album alienated the group from their teen audience. The country's music critics expressed general dislike of the albums, especially of Smrt fašizmu and Teško meni sa tobom (a još teže bez tebe). Part of music press and cultural public described the albums as kitsch and accused the bands of promoting bad taste. The other part of the music press described the New Partisans concept as insincere, accusing the bands of exploiting the imagery of National Liberation Struggle for popularity and financial gain, and of hypocrisy, describing their leaders as comfortably-off stars which defended the declining socialist system. Following the negative reactions, the movement declined, although Bijelo Dugme's next (and last) studio album, the 1988 Ćiribiribela, was also marked by Yugoslavist and pacifist themes.