VIDEO – „May for eternity“: The story of the song that marked the referendum

„A song created in the spring of 2006 as our modest contribution to the fight for Montenegro’s independence“ - reads the note accompanying the song „Nezavisna“ („Independent“), written twenty years ago ahead of one of the most significant dates in modern Montenegrin history, when on May 21 more than 270,000 citizens decisively circled YES - for an independent Montenegro.

Twenty years after the independence referendum, Montenegro still remembers May 2006 as one of its most emotional moments and the one that changed its history. People remember the lines in front of polling stations, the flags, packed city squares, the uncertainty of referendum night, the euphoria and celebrations after the results were announced, but also the songs that defined the atmosphere of that time.

Do we still remember today the young men who performed that song? How much do we remember the energy of a generation that believed music could become part of a historic moment?

Twenty years later, as Montenegro reflects on May 21 and the road it has traveled since restoring independence, we also remember the young men who left their mark on that historic moment through rap music. Goran Abramović and Aleksandar Saša Vuković today have completely different lives, families, and professions, but the emotions tied to May 2006 remain vivid. In their conversation with Portal ETV, they recall the creation of the song, the atmosphere of those days, and moments they say they still remember „as if they were yesterday“.

PORTAL ETV: Looking back after 20 years, how do you remember the moment when you decided to record the song „Nezavisna“ ahead of the referendum? How was the idea born, and what remains most vivid in your memory from those campaign and referendum days?

Goran: Has it really already been that long? It still feels like yesterday to me. We were young, full of energy and ideas, and rap was our natural way of expressing emotions and supporting the idea of Montenegrin independence. The campaign was euphoric and everything unfolded very quickly, but what I especially remember was how challenging it was to reach the right people who could help the song find its way to a wider audience.

Saša: At that moment we already had several years of active involvement in rap music behind us, and both of us experienced the idea of restoring Montenegrin independence very emotionally. That’s why it didn’t take us long to conclude that the time had come for us to make our own modest contribution to achieving that goal. For me, the most vivid memories from those days are the sense of unity and the enormous amount of positive energy surrounding the entire campaign.

PORTAL ETV: Was it challenging at that time to write such a powerful text and record a song that carried the spirit of the referendum for an independent Montenegro?

Goran: Back then we were not aware of how complex the whole situation really was, nor what consequences it could have for us and our families. Today I see that much more clearly. Still, I’m proud that we contributed, even in a small way, to a process that determined Montenegro’s future.

Saša: Writing the lyrics itself was not difficult - the text was completed in less than an hour, with only minimal later changes. Recording the song was more difficult because we wanted better production quality than anything we had previously done, which also required more money. Fortunately, with help from our families, the song was recorded, and afterward we received support from the Movement for an Independent Montenegro, without whose influence the song certainly would not have received so much media attention.

Goran and Saša: May for eternity!

PORTAL ETV: When you saw how widely the song was played and sung during those days, did you expect it could have such an emotional impact on people and remain a symbol of one of the most important periods in Montenegro’s recent history? Did you yourselves feel that you were participating in something historic?

Goran: I think we were all part of a historic moment, regardless of political views. I truly understood the scale of it only on May 18, at the final convention in Podgorica.

Saša: We were honestly surprised by how quickly the song took on a life of its own. We knew we had a good song, but that’s no guarantee it will reach people. Of course we felt we were participating in something historic, and I believe everyone in Montenegro felt that way, because each of us, in our own way, was part of a period that will remain permanently written into the history of this country.

PORTAL ETV: Do you remember where you were when the referendum results were announced, and what your first emotions were that night?

Goran: Budućnost’s women’s handball team won the Cup Winners’ Cup on May 20 in Győr, just one day before the referendum. I was at that match with the Varvari supporters, which is why we arrived to vote at the very last moment. Regardless of differing opinions about Montenegrin independence, I remember that trip for the excellent atmosphere among everyone, full of jokes and anticipation. We learned the outcome quickly, practically immediately after returning and voting, after which part of us joined the celebrations, while another part didn’t exactly have much reason to celebrate.

Saša: I waited for the results at home. The dominant feeling at that moment was relief. Of course, very soon afterward I joined the celebration in front of the then-government building, which continued throughout the city long into the night.

PORTAL ETV: When you listen to the song today, what do you feel first? Which moment from that period still gives you chills?

Goran: There were many moments I remember, but a special place belongs to the final convention in Podgorica and walking onto the stage in front of a seemingly endless sea of people. I feel fulfilled because I know I wasn’t just an observer, but an active participant in that time.

Saša: Of course, walking onto that stage at the final convention is unforgettable, but I also feel proud that at only 20 years old we wrote lyrics that even today I wouldn’t change a single line of.

PORTAL ETV: So much time has passed, and today you are family men with careers unrelated to music. What were your children’s reactions when they heard the song?

Goran: Yes, today we are family men, but we still spend time together - now we’re even connected as godfathers. The kids find it interesting to see „dad’s music video“, but they’re still too young to understand the broader context, and I don’t burden them with it either.

Saša: My daughter, who is nine years old, for now doesn’t show any special interest in the music I created, which is somewhat expected, while my son is still too young for any reaction. I believe that only later, when they are older and more serious, will they understand the context of this song and the time in which it was created.

PORTAL ETV: Did you ever expect that your song would still be remembered and played during holidays today?

Goran: I don’t know whether it’s still played today, but I believe future generations will remember that historic moment, and therefore all the people who contributed to it.

Saša: I didn’t expect it, and it’s hard for me to believe it’s still being played, especially because the song was written for a very specific historical moment, and its message is no longer current.

PORTAL ETV: What makes you happy today when you look at Montenegro after 20 years of independence?

Goran: I’m happy that we are one step away from the European Union, and that my children will have more opportunities, from studying abroad to experiencing other cultures and life perspectives, all the things our generation did not have.

Saša: What makes me happy is that as a society we demonstrated the democratic capacity to preserve peace and continue on the path toward a European, free, and developed Montenegro, despite divisions and external influences.

PORTAL ETV: If you had to describe May 2006 in one sentence - what would it be?

Goran and Saša: May for eternity!