Istorija, ti i ja (trans. History, You and Me) is the eighth studio album from Serbian and Yugoslav rock band Galija. It is the third and the final part of the band's album trilogy comprising Daleko je Sunce (1988), Korak do slobode (1989) and Istorija, ti i ja.
In 1987, on the idea of the band's new collaborator, lyricist Radoman Kanjevac, Galija started working on the album trilogy which would deal with their home country caught in contemporary political, economical and social turmoil. The first two parts of the trilogy, Daleko je Sunce (Distant Is the Sun, 1988) and Korak do slobode (One Step to Freedom, 1989), brought to the bandâÂÂwhose mid-1980s switch from their original progressive rock style towards more mainstream-oriented sound had initially not seen the expected successâÂÂnew attention of the country's media and of the younger audience. With a new member, academically educated multi-instrumentalist Bratislav "Bata" Zlatkoviàstarting to share the role of the band's principal composer with the group's frontman and leader Nenad MilosavljeviÃÂ, and Kanjevac replacing the second vocalist Predrag Milosavljeviàas the principal lyricist, the two albums scored several hits, also sparking controversy with some of their politically-related lyrics.
Following the second part of the trilogy, Galija released the greatest hits compilation Joà ¡ uvek sanjam (NajveÃÂi hitovi) (I'm Still Dreaming (Greatest Hits)), with several of their pre-1988 hits re-recorded for the album. After the compilation release, at the time of the first multi-party elections in Yugoslavia, the group started preparing an EP with four songs: "On je isti kao on" ("He Is just like Him"), "Ti si moja jedina partija" ("You Are My Only Party"), "Posle svega" ("After Everything") and "Komunista" ("Communist"), the latter featuring Romani singer à  aban Bajramoviàon vocals. The EP should have featured provocative lyrics dealing with the uncertain future of the countryâÂÂwith "On je isti kao on" ironically comparing President of Serbia Slobodan Miloà ¡eviàto former President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz TitoâÂÂand, due to political censorship, ended up unreleased, so the band focused on their following studio album.
Although Kanjevac had already replaced Predrag Milosavljeviàas the band's principal lyricist, Istorija, ti i ja was the band's only album with all lyrics authored by Kanjevac, without Predrag Milosavljeviàmaking any contributions to songs lyrics. The album was recorded during February 1991 in Radio Television of Montenegro studio in Titograd. It was produced by multi-instrumentalist and Crvena Jabuka member Nikà ¡a Bratoà ¡ and featured guest appearances by the band's former keyboardist Saà ¡a Lokner, bass guitarist Slavià ¡a Pavlovià"Stenli", flutist Bora Dugiàand the early music ensemble Renesans.
Istorija, ti i ja was the band's fourth and last studio album recorded with guitar player Jean Jacques Roskam. Soon after the album release, due to growing tensions in the country, the Belgian-born guitarist left the band, moving to his wife's hometown Vrgorac in Dalmatia. Dragutin JakovljeviÃÂ "Guta" joined the band as the replacement for Roskam.
All lyrics are written by Radoman Kanjevac.
Istorija, ti i ja brought some of the band's biggest hits: "Skadarska", "Trube", "Da me nisi", "Trava" and "Seti se maja".