Alka Vuica (born in 1961 in Umag near Pula) is one of the most famous Croatian singers, singer-songwriters and television presenters. She started her career as a songwriter in the former Yugoslavia, and her lyrics graced the hits of many domestic and regional stars. Alka often stood out for her charisma and specific fashion style – she is said to be ‘a person without a hair on her tongue’, always honest and energetic. Below is a detailed biography and an overview of the key moments of her career.
Early life and education
Alka Vuica comes from a traditional family in Istria. She spent her childhood with strict upbringing – because of her extremely strict father, she was limited already in small things, for example she was not allowed to go to scouts either. She finished primary and secondary school in her hometown, and then went to study special education in Zagreb. Already as a girl, she started writing her own lyrics – as she says, she composes the songs ‘since she learned to write’. Early on, she showed a rebellious spirit and curiosity: in Zagreb, according to her own words, she started experimenting and ‘he was guided by the thought that everything should be tried’. In her twenties, she met the drummer of the group Srebrna krila, Adi Karaselimović, with whom she was in a relationship for four years. It is interesting that her career was further stimulated by success in 1990 – she was in the winning team the author of the song “Let’s go crazy” with which the singer Tajči represented Yugoslavia at the Eurovision Song Contest. This step forward announced her imminent musical success.
A career for other artists
Before presenting herself as a singer, Alka Vuica gained a reputation as a top songwriter. During the 1980s, she wrote songs for the most famous regional artists, opening the door to success with her creative lyrics. For example, the whole album Josipe Lisac ‘I want only you’ (1983) It was created on the verses of Alka Vuica – as Alka later told, Josipa entrusted her with All Ten Song lyrics On that album, which, as she said, ‘opened all the doors’ in the music industry. Her lyrics have celebrated numerous hits from other artists, some of which are more notable:
- Josipa Lisac – Song “I’m crazy today” (1983).
- Tajči – Song “Let’s go crazy” (1990, Eurosong).
- Denis & Denis – Song “I am a liar” (1983).
- Boris Novković – Most of the lyrics from the album ‘stronger than destiny’ (1996).
- Vlado Kalember – Song “Wine on the lips” (1989).
- Sandi Cenov – Song “Neither north nor south” (1993).
- Tony Cetinski – Song “I am in love” (1995).
- Oliver Dragojević – Song “Beautiful without a soul” (1991).
In addition to the above, she also collaborated with names such as Severina, Nene Belan, Nina Badrić, Sandija Cenov and many others. In those years, she worked more behind the scenes, but her contribution was crucial for shaping the pop scene in these areas.
Solo career and albums
After creating for others for decades, Alka Vuica announced her first album in 1993, titled herself ‘Lie Me’ (1994). title song “Lie me” It immediately became a big hit and was declared the song of the year in Croatia. With this, Vuica officially started a successful career as a soloist. This was followed by albums filled with a mixture of pop and Balkan folk sound, with recognizable energy and ironic lyrics. Her most famous albums and hits include:
- lie to me (1994) – debut album whose title single hit of the year brought the award for singer-songwriter.
- I keep myself safe for you (1995) – includes the song ‘Ej, šta mi radiš’, which became a significant hit.
- Alcatraz (1997).
- Balkan Girl (1999) – the famous song originates from the album “Cratchet”, one of her greatest successes.
- professional (2001).
- Circus (2004).
- Alka’s cafe (2013).
Alka Vuica’s most famous songs are, in addition to the already mentioned “Since you are gone” (1994) and “Cratchet” (1999). She spent most of the 1990s recording albums and holding concerts throughout the region, although her success in other parts of the former Yugoslavia was sometimes not facilitated by political divisions. At the same time, Alka relied on her authentic style – she even had the attitude that she was the first to introduce ethnic elements into Croatian pop.
Alka Vuica’s key hits:
- “Lie me” (1994) – the title song of the first album, declared the hit of the year.
- ‘Hey, what are you doing to me’ (1996) – a popular album single I keep myself safe for you.
- “Cratchet” (1999) – a summer song of great listening.
- “Since you are gone” (1994) – Ballad from the debut album that also won over the audience.
Her albums often featured shifted style videos, and Alka was considered a person with ‘unrepeatable talent’ and charm on stage.
Television and public appearances
Alka Vuica is energetic and extroverted, so over time she switched to television. She was the editor and host of RTL’s and new TV shows. The most famous TV engagements are:
- One-on-one talk show (Nova TV, 2004) – her first big television project as a presenter.
- Competitor at Celebrity MasterChef (RTL, 2014).
- Chief judge in the children’s talent show ‘Stars’ (RTL, 2015–2016).
- Host of the show ‘See you in Sarajevo’ (TV Pink BH, from 2019), popular talk show in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Panelist in the music show ‘Who sings there?’ (Nova TV, since 2024).
Her vibrant appearance on the small screen further strengthened her status as a regional pop star. At Šalata in Zagreb, she also announced a big musical party on the occasion of her 64th birthday and the release of her new album ‘Ljubavnik’ (2025). On that occasion, she said: ‘I have ten hits up my sleeve… If they listen to me, they don’t lose their hit’, which showed confidence in their creativity and further musical plans.
Politics and social engagement
Alka Vuica publicly knew how to express social attitudes. In 2009, she ran in the Croatian presidential elections, and the Green-left Liberal Party Zeleni supported her candidacy for a while. However, she collected too few signatures to remain in the race for the president of Croatia. However, this attempt at political engagement was followed by her very open support for minorities and the rights of the LGBT community. She is known to the public for her support for the Pride processions – for example, in 2024, she performed at Zagreb Pride and was the godmother of a same-sex couple at their public wedding. In interviews, she spoke about her own relationships with women, pointing out that she values love and equality regardless of gender.
heritage and influence
Through decades of work, Alka Vuica has left a deep mark on the music and pop-cultural scene. Her combination of rebellion, humor and melodic pop songs won over a wide audience. She is the winner of many awards: “Lie me” In 1994, he was declared the hit of the year, with the title of singer-songwriter of the year. In 1996, she won the main prize for the best stage performance at the Melodies of the Croatian Adriatic Festival. Her brand (fashion style and appearance) was declared one of the iconic in the region, and she is publicly considered an artist of ‘unrepeatable talent’.
Currently Alka is preparing (or released) a new album “lover” (release in 2025), from which singles such as ‘Forgive me’ have already been released. In upcoming projects, he will continue to instill his passion for music, as well as discover perhaps some unexpected sides of his personality.
Conclusion
In short, Alka Vuica is a musician whose biography is full of interesting details: from her rebellious childhood, to writing hits for numerous stars, to her own, very successful singing career. It is characterized by a sincere, emotional and authentic presentation – whether it is a song, a television show or a social performance. Because of all this, many consider her one of the most influential people on the Croatian music scene. If you are interested in more about Alka Vuica, be sure to listen to some of her greatest hits or follow the news about her new music – she is definitely an artist who still has a lot to say.
Sources: Biographical information and quotes are taken from verified sources, including foreign and domestic media articles as well as updated Wikipedia pages.
