Vili Resnik

Early Career and Pop Design

Vili Resnik (born 27 November 1963) is a Slovenian rock and pop singer and guitarist. He developed an interest in music at a young age. Resnik learned to play guitar (and even violin) while in school. In the 1980s, he performed in several local rock bands as a singer and guitarist, honing his craft in the Slovenian music scene. His major breakthrough came in 1990 when he became the lead vocalist of the Yugoslav pop-rock band Pop Design. Resnik fronted Pop Design until 1995, during which time the band released a string of hit songs (such as the power ballad “Ne bom ti lagal”) that became popular across the country. This period with Pop Design established Resnik as a prominent figure in Slovenian popular music.

1995–1998: Solo Breakthrough and Eurovision

In 1995, Vili Resnik left Pop Design to pursue a solo career. He quickly made a name for himself as a solo artist, releasing his debut album Zdaj živim in 1996 and a follow-up Rad bi bil s teboj in 1997. During this time, he also participated in all the major Yugoslav and Slovenian music festivals and competitions, including the national Eurovision selection. Resnik competed in Slovenia’s EMA contest in 1996 and 1997, gradually building toward bigger success.

His breakthrough on the solo stage came in 1998, when he won the EMA final with the emotive ballad “Naj bogovi slišijo” (“Let the Gods Hear Us”). This victory earned him the honor of representing Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 in Birmingham. At Eurovision, Resnik finished in 18th place out of 25 entries. That same year, Resnik was named Singer of the Year 1998 in Slovenia by the newspaper Nedeljski dnevnik, reflecting his popularity at home. He had also achieved recognition the year before. In 1997 he won a Best Interpretation award at the Melodije morja in sonca festival for his song “Ko vrbe jokajo”, underlining his prominence even prior to Eurovision.

2000s: Continued Musical Career

After his Eurovision appearance, Vili Resnik continued to record new music and perform regularly. He released several more albums over the years, including Zadnji žigolo (1998), Odiseja (2000), Reka želja (2004), and Svet je lep (2014), making a total of six solo albums to date. Resnik also maintained a presence at Slovenian music festivals and on the airwaves. In 2002, he scored a major hit with the upbeat song “Na fuzbal me pust”. He recorded the song to celebrate the Slovenian national football team’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup. The catchy football-themed anthem became a popular tune that year. Around this time, Resnik even made a guest appearance on a Slovenian TV comedy series called Lepo je biti sosed. Throughout the 2000s, he remained a familiar name in Slovenia’s pop-rock scene, balancing studio work with live performances.

2010s and Beyond: New Releases and Comeback

In the 2010s, Resnik continued to evolve as an artist. He attempted to return to the Eurovision stage by entering EMA 2010 with a song titled “Rane,” though that effort did not advance to the finals. Nonetheless, he kept releasing music in the early 2010s, with singles like “In zadišijo dalije” (2011), “Se zgodi” (2012), “Prevarala si me” (2013), and “Ne morem brez nje” (2014). After a brief quieter period, Resnik made a notable comeback around 2019 with a series of new songs. He embraced a modern pop-rock style and began collaborating with younger artists. This revitalized his presence on the music charts. One of his comeback singles, “Moja generacija”, released as a duet with the band Erosi in 2020, became a hit.

In fact, since 2019 Resnik has released at least eight new singles. Among these are popular tracks like “Diham zate” (2019), “Ti si me čakala” (2021), “Moja dolina” (2021), “Lepa za umret” (2022), and “Ona me ljubi” (2023). These songs have enjoyed radio play and online popularity, keeping Resnik in the public eye. Even after decades in the industry, Vili Resnik still performs live across Slovenia, and he continues to be a well-known and beloved figure in Slovenian music.

Personal Life

Vili Resnik tends to keep his personal life relatively private. It is known that he has been married twice and has four children. Two from his first marriage and two from his second. Despite the changes in his personal life over the years, he has remained dedicated to his music career. Resnik’s longevity in the Slovenian music scene, from fronting a famous band to becoming a solo star and Eurovision representative, has cemented his status as a veteran pop-rock artist. He continues to captivate audiences with his powerful voice and heartfelt performances, demonstrating a lasting passion for music that shows no sign of fading.