Just one week before we mark one year of his passing, an homage to the late singer Oliver Dragojević will be held at the 66th Pula Film Festival. 

A documentary film about the late singer Oliver Dragojević titled "OLIVER's 70 - A Little Story About a Great Musician and His Last Concert" (In Croatian: “OLIVERovih 70”) will premiere on July 20, in the Pula Arena, within the 66th Pula Film Festival. The film will premiere just before the first anniversary of the death of the legendary Croatian musician, reports Splitski Dnevnik on July 11, 2019.

Filmmakers Branko Drakulić and Lea Dekleva used materials recorded before and during the celebratory concert "OLIVER's 70" in Zagreb with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. The film follows Oliver to his most intimate interview and aims to bring viewers closer to Oliver’s humbleness and uniqueness - the traits that made the distinguished singer so loved. 

Oliver's discography, concerts throughout his career, and media promotion molded him into a unique phenomenon of Croatian pop music. Throughout his life, Oliver Dragojevic deeply connected to his fans, opened his heart to cooperate with music colleagues, and was eager to participate in many special projects. 

In his vibrant 50-year-career, Oliver released 23 studio albums, numerous compilations, won hundreds of awards and played to crowds of thousands at concerts in the world's most famous concert halls such as New York's Carnegie Hall, London's Royal Albert Hall, the Paris Opera House, and the Sydney Opera House. This left behind an undeniable artistic heritage and thus influenced many generations - and will continue to inspire those yet to come. 

"I'm glad I had a chance to cooperate with Oliver in my life, but I'm sorry we could not do more, especially with concerts in Split which everyone loved. Looking at the recordings, we realized that this is precious material and that it should be presented to Oliver's audience,” said the producer of the documentary, Neno Drobnjak.

The documentary film about Croatia’s beloved Oliver will premiere at the Pula Film Festival just before the first anniversary of his passing, on Saturday, July 20 after the awards ceremony. You can read more about the film here. 

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As Morski writes on the 27th of June, 2019, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, presented the honours and decorations to distinguished individuals from all areas of public activity, on the occasion of the celebration of Croatian Statehood Day, which takes place on the 25th of June.

''Your successes are first and foremost a manifestation of patriotism, because you've contributed to strengthening the reputation of Croatia and to promoting excellence and the spreading of the positive values ​​of our society,'' said Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, adding that these types of awards of recognition and appreciation express deep gratitude and respect for the efforts made, which have resulted in exceptional success across different areas.

The president mentioned various artists and other people involved in culture, as well as respected scientists, businessmen, civil and church associations, and individuals who invest their love, time and energy into selfless work with children, the elderly, the sick and the helpless, as well as numerous humanitarians and of course, athletes.

''All of these successes represent the mosaic of what we are, which makes up our total identity. Because as I often point out, the biggest brand Croatia has are its people - its citizens,'' she pointed out.

With the message that people are the highest value of every area, and how everyone should contribute to the development of their homeland in their own way and within their sphere, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović congratulated all those who received decorations.

Among the distinguished individuals, for his extraordinary contribution to the construction of a sovereign Croatian state through many long and tireless years of work and creativity on the Croatian music scene, the late Oliver Dragojević was posthumously awarded, the award was received by Oliver's wife, Vesna.

Among other names who received awards from across various fields of interest in Croatia, looking solely at the group of musicians, the group in which the beloved Oliver earned his recognition, Maksim Mrvica also received an award, for his outstanding music success and the promotion of Croatian culture across the world, as well as the realisation of cultural cooperation between Croatia and the People's Republic of China.

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Petar Dragojević, a famous Split singer, is the most sought after Croatian musician among the Croatian Diaspora around the world. Many of them know Petar as Oliver's nephew, whose singing skills often remind them of the musical legend. Petar and Oliver even created a duet titled "Istog smo roda” ("We are the same") a couple of years ago, reports Dalmacija Danas on April 22, 2019. 

Performing at concerts from Australia to Germany, the young Dragojević often remembers this, especially when his audience knows that he is Oliver's blood. 

“We spent a lot of time together in Vela Luka, where we used to be together 24 hours a day. Oliver's family and my family lived together until I was three, and we are still very attached today. I have excellent contact with my cousins, Oliver's sons, and Vesna. There are a lot of nice memories, the emotions from fishing to the bocce we often played, as well as cards. There was only a little song, and you will not believe that we talked very little about music in these family circles, mostly about family topics. If you'd touched on music then the conversations on the subject would be good, short and fruitful. Oliver did not like to philosophize. He would just give me advice for three minutes, saying it would be good to write that song,” said Petar Dragojević. 

“Then if I would bring the text of that song a second time and sing it so Oliver could hear it, he would simply say: 'That's a good thing for you!' He always said that the most important thing is a good song and how the song will best succeed. So that’s how we came to do a duet when we recorded the song 'Istog smo roda'. Concerning the music, we talked for three minutes and that was all. I really miss Oliver, first as an uncle and then as a man. He was an icon of the Croatian music scene, for 50 years writing songs for people who were emotionally attached. I see how much it means to people today, how people miss him, and no one can replace or inherit him. Oliver is unrepeatable!”

Did Oliver have anything to do with the beginning of Petar’s music career?

“Absolutely. In our family, everyone was involved in Oliver’s music, my father and our grandfather, and even great grandfather. Genetics were like that with me. Otherwise, Oliver and my dad never needed to push their kids into music. Only when someone had ambitions, Oliver would support them. I went to music school and music was my path from the beginning. Oliver immediately recognized that and helped me at the most important moments, and knew to say, 'You fight for it son because only you will achieve what you want!'

Petar will also honor Oliver with concerts around the world.

“Most performances are in Germany and then in Canada and Australia. Soon we plan to organize 70 concerts around the world for our Diaspora. The concerts will include the most beautiful Oliver songs, featuring ten famous performers, including my little one. All singers will follow Oliver's musical composition. The tour will last for a year and a half, and will start in Sweden, Germany, Australia, Canada, America, mostly in larger cities, where many of our emigrants worshipped Oliver.”

Petar wants to remind the Diaspora of Oliver's music.

“I often visit our Diaspora in Frankfurt, and I am very pleased to visit Kruno Perković in Darmstadt, where I plan to hold a performance soon. He often presents our songs to his guests, which I enjoy. I see that our successful business people around the world have not forgotten their roots and they remain connected with their homeland,” concluded Petar.

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Jakša Fiamengo, the man responsible for writing the lyrics to more than 60 songs for Oliver Dragojević, passed away on Thursday. 

Encouraged by the success of the ‘Oliver Medley’, which saw more than 60,000 views in 10 days, the Split University Choir recorded another famous Oliver song just in time for the holidays. 

December 7, 2018 - Oliver Dragojević was born today in 1947 in Split, though he was originally from Vela Luka, where he also spent his childhood. Oliver was particularly connected with Split where he attended music school, and also made the first steps in his musical career, reports Dalmacija Danas. 

His first encounter with music was at the age of five when his father Marko gifted him an accordion. Oliver would entertain passersby on his street, and boat passengers on the regular Split-Vela Luka route. His first feature appearance was at the Split Children's Festival in 1961 with the popular song 'Baloni'.

Oliver’s festival debut was at the Split Festival in 1967. He attended at the invitation of Zdenko Runjić and played the song 'Picaferaj'. Though the song did not make it to the final festival night, it became one of his eternal hits.

Throughout his lifetime, Oliver’s voice and modesty delighted his fans at concerts all over the world, and it was not unlike him to perform at humanitarian concerts to help those most in need. It was at HNK Split where he took part in the concert "Believe in Love" organized by the County Cancer League for 50 years of dedicated work. The concert was held in October 2017.

However, no one knew that it would be the last public performance of the legendary Oliver Dragojević, whose words after the concert certainly confirm why he was an audience favorite and someone whose songs will remain forever written in the souls of not just Split people, but his admirers around the world. 

“Here’s something that works for the people, and that is helping anyone in need. That's a message - believe in love. Being a man is hard, and finding himself is even harder,” Oliver said at the end of the concert.

Oliver had planned to celebrate his 70th birthday with a great concert in Split, where he hoped to mark 50 years of his career, though his illness, unfortunately, prevented him from performing and the concerts were finally canceled.

A few months later, in March this year, Oliver addressed his fans at the Porin, where he was honored with the lifetime achievement award, reports Index.hr.

“I would like to mention a man who marked half my life, and that is Zdenko Runjić. There are a lot of good people around me, and this time the disease has stopped me from being with you. As a child, I wanted to play and sing, and that dream was somehow interrupted. Hello to all the good people around me and those who have supported me in this crisis. I hope there is still time for me to sing and play, and if things get better, it will be good,” Oliver said via a video message. 

"What should I say to you - enjoy, people, because life will be a fantasy," Oliver said from his home for the last time, receiving huge applause.

Oliver was born December 7, 1947, and died on July 29, 2018. Oliver is buried in his beloved Vela Luka.

To read more about Oliver, follow TCN's dedicated page here. 

After the town of Vela Luka announced a museum in honor of Oliver Dragojević, the legendary singer will be honored in neighboring Slovenia in yet another phenomenal way.

It's been just over 3 months since the one and only Oliver Dragojević left us. The iconic singer was remembered especially over the last few days, as family, friends, and local citizens visited his gravesite in his hometown of Vela Luka on Korčula, leaving flowers, candles, and prayers.

Thousands say a final goodbye to Croatia’s favourite singer.

Warm words of grief and respect from Vela Luka.