Hajrudin Varešanovic
Encyclopedia
Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović (born 16 January 1961 in Sarajevo
, Yugoslavia
, now Bosnia and Herzegovina
) is a famous and popular singer in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. Varešanović is best known as the vocal soloist, composer, and leader of the musical group Hari Mata Hari
.
As of 2006, his career has lasted over 20 years and he has performed at over 1,000 concerts. In 1999, Varešanović performed his song "Starac i More" in hope of representing Bosnia and Herzegovina
at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999
. However, after "Starac i More" had won it turned out the song had already been recorded, since Varešanović had sold the song to record label Unirecords in Finland
, and Finnish artist Janne Hurme recorded that song in 1997 in name "Heart Blood" ("Sydänveri"). Hari Mata Hari
was disqualified. The runner-up, Dino Merlin
, was sent to the ESC instead.
On 9 February 2006, the Bosnian television network PBSBiH
announced that Hari Varešanović would represent Bosnia and Herzegovina with the song "Lejla" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
. The announcement confirmed rumors circulating throughout the country for more than two months.
Varešanović will perform a song with music written by composer Željko Joksimović
and lyrics written by Bosnian writers Fahrudin Pecikoza and Dejan Ivanović.
"The song is the best in the world. I have to admit that I have not heard a better one. I am impressed with it and Pecikoza's lyrics. We have made a song that comes out the spirit of our people and I am glad to be singing it," Hari Varešanović told the Bosnian newspaper Nezavisne Novine
.
On 20 May 2006, Hari Varešanović and his group Hari Mata Hari
reached 3rd place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
in Greece
.
, Croatia
, but they live in Sarajevo
and Munich
. This is a second marriage for both. Both of them have children from previous marriages.
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, now Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
) is a famous and popular singer in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. Varešanović is best known as the vocal soloist, composer, and leader of the musical group Hari Mata Hari
Hari Mata Hari
Hari Mata Hari is a popular music band from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hari Mata Hari is the stage name for the singer Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović. The group originated from the city of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The group has performed over 1,000 concerts and sold 5,000,000...
.
As of 2006, his career has lasted over 20 years and he has performed at over 1,000 concerts. In 1999, Varešanović performed his song "Starac i More" in hope of representing Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest
Bosnia and Herzegovina debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993 after coming second in the qualification round "Kvalifikacija za Millstreet", and has taken part every year since except 1998 and 2000, when low average scores forced Bosnia and Herzegovina to skip the contest.-History of Bosnia...
at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999
Eurovision Song Contest 1999
The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 29 May 1999 in Jerusalem, Israel after Dana International won the contest the previous year in the United Kingdom. The venue for the contest was the International Convention Center...
. However, after "Starac i More" had won it turned out the song had already been recorded, since Varešanović had sold the song to record label Unirecords in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, and Finnish artist Janne Hurme recorded that song in 1997 in name "Heart Blood" ("Sydänveri"). Hari Mata Hari
Hari Mata Hari
Hari Mata Hari is a popular music band from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hari Mata Hari is the stage name for the singer Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović. The group originated from the city of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The group has performed over 1,000 concerts and sold 5,000,000...
was disqualified. The runner-up, Dino Merlin
Dino Merlin
Edin Dervišhalidović , stage name Dino Merlin, , is a prominent Bosnian singer-songwriter and musician. He is a popular singer/songwriter in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is also popular in the other countries of the former Yugoslavia such as Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of Macedonia and...
, was sent to the ESC instead.
On 9 February 2006, the Bosnian television network PBSBiH
PBSBiH
The Radio and Television of Bosnia-Herzegovina formerly known as PBSBiH is an umbrella broadcasting organization and the only member of the European Broadcasting Union from Bosnia and Herzegovina.It was known as RTVBiH The Radio and Television of Bosnia-Herzegovina (locally known as...
announced that Hari Varešanović would represent Bosnia and Herzegovina with the song "Lejla" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Eurovision Song Contest 2006
The Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens, Greece on 18 May and 20 May 2006 . The hosting national broadcaster of the contest was Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi . The Finnish band Lordi won the contest with the song "Hard Rock...
. The announcement confirmed rumors circulating throughout the country for more than two months.
Varešanović will perform a song with music written by composer Željko Joksimović
Željko Joksimovic
Željko Joksimović or often credited Zeljko Joksimovic is a popular Serbian singer, songwriter and producer. He is also well known in Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Germany, Austria and other European countries...
and lyrics written by Bosnian writers Fahrudin Pecikoza and Dejan Ivanović.
"The song is the best in the world. I have to admit that I have not heard a better one. I am impressed with it and Pecikoza's lyrics. We have made a song that comes out the spirit of our people and I am glad to be singing it," Hari Varešanović told the Bosnian newspaper Nezavisne Novine
Nezavisne Novine
Nezavisne novine is a daily newspaper based in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Prime Minister of the Republika Srpska entity, Milorad Dodik, provided some of funding for the launch of the newspaper. It was the first newspaper in Republika Srpska to publish articles about Serb war crimes....
.
On 20 May 2006, Hari Varešanović and his group Hari Mata Hari
Hari Mata Hari
Hari Mata Hari is a popular music band from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hari Mata Hari is the stage name for the singer Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović. The group originated from the city of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The group has performed over 1,000 concerts and sold 5,000,000...
reached 3rd place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Eurovision Song Contest 2006
The Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Olympic Indoor Hall in Athens, Greece on 18 May and 20 May 2006 . The hosting national broadcaster of the contest was Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi . The Finnish band Lordi won the contest with the song "Hard Rock...
in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Personal life
On 14 February 2010, Varešanović married his girlfriend of 15 years, Jasminka Ištuk. She is from OsijekOsijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, but they live in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. This is a second marriage for both. Both of them have children from previous marriages.
See also
- Sarajevo school of pop rockSarajevo school of pop rockThe Sarajevo school of pop rock collectively refers to the popular music created between 1960 and 1991 by artists and bands native to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina ....