Hari Mata Hari
Encyclopedia
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 albums to date. Their songs are among the most famous and popular love ballads in the former Yugoslav
era. Hari Mata Hari was the representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina
at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006
held in Athens
, Greece
.
Hari grew up in the Vratnik neighborhood of Sarajevo
's old town. His grandfather was one of the more well-known singers of traditional Bosnian Music called Sevdalinke
. At the age of six, Hajrudin began to sing and learned to play the guitar. At the local cultural center, he was asked to sing, then at the age of ten he sang with the group sastavu "Omi", and later for the group "Sedam šuma". In Vratnik, Hari recorded his first song "Zašto da ne uzmem nju. (Why don't I take her)" After finishing electrical school, Varešanović began to study Philosophy
and attended classes of natural politics, but he never completed the courses. Music took up much of his time, as did his love of photography
.
In 1979, Hari joined the group "Zov" with whom he recorded the hit song "Poletjela golubica sa Baščaršije." The song is still very popular. Next, Varešanović sang with the group "Ambasadori", with whom, it is said, that he matured into a professional artist. After his serving mandatory military service in the town of Niš
, he appeared on the music scene by himself releasing the (1984) album "Zlatne Kočije." In September of 1985, Hari Varešanović together with the group members of "Baobab", Izo Kolečić, Edo Mulahalilović, Pjer Žalica, and Zoran Kesić won the festival Nove nade, nove snage (New hopes, new strengths)', and created the musical group "Hari Mata Hari". That same year, the new group announced the release of their new album "U tvojoj kosi. (In your hair)" In 1986, Pjer Žalica - "Badžo" and Zoran Kesić leave the group. They are replaced by pianist Adi Mulihalilović and bass player Neno Jeleč, who will eventually be replaced by Željko Zuber. Their album of 1986, "Ne bi te odbranila ni cijela Jugoslavija", (Not even all of Yugoslavia could defend you) was voted as the best album of the year, and the Jugovision, national competition for the Eurovision announced them as the candidate for Yugoslavia
. Hari Mata Hari, in 1986, received fifth place for the song "U tvojoj kosi (In your hair)," and fourteenth place for the song "Nebeska kraljica" in 1987 in Belgrade
.
1988 brought much prosperity to the group. Hari began to record for the recording company Jugoton
, based in Zagreb
. The album "Ja te volim najviše na svijetu (I love you the most in the world)" from 1988 sold over 300,000 copies, and carried 10 songs that are still popular (2006) - ("Igrale se delije", "Javi se", "Sedamnaest ti je godina" (You're 17) with Tatjana Matejaš-Tajči, "Naše malo misto", "Ja te volim najviše na svijetu" (I love you the most in the world), "Hej, kako si" (Hey, how are you?), "Zapleši" (Dance), "Kad dođe oktobar" (When October comes), "Ruža bez trna", "Poslednji valcer sa Dunava"). This prosperity was followed by another great album called "Volio bih da te ne volim" (I wish I didn't love you), which sold over 500,000 copies - ("Svi moji drumovi", "Na more dođite" (Come to the sea), "Što je bilo bilo je", "Pazi šta radiš" (Careful what you do) with Matejaš-Tajči). Then in 1990, Hari Mata Hari releases another album called "Strah me da te volim" (I'm afraid to love you). This album sold over 700,000 copies - ("Prsten i zlatni lanac" (Ring and a golden necklace), "Otkud ti k'o sudbina", "Ostavi suze za kraj", "Daj još jednom da čujem ti glas", "Nek' nebo nam sudi").
The collapse of Yugoslavia and the wars that ensued, left a mark in Hari Mata Hari's career. In 1991, Edo Mulahalilović left the group to start his own career. In late 1991, the group releases the album "Rođena si samo za mene" (You were born only for me) through the recording company Diskoton
, located in Sarajevo
. Some of the songs from the album are: "Ja ne pijem with" with Haris Džinović
, "Nije za te bekrija", "Nije zima što je zima", that had solid sales and success. With that album, most activity stopped, due to the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. In late 1994, the group release another album, while they were refugees in Germany
. The album was called "Ostaj mi zbogom ljubavi" - "Bilo je lijepo dok je trajalo" (It was beautiful while it lasted), "Ti si mi droga" (You're my drug), "Ja sam kriv što sam živ", te obrada pesme "Poletjela golubica" (The dove flew) with Halid Bešlić
. This album was made by only Hari i Izo, the rest of the group would not reunite until 1997-1998. The group was composed of (including Hari and Izo) Karlo Martinović, Miki Bodlović, Adi Mulihalilović, and Emir Mehić. They returned to the music scene with a greatest hits album called "Ja nemam snage da te ne volim" (I don't have the strength to not love you). It was released in 1998 - ("Ne lomi me", "Emina", "Ja nemam snage da te ne volim" (I don't have the strength to not love you), "Gdje li si sada ljubavi" (Where are you now love?), "Upomoć").
In 1999 Hari Varešanović was chosen to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina
for Eurovision. However, he was disqualified due to an issue with the song's status. Hari sold the song "Starac i more" (The old man and the sea) to Finland in 1997 and Finnish artist Janne Hurme recorded that song in Finnish, named "Sydänveri" (Finnish for "Heart Blood"). Dino Merlin
, who was the runner up, was sent to Eurovision instead and received seventh place. Hari, together with Hanka Paldum
, recorded the duet "Crni snijeg" (Black snow) in 2001. That same year (2001) the album "Baš ti lijepo stoje suze" came out with a few hit songs - ("Kao domine" (Like dominoes), "Zjenico oka moga", "Baš ti lijepo stoje suze"). In 2002 with the song "Ruzmarin" (Rosemary), that became an instant hit. Hari Mata Hari was one of the six finalists in the Croatian Radio Festival
and represented Bosnia and Herzegovina
for the OGAE
in France. Also, in 2002 Hari Mata Hari won the first "Davorin" song of the year award, for the song "Kao Domine" (Like dominoes). The music for the song was written by Miki Bodlović and Hari Varešanović, with lyrics by Fahrudin Pecikoza. Then in 2003 Hari's song "Idi", brings him to the seventh Croatian Radio Festival with the song "Navodno" with Ivana Banfić. He then goes to the Splitski festival. After Hari's small concerts in Balkan, Europe, and Australia, the group begins to record a new album. Franjo Valentić, Hari's long time friend joins the group, while Miki Bodlović leaves the group to start his own career in U.S. and he was be replaced by Nihat Voloder. At the eighth Hrvatski radiski festival the group competed with the song "Nema čega nema". At the Splitski festival the group entered the competition with the song "Zakon jačega" (Law of the strong) recorded with Bosnian superstar singer Kemal Monteno
. Later that year the group released another album under the name of the song "Zakon jačega", for Sarajevo's Diskoton
, Zagreb's Croatia Records
, and Belgrade's HI-FI Centar
.
PBSBiH
, through a public on-line voting system, Hari Mata Hari was chosen as the Bosnian representative for Eurovision. BH Eurosong gave the name "Vrijeme je za Bosnu i Hercegovinu" (It's time for Bosnia-Herzegovina), and the song was described as Bosnia's Romeo and Juliet. The first time the song was aired to the public was on March 5, 2006 on a special live evening celebration held by "BH Eurosong 06" in Sarajevo's theater. Hari sang the song for the first time in public and received a standing ovations. Six days later, Hari sang the song at his first stage appearance in Belgrade
on the final evening of Evropesma 2006. The song "Lejla
" (Composer: Željko Joksimović
, Lyric writers: Fahrudin Pecikoza & Dejan Ivanovic) is a powerful love ballad about far away love. It uses styles of sevdah and local traditional instruments. The female name Lejla is a traditional Arab name. Eric Clapton
and ZZ Top
both used the name Leyla in their songs. It is said the title refers to a popular Bosnian song from 1981, when a song called "Lejla" was the Yugoslavian entry to the Eurovision Songcontest. It was sung by Bosnian artist Seid Memić Vajta
and reached 15th place in Dublin.
The lyrics of the song were written by Fahrudin Pecikoza and Dejan Ivanović with the music by Željko Joksimović
. Joksimović, represented Serbia and Montenegro at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
in Istanbul
("Lane moje", second place), the song was written for non-profit and was solely voluntary. The music video of "Lejla" was directed by Pjer Žalica, along with Hari and the band. It shows many old Bosnian
traditions. It was recorded in several areas of Herzegovina: on the mountains of Blidinja and on the national park/lake Hutovo Blato
, on Ruištu, and in the beautiful city of Mostar
. The video ends with the Stari Most
, the older part of the city, in the background. The song received its name through on-line voting (with 3501 votes, other name ideas were "Zar bi mogla ti drugog voljeti?" (Could you not love another?) with 660, and "Sakrivena" with 462 votes). Hari Mata Hari took 3rd place at Eurovision Song Contest 2006
with 229 points.
In 2007 the group releases the single: "Zar je to još od nas ostalo".
In 2009 the group released th album: Sreća
(Luck) and this album came out with a few hit songs: "Azra", "Sreća", "Ne mogu ti reći šta je tuga" with Nina Badrić
, "Tvoje je samo to što daš" with Eldin Husenbegović,...
Nihat Voloder left the group and he was replaced by Željko Zuber.
Even with huge concerts in Sarajevo
's "Skenderija" and "Zetra", Hari Mata Hari never has any problems filling up concerts wherever they go in the former Yugoslavia areas. In 1999, the group played for seven days in Belgrade
at the "Sava center".
Hari Mata Hari continues to be one of the most well-known, popular and respected Bosnian musical groups of all time.
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...
. Hari Mata Hari is the stage name for the singer Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović
Hajrudin Varešanovic
Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović 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...
. The group originated from the city of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, the capital of 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...
. The group has performed over 1,000 concerts and sold 5,000,000 albums to date. Their songs are among the most famous and popular love ballads in the former Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
era. Hari Mata Hari was the representative of 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...
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...
held in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
The Group
The band, Hari Mata Hari, has constantly changed its members. Today, the group is composed of Hajrudin Varešanović (vocal), Izudin Izo Kolečić (percussion), Karlo Martinović (solo guitar, background vocal), and Željko Zuber (bass guitar, background vocal). Most of the Hari Mata Hari's songs are arranged by Hajrudin Varešanović. The lyrics are primarily written by Fahrudin Pecikoza - also known as Peco.Hari grew up in the Vratnik neighborhood of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
's old town. His grandfather was one of the more well-known singers of traditional Bosnian Music called Sevdalinke
Sevdalinka
Sevdalinka is a traditional genre of folk music from Bosnia and Herzegovina.Sevdalinka is popular across the ex-Yugoslavia region, especially in Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. The actual composers of many sevdalinkas are unknown....
. At the age of six, Hajrudin began to sing and learned to play the guitar. At the local cultural center, he was asked to sing, then at the age of ten he sang with the group sastavu "Omi", and later for the group "Sedam šuma". In Vratnik, Hari recorded his first song "Zašto da ne uzmem nju. (Why don't I take her)" After finishing electrical school, Varešanović began to study Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and attended classes of natural politics, but he never completed the courses. Music took up much of his time, as did his love of photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
.
In 1979, Hari joined the group "Zov" with whom he recorded the hit song "Poletjela golubica sa Baščaršije." The song is still very popular. Next, Varešanović sang with the group "Ambasadori", with whom, it is said, that he matured into a professional artist. After his serving mandatory military service in the town of Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, he appeared on the music scene by himself releasing the (1984) album "Zlatne Kočije." In September of 1985, Hari Varešanović together with the group members of "Baobab", Izo Kolečić, Edo Mulahalilović, Pjer Žalica, and Zoran Kesić won the festival Nove nade, nove snage (New hopes, new strengths)', and created the musical group "Hari Mata Hari". That same year, the new group announced the release of their new album "U tvojoj kosi. (In your hair)" In 1986, Pjer Žalica - "Badžo" and Zoran Kesić leave the group. They are replaced by pianist Adi Mulihalilović and bass player Neno Jeleč, who will eventually be replaced by Željko Zuber. Their album of 1986, "Ne bi te odbranila ni cijela Jugoslavija", (Not even all of Yugoslavia could defend you) was voted as the best album of the year, and the Jugovision, national competition for the Eurovision announced them as the candidate for Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. Hari Mata Hari, in 1986, received fifth place for the song "U tvojoj kosi (In your hair)," and fourteenth place for the song "Nebeska kraljica" in 1987 in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
1988 brought much prosperity to the group. Hari began to record for the recording company Jugoton
Jugoton
Jugoton was the largest record label and chain record store in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia based in Zagreb, Socialist Republic of Croatia. After the breakup of Yugoslavia the company continued to work in independent Republic of Croatia under the name Croatia...
, based in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. The album "Ja te volim najviše na svijetu (I love you the most in the world)" from 1988 sold over 300,000 copies, and carried 10 songs that are still popular (2006) - ("Igrale se delije", "Javi se", "Sedamnaest ti je godina" (You're 17) with Tatjana Matejaš-Tajči, "Naše malo misto", "Ja te volim najviše na svijetu" (I love you the most in the world), "Hej, kako si" (Hey, how are you?), "Zapleši" (Dance), "Kad dođe oktobar" (When October comes), "Ruža bez trna", "Poslednji valcer sa Dunava"). This prosperity was followed by another great album called "Volio bih da te ne volim" (I wish I didn't love you), which sold over 500,000 copies - ("Svi moji drumovi", "Na more dođite" (Come to the sea), "Što je bilo bilo je", "Pazi šta radiš" (Careful what you do) with Matejaš-Tajči). Then in 1990, Hari Mata Hari releases another album called "Strah me da te volim" (I'm afraid to love you). This album sold over 700,000 copies - ("Prsten i zlatni lanac" (Ring and a golden necklace), "Otkud ti k'o sudbina", "Ostavi suze za kraj", "Daj još jednom da čujem ti glas", "Nek' nebo nam sudi").
The collapse of Yugoslavia and the wars that ensued, left a mark in Hari Mata Hari's career. In 1991, Edo Mulahalilović left the group to start his own career. In late 1991, the group releases the album "Rođena si samo za mene" (You were born only for me) through the recording company Diskoton
Diskoton
Diskoton was a major record label based in Sarajevo, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the former Yugoslavia. It should not be confused with another former Yugoslav record company with a similar name called Diskos....
, located 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....
. Some of the songs from the album are: "Ja ne pijem with" with Haris Džinović
Haris Džinovic
Haris Džinović is a popular Bosnian folk singer. He is also a composer, a musician and songwriter for his songs.-Career:He began his music career in 1975 in his hometown Sarajevo, as a singer and composer of folk music when pop and evergreen music were more dominant in the Balkans area, so he...
, "Nije za te bekrija", "Nije zima što je zima", that had solid sales and success. With that album, most activity stopped, due to the war 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...
. In late 1994, the group release another album, while they were refugees in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The album was called "Ostaj mi zbogom ljubavi" - "Bilo je lijepo dok je trajalo" (It was beautiful while it lasted), "Ti si mi droga" (You're my drug), "Ja sam kriv što sam živ", te obrada pesme "Poletjela golubica" (The dove flew) with Halid Bešlić
Halid Bešlić
Halid Bešlić is a prominent Bosnian folk and sevdah musician and singer who has been performing since 1979. Halid's singing career was one of the most successful in Ex Yugoslavia, and continues today throughout the entire Balkan region....
. This album was made by only Hari i Izo, the rest of the group would not reunite until 1997-1998. The group was composed of (including Hari and Izo) Karlo Martinović, Miki Bodlović, Adi Mulihalilović, and Emir Mehić. They returned to the music scene with a greatest hits album called "Ja nemam snage da te ne volim" (I don't have the strength to not love you). It was released in 1998 - ("Ne lomi me", "Emina", "Ja nemam snage da te ne volim" (I don't have the strength to not love you), "Gdje li si sada ljubavi" (Where are you now love?), "Upomoć").
In 1999 Hari Varešanović was chosen to represent 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...
for Eurovision. However, he was disqualified due to an issue with the song's status. Hari sold the song "Starac i more" (The old man and the sea) to Finland in 1997 and Finnish artist Janne Hurme recorded that song in Finnish, named "Sydänveri" (Finnish for "Heart Blood"). 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...
, who was the runner up, was sent to Eurovision instead and received seventh place. Hari, together with Hanka Paldum
Hanka Paldum
Hanka Paldum is a popular Bosniak folk and sevdah singer. She is regarded as one of the best female sevdah performers of all time, and has diva status in her home country. She is a star that has been shining for the last three decades with full intensity at the very top of the sky above Bosnia...
, recorded the duet "Crni snijeg" (Black snow) in 2001. That same year (2001) the album "Baš ti lijepo stoje suze" came out with a few hit songs - ("Kao domine" (Like dominoes), "Zjenico oka moga", "Baš ti lijepo stoje suze"). In 2002 with the song "Ruzmarin" (Rosemary), that became an instant hit. Hari Mata Hari was one of the six finalists in the Croatian Radio Festival
Croatian Radio Festival
The Croatian Radio Festival is a music festival held annually in Croatia. The festival was first held in 1997 in Vodice. It remained in Vodice until 2002, when it was held in Šibenik. After two years in Šibenik, Rijeka and Požega were co-hosts for the 2004 festival...
and represented 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...
for the OGAE
OGAE
OGAE is one of the 2 major international fan club networks of the Eurovision Song Contest. It has branches in 37 European countries.Although the Eurovision Song Contest started in 1956, OGAE began only in 1984 in Finland. All countries that take part or have already taken part in the Eurovision...
in France. Also, in 2002 Hari Mata Hari won the first "Davorin" song of the year award, for the song "Kao Domine" (Like dominoes). The music for the song was written by Miki Bodlović and Hari Varešanović, with lyrics by Fahrudin Pecikoza. Then in 2003 Hari's song "Idi", brings him to the seventh Croatian Radio Festival with the song "Navodno" with Ivana Banfić. He then goes to the Splitski festival. After Hari's small concerts in Balkan, Europe, and Australia, the group begins to record a new album. Franjo Valentić, Hari's long time friend joins the group, while Miki Bodlović leaves the group to start his own career in U.S. and he was be replaced by Nihat Voloder. At the eighth Hrvatski radiski festival the group competed with the song "Nema čega nema". At the Splitski festival the group entered the competition with the song "Zakon jačega" (Law of the strong) recorded with Bosnian superstar singer Kemal Monteno
Kemal Monteno
Kemal Monteno is a popular Bosnian singer-songwriter. He was born to an Italian father and a Bosniak mother. He recorded his first song Lidija in 1967 and has enjoyed a prosperous career in the former Yugoslavia...
. Later that year the group released another album under the name of the song "Zakon jačega", for Sarajevo's Diskoton
Diskoton
Diskoton was a major record label based in Sarajevo, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the former Yugoslavia. It should not be confused with another former Yugoslav record company with a similar name called Diskos....
, Zagreb's Croatia Records
Croatia Records
Croatia Records is the largest major record label in Croatia, based in Dubrava in Zagreb.-Summary:Croatia Records d.d. is a joint stock company currently led by the Chairman of the Board of directors Želimir Babogredac, a notable sound engineer...
, and Belgrade's HI-FI Centar
Hi-Fi Centar
Hi-Fi Centar was a record label based in Belgrade, Serbia.The company was originally formed in 1987 as a music store and was originally named Audio Klub Centar. In 1993 it changed the name to Hi-Fi Centar and moved to record publishing...
.
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...
, through a public on-line voting system, Hari Mata Hari was chosen as the Bosnian representative for Eurovision. BH Eurosong gave the name "Vrijeme je za Bosnu i Hercegovinu" (It's time for Bosnia-Herzegovina), and the song was described as Bosnia's Romeo and Juliet. The first time the song was aired to the public was on March 5, 2006 on a special live evening celebration held by "BH Eurosong 06" in Sarajevo's theater. Hari sang the song for the first time in public and received a standing ovations. Six days later, Hari sang the song at his first stage appearance in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
on the final evening of Evropesma 2006. The song "Lejla
Lejla
"Lejla" was the Bosnian and Herzegovinian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in the country's native language by Hari Mata Hari...
" (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...
, Lyric writers: Fahrudin Pecikoza & Dejan Ivanovic) is a powerful love ballad about far away love. It uses styles of sevdah and local traditional instruments. The female name Lejla is a traditional Arab name. Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
and ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
both used the name Leyla in their songs. It is said the title refers to a popular Bosnian song from 1981, when a song called "Lejla" was the Yugoslavian entry to the Eurovision Songcontest. It was sung by Bosnian artist Seid Memić Vajta
Vajta
Vajta is a Bosnian singer and the vocalist for the Yugoslav rock band Teška industrija.From 1975 to 1976 Vajta was a vocalist for Teška industrija, who enjoyed great commercial success throughout the Balkan countries but later dissolved.He became popular in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest during...
and reached 15th place in Dublin.
The lyrics of the song were written by Fahrudin Pecikoza and Dejan Ivanović with the music by 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...
. Joksimović, represented Serbia and Montenegro at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004
Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004, was the 49th Contest and it was held in the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first occasion in which the contest was held in Turkey after they had won the competition in 2003 with Sertab Erener singing "Everyway That I Can"...
in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
("Lane moje", second place), the song was written for non-profit and was solely voluntary. The music video of "Lejla" was directed by Pjer Žalica, along with Hari and the band. It shows many old Bosnian
Bosnians
Bosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
traditions. It was recorded in several areas of Herzegovina: on the mountains of Blidinja and on the national park/lake Hutovo Blato
Hutovo Blato
Hutovo Blato is a nature reserve and bird reserve located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is primarily composed of marshlands that were created by the underground aquifer system of the Krupa River. It is fed from the limestone massif of Ostrvo that divides the Deransko lake and Svitavsko lake.The...
, on Ruištu, and in the beautiful city of Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
. The video ends with the Stari Most
Stari most
Stari Most is a 16th century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on November 9, 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War...
, the older part of the city, in the background. The song received its name through on-line voting (with 3501 votes, other name ideas were "Zar bi mogla ti drugog voljeti?" (Could you not love another?) with 660, and "Sakrivena" with 462 votes). Hari Mata Hari took 3rd place at 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...
with 229 points.
In 2007 the group releases the single: "Zar je to još od nas ostalo".
In 2009 the group released th album: Sreća
Sreća
Sreća is a Serbian goddess of fate.She spins the thread of life, as an assistant to the great Goddess Makosh. Her role is the same as the Slavic Goddess Dolya, bringing luck to those Makosh smiles upon, except that she was also responsible for protecting the flocks and fields of farmers. Her name...
(Luck) and this album came out with a few hit songs: "Azra", "Sreća", "Ne mogu ti reći šta je tuga" with Nina Badrić
Nina Badric
Nina Badrić is a Croatian pop singer. Before starting her career in the entertainment industry she used to be a bank teller. She began performing in early 1990s, exploiting the sudden popularity of dance music, but her repertoire gradually became more mainstream...
, "Tvoje je samo to što daš" with Eldin Husenbegović,...
Nihat Voloder left the group and he was replaced by Željko Zuber.
Even with huge concerts 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....
's "Skenderija" and "Zetra", Hari Mata Hari never has any problems filling up concerts wherever they go in the former Yugoslavia areas. In 1999, the group played for seven days in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
at the "Sava center".
Hari Mata Hari continues to be one of the most well-known, popular and respected Bosnian musical groups of all time.
Current members
- Hari (Hajrudin) VarešanovićHajrudin VarešanovicHajrudin "Hari" Varešanović 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...
- vocal - Zeljko Zuber - bass guitar
- Karlo Martinović - solo guitar
- Izudin - Izo Kolečić - drums
Former Members
- Pjer ŽalicaPjer ŽalicaPjer Žalica is a Bosnian film director.He has directed several short films as well as two feature films, Gori vatra , and Kod amidže Idriza , which have been nominated for and awarded several prizes at European film festivals.On May 18 he was the director of the new video of Dino Merlin and Hari...
- Zoran Kesić
- Neno Jeleč
- Adi Mulahalilović
- Edo MulahalilovićEdo MulahalilovicEdo Mulahalilović was a Bosnian songwriter and producer.His first solo concert was at the age of 13 in Hvar, on a classical guitar.*1983...
- Miki Bodlović
- Emir Mehić
- Nihat Voloder
Festivals
- 2002 - Croatian Radio Festival 2002
- 2003 - Croatian Radio Festival 2003
- 2003 - Split 2003
- 2004 - Croatian Radio Festival 2004
- 2007 - Croatian Radio Festival 2007
Discography
- 1984 - Zlatne Kočije (Golden Carriage)
- 1985 - Skini Haljinu (Take Off Your Dress)
- 1985 - U Tvojoj Kosi (In Your Hair)
- 1986 - Ne Bi Te Odbranila Ni Cijela Jugoslavija (Even All Of Yugoslavia Couldn't Defend You)
- 1988 - Ja Te Volim Najviše Na Svijetu (The Most In The World I Love You)
- 1989 - Volio Bi' Da Te Ne Volim (I Would Love To Not To Love You)
- 1990 - Strah Me Da Te VolimStrah me da te VolimStrah me da te Volim is the name of the fifth album by the Bosnian band Hari Mata Hari. The album was released in 1991.This album generated a few hit singles: the title track, "Prsten i Zlatni Lanac", "Ostavi suze za Kraj", "Otkud ti k'o Sudbina?", "Nek' nebo nam Sudi", and "Sjeti se Ljeta".-Track...
(I'm Afraid To Love You) - 1991 - Rođena Si Samo Za Mene (You Were Born Only For Me)
- 1994 - Ostaj Mi Zbogom Ljubavi (Stay Well, My Love)
- 1998 - Ja Nemam Snage Da Te Ne Volim (I Don't Have The Strength Not To Love You)
- 2001 - Baš Ti Lijepo Stoje SuzeBaš ti lijepo stoje SuzeBaš ti ljepo stoje Suze is the name of the tenth album by Hari Mata Hari. It was recorded throughout 2001 and released in May 2002.This album proved great success, and was sold in many copies.-Track listing:# "Kao Domine"# "Zjenico oka moga"...
(Tears Look Good On You) - 2002 - Ruzmarin (Rosemary)
- 2004 - Zakon Jačega (Stronger Will)
- 2009 - SrećaSrećaSreća is a Serbian goddess of fate.She spins the thread of life, as an assistant to the great Goddess Makosh. Her role is the same as the Slavic Goddess Dolya, bringing luck to those Makosh smiles upon, except that she was also responsible for protecting the flocks and fields of farmers. Her name...
(Luck)