6 Croatian songs selected for first European songbook
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
(Press)
ZAGREB, 5 November 2024 (Hina) – From “Moja domovina” and “Cesarica” to the anthem of the cooperative from “Train in the Snow,” over 1,700 Croatian citizens have selected six songs to represent Croatia in the first EU Songbook.
The songbook features 164 songs, six from each EU member state.
Students and professors from the Academy of Music at the University of Zagreb and the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, along with members of the Croatian Cultural Council Choir, offered 54 songs across six categories for the public to vote on.
The public decided that Gibonni’s “Cesarica” will represent Croatia in the love songs category, while “Dalmatino povišću pritrujena,” by his father Ljubo Stipišić, was chosen for the nature and seasons category.
For religious songs, the selection was “Zdravo Djevo, kraljice Hrvata” by Petar Perica.
In the folk and traditional category, the Međimurje song “Ljubav se ne trži” will represent Croatia.
In the category of freedom and peace, “Moja domovina” by Rajko Dujmić and Zrinko Tutić emerged victorious, while the children’s category will feature “Kad se male ruke slože” by Arsen Dedić and Drago Britvić.
“We can be extremely pleased with Croatia’s contribution to the colourful musical mosaic of the EU Songbook, which speaks volumes about the cultures of European nations,” concluded Jasenka Ostojić, a professor at the Academy of Music in Zagreb and editor of the EU Songbook for Croatia.
The songs in the songbook are presented in their original language, followed by a singable version in “European English.” The translation of the songs was funded by the Ministry of Culture.
“Translating song lyrics from one language to another is an exceptionally difficult task, as the translator must respect the song’s melody, metre, and rhyme, while ensuring it remains easy to sing,” commented Nikola Vranić, a translator and singer-songwriter.
“I gave my best to create quality English versions of the chosen songs and feel honoured to have participated in this wonderful project,” he said.
The EU Songbook is a democratic project initiated by non-profit organisations without political or financial ties to Brussels or EU institutions.
More than 100 musical organisations and conservatories contributed to the creation of the songbook, with public voting covered by over 400 media outlets. The voting process engaged more than 87,000 citizens from the 27 member states.
“With the EU Songbook, we hope to enable the 27 nations to live less parallel lives through the exchange of songs,” said Jeppe Marsling, founder of the European Union Songbook Association.
