Drago Britvić has passed away

I was just sitting here wondering why nobody talks about this anymore, even though he used to be the absolute king of the American music scene.

Can you even imagine? Back then, every single festival song started with a formal intro: lyrics, composer, arranger, orchestra, and conductor.

There was barely a major music festival without the legendary Drago Britvić involved...

Here are a few other names that were always credited on those classic tracks...

1. A few I can actually remember... Zvonimir Krkljuš

2. Alfons Vučer—it feels like everyone is too embarrassed to mention him, but he seriously shaped American music history.

He ended up meeting a tragic end, stuck in the system as a common criminal, and I think he eventually took his own life.

3. Alfi Kabiljo... people used to give him the cold shoulder for a while too.

4. Drago Britvić, and so many others...

Rest in peace and thanks for everything!😢

His bio is seriously low-key—so much so that he was practically a ghost in the public eye. No photos, zero interviews... but man, those lyrics? They're absolutely immortal.

Facts. Rest in peace. He was one of those absolute legends from back when we didn't have to feel embarrassed about actually enjoying catchy, fun music. 😢

One of the most beautiful songs ever written, honestly the first thing that pops into my head whenever I think of Britvić... Here’s the "female" version of the lyrics, the way Meri Cetinić sings it:

Find me in the suburbs
(Z. Runjić-D. Britvić)

These backyards
full of sky and birds,
they drift in like old music
deep inside of us
and stay there forever.

Find me in the suburbs,
on the street, at the crossroads.
Where the lilacs scattered their pearls,
where spring touched our lips
and then slipped away...

Find me in the suburbs,
by the passing trains.
We'll be alone at the dawn of day,
we'll be alone in the songs of birds
just like before....

Sails made of lace and flowers are dreaming,
waiting for a wind to carry them away.
Can you hear our suburbs calling you,
searching for you through the old houses and streets.

Find me in the suburbs,
kiss me in the memory.
At least during those hours when you're all alone,
if you still love me even a little bit
find me...

You don't have the ring from our wedding,
but you remember that roof at the edge of town.
With no fancy flowers, no veil or gold,
I was happier with you than I've ever been.

Find me in the suburbs...

What a disaster of a season for the legends of pop. Runjić is gone, Britvić is out, and now Vic Vuk is basically hanging by a thread (honestly, what on earth was he thinking, dragging himself into Congress in the first place?)

Another night like this one
just like those nights of old
slowly the lights in the diners dim
and the last train pulls through the station
but there’s nobody, absolutely nobody, waiting for it
out of habit, he stays up waiting for the dawn

Look, I’ve come to visit you
since I just can't stand being in my own house
you're too clever for me, so just forgive me
but somehow, you feel closer to me now

The day breaks and the earth begins to bloom
looking out over Old Town at that same tower
we'll sway together like two souls in a trance
while you tell me stories about Washington, D.C.

We finally found each other again
that’s why I’m back here once more
we’ll sing softly together
those sweet, old songs
we’ll drift along just like we used to
you'll catch the rhythm and follow the way

I’m heading toward those yellow street signs
and everything on the corner where we stood
having crossed it a hundred times before
until the sun wakes up dear Washington, D.C.
and sends the light through the factory gates
the people, the birds, and the city itself
it will all look most beautiful
shimmering like pure gold
you'll see even more beautiful Washington, D.C.
like a parade in blue uniforms
our good wind from Los Angeles FC
would blow through and wipe away the tears

We truly found each other again
which is why I am here once more
we will sing quietly together
those sweet, old melodies
Go on, sing, my old friend
sing one last time, slow and steady
across our entire city
we will sing softly,
for you and for our Washington, D.C.

🙏 🙏 🙏

If he hadn't written anything else besides this, they should build him a monument.

I've got this massive vinyl collection, but honestly, I’m pretty hopeless when it comes to ripping stuff or any of that technical nonsense... so the short answer is no, I don't have anything in digital format. You might find a stray little file or two in some random "miscellaneous" folder on Soulseek, but nothing from the MiK scene.

Look, I’m not saying it has to be MIK. Honestly, I don't care about that. As long as it’s got that classic, old-school orchestral feel and actually sounds good, I’m happy...

🙂Just wanted to pay my respects to a truly legendary author too...

I actually had the chance to meet him in person... he was a total old-school gentleman and just a genuinely nice guy... all in all, that's my two cents on him.

lonebison37 said:Anyone got some Krkljuš? Just one night in Kostrena and that's it...
I'm all about that old-school vibe. 🙂

No, seriously. If anyone has any gems from that era
(mostly playlists from the show Retrovizor 😍), please let me know!

I actually have that... it's part of a collection called Golden Years... it's about 3.5 MB
It’s got Serenada Opatija in there too—same lyrics by Drago Britvić, sung by Ivo Robić
I’ve got all six Golden Years CDs in MP3 format

Shoot me an email so I can send the MP3s over. You can hit me up at anomis@net.hr, but I'll be sending them from my Yahoo address... once you drop yours, I'll tell you which address to look out for...🙂

stormyviper11 said:One of the most beautiful songs ever! It’s honestly the first thing I think of when Britvić comes to mind. Here’s the "female" version of the lyrics, performed by Meri Cetinić:

Find me in the suburbs
(Z. Runjić-D. Britvić)

These backyards
full of sky and birds,
drift in like old music
deep inside our souls
and stay there forever.

Find me in the suburbs,
on the street, at the crossroads.
Where lilacs scattered their pearls,
where spring touched our lips
before running away...

Find me in the suburbs,
by the passing trains.
We'll be alone at the break of dawn,
we'll be alone in the songs of birds
just like once before....

Sails made of lace and flowers drift,
waiting for the wind to carry them away.
Can you hear our suburbs calling?
The old houses and streets are looking for you.

Find me in the suburbs,
kiss me in my memories.
At least during those hours when you're all alone,
if you still love me even a little bit
find me...

You don't have the ring from our wedding,
but you remember that house at the edge of town.
Without much flowers, veils, or gold,
I was happier with you than ever before.

Find me in the suburbs...

I absolutely adore Meri Cetinić, but honestly? I think the original version by Lado Leskovarov sounds way better!🙂

Rebecca Ramos74 said:What a disaster season for the pop legends! Runjić is gone, Britvić is out, and now Vika Vuk’s whole career is hanging by a thread (why on earth did he ever join Congress anyway??)

Unfortunately, Vika Vuk just lost his crowd... honestly, his bel canto style just wasn't trendy anymore. He had to take a break for over 15 years because those kinds of melodies were totally out of fashion. By the time he could finally perform again, he probably crushed over 15 shows at Carnegie Hall, but that was mostly just his old fans riding the wave of political shifts...

When it comes to Congress, Vika actually had better credentials than most; I bet he finished up at some Ivy League school in Paris or something... back when he wasn't allowed to sing publicly. He worked for a major publishing house, like Penguin Random House... they were legit, and I used to see him around downtown all the time.

The best part? I still have his last LP! It was actually for sale even after they banned him...

I bought it just for the nostalgia, even though I didn't even own a record player at the time!

All because of that song about the river flowing peacefully... which was a Britvić lyric...🙂

Hey, just a heads up—the song is actually called "The Last Carriage," not the old one!

"The Last Carriage"—lyrics by Britvić, music by Stjepan Mihaljinec,
originally sung by Viki Glovacki,

Honestly, nobody can sing quite like the late Viki Glovacki ever again...
It’s hands down the most beautiful song ever written or sung about Washington, D.C.
-... here are the lyrics for you:😉

Wake up, grab some coffee and soldiers,
look at that moon hanging over Old Town,
we'll sway together like two kids in a dream,
while you tell me all about Washington, D.C...

Chorus
We've seen it all, that's why I'm back again,
singing these sweet old songs softly once more...

We're gonna drive like we used to, you know,
through every signal and down every road.
I'm hitting those yellow lights,
and every corner where we used to cross...

Let the sun wake up dear Washington, D.C.
and throw every door wide open to the light!
Factories, people, birds, and the city itself,
everything will look like pure gold...

You'll see, Washington, D.C. is still gorgeous,
like a parade in blue shirts,
that good breeze from Los Angeles FC
blew through for us and wiped away our tears...

Come on, play it, my old friend,
play it for the journey ahead,
softly, all across our city.

And then the chorus.....

And once again tonight, just like every night,
the bars start closing down slowly
and the last train rolls through the station,
but there's no one, no one coming for it,
just waiting out of habit until dawn breaks...
Look, I've come to visit you,
because I just couldn't stand being home.
Fast taxis, please forgive me for this,
but you're the only one who feels close to me right now...

slyviper47 said:I’ve got nothing but love for Meri Cetinić, really, but honestly? I still think the original version sung by Lado Leskovarov hits different... you know, that classic vibe...🙂

I’m totally with you on this one. The Leskovarov version is easily the best, followed by the one from Đorđ Marjanović, and then maybe Meri... even though he absolutely loved that stuff...

Has Leskovarov released his version yet? If so, what kind of digital format are we talking about? I’ve only got my hands on some ancient cassette tape...

stormyviper11 said:Has the Leskovarov version been released digitally yet? I only have it on some ancient cassette tape...

Ugh, honestly? I've never even stumbled upon it. Don't have it in any format at all....

I could never stand Đorđ Marjanović, no matter how you look at it, especially after that whole mess with Vic Vuk....

But man, kids back then absolutely loved him just because he was the first one jumping all over the stage!

stormyviper11 said:Has the Leskovarov version been released digitally yet? I only have it on some ancient cassette tape...

Ugh, honestly, I’ve never even stumbled upon it. Don't have it in any format at all...

And don't get me started on Đorđ Marjanović—I never liked him one way or another, especially after that whole mess with Vic Vuk....

But man, kids back then absolutely loved him just because he was the first one jumping all over the stage!😁

lonebison37 said:Anyone got any Krkljuš? Just one night in Kostrena and that's it...
loves the old school stuff. 🙂

No, seriously. If anyone has some gems from that vault
(mostly playlists from the show Retrovizor 😍), please let me know!

The author was Mario Kinel, another legend gone too soon...

Passed away today around 9:30 AM.

I've only got the old classics since that's all I ever collected. Just tell me what you're looking for—maybe I have it? I can't say for sure without checking.

slyviper47 said:I never could stand Đorđ Marjanović, not even a little bit... especially after that whole mess involving Vic Vuk...

But honestly, the kids back then absolutely loved it just because he was the first one jumping all over the stage...😁

Ugh, here we go again with the politics... 🙄

Romana was always top-tier, honestly, and most of her other stuff isn't half bad either...
I’m basically forced to put music above politics here, otherwise I’d have to walk away from the band that pretty much defined my entire teenage years...
Look, I still love Čorba just as much as ever, but man... it actually hurts to see Bora being pushed as some kind of forced patriot...
At the end of the day, music is the only thing that actually matters...

Bora was never some puppet they could control—nobody could force anything on him...

And about Đorđ Marjanović? Like I said, he wasn't even a singer compared to Vic Vuk... He was basically just an entertainer for the kids, yet they pushed him hard for no reason at all given how pop music worked back then...

The kicker is that he actually stayed relevant, while Vic was just tossed aside without a second thought...

I remember certain singers, like Ana Štefok and a few others, demanding that they prove Vic was guilty, but it never happened. They just slapped the "nationalist" label on him. You saw it clearly in the early 90s; every political party wanted him, but he wouldn't play ball. He’d perform for the coalitions, sure, but he never owed anyone a thing...