II
Doris Dragović

About:

16 April 1961

Dorotea Dragović, born in Split, had been the lead singer of the group More (Sea) for several years before going solo in 1986 with her breakthrough hit, 'Željo moja'. The entry at the Eurovision Song Contest that year, where she came 13th. The opener on the follow up 'Budi se dan' ('The day awakes', 1989) 'Ja noćas umirem' ('I'm dying tonight') is a fusion of Balkan folk music and pop. Over the years she had several hits such as 'Sedam mora sedam gora', Selim ti ja' and 'Malo mi za sricu triba'.

During the war in Croatia, Doris was one of many singers to wrap themselves in the flag for the duration, happening upon an unofficial national anthem in 1992 with 'Dajem ti srce, zemljo moja' ('My country, I give you my heart'). By 1999, rapidly becoming the honorary mother of the nation, Doris had been signed by the prolific impresario 'Tonci Huljić', the man responsible for a significant proportion a lot of musical productions during the presidency of Franjo Tudjman. The first hit with Huljić, 'Marija Magdalena', was also the entry for the 1999 Eurovision. Less than a week before the contest took place, an official complaint was laid against the song by the Norwegian delegation, alleging that Huljić had broken Eurovision rules by adding synthesised vocals in the background. With only one backing vocalist on stage with Doris, and that a woman, it was probably tempting fate to expect her to convincingly mimic an entire male voice choir. Doris nonetheless achieved a respectable fourth place in Jerusalem. The song also was a radio hit on Greek radio station FLY FM 89,7 and reached number 1 on its airplay.

In 2001, Doris released 'Lice' ('Faces'), an album of electronic dance songs. The 2002 album 'Malo mi za sricu triba' ('I need a little to be happy'), was more a return to her old form with the Dalmatian ballads that have made her name. In 2009, after seven years of abscence Doris comes up with a new album.

The fans of Hajduk Split, one of Croatia's leading football clubs, have taken Doris to their hearts, earning her the title 'Queen of the Torcida'. Doris also has a big gay following.

On the web:

- Doris' website: www.dorisdragovic.com

If you like this, you probably like... / european counterparts:

Massiel (Spain)

What do we think:

DB: If you saw Doris explode on the Eurovision stage with 'Marija Magdalena' in 1999 it’s hard to imagine she made rather traditional folkpop in the eighties and nineties. Well I didn’t and after getting a hold of her back catalogue it took me three or four songs to switch. It has hinds of Greek laiko in it mixed with…well German Schlager to be frank. But that doesn’t mean the albums aren’t any good, the voice is still great, only a bit signed by the time. But as her fans state on the web she is “an emotional Croatian pop diva who has attained the status of a national treasure”.

PR: Doris is extremely famous in her home country Croatia, thanks to her strong voice, popular pop songs rooted in Croatian folk and her enigmatic performances. Okay, not the best voice. And indeed, not the highest quality of songmaterial. Still, she is capable of moving her listeners thanks to her dramatic performance and authentic singing.

Recommendations:

♪♪ - Budi se dan - 1989

♪♪ - Najveći hitovi - 1990

♪♪ - Dajem ti srce - 1992

♪♪ - Ispuni mi zadnju želju - 1993

♪♪ - Baklje Ivanjske - 1995

♪♪ - Rođendan u Zagrebu (live) - 1996

♪♪♪ - Živim po svom - 1997

♪♪♪ - Krajem vijeka - 1999

♪♪♪ - Lice - 2000

♪♪♪♪ - Malo mi za sriću triba - 2002

♪♪♪ - Ja vjerujem - 2009

Further listening:

Tigrica - 1985; Željo moja - 1986; Tužna je noć - 1987; Tvoja u duši - 1987; Pjevaj srce moje - 1988; 20 godina s ljubavlju (compilation) - 2001; The platinum collection (compilation) - 2007.

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided