It has been exactly eight years since Oliver Dragojević left us. Split was enveloped in sadness, but also in immense gratitude towards the man whose voice had accompanied the most important moments of many generations for decades.
By Paula Vušković
Two days later, on July 31st to be exact, thousands of people filled the Riva, boats covered the sea, and accompanied him on his last journey to Vela Luka. These were scenes that are rarely seen and even more difficult to describe in words…
From the early morning hours, people arrived at the Riva to say goodbye to the musician who they saw not only as a famous singer. For many, Oliver was part of the family, a voice that was heard in moments of love, happiness, partings and sadness. His departure was not experienced as the loss of just one artist, but as the departure of someone who belonged to everyone in a special way.
The procession on the Split Riva in 2018 included family members, friends, collaborators and numerous famous names from the domestic music scene. Oliver’s coffin was carried in turns by his colleagues, including Tony Cetinski, Petar Grašo, Gibonni, Tonči Huljić and many others.
As the procession passed through the city, the crowd sang Oliver’s songs, and the sight of the almost endless crowd of people who came to see off their Oliver remained etched forever.
Around 500 boats, barges and other vessels followed him at sea, while ship sirens could be heard in the Split port. Torches lit up the sea, people waved from the shore and decks, and the last voyage of a man who had been inextricably linked to the sea his whole life turned into a scene that has traveled the world. The photographs taken that day still cause shivers today, no matter how many times we have seen them…
Oliver passed away on July 29, 2018 at the age of 71, after a battle with a serious illness. The news of his death plunged Croatia into darkness. The funeral was held on August 1 at the local cemetery of St. Rok in Vela Luka. A large crowd gathered there too. The ceremony began with the song “Moj galebe”, performed on the cello by Stjepan Hauser, and sung by the Ošjak a cappella group.
Photos: Zvonimir Barišin/cropix/Cropix
