Goodbye, Mišo! The voice that united generations of Croats

Mate Mišo Kovač, one of the greatest and most beloved Croatian pop music singers, has passed away. He was 85 years old. His songs marked decades, and his voice, emotion, and recognizable raised hands remain the symbol of a musical era.

As we learn unofficially, the legendary singer passed away in a Split hospital.

Songs that became part of our lives

Mišo Kovač was born on July 16, 1941, in Šibenik, and he started his musical career in the early sixties. Over the decades, he built the status of one of the most popular Croatian performers, whose songs were listened to and sung by generations in the homeland and throughout the world.

He recorded more than 30 albums and sold more than 20 million audio carriers. Timeless hits like "Ostala si uvijek ista", "Poljubi zemlju", "Ako me ostaviš", "Dalmacija u mom oku", and "Najljepše su oči moje majke" became part of the Croatian musical heritage.

His concerts gathered thousands of fans, and he had a special relationship with Dalmatia, his native Šibenik, Split, and Hajduk. His raised hands and the audience singing with him from the very first beats will remain unforgettable images of his performances.

Behind great successes hid great sorrows

The life of the musical legend was also marked by difficult personal tragedies, among which the death of his son Edi left the deepest mark. Over the years, Mišo spoke openly about his pain and his hardest life moments.

In recent years, he rarely appeared in public, but the audience's love for his songs never waned.

"My songs connect generations"

One of his last major appearances on HRT was in May 2022, when he spoke with Zlatko Turkalj Turki on the Second Program of Croatian Radio.

He spoke about his career, the audience, Hajduk, Oliver Dragojević, and the songs that made him a legend.

"My songs connect generations because they have an atmosphere. If the listener has that same atmosphere inside them, then they will accept my song. When someone falls in love, then they listen to Mišo Kovač. That is the law," he said at the time.

When asked by which song he would like the audience to remember him, he answered in his recognizable style—they remember more songs than I know.

Mišo Kovač leaves behind a musical legacy that transcends generations and borders. His voice remains forever a part of Croatian musical history.