I first heard “Da Sutra Umrem” in August 2001 while walking through a public open market in Karlovac, Croatia. I had moved to the country only a few months previously and I was still trying my best to learn the language. As I walked through the market, this song was playing on a cassette tape on a boombox. I was captivated by the song, especially by the way Vesna clearly sung each word and that I somehow was able to understand much of what was being sung. I knew nothing about the singer or the song - all I knew is that I was hooked and wanted to hear more from that singer. I bought the cassette on the spot and was amazed to find other amazing entries from classics of Croatian music, but Vesna was the siren who had the magic for me. I later sought out her other albums and I still credit her with helping me learn Croatian
Da sutra umrem was Vesna’s entry for the festival “Melodija Hrvatskog Jadrana” (Melodies of the Croatian Adriatic) in 2001 and has proved to be an enduring classic for her. However, for me the reason I love it is that it takes me back to a pre-9/11 world when I discovered the joy of learning language through music. Also, about 6 months later, Vesna would eventually be selected to represent Croatia at Eurovision 2002 in Tallinn, which was the hook that reeled me into lifetime Eurovision fandom. However, even setting that aside, the song holds up as an excellent example of Vesna’s early work and a shining example of Croatian pop music from that period.
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Vesna Pisarovic - Da sutra umrem (Official Video)