 | This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2021) |
This is a list of folk songs and traditional sevdalinka songs which originated in Bosnia and Herzegovina but are also popular in Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
| Ah, što ćemo ljubav kriti [1] | Oh, Why Would We Hide Our Love |
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Emina was originally a poem written by Bosnian Serb poet Aleksa Šantić, being first published in 1902. [2] It became a popular sevdalinka covered by many artists from the former Yugoslav republics over the course of the 20th century. The subject of the song is Šantić's teenage neighbor, a Bosniak girl named Emina Sefić. It is one of the most well-known sevdalinka songs of all time. [3] [4] [5]
| Emina | Emina [6] |
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Many artists have covered the song, but the version by fellow Mostar native, Bosnian singer Himzo Polovina, remains the most popular. Upon hearing of the death of Emina Sefić, Polovina went to poet Sevda Katica's home in the village of Donja Mahala. He found her in the yard of the family home, informed her of Emina's death and she shuddered with grief and spoke the verses:
| New verses | Translation |
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Polovina recorded the song and added Sevda's new verses.
A very old Bosnian historical poem about Muhamed (Mujo) Isabegović, son of Isa-beg Ishaković.
| Istom zora na iztoku rudi | Just now dawn is making the East red |
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Very old Bosnian traditional folk ballad.
| Ja kakva je sjajna mjesečina | Oh, how bright moonlight is |
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A Bosnian traditional folk song. [7] Although the song is much older, the first known recording was in 1935 [8] in Gacko to the voice of a Bosniak peasant singer in her 60s named Halima Hrvo (née Đemo) from the village of Tjentište near Foča. [9] [10]
| Karanfil se na put sprema [11] | Karanfil Prepares for a Journey |
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| Halima Hrvo version; Bosnian | Halima Hrvo version; English |
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| Kraj potoka bistre vode [12] | By a Stream of Crystal Clear Water |
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Kraj tanana šadrvana was translated into Bosnian in 1923 by Aleksa Šantić from a poem called Der Asra (The Azra) by the German poet Heinrich Heine. [13] [14]
| Kraj tanana šadrvana | Near a Poor Fountain |
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Moj dilbere has been in Bosnia since Ottoman times. The exact authors are unknown and Moj dilbere is considered to be a traditional song.
| Moj dilbere [15] | My Darling [16] |
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| Omer-beže na kuli sjeđaše [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] | Bey Omer Sits on the Tower |
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Sejdefu majka buđaše is a folk song that is believed to have originated in Sarajevo centuries ago, while the region of Bosnia was a part of the Ottoman Empire. [24] The exact author is unknown.
Over the centuries, the song spread amongst the Bosniak populations in Podgorica and the Sandžak regions of Montenegro and Serbia, respectively.
| Sejdefu majka buđaše [25] | Seydefa's Mother Wakes Her |
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Like the surrounding Balkan countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina has had a turbulent past marked by frequent foreign invasions and occupation. As a result, Bosnian music is now a mixture of Slavic, Turkish, Central European, Mediterranean, and other influences.
Sevdalinka, also known as Sevdah music, is a traditional genre of folk music originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sevdalinka is an integral part of the Bosniak culture, but is also spread across the ex-Yugoslavia region, including Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The actual composers of many Sevdalinka songs are largely unknown because these are traditional folk songs.
Himzo Polovina was a Bosnian singer and songwriter, and one of the most famous and widely revered folk and sevdalinka artists in the region. In addition, Dr. Himzo Polovina was a neuropsychiatrist by profession. His approach contributed to sevdalinka promotion as well as its recognition as authentic music heritage of the Bosniaks.
Safet Isović was a Bosnian singer who performed the Bosnian traditional music sevdalinka.
Aleksa Šantić was a poet from Bosnia and Herzegovina. His poetry reflecting both the urban culture of the region. The most common themes of his poems are social injustice, nostalgic love, and the unity of the South Slavs. He was the editor-in-chief of the magazine Zora (1896–1901). Šantić was one of the leading persons of Serbian literary and national movement in Mostar. In 1914 Šantić became a member of the Serbian Royal Academy.
Silvana Bajraktarević, known professionally as Silvana Armenulić, was a Yugoslav singer-songwriter and actress and one of the most prominent commercial folk music and traditional sevdalinka singers in Yugoslavia. She is called the "Queen of Sevdalinka". Her life was cut short when she died in a car crash at the age of 37, but she continues to be well regarded in the region and she is recognized for her unique singing style and voice. Armenulić's song "Šta će mi život", written by her friend and contemporary Toma Zdravković, is one of the best-selling singles from the former Yugoslavia.
Hanka Paldum is a Bosnian sevdalinka singer and founder of the record label Sarajevo Disk. She is regarded as one of the best female sevdah performers of the 20th century and is popular in her home country of Bosnia as well as in the rest of the former Yugoslavia.
Asim Brkan is a Bosnian singer and musician. He is considered to be one of the finest and most complete folk singers of his generation.
Josipa Lisac is a Croatian pop rock singer.
Meho Puzić was a Bosnian sevdalinka-folk singer and songwriter.
Ibrahim "Ibrica" Jusić is Croatian chanson, folk, pop and sevdalinka singer-songwriter and musician.
Mirsada Bajraktarević, known professionally as Mirjana Bajraktarević, was a Bosnian sevdalinka singer and songwriter. She was the sister of Silvana Armenulić and Dina Bajraktarević. Mirjana and Silvana died in a car crash.
"Emina" is a poem by a Bosnian Serb poet Aleksa Šantić that became a popular sevdalinka song, covered by many prominent singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and other parts of former Yugoslavia. It was first published in 1902 in the Serbian literary journal Kolo. The subject of the poem is Šantić's neighbor, a Bosnian Muslim girl named Emina Sefić. It is one of the most well-known sevdalinka songs of all time.
Moj dilbere is a Bosnian traditional folk and sevdalinka song.
Sejdefu majka buđaše is a Bosnian traditional folk and sevdalinka song.
Emina Zečaj was a Bosnian interpreter of the traditional folk music, sevdalinka.
Božo Vrećo is a Bosnian musician.
Jozo Penava was a Yugoslav music producer, composer, arranger, musician and vocalist. Penava immensely contributed to the development of folk songs and the traditional Bosniak folk music sevdalinka. He worked with many prominent sevdalinka singers of the 20th century, such as Safet Isović, Zehra Deović, Himzo Polovina, Nada Mamula, Beba Selimović, Nedžad Salković, Silvana Armenulić, and Meho Puzić, among others.
Merima Kurtiš, known professionally as Merima Njegomir, was a Serbian folk and sevdah singer.
Omer beže is traditional song from Bosnia and Herzegovina.