Vice Vukov Aug 3, 1936 - Sept 24, 2008

I found his music On Jan 23, 2008 while surfing around on Youtube, looking for Croatian music. He popped up singing a duet with another favourite singer of mine Ivo Robic, and from there I decided to search for more of his stuff. I really loved what I heard, and made myself a Youtube playlist, so I could listen to them all anytime I wanted. I also looked into his albums, and managed to get my hands on a couple. Vice Vukov has one of the most wonderful voices I've ever heard. Soon after finding his music earlier this year, I did some research, and discovered that he died recently, sadly as a result of a rather unfortunate accident. He fell down the steps of the Croatian parliament building in 2005, hitting his head, and was in a coma until his death in 2008. What a way to go. :( A shame too, since I would have loved to have had the chance to meet him.

As well as being an extremely famous singer in Croatia, he had a very extensive career as a Croatian politician, combining his two careeers, by performing a lot of beautiful patriotic Croatian songs.

There is something amazing about the way he sings a patriotic song, or any kind of song, that goes way beyond understanding the language. One doesn't need to understand a word of Croatian to appreciate his wonderful voice.

This is one of my favourites, and one of the many patriotic songs that he performed over the years.

Comments: 13

Krystal Harwell Sep 24, 2009, 2:09am EDT

My birthday is aug 3 as well :)

Leah Christensen Sep 24, 2009, 2:18am EDT

Krystal. I can honestly say that Vice Vukov shares his birthday with someone amazing, allbeit a little younger. *grin* Hey, you're both amazing. And you, be careful on the stairs. :)

Krystal Harwell Sep 24, 2009, 2:23am EDT

luckly I dont have to deal with stairs but once a week, little ones to my councelor.

Leah Christensen Sep 24, 2009, 2:26am EDT

Good!! My crazy husband fell down a half a flight of really stepp steps in our building on Christmas eve of last year, broke two rips, and his wrist. When i discovered Vice Vukov and read about what eventually killed him, I made Walker promise to be more careful on the stairs. I told him not to carry all that stuff down the stairs...

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Walker Bennett, SF Author Sep 24, 2009, 2:40am EDT

For the non-speakers of Slavic languages, it needs to be mentioned that the Latin "I" is pronounced like "ee" and "C" is an "S".

Therefore, it's Vee-say Vukov, and EE-vo Robis.

I knew this way back when I was a disk jockey and "Morgen" first came out. I still hear radio people say Eye-vo Robik, the same as Americans called it hurricane Eye-ven (Ee-von).

Sveta and I get a chuckle out of the fact that in both of our favourite television show, "Babylon 5", They consistently mispronounce Commander Ivanova's name (Ee-von-o'-va, not Ee-von'-o-va).

Leah Christensen Sep 24, 2009, 10:07pm EDT

Actually Ivo's last name is pronounced "Robisch" but the C has an accent on top of it that turns it from the S that you mentioned above, to the sch sound. I've noticed that the accent has been left off of any printing of his name outside of the former Yugoslavia.

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Lee P. Sep 24, 2009, 8:06am EDT

Very nice way to wake up this morning. Thanks for sharing the video.

Leah Christensen Sep 24, 2009, 8:39am EDT

Anytime, Lee. Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad you liked it. I was so happy to discover his music. I only wish I could have, when he was still alive.

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Donald H. Sep 28, 2009, 10:01am EDT

Vukov is.......in a word....GREAT!!!

Leah Christensen Sep 28, 2009, 10:49am EDT

I coudln't agree more. He has a wonderful way of conveying a message in a powerful voice without the need to yell. Also, with my sensitive hearing, he's one of the few people I can listen to on a higher volume, and still enjoy. I find his music to be extremely calming. Just ask my husband what I reach for first after a stressful day; a bottle of something, or a Vice Vukov CD? :)

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Mariana T. Nov 8, 2009, 8:50pm EST

greetings Leah - I will listen to this once I'm back in Santa Barbara - things are too slow on my puter down in bayouland....I can't wait to listen to this - thank you so much for this review. I hope all is well with you I think of you often and send you many hugs, Salud

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