Damir Kedžo was due to represent Croatia at Eurovision 2020 with his song “Divlji Vjetre”. He earned the right to represent the country after winning Dora 2020.
Scroll down for “Divlji Vjetre” lyrics
Croatia in Eurovision 2020: Damir Kedžo “Divlji Vjetre”
Damir Kedžo’s road to Eurovision was and remains rocky. But on 29 February, the leap year day, he won Dora with just a few votes to spare.
Many styles and genres were on show, but the public opted for familiarity — a classic ballad performed by a seasoned artist.
Kedžo is one of the hottest names on Croatia’s music scene today – and it has been like that for quite a while. His breakthrough came in 2003 through the Story Super Nova Music Talent Show.
A year after, he formed one-third of Croatia’s very first boyband – Saša, Tin i Kedžo. Their single “365” topped the Croatian charts for six weeks. Despite the fame, they disbanded a year later, upon which Kedžo’s solo career took flight.
He performed at a number of festivals. However, he’s best known for winning New Wave 2015 and Your Face Sounds Familiar 2016.
What do the “Divlji Vjetre” lyrics mean?
The lyrics for “Divlji Vjetre”, which translates as “Wild Wind”, see Damir ensure that his special one will be loved and cared for even when things don’t go well.
“When nothing is left/I will love you even then/wild wind”.
In the second verse, it’s clear that the bleak prediction has come to pass. He’s turning to the wild wind, praying for it to leave him in peace.
“Go away and leave me without knowing/How a man becomes what you no longer are.”
The singer is asking the sky to leave the autumn leaves and raindrops of sorrow on his doorstep. The chorus paints a picture of a stormy autumn, while Damir mourns for the days he felt their love was forever.
“And it seemed like we were taken away forever, body and soul / I’m left with the sadness in the autumn colours”
“The poem is pure poetry. I feel it all over my body as I sing it. If we changed it to English, it would no longer be that. People recognize emotion in whatever language it is, which is why I believe they will understand the emotion of this song whatever language they speak”, said Damir in an interview for RTL.
This is the first time since 2013 that Croatia has sent a song entirely in the mother language.
“Divlji Vjetre” lyrics — Damir Kedžo (Croatia ESC 2020)
Written and composed by: Ante Pecotić.
Produced by: Moh Denebi, Bojan Šalamon and Matija Rodić.
Croatian Text
Jednom kad zaboraviš mi ime
I krevet hladan postane
Kao snijegom okovane zime
Kada ništa ne preostane
Ja ću te voljeti i tad
Divlji vjetre
U tišini ostavi me gdje sam
Svaka riječ sad prosta je
Odlazi i pusti me da ne znam kako čovjek postaje
Ono što nisi više
Divlji vjetre
Tu na moj prag uvelo lišće donesi mi
I kišu neka ostavi trag tuge u bojama jeseni
A činilo se zauvijek smo dušom i tijelom zaneseni
Ostaje mi tuga u bojama jeseni
(Ono što nisi više)
Hladna kao kiša ledena
Kada voljet prestaneš
I kidaj grane neukrotivo
Ali prije nego nestaneš
Divlji vjetre tu na moj prag
Uvelo lišće donesi mi
I kišu neka ostavi trag
Tuge u bojama jeseni
A činilo se zauvijek smo dušom i tijelom zaneseni
Ostaje mi tuga u bojama jeseni
Tuga u bojama jeseni
Tuga u bojama jeseni
Divlji vjetre
Tu na moj prag uvelo lišće donesi mi
I kišu neka ostavi trag tuge u bojama jeseni
A činilo se zauvijek smo dušom i tijelom zaneseni
Ostaje mi tuga u bojama jeseni
English translation
Once you forget my name
And the bed becomes cold
Like winters chained by the snow
When nothing is left
I will love you even then,
Wild wind
Leave me in the silence where I am
Every word is mere now
Go away and leave me without knowing
How a man becomes what you no longer are
Bring fall leaves on my doorstep
And the rain to leave the trail of
Sadness in the colors of autumn
And it seemed like we were taken away forever, body and soul
I’m left with the sadness in the autumn colors
(What you no longer are)
Cold as ice rain
When you stop loving
And crack the branches untamable
But before you disappear
Wild wind,
Bring fall leaves on my doorstep
And the rain to leave the trail of
Sadness in the colors of autumn
And it seemed like we are taken away forever, body and soul
I’m left with the sadness in the colors of autumn
I love this song and his beautiful language very much. I hope to see Damir back in Rotterdam in 2021
Really like this effort.. Play it a lot.. He’s quite a sexy guy too 😀
This was my dark horse for 2020, the one I loved that nobody else cared for. I love the tension between a dramatic Balkan ballad feel, but with some unusual chord structures poking through. Haunting.