Life Continues Through Music and Love
Music: Moj lipi anđele
Artist: Oliver Dragojević
Shared by: Terezija for her Mother
“Growing up far from my birthplace, I believed I would eventually lose my connection to Croatia and the roots my family has there. Only in recent years did I realise how wrong I was.”
Where to begin… I was born in Croatia but only spent a few years there before moving abroad. Growing up far from my birthplace, I believed I would eventually lose my connection to Croatia and the roots my family has there. Only in recent years did I realise how wrong I was.
Since losing my mother three years ago, I’ve felt closer than ever to my homeland and its musical heritage. So many songs remind me of her and the moments we shared listening to them together. When I listen to the music by Croatian songwriters Oliver Dragojević and Arsen Dedić, I feel closest to my Mother, even though the music also fills me with a deep sadness. Still, I let myself feel it — the grief and emotion are an important part of my healing.
At my mother’s funeral, I chose to play Moj lipi anđele by Oliver Dragojević — one of her favourites, and ours.
Since then, I’ve come to see how listening to Croatian music not only helps me process my grief but also brings me closer to my native language. It creates a private, intimate space that connects me to my roots — something deeply personal, something I now treasure. That feeling is new to me, and quite profound.
Reflecting on your project and my reaction to sharing my story with you made me realise just how meaningful this connection is — and how much it continues to shape my journey.