Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Croatian popular music, the mariachi music of Europe, is the ever-present soundtrack
of a Dalmatian vacation. Oliver Dragojevi
ć
—singing soulful Mediterranean ballads with
his gravelly, passionate voice—is the Croatian Tom Jones. Known simply as “Oliver,” this
beloved crooner gets airplay across Europe and has spawned many imitators (such as the
almost-as-popular Gibonni).
More traditional is the hauntingly beautiful
klapa
music—men's voices harmonizing a
cappella, like a barbershop quartet with a soothing Adriatic flavor. Typically the leader be-
gins the song, and the rest of the group (usually 3 to 12 singers) follows behind him with
a slight delay. You'll see mariachi-style
klapa
groups performing in touristy areas; a CD of
one of these performances (or of a professional group—Cambi is great) is a fun souvenir.
