country
Croatia
Klapa harmony, new wave poetry, and pop that owns the Adriatic summer.
Top 10 Hitlist
The defining tracks from this region
Smooth Criminal
2Cellos2Cellos are Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser, two classically trained cellists whose shredding cover of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal went viral in 2011 and launched a global career. They toured the world with Elton John, headlined arenas from Tokyo to New York, and made the cello a rock instrument for a generation of viewers. They remain the most internationally recognized Croatian act of the streaming era.
Croatia packs an outsized musical range into four million people. Dalmatia gave it klapa, the UNESCO-listed a cappella tradition, and the festival pop of Oliver Dragojević and Mišo Kovač that every generation still sings by heart. Zagreb answered with novi val, the most revered new wave scene of former Yugoslavia, while Slavonia kept the tamburica string bands ringing. Since independence the country has produced arena rock anthems, cro-dance, Split hip-hop, and Eurovision moments from Doris Dragović to Baby Lasagna.
Frequently Asked Questions
What music is Croatia known for?+
Croatia is known for klapa, the UNESCO-listed a cappella tradition of Dalmatia, and for zabavna glazba, the festival pop canon built by voices like Oliver Dragojević and Mišo Kovač. Zagreb's novi val scene made Croatian new wave the most celebrated in former Yugoslavia, Slavonia contributed the tamburica string-band sound, and modern Croatia exports everything from Severina's pop to 2Cellos' classical crossover.
What is klapa singing?+
Klapa is traditional multipart a cappella singing from Dalmatia, on Croatia's Adriatic coast. Small groups, historically of men, harmonize songs about love, the sea, and home, with the melody carried by the first tenor. UNESCO inscribed klapa on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2012, and modern ensembles like Tomislav Bralić i klapa Intrade fill arenas with it today.
Who are the most famous Croatian musicians?+
Oliver Dragojević is Croatia's most beloved voice, and Mišo Kovač is the best-selling artist of the former Yugoslavia. Internationally, the cello duo 2Cellos and pop star Severina carry the flag, while Baby Lasagna's Eurovision 2024 runner-up Rim Tim Tagi Dim became a global streaming hit. In rock, Prljavo Kazalište and Parni Valjak have filled stadiums for decades.
What was the Croatian new wave (novi val)?+
Novi val was the Croatian arm of the Yugoslav new wave, centered on Zagreb from roughly 1979 to the mid 1980s. Bands like Azra, Haustor, and Film mixed punk energy, reggae, and art rock with sharp, poetic lyrics about everyday life in socialist Yugoslavia. It is still considered the most influential era of Croatian rock, and Azra's Branimir Štulić is quoted like a poet.
Has Croatia ever won the Eurovision Song Contest?+
Not yet as an independent country, but it has come close twice. Riva, a band from Zadar, won the 1989 contest for Yugoslavia with Rock Me, and Baby Lasagna finished second in 2024 with Rim Tim Tagi Dim while winning the public televote. Other notable Croatian entries include Doris Dragović's Marija Magdalena (1999), Severina's Moja štikla (2006), and Let 3's Mama ŠČ! (2023).
Last reviewed: 2026-07
Sources & References
- 1Sounds of the Borderland: Popular Music, War and Nationalism in Croatia since 1991 — Catherine Baker, 2010Book
- 2Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960-2006 — Petar Janjatović, 2007Book
- 3Klapa multipart singing of Dalmatia, Southern Croatia — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2012
- 4Baby Lasagna: the Croatian Eurovision phenomenon of 2024 — BBC News, 2024
- 5Music of Croatia — Wikipedia, 2026
Further Reading
About This Article
This page is based on documented music history, artist biographies, chart data, award records, and cross-referenced sources from music journalism and academic research.
Curated by the timeline.music editorial team.