Miše Kovač dies at 85 — hit "Ostala si uvijek ista" and the woman behind it
The Croatian singer died at his home in Split; the ballad was dedicated to Slobodana Agica Gržetić and premiered at the 1975 Split festival.
Legendary Croatian singer Miše Kovač has died at his home in Split at the age of 85, leaving behind a career defined by mass devotion and a string of timeless hits. His signature ballad "Ostala si uvijek ista" remains one of the defining songs of popular music across the region.
Life, song and the woman behind the lyrics
Although Kovač recorded hundreds of songs, the ballad "Ostala si uvijek ista" became his personal calling card. The song was inspired by a real-life encounter and was dedicated to Slobodana Agica Gržetić, a Belgrade native with roots in Rijeka — a detail later revealed by her daughter, Maja Stanimirović.
The encounter that sparked the song happened years earlier on the island of Krk, when Agica visited her parents with her child. The music and arrangement were composed by Đorđe Novković, while the lyrics were written by Željko Sabol. The song premiered at the Split festival in 1975 and later triumphed at the "Hit parada" in Belgrade.
Kovač was known for his commanding stage presence: at times he did not even need to sing to move an audience — a raised hand could be enough for packed halls from the Vardar to Triglav to sing along to his lines.
Following news of his death, attention turned to funeral arrangements. Kovač had previously expressed a wish to be buried in his native Šibenik, though Zagreb has also been mentioned as a possible site, depending on decisions and the availability of a place in the Alley of Greats.
Fans across the region are already mourning the death of an artist who shaped generations with his emotional repertoire; details about official commemorations and the funeral are expected to be confirmed by the family in the coming days.
Photo: press material from the event
