Doris Dragovic spoke candidly about her husband, a former water police officer: she discovered what makes him special and what she loves most about him

Croatian singer Doris Dragovic revealed how her 1997 hit "Tek iz navike" unexpectedly regained popularity after being adopted by the dressing room of football club Hajduk Split. In an interview with IN magazine following a recent concert at the Arsenal venue in Zadar, the artist explained that she could not fully account for the song's resurgence. She noted that while other hits like "Malo mi za sriću triba" and "Krivi ljudi" took two years to break through, this particular phenomenon defies easy explanation. According to one version of the story shared with her, the track was frequently played by her niece, Iris Livaja, and her husband, former Croatian international striker Marko Livaja. Their repeated listening of the song reportedly led to its adoption by the Hajduk players during celebrations. Dragovic, who has filled concert halls for decades, discussed her life away from the stage. Although audiences expect glamour, high heels, and formal dresses, she prefers simplicity at home. She described her private attire as training pants, sneakers, and hair tied up. Her daily routine involves professional mentoring of young people and caring for animals. She feeds a seagull, pigeons, and a cat twice a day. Zadar holds special significance for her because family members live there, allowing her to escape the demands of everyday show business. The conversation also touched on her marriage to Mario Budimir, a former water polo player. They met in 1989 and married on April 28, 1990, at the Church of Saint Anthony on Poljud in Split. They have a son named Borna, whom they have shielded from excessive media attention. Budimir won a European championship title with the club Jadran during his sporting career. He rarely appears in public, but recently joined Dragovic on stage at a concert in Vinjicik. During the performance of the upbeat song "Srdela," he led the audience in singing. Dragovic praised his independent character and spontaneity, stating that she loves him for having his own will and system. Regarding her future repertoire, Dragovic admitted she had planned to focus exclusively on ballads and gentle songs upon reaching her sixties. However, audience demand forced a change. Fans began requesting lively tracks, prompting her to bring back "Srdela" to her setlist three years ago. She is currently 65 years old. She expressed gratitude for the energy received from concertgoers, citing faith and divine will as her primary driving forces. She recalled a specific incident where a young man attended a show wearing a t-shirt with a message stating that only she understood him. The sight amused her so much that she stopped singing mid-performance to laugh. Both Dragovic and the songwriter Pero Kozomara expressed happiness that their older hit found new life. The singer does not contemplate retiring from the stage. She stated that she will continue performing for her friends and fans as long as God wills it. Next year marks a major milestone for her career. She is scheduled to hold a large concert in the Zagreb Arena to celebrate 45 years in the music industry. Based on her comments, the audience will likely continue to influence which songs appear in her future performances. The unexpected journey of "Tek iz navike" serves as a current example of how fan culture can reshape an artist's legacy decades after release.