Fourteen years after the acclaimed sevdah ensemble Divanhana released its timeless interpretation of the traditional song “Crven fesić,” the band has now unveiled a brand-new contemporary version of this legendary sevdah classic.
Back in 2014, during the wave of excitement surrounding the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team’s appearance at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Divanhana succeeded in bringing traditional Bosnian-Herzegovinian music closer to international audiences through the song “Zvijezda tjera mjeseca.” At the time, the song attracted attention from both domestic and international media as a unique example of connecting sporting spirit and cultural tradition through sevdah music.
“We may not possess the wealth of numerous cultural institutions and systems, but what
Bosnia and Herzegovina unquestionably has is a culture of togetherness and sincere support for sporting success. Back in 2014, through the world’s biggest sporting stage — the FIFA World Cup — we managed to introduce the spirit of sevdah to the world. On that occasion, together with the Dragons, we also created a music video for the song ‘Zvijezda tjera mjeseca.’ Today, twelve years later, we continue that journey with even greater dedication and vision, especially considering the fact that sevdalinka has recently become part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage” said Selma Droce, lead vocalist of Divanhana.
The new version of “Crven fesić” introduces a modern production approach incorporating elements of electronic EDM sound, representing yet another innovative step in the band’s artistic evolution. The group explains that this release serves as an introduction to a broader musical project that will include new interpretations of some of their most recognizable songs, which will be presented throughout the summer as part of a new EP release.
“Divanhana is certainly striving to bring traditional music closer to contemporary global musical trends. Sevdalinka has always lived alongside society, evolving with time and reflecting the spirit of every era it passes through. The new version of ‘Crven fesić’ is only one fragment of a much larger musical mosaic — featuring new interpretations of traditional songs, as well as original music that will appear on our upcoming EP. The project was realized in collaboration with producers from the Netherlands, Germany, and France, with the idea of presenting tradition in a way that communicates with contemporary audiences” Selma added.
Starting from the idea that sevdalinka has always accompanied modern life and authentically reflected the spirit of its time and place, and inspired by the current excitement surrounding the qualification of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national football team for the FIFA World Cup, Divanhana points out that “Crven fesić” naturally emerged as one of the symbols of this football euphoria. This is especially evident considering that the song has for years been spontaneously sung by fans in the stadium stands during Bosnia and Herzegovina national team matches.
“We are aware that people connect most deeply with music that carries the imprint of time, place, and collective emotion. That is exactly why, in moments of sporting euphoria, songs by some of the greatest authors and performers from our region come back to life once again — with traditional melodies occupying a very special place among them. Today, fans sing ‘Crven fesić’ in the stands, modernized with new lyrics and supporter emotions: ‘Da ga hoće zabit Džeko, oj nano nanice.’ And we sincerely believe and hope that this is exactly what will happen at the World Cup” concluded Selma Droce.
“Crven fesić RMX” is now available on all major streaming platforms and can be accessed
here: https://bfan.link/crven-fesic-rmx
