Dino was best-known to the public as a musician, more so than an actor, as he only took sporadic forays into acting over the years. His music had originally made him famous, earning him wide popularity across the regions of the former Yugoslavia. In the early 1980s, Dino and his brother Dean founded Kineski zid in 1980(Chinese wall or Great wall), a pop band named after the building in which the Dvornik family lived at that time in Split. It was the first domestic funk record released in Croatia. He had been a perfectionist by reputation, who would lock himself in the studio for months. However, differences between the interests of the band members and the public led the band to an early breakup.
Dvornik's influences included James Brown, Stevie Wonder and other funk artists. His unique style of music earned him the monikers "King of Funk" and "Funk Daddy". Dino was also known for his changing haircuts and his taste for stylish and trendy clothes. He was a born entertainer, who would keep his fans amused during and in between songs, making sure nobody would leave his shows unhappy.
He is one of the rare artists of the former Yugoslavia who maintained his popularity in the region after the wars. Dvornik had been emerging on the Yugoslav music scene when the war broke out. Privately, he had been praised by many for his honesty, and friendship in the true sense of the word, and he also had fans all over the world, particularly amongst people originating from the former Yugoslavia. Dvornik would play shows all over Europe and in the U.S. His biggest hit amongst many, arguably, is "Afrika" (taken from the album "Enfant terrible" (1997). His down-to-earth, endearing attitude was much appreciated by his fans. Dino was described as being friendly to all, often walking and living his life in full public view; never turning away from the attention of fans, and even joining them socially in the bars and cafés.
His popularity was built on a combination of intelligent song lyrics and energetic, wild stage performances. In this early stage of his career, he chose his haircut and outfit to resemble Morrissey from The Smiths. At Zagreb Fest in 1988 Dino first made a name for himself when he received the award for best debutant for his song "Tebi pripadam" (I Belong To You). The very same year, he released his first solo album, self titled "Dino Dvornik" followed by "Kreativni nered" (Creative Disorder) in 1989. Both became huge hits and made him a superstar in short time. After two other good albums, a studio and a live album, which went unnoticed because of the war in his country, Dino finally switched from funk to house music in the mid 1990s. His best-known song from that period is an ode to his hometown Split, Ništa kontra Splita, which he performed at the prestigious Split Music Festival in 1995, and eventually he won the main award for it. Dino released "Enfant Terrible" in 1997, his best selling and most awarded album to date. He has won several Porins, the most famous Croatian music award. Although he loved his hometown Split, he was living mainly in the Croatian capital of Zagreb for professional reasons. Dino was a supporter of Croatian football giants Hajduk Split.
Dvornik frequently expressed that the breakup of Yugoslavia had consequences on his album sales, since the market decreased and people focused on other music styles and different artists in their new originated countries during and after the war. He stood his ground on a smaller market against people who thought he was too unpredictable. The quality of his music always managed to prevail obstacles like these during his career.
He would rearrange parts on his tracks until everything was the way he thought was well enough to be shared with his fans. Dvornik was always anxious for his albums to be produced in high standard quality, something he was famous for ever since his early days in music. His most notable collaborations with other music artists in his country include those with Croatian music diva Josipa Lisac, and his Montenegrin counterpart and close friend, Rambo Amadeus. In his last years, Dvornik would often get behind the turntables and deejay in various clubs.
Over the years he became the subject of the media spotlight for allegedly struggling with substance abuse. He made several attempts at drug withdrawal and even though he succeeded each time, he admitted that the drugs had ruined his health and made his life a mess. Although he was a caring husband and loving father, he would still attend parties. Dino tended to create a warm atmosphere wherever he went, putting people instantly in a good mood. There have been many rumours about Dino Dvornik, mostly about his substance abuse and other shocking incidents such as apparently urinating on jury members from a gallery at an award show in the late 1990s as he did not approve with their selection of artists to be honoured. At a similar public event he was spotted running around in underwear in order to state his disgust towards the hypocrisy and petty bourgeoisie of some people attending the show.
In 2004 he starred in the movie A Wonderful Night in Split portraying a Split drug lord. The same year he became one of the first Croatian celebrities to start writing his own blog. He was later joined by his wife and his modelling daughter in doing so.
In 2006, he and his family became the stars of a Croatian reality show, Dvornikovi (The Dvorniks), an entertaining show in the manner of The Osbournes.
In 2008, Dino was working on his forthcoming album, Pandorina kutija (Pandora's Box). The album was nearing completion. He had already released the first single for the summer, Hipnotiziran (Hypnotized). The album is due for release in October 2008.
On September 7, 2008, just 18 days following the celebration of his 44th birthday, Dino died in his bed. He had overdosed on tablets on Hepatitis C that he was suffering from, and had been depressed greatly. The police have done an inspection, and found many anti-depressants in the house. His wife Danijela found him dead in bed in their apartment at 11:00. Three days later, Dino was buried at the Mirogoj cemetery in Zagreb.
Ja Bih Preživio
Dino Dvornik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dušo, tebi treba promjena
Al' takav kreten znaj
Da loša mi je zamjena
Ma zar ne vidiš da si
Uprskala cijeli život svoj
Zar stvarno ne znaš
Ja bih preživio
To što me varaš ti
Al' tog kretena
Neću ti oprostiti
I ove noći budno pratim
Koga odvodiš u park
Sa kim si stupila u odnos
Gledam kao manijak
Dok on te ljubi
Ja te posmatram iz grmova
Kako rukom prolaziš
Kroz dlakava mu koljena
The lyrics of Dino Dvornik's song Ja Bih Preživio talks about a man who is aware that his partner needs a change but cannot accept the fact that she has chosen another man who is not the right match for her. He understands her predicament and that she needs to move on but believes that the new guy is not a suitable replacement for him. He continues to observe his partner's activities, including who she spends time with, and becomes obsessed with winning her back. He watches her intimate moments with her new guy, concealed in the bushes, which shows his desperation.
The song is highly emotional and depicts a situation that many people may have experienced at some point in their lives. The lyrics capture the pain, heartbreak, and confusion that this man feels. Dino Dvornik, through his music, demonstrates how it is normal to feel such in a similar scenario and how one can stake time to heal.
Line by Line Meaning
Ja sve razumjem
I understand everything
Dušo, tebi treba promjena
Baby, you need a change
Al' takav kreten znaj
But find a jerk like him
Da loša mi je zamjena
That he's a bad replacement for me
Ma zar ne vidiš da si
Don't you see that you are
Uprskala cijeli život svoj
Ruining your whole life
Zar stvarno ne znaš
Do you really not know
Da ja imam sve što ima on
That I have everything he has
Ja bih preživio
I would've survived
To što me varaš ti
What you're cheating on me with
Al' tog kretena
But that jerk
Neću ti oprostiti
I won't forgive you
I ove noći budno pratim
And tonight I watch closely
Koga odvodiš u park
Who you're taking to the park
Sa kim si stupila u odnos
Who you're getting involved with
Gledam kao manijak
Watching like a maniac
Dok on te ljubi
While he kisses you
Ja te posmatram iz grmova
I'm watching you from the bushes
Kako rukom prolaziš
As you run your hand
Kroz dlakava mu koljena
Over his hairy knees
Contributed by Colton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@andreabakic203
Dino, fališ još uvijek svima nama koji te obožavamo slušat. Vjerujem da gore sve duše zabavljaš u svom funky ritmu!! 🙂 Sretan ti 58. rođendan, na nekom puno boljem mjestu za tebe! 🥰❤
@bom2646
Dino, živ si ti u našim srcima I dan danas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@azer_sa8356
Sto vise ovakvih spotova,samo buditi sjecanja na jednog i jedinog Dinu Dvornika!!!
@babajagica2208
Stvar je vječna... Fala ti Dino.. Da nije tebe bilo život bi mi bil jad i bijeda 🙏💪😘
@R1DER420
Ovo je 10/10 Pravo Splitski🔥
@markovisic7244
Evo kralja funky ritma u nas!!!
@sladjanapopovic4020
A stvarno je kralj. I mi slušamo samo kraljevsku muziku večeras!?😀🎶
@markovisic7244
@Sladjana Popovic Tako izgleda!!! 😎👑
@sladjanapopovic4020
@Marko Visić , tako je uvek kad ti predlažeš! 👍👍👍
@katarina8163
Legendarni Dino 👍👍👍