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 His music had originally made him famous, earning him wide popularity across the regions of the former Yugoslavia.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.
Nista Kontra Splita
Dino Dvornik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ovi put nije bilo zbog coce
Svud okolo kole bilo je stakla
Nije zbog Danijele nije zbog brata
Iz cista mira me vatija tip
I pocea vridat u lokalu
Ka da on ne voli moju glazbu
I neka lipo idem k vragu
A ja san sve trpija i mucija
Iskustvo je reklo bit ce tuca
Cinija san fintu da me nije briga
Dok mi nije pocea i Split spominjat
Onda je meni skocia zivac
Tip me tia isprovocirat
I onda sam mu zapiva sve po spisku
Nek čuje papan beštimju
I mos govorit kontra mene
I kontra cilog svita
Ma necu da cujen nista
Nista kontra Splita
I tako je onda pocela tuca
Bila je prava luda kuca
Katrige su letile medu svit
I onda su se tako umisali svi
I nisan tija ispalo je tako
Na njegovu jednu posla san ga u tri
A moglo je isto sve lipse zavrsit
Da mi nije na kraju spominia Split
Dino je ovaki, Dino je onaki
Posli su tako govorili svi
Dino je opet ispa kriv
I bit ce kriv dok je ziv
The lyrics to Dino Dvornik's song Nista Kontra Splita seem to describe a situation where the singer is drinking at a club, and gets into an argument with another man. The man seems to take issue with the singer's music and they get into a physical altercation. The singer initially tries to ignore the man's taunts but he becomes agitated when the other man mentions Split, which seems to be the singer's hometown. The fight then breaks out and becomes quite violent, with objects being thrown and people becoming involved.
The lyrics seem to be a critique of the culture of violence and aggression that can be prevalent in certain areas, particularly in the singer's hometown of Split. The repeated refrain of "nista kontra Splita" (nothing against Split) seems to suggest that despite the violence and aggression, the singer still feels a strong attachment and loyalty to his hometown.
Overall, the lyrics to Nista Kontra Splita seem to be a commentary on the complicated and often fraught relationship between identity, pride, and violence in certain cultural contexts.
Line by Line Meaning
Jucer su opet letile boce
Yesterday, bottles were flying again.
Ovi put nije bilo zbog coce
This time, it was not because of a girl named Coce.
Svud okolo kole bilo je stakla
Glass was everywhere on the ground.
Nije zbog Danijele nije zbog brata
It wasn't because of Danijela or Brat (names).
Iz cista mira me vatija tip
Suddenly, a guy caught me off guard.
I pocea vridat u lokalu
He started making a scene in the bar.
Ka da on ne voli moju glazbu
As if he doesn't like my music.
I neka lipo idem k vragu
He asked me to leave.
A ja san sve trpija i mucija
I endured all the suffering.
Iskustvo je reklo bit ce tuca
Experience told me there would be a fight.
Cinija san fintu da me nije briga
I acted like I didn't care.
Dok mi nije pocea i Split spominjat
Until he started mentioning Split (city).
Onda je meni skocia zivac
Then I got angry.
Tip me tia isprovocirat
He wanted to provoke me.
I onda sam mu zapiva sve po spisku
So I sang everything on my list to him.
Nek čuje papan beštimju
Let him hear some curse words.
I mos govorit kontra mene
You can talk against me.
I kontra cilog svita
And against the whole world.
Ma necu da cujen nista
But I won't listen to anything.
Nista kontra Splita
Nothing against Split (city).
I tako je onda pocela tuca
So the fight started.
Bila je prava luda kuca
It was a real crazy house.
Katrige su letile medu svit
Bullets were flying around.
I onda su se tako umisali svi
And then everyone got involved.
I nisan tija ispalo je tako
I didn't want it to end like that.
Na njegovu jednu posla san ga u tri
I hit him three times for his one punch.
A moglo je isto sve lipse zavrsit
It could have ended much nicer.
Da mi nije na kraju spominia Split
If he hadn't mentioned Split in the end.
Dino je ovaki, Dino je onaki
People talk about me this way or that way.
Posli su tako govorili svi
Everyone was saying the same thing.
Dino je opet ispa kriv
And once again, I was blamed.
I bit ce kriv dok je ziv
And will be blamed as long as I'm alive.
Contributed by Lauren L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stefanjuventino7828
uuuuuu brateeeeeeeeeee iz Srbije sam,ali ekserijanje ne moze da prodje bez Splita i pokojnoga Dina legende! Pozdrav Hrvati,zivi i zdravi bili!
@asderdsaer
Živ jr Moskri umra nije !!! Pozdrav iz Splita.
@ivam2100
Toooo legendoo <3
@5gramapaste461
Pozdrav Srbiji od SPLITSKI HOOLIGANA
@captainsoilder3960
ovaki govor more uvik da prođe!
@ivanstipica2514
Nije dino umra njegov duh je u nama svima koji smoga voljeli pozdrav iz splita
@ivankatomovic
Iz Srbije sam, ali ova pesma mu je fantastična, obožavam je. Dino je večan!
@Kokolo-ze2cp
Pa naravno, Hrvatska glazba je uvik bila najbolja u regiji.
@jadrankahorvat5420
E, razumijem te. Tako ja volim Zlatibore pitaj Taru i sve pjesme o Moravi iako južno od Beograda nikad nisam bila.
Pozdrav svima koji čitaju.
Obozavam tu sumadijsku dvojki braćo moja !!!!!!!
Svaka cast. Kod nas kad su svatovi, krenu s domaćom glazbom, ali nem veselja i hvatanja za novčanik dok se ne čuje sumafijski melos.
Volimo vas. I tocka.
Političari, hebite se !!!!!!!
@lukabegovic4399
Koga boli k od kud si mi slusamo vasu i vi nasu