Vidovdan – the song that became the second anthem of the Serbian people, was born under unusual circumstances and deep inspiration. Milutin Popović Zahar, the composer and lyricist, revealed that he wrote the song in just five hours, inspired by a strange vision and divine inspiration. It all started when the director of PGP called him to create ten songs about Kosovo for the anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo. Zahar admitted that at the time he had a terrible fever and didn’t know what he was doing, but then he saw an old man resembling Patriarch Pavle, which gave him strength and inspiration to finish the song.
The song was popularized by his ex-wife, singer Gordana Goca Lazarević, who said the song is always emotional for her and she sings it with tears in her eyes, no matter how many times she performs it. “Vidovdan” has become a staple in the repertoire of singers of all genres – from pop to classical – and is performed in Russia, Greece, Romania, Peru, and Cuba.
Interestingly, the song was first offered to Vesna Zmijanac, but she declined to sing it to avoid jeopardizing her Yugoslav popularity. Today, “Vidovdan” is considered the second anthem of the Serbian people, a symbol of history and spirituality, especially connected to Kosovo and Metohija. Goca Lazarević emphasized that the song is indelible and will forever remain part of Serbian identity.
If you thought this was just another patriotic song, think again! This is a story about divine inspiration, fate, and how one song can become the voice of a people. So, do you have your own “Vidovdan”? Or are you just another passerby in history? Share your thoughts, maybe you know an untold story about this legend!
