When Marko Perković Thompson wrapped up his concert at Zagreb’s Hipodrom, it wasn’t just any show. He’s the leader of his own army, and the crowd sang with him like there was no tomorrow. The concert ended with the song “Lijepa li si,” and with half a million tickets sold, this might be the biggest concert in the history of independent Croatia. But it wasn’t all just celebration and singing. While he performed, many were already heading for the exits to dodge the crowd — classic chaos at such events.
Thompson didn’t just sing; he delivered a speech that stirred the pot. “We, the generation, believe we have the best history and the right to say we created the Croatian state,” he said, urging the youth to take responsibility and carry on his mission. “We old folks can now die peacefully, but you must stay awake and make Croatia proud and beautiful like dreams.”
This concert isn’t just a musical event; it’s a political and social phenomenon. Thompson is known for his patriotic and sometimes controversial views, and his audience is loyal and passionate. After Zagreb, he announced a spectacle at the Dalmatian Hipodrom in Sinj, the day after the Sinj Alka, heating up the atmosphere even more.
Is Thompson just a singer or a movement leader? Is his music a bridge or a wall between generations? Drop your thoughts — maybe you’ve got the answer to this nation-dividing question.
