While the Dragons were writing the most beautiful pages of BiH football at the World Cup, one song became more than a fan anthem. “I’m from Bosnia, take me to America” was heard in squares, stadiums, streets, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, America and around the world. Few people knew that her most recognizable sound originated in Bihać. More than fifteen years ago, it was played on the banks of the Una. Today it is played by a new generation of young musicians, proud that their teacher is behind the melody that accompanied the greatest success of our national team.
This sound marked a summer that Bosnia and Herzegovina will never forget. He followed the greatest success of our national team, resounding in stadiums, streets and squares around the world. Millions have sung it, and few know that its story begins on the banks of the Una, after the Dubioza kolektiv concert in Bihać.
The origin of the melody at Uni
“About 15 years ago, when they had a concert in Bihać, they sent me some parts that I should play. The next day, after their concert, we found ourselves in the studio of our Džavid and Donna Ares, who, unfortunately, left us too soon,” says Adnan Busuladžić, professor of clarinet and saxophone at the Nusret Keskin Art School – Braco Bihać.
While the Dragons are an inspiration to boys who dream of football stadiums, Adnan Busuladžić is an inspiration to those who dream of big music stages. It proves that great talent does not know small environments.
“This is my motivation to continue and one day come to that stage as big as my professor,” emphasizes Ishak Čirić, a student of the Nusret Keskin – Braco Bihać High School of Art.
“This is proof to me that quality can always be in Bihać, that small tones can be heard all over the world,” argues student Amrun Osmancevic.
A new generation of musicians from Bihać
Today, this distinctive melody is played by a whole new generation of musicians from Bihać, who grow up with the story that a few beats played right here became part of a song sung by the whole world.
“I see it as a great success for our city, it’s a very big thing, the song has become very famous, now we all know how to play it. Simply a huge thing for our city,” says student Faris Ramić.
“This motivates me a lot, that I can and know about the future, that I progress and that I never give up on my goal,” says student Adin Tutić.
Music that lives through generations
For his students, this is motivation, and for Busuladžić, confirmation that art lives much longer than the moment in which it is created.
“It’s nice to hear some of the tunes that were played here in Bihać being heard all over the world, that that theme is essentially recognizable. And I never remember from the café, the car, I don’t even know where that theme, that song is heard. Of course, a person is happy about it,” concludes Adnan Busuladžić.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the World Cup is over, but the song that marked it will live on for a long time. At the first bars, everyone will remember the summer when a small country won the hearts of millions of people around the world. And in Bihać, they will be proud to know that part of that story began right here, according to Federalna.
