Dalibor Petko reveals unknown details from his time with Oliver Dragojević: 'I thought I would sink into the ground from embarrassment'
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
In-depth
Sources not specified
Context piece
- Croatian presenter Dalibor Petko shared a touching anecdote about the late singer Oliver Dragojević on the eighth anniversary of his death.
- Petko revealed that Dragojević, despite disliking interviews, always made time for journalists, ensuring they could complete their work.
- He recalled an instance where Dragojević agreed to re-record an interview after the camera was accidentally turned off, demonstrating his professionalism and kindness.
On the eighth anniversary of the death of legendary Croatian singer Oliver Dragojević, presenter Dalibor Petko shared a previously unknown story that highlights the artist's exceptional character.
Petko, who has been in the media for over 20 years, stated he has never met anyone like Dragojević. He recounted how, early in his career, he assumed Dragojević enjoyed the constant calls from journalists. However, he later learned from people close to the singer that Dragojević actually found the interviews tiresome and preferred his peace.
Petko, if we must, we'll get it all done.
Despite this, Dragojević never showed his displeasure. Petko recalled apologizing for calling, only for Dragojević to respond, "Petko, if we must, we'll get it all done." This willingness to accommodate, even when inconvenienced, left a lasting impression.
In my job, which I've been doing for 20-something years, there has never been anyone like him. And it's absolutely clear why we all miss him.
Petko further illustrated Dragojević's generosity with an anecdote about a young colleague doing a "silly summer story." When Petko questioned her choice to call Dragojević for such a topic, she said he had seemed to enjoy it. This experience led Petko to realize that Dragojević's professionalism meant he never let journalists know if he was bothered, always helping them complete their tasks.
In a particularly striking example, Petko and a cameraman were re-interviewing Dragojević when the cameraman realized he had accidentally turned off the camera at the beginning of the recording. Expecting Dragojević to be upset, Petko was instead met with a calm, "Okay, let's do it again." Petko concluded that Dragojević's ability to make everyone feel comfortable and his enduring kindness are why he is so missed.
Okay, let's do it again.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
