View source for Goran Bregović

{{Short description|Bosnian musician and composer (born 1950)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox person <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name               = Goran Bregović
| image              = 20220710-Rudolstadt-Festival-2022-Goran-Bregovic-7849 (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Bregović in 2022
| alias              = Brega
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1950|03|22|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Sarajevo]], [[Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|PR Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|FPR Yugoslavia]]
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| nationality        = [[Yugoslavs|Yugoslav]]
| citizenship        = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|composer|film score composer}}
| years_active       = 1969–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|Dženana Sudžuka|1993}}
| children           = 4
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = 
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
|background          = non_vocal_instrumentalist
|instrument          = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|bass|percussion}} 
|genre               = {{hlist|[[Rock music|Rock]]|[[jazz rock]]|[[folk rock]]|[[world music|world]]|[[film score]]}} 
|label               =
|associated_acts     = {{hlist|[[Bijelo Dugme]]|[[Kodeksi]]|[[Jutro (Sarajevo band)|Jutro]]|[[Kayah (singer)|Kayah]]|[[Cesária Évora]]|[[Iggy Pop]]}} 
|website             = {{URL|www.goranbregovic.rs}}
}}
}}
'''Goran Bregović''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Горан Бреговић}}; born 22 March 1950) is a recording artist from [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].{{refn|group="nb"|Goran Bregović was born in [[Sarajevo]], [[Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|PR Bosnia and Herzegovina]], then a republic of [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]. His father was an ethnic [[Croats|Croat]], while his mother was [[Serbs|Serb]]. He is a Serbian citizen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Otac mi je bio Hrvat, majka Srpkinja, moja žena je muslimanka. U koga da uperim pušku? Nemam koga da mrzim|publisher=Novosti|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/scena.147.html:546806-Otac-mi-je-bio-Hrvat-majka-Srpkinja-moja-zena-je-muslimanka-U-koga-da-uperim-pusku-Nemam-koga-da-mrzim}}</ref> A [[Yugo-nostalgia|Yugo-nostalgic]], after the war he said that he "could only be a [[Yugoslavs|Yugoslav]]".<ref name="glasjavnosti-sep-2000"/> He has stated that he "is not enough Serb to be a Serb, nor enough Croat to be a Croat, and not even [[Bosnians|Bosnian]] enough".<ref>{{cite news|title=Bregović: Nisam Hrvat, Srbin, a ni Bosanac, to je moj izbor|newspaper=Blic|url=http://www.blic.rs/zabava/vesti/bregovic-nisam-hrvat-srbin-a-ni-bosanac-to-je-moj-izbor/1q307p6}}</ref>}} He is one of the most internationally known modern musicians and composers of the [[South Slavs|Slavic]] speaking countries in the [[Balkans]], and one of the few [[Yugoslavia#New states|former Yugoslav]] musicians who have performed at major international venues such as [[Carnegie Hall]], [[Royal Albert Hall]] and [[L'Olympia]].

A [[Sarajevo]] native, Bregović started out with the bands [[Kodeksi]] and [[Jutro (Sarajevo band)|Jutro]], but rose to prominence as the main creative mind and lead guitarist of [[Bijelo Dugme]], widely considered one of the most popular and influential recording acts ever to exist in the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]. After Bijelo Dugme split up, he embarked on several critically and commercially successful solo projects, and started composing film scores. Among his better known film scores are three of [[Emir Kusturica]]'s films (''[[Time of the Gypsies]]'', ''[[Arizona Dream]]'' and ''[[Underground (1995 film)|Underground]]''). For ''Time of the Gypsies'', Bregović won a [[Golden Arena for Best Film Music|Golden Arena Award]] at the [[Pula Film Festival]] in 1990, among other awards. He has also composed for the [[67th Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-nominated film ''[[La Reine Margot (1994 film)|La Reine Margot]]'' and the [[1997 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]-entered film ''[[The Serpent's Kiss]]''.

During his five-decade career, Bregović has composed for critically acclaimed singers, including [[Sezen Aksu]], [[Kayah (singer)|Kayah]], [[Iggy Pop]], [[Šaban Bajramović]], [[George Dalaras]] and [[Cesária Évora]].

==Early life==
Born in [[Sarajevo]], [[Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|PR Bosnia-Herzegovina]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|FPR Yugoslavia]] to a [[Croats|Croatian]] father Franjo Bregović and [[Serbs|Serbian]] mother Borka Perišić,<ref>[http://www.yurope.com/nasa-borba/arhiva/Maj97/1805/1805_15.HTM Strogo kontrolisano disidentstvo];''Naša Borba'', 18 May 1997</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goranbregovic.rs/biography/|title=Goran Bregovic|website=www.goranbregovic.rs|access-date=2020-04-03}}</ref> Goran grew up with two younger siblings—brother Predrag and sister Dajana. Their father was from the Croatian region of [[Prigorje]], specifically [[Sveti Petar Čvrstec]] village near [[Križevci]], while their mother was born in [[Virovitica]] to parents that had shortly before her birth arrived in the nearby village of [[Čemernica, Croatia|Čemernica]], settling there from the village of [[Kazanci, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Kazanci]] near [[Gacko]] in [[East Herzegovina]].

Goran's maternal grandfather fought in the [[Royal Serbian Army]] at the [[Macedonian front|Salonica front]] during [[World War I]] and as a reward received land in [[Slavonia]], where he soon moved his family.<ref name="vreme-dec-2012">{{cite news|last1=Grujić|first1=Nenad|last2=Nikčević|first2=Tamara|url=http://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=1090566|title=Cigani, juriš!|agency=[[Vreme]]|date=27 December 2012|access-date=6 September 2015|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101020126/http://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=1090566|url-status=dead}}</ref> When the [[World War II|Second World War]] began, Goran's grandfather joined the [[Yugoslav Partisans]], and his grandmother, two uncles, aunt and mother were taken to the [[Jasenovac concentration camp]], where at the gate of the camp they were exchanged for some captured Germans. The family arrived in Serbia whilst his grandmother supported the children throughout the war by smuggling tobacco from Herzegovina. She jumped off the train before entering the Belgrade train station. Goran's maternal uncle was Serb [[priest]] and [[Chetniks|Chetnik]] leader [[Radojica Perišić]] (1906 - April 1945), one of the main leaders of the [[June 1941 uprising in eastern Herzegovina]] during World War II. During the war he was commander of the Chetnik Gacko Brigade, who were the first guerrilla force in Nazi-occupied Europe to liberate territory. Perišić was killed by the [[Ustashe|Ustaše]] in April 1945.<ref>{{Cite web |last=d.o.o |first=cubes |title=Cigani, juriš! - Vreme |url=https://vreme.com/vreme/cigani-juris/ |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=vreme.com/ |language=sr-RS}}</ref>

Franjo Bregović fought on the [[Yugoslav Partisans|Partisan]] side during [[World War II in Yugoslavia|World War II]]. Shortly after the war, he attended a [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) military school in Virovitica, a town where he met Goran's mother, Borka.<ref name="vreme-dec-2012"/> Franjo Bregović soon landed his first job, teaching [[ballistics]] at a military school in Sarajevo, so the couple moved there.<ref name="vreme-dec-2012"/> Goran, their first child, was born in 1950 in Sarajevo.<ref name="vreme-dec-2012" />

Goran was 10 years old when his parents divorced. In later interviews, he mentioned his father's [[alcoholism]] as the reason for the breakdown of their marriage.<ref name="vreme-dec-2012"/> Soon after the split, his father moved to [[Livno]], taking Goran's younger brother Predrag with him while Goran remained living with his mother in Sarajevo, visiting his father and brother every summer in Livno.<ref name="vreme-dec-2012"/> Their father soon retired and eventually moved back to his home village in [[Hrvatsko Zagorje|Zagorje]] while Goran's brother Predrag later moved back to Sarajevo for university studies.<ref name="vreme-dec-2012"/>

Goran played violin in a [[music school]]. However, deemed untalented, he was thrown out during second grade. His musical education was thus reduced to what his friend taught him until Goran's mother bought him his first guitar in his early teens. Bregović wanted to enroll in a fine arts high school, but his aunt told his mother that it was supposedly full of homosexuals, which precipitated his mother's decision to send him to a technical (traffic) school. As a compromise for not getting his way, she allowed him to grow his hair long.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://business-review.eu/news/goran-bregovic-and-wedding-and-funeral-orchestra-in-concert-at-bucharest-on-friday-september-30-111651|title = Goran Bregovic and Wedding and funeral orchestra in concert at Bucharest on Friday, September 30|date = 6 July 2016}}</ref>

==Early career==
Upon entering high school, teenage Bregović joined the school band Izohipse, where he began on bass guitar. Soon, however, he was kicked out of that school too (this time for misbehavior – he crashed into a school-owned [[Mercedes-Benz]]). Bregović then entered grammar school and its school band Beštije (again as a bass guitar player). When he was 16, his mother left him and moved to the coast, meaning that other than having a few relatives to rely on, he mostly had to take care of himself. He did that by playing [[folk music]] in a [[kafana]] in [[Konjic]], working on construction sites, and selling newspapers.

Spotting him at a Beštije gig in 1969, [[Željko Bebek]] invited eighteen-year-old Bregović to play bass guitar in his band [[Kodeksi]], which Goran gladly accepted.

===Kodeksi===
{{Main|Kodeksi}}

Eventually, Kodeksi shifted setup so Bregović moved from bass to lead guitar, resulting in Kodeksi having the following line-up during summer 1970: Goran Bregović, Željko Bebek, [[Zoran Redžić]] and [[Milić Vukašinović]]. All of them would eventually become members of [[Bijelo Dugme]] at some point in the future. At the time, they were largely influenced by [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Black Sabbath]]. During the fall of 1970, this resulted in the departure of Željko Bebek, who (both as rhythm guitar player and singer) got phased out of the band. At the end of the year, Goran's mother and Zoran's brother arrived in [[Naples]] and took them back to [[Sarajevo]].

===Jutro===
{{Main|Jutro (Sarajevo band)}}

In the autumn of 1971, Bregović enrolled at the [[University of Sarajevo]]'s Faculty of Philosophy, studying philosophy and sociology. He soon quit, however. At the same time, [[Milić Vukašinović]] left for London, so Bregović formed a band with Nuno Arnautalić called [[Jutro (Sarajevo band)|Jutro]] (Morning), which Redžić soon joined as well. Over the next few years, the band changed line-ups frequently, and on 1 January 1974 modified its name to [[Bijelo Dugme]] ("White Button").

==Bijelo Dugme==
{{Main|Bijelo Dugme}}
[[File:Bregovic - portret - 1980.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Bregović in 1980 during [[Bijelo Dugme]]'s new wave phase]]

From 1974 to 1989, Bregović played lead guitar and was the main creative force behind Bijelo Dugme. For years they stood as one of the most popular bands in [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]. Just as with Jutro previously, he continued as Bijelo Dugme's undisputed leader and decision-maker as well as its public face in the Yugoslav print and electronic media once the band started taking off commercially.

Over the band's fifteen-year run, in addition to their enormous popularity at home, led by Bregović, Bijelo Dugme made several attempts at expanding their prominence outside of Yugoslavia. In late 1975, while recording their second album, ''[[Šta bi dao da si na mom mjestu]]'', in [[London]], they additionally recorded an [[English language]] track called "Playing the Part" (translated version of their [[Serbo-Croatian language|Serbo-Croatian]] track "Šta bi dao da si na mom mjestu", itself an uncredited cover of [[Argent (band)|Argent]]'s 1972 track "[[All Together Now (Argent album)|I Am the Dance of Ages]]") that was packaged as a [[promo single]] for English music journalists. Never officially released for mass distribution, the track quickly fell into oblivion.

Bijelo Dugme had somewhat better luck with touring abroad, which almost entirely took place in the [[Eastern Bloc]] countries as part of their respective [[Cultural diplomacy|cultural exchange]] programs with SFR Yugoslavia. The band briefly toured the [[Polish People's Republic]] during April 1977, a 9-concert leg as part of the tour in support of their third album, ''[[Eto! Baš hoću!]]''.<ref name="novosti-dugme-poljska-jun-2005">{{cite news|last=Vesić|first=Dušan|url=https://www.novosti.rs/dodatni_sadrzaj/clanci.119.html:277215-Skandal-u-Skenderiji|title=Skandal u "Skenderiji"|agency=[[Večernje novosti]]|date=8 June 2005|access-date=26 December 2019}}</ref> During their 10-day Polish tour, the band played two concerts on back-to-back nights in [[Warsaw]], followed by [[Olsztyn]], [[Zielona Góra]], three shows on back-to-back days in [[Poznań]], and finally two shows on the same day in [[Kalisz]].<ref name="novosti-dugme-poljska-jun-2005"/> While in Poland, they also shot a 30-minute television special for [[TVP3 Katowice]], a regional [[Katowice]]-based branch of the state-owned [[Telewizja Polska]]. Later that year, following the tour's culmination at a triumphant open-air concert at [[Košutnjak#Hajdučka Česma|Hajdučka Česma]] in Belgrade, Bregović went to serve his mandatory [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) stint. Assigned to a [[Niš]]-based unit, the twenty-seven-year-old reported for service on 3 November 1977 and would spend the following year away from music, a period during which the band was also on hiatus.<ref name="vlist-oct-2014">{{cite news|last=Bubalo|first=Robert|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/na-uzivanje-droge-pozivali-su-me-bebek-i-bregovic-964274|title=Na uživanje droge pozivali su me Bebek i Bregović|agency=[[Večernji list]]|date=2 October 2014|access-date=13 November 2020}}</ref>

During early 1982, as part of an event bringing together [[1976 Winter Olympics|past]] and [[1984 Winter Olympics|future]] Winter Olympic hosts, the band played in [[Innsbruck]], [[Austria]] as representatives of the city of [[Sarajevo]] and SFR Yugoslavia, the site of the upcoming [[Winter Olympics]].<ref name="novosti-dugme-insbruk-i-bugarska-jun-2005">{{cite news|last=Vesić|first=Dušan|url=https://www.novosti.rs/dodatni_sadrzaj/clanci.119.html:277218-Tezga-u-Bugarskoj|title=Tezga u Bugarskoj|agency=[[Večernje novosti]]|date=11 June 2005|access-date=26 December 2019}}</ref> On return to Yugoslavia from Innsbruck, the band had its baggage confiscated by the Yugoslav customs after [[customs declaration|undeclared]] musical equipment was found among their luggage.<ref name="novosti-dugme-insbruk-i-bugarska-jun-2005"/> Some six months later, during summer 1982, Bijelo Dugme went on an impromptu tour of the [[People's Republic of Bulgaria]], playing 41 shows throughout the country from 15 July to 31 August 1982.<ref name="novosti-dugme-insbruk-i-bugarska-jun-2005"/> Despite the tour in support of their latest studio album, ''[[Doživjeti stotu]]'', being over for more than a year, and having no new material to promote, the band reportedly accepted the tour of Bulgaria in order to recover some of the funds they had lost after getting fined by the Yugoslav customs over the attempt to bring undeclared musical equipment into the country.<ref name="novosti-dugme-insbruk-i-bugarska-jun-2005"/>

In summer 1985, following a decade of continuous rejection for tours of the [[Soviet Union]] by the cultural [[attaché]] of the Soviet embassy in Yugoslavia, Bijelo Dugme was finally approved and booked to play in [[Moscow]] on 28 July 1985, on the same bill with fellow Yugoslav rock act [[Bajaga i Instruktori]], at a huge open-air concert at [[Gorky Park (Moscow)|Gorky Park]] as part of the [[12th World Festival of Youth and Students]].<ref name="novosti-dugme-jun-2005">{{cite news|last=Vesić|first=Dušan|url=https://www.novosti.rs/dodatni_sadrzaj/clanci.119.html:277220-Skandal-u-Moskvi|title=Skandal u Moskvi|agency=[[Večernje novosti]]|date=13 June 2005|access-date=26 December 2019}}</ref> Ahead of the show, Bregović decided to sequester the band in [[Budva]] for two weeks in order to rehearse for the Moscow show, an indication of the seriousness with which they approached this particular concert.<ref name="novosti-dugme-jun-2005"/> However, once in Moscow, due to [[overcrowding]] at Gorky Park and resulting safety concerns, the event was interrupted around 10 p.m. after the Bajaga i Instruktori set before Bijelo Dugme even had a chance to take the stage.<ref name="novosti-dugme-jun-2005"/> Two days later on 30 July 1985, instead at the marquee Gorky Park in central Moscow, Bijelo Dugme got to play the Dynamo Arena on the city outskirts at an unpopular noon time slot.<ref name="novosti-dugme-jun-2005"/>

===Guest appearances, collaborations and business venture===
Between Bijelo Dugme's studio releases and tours, in-demand Bregović worked on various side projects in Yugoslavia. These included releasing a [[Goran Bregović (album)|solo record]] in 1976 and composing two movie soundtracks—1977's ''Leptirov oblak'' and 1979's ''Lične stvari''.

He also tried his hand at music production, producing [[Idoli]]'s 1980 seven-inch single "[[Maljčiki]]" / "[[Retko te viđam sa devojkama]]" and co-producing, alongside [[Kornelije Kovač]], [[Zdravko Čolić]]'s fourth studio album, ''[[Malo pojačaj radio]]'', in 1981.

Bregović further made guest appearances on guitar on various studio recordings by different Yugoslav pop, folk, and rock acts: [[Neda Ukraden]]'s track "Tri djevojke" (together with Bijelo Dugme bandmates [[Vlado Pravdić]] and [[Zoran Redžić]]) off her 1976 album ''Ko me to od nekud doziva'', [[Hanka Paldum]]'s track "Zbog tebe" off her 1980 album ''[[Čežnja (album)|Čežnja]]'', "Ne da/ne nego i/ili" track by [[Kozmetika]] off their 1983 [[Kozmetika (album)|eponymous album]], Valentino's track "Pazi na ritam" off their 1983 debut album ''ValentiNo1'', [[Riblja Čorba]]'s track "Disko mišić" off their 1985 album ''[[Istina]]'', [[Dino Merlin|Merlin]]'s 1986 album ''[[Teško meni sa tobom (a još teže bez tebe)]]'', Mjesečari track "Gdje izlaziš ovih dana" off their 1988 album ''One šetaju od 1 do 2'', and [[Piloti (band)|Piloti]] track "Tiho, tiho" off their 1990 album ''Nek te Bog čuva za mene''.

During his time leading Bijelo Dugme, Bregović also became involved in the financial and organizational side of the [[music industry|music business]]. In 1984, dissatisfied with their respective financial terms at the state-owned [[Jugoton]] label, Bijelo Dugme bandleader Bregović and one of Yugoslavia's biggest pop stars, Zdravko Čolić, got together to establish their own music label Kamarad, which—via a deal with state-owned [[Diskoton]] and later another newly established private label [[Komuna (company)|Komuna]]—would end up co-releasing all of Bijelo Dugme's subsequent studio albums including three of Čolić's studio albums from 1984 to 1990.<ref name="kamarad">{{cite news|last=Predić|first=Zoran|url=http://www.yugopapir.com/2014/11/kako-su-zbog-kamarada-zdravka-colica-i.html|title=Čolić i Bregović protiv Jugotona|agency=RTV revija|date=November 1984|access-date=23 November 2019}}</ref> Considered an unusual move at the time in a communist country with nearly across-the-board public ownership that had just recently began allowing certain modes of private entrepreneurship, starting a privately owned record label—combined with Bregović's and Čolić's high public profile in Yugoslavia—got them both a lot of additional attention in the country's press. The company was registered in [[Radomlje]] near [[Domžale]] in [[Socialist Republic of Slovenia|SR Slovenia]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rupel|first=Anja|author-link=Anja Rupel|url=https://www.rtvslo.si/zabava/glasba/zdravko-colic-clovek-mora-biti-ponosen-na-svoja-leta/343173|title=Zdravko Čolić: Človek mora biti ponosen na svoja leta.|agency=[[Radiotelevizija Slovenija]]|date=2 August 2014|access-date=24 November 2019|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20241218044827/https://www.rtvslo.si/zabava-in-slog/glasba/zdravko-colic-clovek-mora-biti-ponosen-na-svoja-leta/343173|archivedate=18 December 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to not having its own production facilities and distribution network, the new label entered a co-releasing agreement with Diskoton, thus essentially functioning as the legal entity that holds the licensing rights to the works of Bijelo Dugme and Zdravko Čolić.<ref name="kamarad"/> Kamarad's debut co-release was Čolić's 1984 studio album ''[[Ti si mi u krvi]]'' followed by Bijelo Dugme's [[Bijelo Dugme (album)|self-titled studio album]] later that year with new vocalist [[Mladen Vojičić Tifa|Mladen "Tifa" Vojičić]]. The label would also co-release many of Dugme's and Čolić's later best-of compilations in addition to Bregović's movie soundtrack albums as well as [[Vesna Zmijanac]]'s 1992 album ''Ako me umiriš sad''.

==Solo career==
[[File:Bregovic u Nisu 1997.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Bregović performing in [[Niš]] in 1997]]

During the late 1980s, a period that would turn out to be the final years of Bijelo Dugme, Bregović entered the world of [[Film score|film music]]. His first project was [[Emir Kusturica]]'s ''[[Time of the Gypsies]]'' (1989) and it turned out to be a great success (both the film and the soundtrack). Bregović's collaboration with Kusturica continued as the musician composed the soundtrack (which was performed by [[Iggy Pop]]) for Kusturica's next film, ''[[Arizona Dream]]'' (1993). During the [[Bosnian War]], Bregović relocated to Paris, but also lived in Belgrade. His next major project, music for [[Patrice Chéreau]]'s ''[[La Reine Margot (1994 film)|Queen Margot]]'', was a great success as well, and as a result, the film won two awards on the 1994 [[Cannes Film Festival]]. The next year's [[Palme d'Or|Golden Palm]] award went to ''[[Underground (1995 film)|Underground]]'', for which Goran Bregović composed the music.

In 1997, he worked with Turkish singer [[Sezen Aksu]] on her album ''Düğün ve Cenaze'' (''Wedding and Funeral''). After that album, he continued making composite albums with other musicians that were based on his music and singers' lyrics.

He made an album with [[George Dalaras]] in 1999 named ''[[Thessaloniki – Yannena with Two Canvas Shoes]]''. In the same year, Bregović recorded an album called ''[[Kayah i Bregović]]'' (Kayah and Bregović) with popular Polish singer [[Kayah (singer)|Kayah]], which sold over 700,000 copies in [[Poland]] (seven times platinum record).

In 2001, he recorded another album with another Polish singer, [[Krzysztof Krawczyk (singer)|Krzysztof Krawczyk]], titled ''Daj mi drugie życie'' ("Give Me Second Life").

In 2005, Bregović took part in three large farewell concerts of Bijelo Dugme.

A number of works created by Bregović can be heard on the soundtrack to the 2006 film ''[[Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan]]'', most notably "Đurđevdan". The film itself actually features more Bregović samples than the soundtrack.

Two musical numbers by Bregović, "Ne Siam Kurve Tuke Sijam Prostitutke" and "Gas, Gas", were featured in the soundtrack of the 2012 Brazilian telenovela ''[[Salve Jorge]]'', on the television network [[Rede Globo]].<ref name="Salve Jorge Tracklist">{{cite web|title=Salve Jorge (Trilha Sonora da Novela) |url=http://musica.com.br/trilhas-sonoras/salve-jorge.html|publisher=Musica.com.br|access-date=16 November 2012}}</ref>

===Wedding and Funeral Orchestra===
[[Image:Goran Bregovic in Tbilisi, Georgia.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Bregović at concert in [[Tbilisi]], Georgia, 3 October 2007]]

For many years Bregović performed with a large ensemble of musicians: a brass band, bagpipes, a string ensemble, a tuxedo-clad all-male choir from [[Belgrade]], women wearing traditional Bulgarian costumes, and [[Romani people|Roma]] singers make up his 40-piece band and orchestra.

Since 1998, and until about 2012, Bregović has been performing his music mainly in the form of concerts all over the world with his Wedding and Funeral Orchestra. This consists of 10 people (in the small version) or 37 (in the large version, although, in some instances, this number varies, depending on participants from the host country).

Since 2012 the orchestra consists of 9 people (in the small version) or 19 (in the large version), as it played in New York at the Lincoln Center on 15 and 16 July 2016.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160810225129/http://www.lincolncenterfestival.org/assets/img/downloads/07-15%20Goran.pdf Brochure for the concert in New York (PDF)]</ref>

The small orchestra consists of Muharem "Muki" Rexhepi (vocals, drums), Bokan Stanković (first trumpet), Dragić Velićović (second trumpet), Stojan Dimov (sax, clarinet), Aleksandar Rajković (first trombone, glockenspiel), Miloš Mihajlović (second trombone), female Bulgarian singers [[Daniela Radkova|Daniela Radkova-Aleksandrova]] and [[Lyudmila Radkova|Ljudmila Radkova-Trajkova]], and Goran himself. 
The large orchestra includes also string quartet: Ivana Mateijć (first violin), Bojana Jovanović-Jotić (second violin), Saša Mirković (viola), and Tatjana Jovanović-Mirković, as well as sextet of male voices: Dejan Pesić (first tenor), Milan Panić and Ranko Jović (second tenors), Aleksandar Novaković (baritone), Dušan Ljubinković and Siniša Dutina (basses).

In previous years, the following musicians have performed in the orchestra: Ogi Radivojević and [[Alen Ademović]] (vocals, drums), Dalibor Lukić (second trumpet), Dejan Manigodić (tuba), Vaska Jankovska (vocals).

In 2013, as part of his Asia-Pacific tour (including Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong), Bregović performed with a string quartet, a male choir, Bulgarian singers and half of a brass band. The other part of the brass band – including bass and percussions – were being played from his computer. In 2017, he was a guest artist on Puerto Rican rapper [[Residente]]'s album ''Residente'' on the song "El Futuro Es Nuestro" (Spanish for "The Future is Ours").

===Eurovision===
[[Image:Goran Bregovic 2011.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Bregović performing at [[Carnegie Hall]] in [[New York City]], 19 October 2011]]

During the [[Eurovision 2008]] final in [[Belgrade Arena]], Serbia, he played as the interval act.<ref>{{YouTube|PF8gVaEHnRI}} {{dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref> He also composed the Serbian entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010; 'Ovo Je Balkan' sung by [[Milan Stanković]].

==Musical style==
Bregović's compositions, extending Balkan musical inspirations to innovative extremes, draw upon European classicism and Balkan rhythms.<ref>Lincoln Center Festival website</ref>

Bregović's music carries [[Yugoslav music|Yugoslav]], [[Bulgarian music|Bulgarian]], [[Romani music|Romani]], [[Greek music|Greek]], [[Romanian music|Romanian]], [[Albanian music|Albanian]], [[Music of Italy|Italian]], [[Turkish music|Turkish]] and [[Music of Poland|Polish]] themes and is a fusion of [[popular music]], with traditional [[Polyphony|polyphonic]] music from the Balkans, [[tango music|tango]] and [[Balkan Brass Band|brass band]]s.

==Personal life==
Bregović's younger siblings, brother Predrag and sister Dajana, have lived in New York City and [[Split, Croatia|Split]], respectively. His brother Predrag reportedly also spends time in the [[Syrmia|Syrmian]] village of [[Beška]] in Serbia, where he owns a [[vineyard]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Petrović |first=Milan |title=Rođenog brata Gorana Bregovića niko ne zna: Predrag živi povučeno, a evo kako izgleda i čime se bavi |url=https://www.hellomagazin.rs/celebrity-news/vesti/226211/brat-gorana-bregovica-ne-voli-da-se-eksponira-ovo-je-predrag-foto |date=1 February 2023 |website=[[Hello! (magazine)|Hello!]] Srbija |access-date=30 July 2025 |language=sr |archive-date=30 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250730063519/https://www.hellomagazin.rs/celebrity-news/vesti/226211/brat-gorana-bregovica-ne-voli-da-se-eksponira-ovo-je-predrag-foto |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=L. |first=I. |title=Rođenog brata Gorana Bregovića niko ne zna: Razdvojili ih kad su bili mali, Predrag živi povučeno na selu, pravi rakiju u Banatu, a evo kako izgleda |url=https://www.kurir.rs/stars/9553836/ovo-je-rodjeni-brat-gorana-bregovica |date=12 February 2025 |website=[[Kurir]].rs |access-date=30 July 2025 |language=sr |archive-date=30 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250730064658/https://www.kurir.rs/stars/9553836/ovo-je-rodjeni-brat-gorana-bregovica |url-status=live }}</ref> Their sister Dajana Bregović-Marić, a mother of four, died in May 2020 in Split, aged 61.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Slobodna Dalmacija obituaries for 25 May 2020 |url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/Osmrtnice/Umrli?date=25.05.2020 |date=25 May 2020 |website=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]].hr |access-date=30 July 2025 |language=hr |archive-date=30 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250730061959/https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/Osmrtnice/Umrli?date=25.05.2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Marriage, relationships, and children===
During the early 1970s, from a brief relationship with a Sarajevo-based dancer named Jasenka, Bregović's first child, daughter Željka, was born [[out of wedlock]].<ref name="blic-jun-2017">{{cite news|url=https://zena.blic.rs/puls-poznatih/brega-je-pre-braka-sa-dzenanom-dobio-cerku-zeljka-bregovic-zivi-u-austriji-i-izgleda/qv3j9s7|title=Brega je pre braka sa Dženanom dobio ćerku: Željka Bregović živi u Austriji i izgleda OVAKO!|agency=[[Blic]]|date=10 June 2017|access-date=15 September 2019}}</ref> Željka lives in [[Austria]], where she gave birth to Goran's granddaughter, Bianca.<ref name="blic-jun-2017"/>

With Bijelo Dugme's mid-1970s breakout commercial success and Bregović's increased public profile in Yugoslavia, details of his lifestyle and romantic relationships also became fodder for the country's press. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, various Yugoslav print media outlets documented his high-profile relationship with Serbian model Ljiljana Tica, who reportedly inspired his song "Bitanga i princeza" off Bijelo Dugme's [[Bitanga i princeza|eponymous 1979 album]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Živković|first=A.|url=http://www.yugopapir.com/2014/05/ljiljana-tica-mozda-je-ovo-prilika-da.html|title=Liljana Tica, najpopularnija YU manekenka: Ovo je prilika da razjasnim mnoge neistine o meni...|agency=ITD magazin|date=May 1983|access-date=7 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://n1info.rs/magazin/showbiz/ko-je-zena-kojoj-je-goran-bregovic-posvetio-hit-bitanga-i-princeza/|title=Ko je žena kojoj je Goran Bregović posvetio hit "Bitanga i princeza"|agency=[[N1 (TV channel)|N1]] Beograd|date=29 November 2023|access-date=7 December 2023}}</ref>

In parallel to his relationship with Tica, Bregović maintained a relationship with Dženana Sudžuka, a [[Bosniaks|Bosnian Muslim]] model 11 years his junior, having reportedly first met her in 1977 when she was sixteen.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title='Treba se ženiti': Brega je suprugu upoznao kad joj je bilo 16, a na šuškanja o nevjeri ovako je odgovarao |url=https://scena.story.hr/Estrada/a6097/Goran-Bregovic-o-supruzi-Dzenani.html |date=23 July 2023 |website=Story.hr |access-date=30 July 2025 |language=hr |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status= }}</ref> Eventually, in 1993, Bregović married his long-time girlfriend Sudžuka in a civic wedding ceremony held in Paris with film director [[Emir Kusturica]] as the groom's [[best man]] and longtime Bijelo Dugme backing vocalist Amila Sulejmanović as the bride's [[bridesmaid|maid of honour]].<ref name="glasjavnosti-sep-2000">{{cite news|last=Vulić|first=Zorica|url=http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/09/22/srpski/P00092111.shtm|title=Ko je ovaj čovek? Goran Bregović|agency=[[Glas javnosti]]|date=21 September 2000|access-date=6 September 2015|archive-date=27 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127042132/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/09/22/srpski/P00092111.shtm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The couple has three daughters: Ema (born in March 1995), Una (February 2002), and Lulu (May 2004). Since the early 1990s, when not touring, Bregović's primary residence has been in Paris, a city where he got married and his three daughters were born and raised. Additionally, he spends a lot of time in Belgrade, where he does most of his musical work. In a late-2000s interview, answering a question about where his home is, Bregović said: "If you define 'home' as the place where you keep your winter coat during summer and your swimming trunks during winter, then my home is my Paris apartment".<ref name="Blic-2011">{{cite news|last=Milojković|first=S.|url=https://www.blic.rs/zabava/vesti/brega-nece-ziveti-u-sarajevu/xtzs1tx|title=Brega neće živeti u Sarajevu |agency=[[Blic]]|date=11 January 2011|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref> His daughter Ema graduated from the {{ill| Saint-Nazaire Fine Arts School|fr|École des beaux-arts de Nantes - Saint-Nazaire}} in [[Nantes]] and became a [[conceptual art]]ist.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kadić |first=Dragan |title=Rani radovi: Bregovićeva ćerka stasala u umetnicu |url=https://www.kurir.rs/zabava/pop-kultura/1819067/rani-radovi-bregoviceva-cerka-stasala-u-umetnicu |date=14 June 2015 |website=[[Kurir]].rs |access-date=30 July 2025 |language=sr |archive-date=30 July 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250730065341/https://www.kurir.rs/zabava/pop-kultura/1819067/rani-radovi-bregoviceva-cerka-stasala-u-umetnicu |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Svojim talentom je izašla iz očeve sjene: Kako izgleda i čime se bavi najstarija kći Gorana Bregovića? |url=https://scena.story.hr/Estrada/a6874/Kako-izgleda-i-cime-se-bavi-najstarija-kci-Gorana-Bregovica.html |date=17 August 2023 |website=Story.hr |access-date=30 July 2025 |language=hr |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status= }}</ref>

===Injuries===
On 12 June 2008, fifty-eight-year-old Bregović sustained a [[spinal injury]] in Belgrade, breaking [[vertebrae]] by falling four meters from a [[cherry tree]] in the garden of his Senjak house. After being medically assessed, his condition was stated to be "stable without neurological complications."<ref name="afp">{{Cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/goran-bregovic-se-vraca-u-sarajevo-sa-porodicom/110107038|title=Goran Bregović se vraća u Sarajevo sa porodicom!|website=Klix.ba|language=bs-BA|access-date=2020-04-03}}</ref> Following surgery, he made a quick recovery and, within a month, on 8 and 9 July, held two big concerts in New York City, proving for more than two hours each night his performance skills had not suffered from the accident.<ref>[http://blog.veni.com/?p=518 Goran Bregovic plays in New York]</ref>

===Political views===
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center|quote=It's not accidental that both [[Željko Bebek|Bebek]] and I are members of the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia|Communist League]]. Being a communist means being politically active and organized. It really gets on my nerves when I hear someone say: 'I feel like a communist, but I'm not a member [of the party]'. A politically inactive communist is not a communist. Only a politically organized communist is a real communist.|source={{small|-Bregović in December 1976 on his political activity}}<ref name="ven-dec-1976">{{cite news|last=Vlačić|first=Branko|url=http://www.yugopapir.com/2016/12/goran-bregovic-novi-lp-eto-bas-hocu.html|title=Nije slučajno da smo ja i Željko članovi Saveza komunista|agency=Ven|date=December 1976|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>|align=right|width=20%}}
In 1971, twenty-one-year-old Bregović—a student at the [[University of Sarajevo]]'s Faculty of Philosophy—got accepted into the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav Communist League]] (SKJ), the only party in SFR Yugoslavia's [[One-party state|political system]].<ref name="vlist-sept-2014">{{cite news|last=Bubalo|first=Robert|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/bebek-je-prvi-otkrio-bregovica-trazio-je-basista-za-svoj-bend-kodeksi-i-pronasao-klinca-koji-se-kreveljio-964033|title=Bebek je prvi otkrio Bregovića. Tražio je basista za svoj bend Kodeksi i pronašao klinca koji se kreveljio|agency=[[Večernji list]]|date=29 September 2014|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>

Throughout the mid-to-late 1970s, by now a famous rock musician in SFR Yugoslavia, Bregović often publicly expressed personal support for the [[communist]] ideology while underscoring importance of being active in the party.<ref name="ven-dec-1976"/>

In 1990—with the dissolution of the SKJ and reinstatement of multi-party political system in Yugoslavia—Bregović expressed public support for [[Ante Marković]]'s [[Union of Reform Forces of Yugoslavia]] (SRSJ), a centre-left social-democrat political party opposing ethnic nationalism and advocating for reform of Yugoslav communism into liberal market capitalism. Furthermore, he actively participated in the party's election campaign ahead of the [[1990 Bosnian general election|general elections]] in the [[Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|SR Bosnia and Herzegovina]] constituent unit of SFR Yugoslavia, lending his celebrity and contributing to the campaign in creative capacity.<ref>{{cite news|last=Karuza|first=Vesna|url=http://www.yugopapir.com/2019/06/bregovic-podrzava-antu-markovica-manje.html|title=Kad sam bio bijelo dugme|agency=Svijet|date=1990|access-date=7 October 2019}}</ref> Despite securing public support, endorsements, and even active campaign participation from many prominent public figures in SR Bosnia and Herzegovina such as [[Emir Kusturica]], [[Nele Karajlić]], [[Branko Đurić]], etc., the party got only 8.9% of the total vote.

On 2 April 1999—a week into the [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]]—alongside Greek performers [[George Dalaras]], [[Stavros Kouyioumtzis]], and [[Alkistis Protopsalti]] as well as a number of others from different parts of the Balkans, Bregović played at an anti-war open-air concert at [[Thessaloniki]]'s [[Aristotelous Square]].<ref>[https://groups.google.com/g/alt.culture.fyrom/c/JfN2bXIMBzQ/m/UJq641wz6YcJ Anti-War Concert With Dalaras, Bregović in Thessaloniki], MPA Thessaloniki, April 2, 1999</ref>

In the years following the [[Yugoslav Wars]] and [[breakup of Yugoslavia]], Bregović has described himself as [[Yugonostalgic]].<ref name="glasjavnosti-sep-2000"/> In 2009, he stated: "Yugoslavia is the intersection of so many worlds: Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim. With music, I don't have to represent anyone, except myself – because I speak the first language of the world, the one everyone understands: music."<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2009/06/goran_bregovic_to_perform_at_p.html Goran Bregovic to perform at PlayhouseSquare]</ref>

===Real estate===
Bregović owns [[real estate]] all over the world,<ref name="bregovic-realestate">{{cite news|last=Petrović|first=Nebojša|url=https://mondo.rs/Zabava/Zvezde-i-tracevi/a1466037/goran-bregovic-imovina-nekretnine-bogatstvo-vile.html|title=Bregović na nekretnine dao više od 35 miliona €! Svaka vila vredi bar 1.000.000 €, a jedan dan u njoj košta 3.000 €!
|agency=Mondo.rs|date=1 May 2021|archivedate=28 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128204635/https://mondo.rs/Zabava/Zvezde-i-tracevi/a1466037/goran-bregovic-imovina-nekretnine-bogatstvo-vile.html|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021}}</ref> but divides most of his time between [[Belgrade]], where he does most of his musical recording work, and Paris, where his spouse lives with their three daughters.

He reportedly owns properties in Paris, [[Istanbul]], Belgrade, [[Zagreb]], on [[Jahorina|Mount Jahorina]], and [[Perast]], many of which are used for [[commercial real estate|commercial purposes]] such as touristic rentals, studio recording, and [[filming location]]s.<ref name="bregovic-realestate"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Bojović|first=Katarina|url=https://mondo.rs/Zabava/Zvezde-i-tracevi/a1709829/Goran-Bregovic-kupio-jos-dve-vile-na-Senjaku-vlasnik-je-32-nekretnine.html|title=Brega iskeširao još dve vile u Beogradu! Sada je vlasnik 32 nekretnine, oglasile se komšije - "Pravi bazen na krovu!"|agency=Mondo.rs|archivedate=28 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128204801/https://mondo.rs/Zabava/Zvezde-i-tracevi/a1709829/Goran-Bregovic-kupio-jos-dve-vile-na-Senjaku-vlasnik-je-32-nekretnine.html|url-status=live|date=6 November 2022|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ercegovčević|first=Ivan|url=https://www.kurir.rs/stars/3516307/ovako-izgleda-bregin-raj-kuca-gorana-bregovica-na-jahorini-vredi-pola-miliona-evra|title=Ovako izgleda Bregin raj: Kuća Gorana Bregovića na Jahorini vredi 500.000 evra!|agency=[[Kurir]]|date=21 August 2020|archivedate=28 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128204854/https://www.kurir.rs/stars/3516307/ovako-izgleda-bregin-raj-kuca-gorana-bregovica-na-jahorini-vredi-pola-miliona-evra|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dejanović|first=Marija|url=https://nova.rs/zabava/showbiz/kako-izgleda-bregina-vila-od-450-kvadrata-na-jahorini-foto/|title=Kako izgleda Bregina vila od 450 kvadrata na Jahorini|agency=Nova.rs|date=18 December 2021|archivedate=28 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128205438/https://nova.rs/zabava/showbiz/kako-izgleda-bregina-vila-od-450-kvadrata-na-jahorini-foto/|url-status=live |access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pacek|first1=Tanja|last2=Ptičar|first2=Lucija|url=https://www.24sata.hr/show/bregovica-je-mama-ostavila-sa-16-a-sad-ima-petnaestak-kuca-622624|title=Brega 'težak' 264 milijuna kn: Ima tridesetak kuća i stanova|agency=24sata.hr|date=5 August 2019|archivedate=28 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128205512/https://www.24sata.hr/show/bregovica-je-mama-ostavila-sa-16-a-sad-ima-petnaestak-kuca-622624|url-status=live|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Panić|first=Aleksandar|url=https://www.kurir.rs/stars/4213334/brega-atrakcija-za-turiste-u-perastu-opsedaju-kamenu-vilu-a-mestani-otkrili-sve-o-pevacu-evo-kako-se-ponasa-lepa-dzenana|title=Brega atrakcija za turiste u Perastu|agency=[[Kurir]]|date=5 August 2023|archivedate=28 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128205537/https://www.kurir.rs/stars/4213334/brega-atrakcija-za-turiste-u-perastu-opsedaju-kamenu-vilu-a-mestani-otkrili-sve-o-pevacu-evo-kako-se-ponasa-lepa-dzenana|url-status=live |access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref>

In Belgrade, Bregović owns multiple properties in the upscale [[Senjak]] neighbourhood.<ref name="blic-jul-2018">{{cite news|last=Š.|first=L.|url=https://www.blic.rs/zabava/prolaznici-sokirani-goran-bregovic-seta-ulicom-u-pidzami-i-papucama/xch5cmj|title=Goran Bregović šeta ulicom u pidžami i papučama|agency=[[Blic]]|date=1 July 2018|access-date=15 September 2019}}</ref> Some of his Belgrade properties in the neighbourhoods of Senjak and [[Dedinje]] were leased out as [[Location shooting|shooting location]]s for Serbian television series ''{{ill|Žene sa Dedinja|sr}}'', ''{{ill|Državni službenik|sr}}'', and ''{{ill|Klan (Serbian TV series)|sr|Клан (ТВ серија)|lt=Klan}}''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Krkeljić|first=Bojana|url=https://nova.rs/zabava/showbiz/brega-kralj-nekretnina-kupio-preko-30-kuca-i-stanova-a-razlog-je-neverovatan/|title=Brega, kralj nekretnina: Kupio preko 30 kuća i stanova, a razlog je neverovatan|agency=[[Nova (Serbia)|Nova]]|date=24 July 2022|archivedate=28 January 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250128212023/https://nova.rs/zabava/showbiz/brega-kralj-nekretnina-kupio-preko-30-kuca-i-stanova-a-razlog-je-neverovatan/|url-status=live|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref>

==Controversy==
[[File:Goran Bregovic , 2007.jpg|thumb|175px|Bregović in 2007]]

Bregović has frequently been accused of plagiarizing other performers' works,<ref>{{cite news|last=Markovich|first=Igor|url=https://punjenipaprikas.com/svi-ti-plagijati-gorana-bregovi%C4%87|title=Svi ti plagijati Gorana Bregovića|agency=PunjeniPaprikas.com|date=28 June 2013|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Serdar|first=Bruno|url=https://www.24sata.hr/show/ukrao-pjesmu-goran-bregovic-platio-milijun-zbog-plagijata-433704|title=Ukrao pjesmu: Goran Bregović platio milijun € zbog plagijata?|agency=24Sata.hr|date=21 August 2015|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="theguardian-2013">{{cite news|last=Denselow|first=Robin |author-link=Robin Denselow|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/may/21/goran-bregovic-review|title=Goran Bregović – review|agency=[[The Guardian]]|date=21 May 2013|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Radenez|first=Julien|url=https://romanimuzika.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/musique-et-droit-dauteur-laffaire-bregovic/|title=Musique et droit d'auteur, l'affaire Bregović|agency=[[Le Courrier des Balkans]]|date=5 September 2015|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref> as well as republishing his own previously released material as new.<ref name="mezzogiorno">{{cite news|url=https://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/news/english/429447/balkan-music-star-bregovic-accused-of-plagiarizing-self.html|title=Balkan music star Bregovic accused of plagiarizing self|publisher=[[La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno]]|agency=[[Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata]]|date=23 January 2013|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414071529/https://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/news/english/429447/balkan-music-star-bregovic-accused-of-plagiarizing-self.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tportal.hr/magazin/clanak/kako-je-goran-bregovic-razljutio-talijane-20130121|title=Kako je Goran Bregović razljutio Talijane|agency=Tportal.hr|date=21 January 2013|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svetplus.com/vesti/23916/italijani-besni-na-bregovica-jer-im-je-dao-plagijat-a-platili-ga-85000-evra-video|title=Italijani besni na Bregovića jer im je dao plagijat, a platili ga 85.000 evra!|agency=Svet Plus|date=21 January 2013|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Stanković|first=Ivan|url=https://arhiva.nedeljnik.rs/nedeljnik/portalnews/opet-nas-je-prevario-brega/|title=Opet nas je prevario Brega|agency=[[Nedeljnik]]|date=23 November 2016|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-date=12 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312033135/https://arhiva.nedeljnik.rs/nedeljnik/portalnews/opet-nas-je-prevario-brega/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kurtović|first=Elvis J.|url=https://radiosarajevo.ba/kolumne/elvis-j-kurtovic/losa-kopija-brege/274434|title=Loša kopija Brege|agency=radiosarajevo.ba|date=12 September 2017|access-date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

===Enrico Macias plagiarism lawsuit===
In the mid-2000s, French singer-songwriter [[Enrico Macias]] reportedly sued Bregović over Bregović's song "In the Deathcar" off the ''[[Arizona Dream]]'' [[Arizona Dream (soundtrack)|soundtrack album]], claiming it plagiarized Macias' song "Solenzara". Media outlets in the Balkans reported in 2015 that the French court ruled in Macias' favour, ordering Bregović to pay Macias [[€]]1 million in damages.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://rs.n1info.com/Showbiz/a86562/Kazna-za-Gorana-Bregovica-zbog-plagijata.html|title=Goran Bregović plaća milion evra zbog plagijata|agency=[[N1 (TV channel)|N1]]|date=21 August 2015|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-date=4 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604204219/http://rs.n1info.com/Showbiz/a86562/Kazna-za-Gorana-Bregovica-zbog-plagijata.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kalaba|first=Ana|url=https://noizz.rs/kultura/kako-se-desilo-da-igi-pop-otpeva-problematicnu-pesmu-gorana-bregovica/d867cn3|title=Kako se desilo da Igi Pop otpeva problematičnu pesmu Gorana Bregovića|agency=Noizz.rs|date=1 July 2017|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://net.hr/hot/glazba/plagijator-goran-bregovic-zbog-krade-pjesme-platio-odstetu-u-iznosu-od-milijun-eura/#|title=PLAGIJATOR: Goran Bregović zbog krađe pjesme platio odštetu u iznosu od milijun eura|agency=Net.hr|date=21 August 2015|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705063810/http://net.hr/hot/glazba/plagijator-goran-bregovic-zbog-krade-pjesme-platio-odstetu-u-iznosu-od-milijun-eura/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=N.|first=N.|url=https://www.nezavisne.com/kultura/muzika/Bregovic-platio-milion-evra-zbog-plagijata/321499|title=Bregović platio milion evra zbog plagijata|agency=[[Nezavisne novine]]|date=20 August 2015|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>

In response, via a press release distributed to media outlets throughout the Balkans, Bregović's representative Svetlana Strunić claimed that there never was a plagiarism court process against Bregović in [[France]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/spektakli/ups/demanti-odvjetnice-tvrdi-da-goran-bregovic-nije-imao-sudski-spor-u-francuskoj-i-nikome-ne-mora-platiti-bilo-sto-a-kamoli-milijun-eura/293248/|title=DEMANTI ODVJETNICE Tvrdi da Goran Bregović nije imao sudski spor u Francuskoj i nikome ne mora platiti bilo što, a kamoli milijun eura|agency=[[Jutarnji list]]|date=25 August 2015|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>

===Cancellations and entry bans===
====2015 cancelled concert in Poland====
In March 2015, Bregović performed a concert in [[Crimea]] after it was [[Accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation|annexed by Russia]] in the previous year. The following month, the Life Festival in [[Oświęcim]], [[Poland]] canceled an appearance by Bregović, saying that his statements were "contrary to the values cherished by the Life Festival founders."<ref name=AFP150409>{{cite news |url= https://news.yahoo.com/polish-festival-drops-balkan-maestro-bregovic-over-crimea-170337563.html |title=Polish festival drops Balkan maestro Bregovic over Crimea remarks |agency= [[Agence France-Presse]] |date= 9 April 2015 }}</ref>

====2023 denial of entry into Moldova====
In August 2023, Bregović was denied from entering [[Moldova]] on the grounds of his allegedly open support for the Russian annexation of Crimea and [[Russo-Ukrainian War|invasion of Ukraine]]. He intended to play in a music festival in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://jurnalul.ro/stiri/externe/goran-bregovic-interdictie-republica-moldova-940856.html|title=Goran Bregovic a primit interdicție de intrare pe teritoriul Republicii Moldova|newspaper=[[Jurnalul Național]]|date=21 August 2023|language=ro}}</ref>

====2025 Latvia's list of personae non grateae====
In April 2025, at the recommendation of [[Latvia]]'s [[State Security Service (Latvia)|State Security Service]] (VDD), Bregović has been put on the list of personae non gratae in Latvia, alongside Russian-Lithuanian singer [[Kristina Orbakaitė]]. According to the VDD, Bregović has made several appearances in "occupied Crimea" since 2014 along with "frequently expressing his support for the aggressor Russia in public, while spreading discrediting messages against Western countries".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defense/30.04.2025-musicians-orbakaite-bregovic-added-to-latvias-blacklist.a597289/|title=Musicians Orbakaitė, Bregović added to Latvia's blacklist|agency=[[Latvian Public Media]]|date=30 April 2025|language=en}}</ref>

Bregović responded to the accusations by stating he comes from "a city marked by war" and he "would never support any war or aggression".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dnevnik.si/nedeljski/zakulisje/estrada/po-prepovedi-vstopa-v-latvijo-se-je-oglasil-bregovic-in-povedal-svojo-plat-2732601/ |title=Bregović po prepovedi vstopa v Latvijo povedal svojo plat |trans-title=Bregović tells his side after being banned from entering Latvia |agency={{ill|Nedeljski dnevnik|sl}} |date=2025-05-13 |language=sl}}</ref>

==List of film scores==
[[File:Goran Bregović Rudolstadt-Festival 20.jpg|thumb|200px|Goran Bregović Wedding and Funeral Orchestra in [[Rudolstadt]], 10 July 2022]]

*1977 – ''Butterfly cloud'' (Leptirov oblak) – Directed by: Zdravko Randić
*1979 – ''Personal Affairs'' (Lične stvari) – Directed by: Aleksandar Mandić
*1988 – ''[[Time of the Gypsies]]'' (Dom za vešanje) – Directed by: [[Emir Kusturica]]
*1989 – ''[[Kuduz]]'' – Directed by: [[Ademir Kenović]]
*1990 – ''[[Silent Gunpowder]]'' (Gluvi barut) – Directed by: [[Bahrudin Čengić]]
*1991 – ''{{Ill|The Serbian Girl|sr|Српкиња (филм)}}'' (Das Serbische Mädchen) – Directed by: {{ill|Peter Sehr|de}}
*1991 – ''The Little One'' (Mala) – Directed by: [[Predrag Antonijević]]
*1991 – ''[[Čaruga (film)|Čaruga]]'' – Directed by: [[Rajko Grlić]]
*1993 – ''[[Arizona Dream]]'' – Directed by: [[Emir Kusturica]]
*1993 – ''Toxic Affair'' – Directed by: Philoméne Esposito
*1993 – ''La Nuit sacrée'' – Directed by: [[Nicolas Klotz]]
*1993 – ''Le Nombril du monde'' – Directed by: Ariel Zeitoun
*1993 – ''[[Kika (1993 film)|Kika]]'' – Directed by: [[Pedro Almodóvar]]
*1994 – soundtrack for ''[[La Reine Margot (1994 film)|La Reine Margot]]'' – Directed by: [[Patrice Chéreau]]
*1995 – ''[[Underground (1995 film)|Underground]]'' – Directed by: [[Emir Kusturica]]
*1997 – ''Music for Weddings and Funerals'' (Musik för bröllop och begravningar) – Directed by: [[Unni Straume]]
*1997 – ''[[A Chef in Love]]'' (Shekvarebuli kulinaris ataserti retsepti) – Directed by: [[Nana Djordjadze]]
*1997 – ''[[The Serpent's Kiss]]'' – Directed by: [[Philippe Rousselot]]
*1997 – ''[[XXL (film)|XXL]]'' – Directed by: [[Ariel Zeitoun]]
*1998 – ''[[Train de Vie]]'' – Directed by: [[Radu Mihaileanu]]
*1999 – ''[[The Lost Son (film)|The Lost Son]]'' – Directed by: [[Chris Menges]]
*1999 – ''[[Tuvalu (film)|Tuvalu]]'' – Directed by: [[Veit Helmer]]
*1999 – ''[[Operacja Samum|Operation Simoom]] (Operacja Samum)'' – Directed by [[Władysław Pasikowski]]
*2000 – ''[[27 Missing Kisses]]'' – Directed by: [[Nana Djordjadze]]
*2000 – ''[[Is It Clear, My Friend?|Je li jasno prijatelju?]]'' – Directed by: [[Dejan Aćimović|Dejan Ačimović]]
*2005 – ''[[The Turkish Gambit (film)|The Turkish Gambit]]'' (Турецкий гамбит) – Directed by: Dzhanik Faiziyev
*2005 – ''[[I giorni dell'abbandono]]'' – Directed by: Roberto Faenza
*2006 – ''Karaula'' – Directed by: [[Rajko Grlić]] (This is not true)
*2006 – ''[[Le Lièvre de Vatanen]]'' – Directed by: Marc Rivière
*2006 – ''[[Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (soundtrack)|Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan]]'' (non-original music; "Ederlezi" from Dom za vešanje)
*2007 – ''Fly by Rossinant'' – Directed by: Jacky Stoév
*2008 – ''[[Mustafa (film)|Mustafa]]'' – Directed by: [[Can Dündar]]
*2011 – ''{{ill|Baikonur (film)|de|3=Baikonur (Film)|lt=Baikonur}}'' – Directed by Veit Helmer

==Discography==
===With Bijelo Dugme===
{{Main|Bijelo Dugme discography}}

===Original movie soundtracks===
:''Not all his soundtracks compositions are commercially available.''
*1988: ''[[Time of the Gypsies / Kuduz – Soundtrack|Time of the Gypsies]]'' (Kamarad, [[Diskoton]], [[PolyGram]], [[Komuna Belgrade|Komuna]])
*1989: ''[[Time of the Gypsies / Kuduz – Soundtrack|Kuduz]]'' ([[Diskoton]])
*1993: ''[[Toxic affair]]'' (Polygram / Universal)
*1993: ''[[Arizona Dream (soundtrack)|Arizona Dream]]'' (Kamarad, [[PolyGram]], [[Komuna Belgrade|Komuna]])
*1994: ''[[La Reine Margot (1994 film)|La Reine Margot]]'' (Kamarad, [[PolyGram]], [[Komuna Belgrade|Komuna]])
*1995: ''[[Underground (soundtrack)|Underground]]'' (Kamarad, [[PolyGram]], [[Komuna Belgrade|Komuna]])
*1995: ''[[A Chef in Love]]'' (Kamarad)
*2000: ''[[Tuvalu (film)|Tuvalu]]'' avec [[Jürgen Knieper]] ([[United One Records]])
*2005: ''[[I giorni dell'abbandono]]'' with [[Carmen Consoli]]
*2006: ''[[Le Lièvre de Vatanen]]'' ([[PolyGram]])
*2008: ''[[Mustafa (film)|Mustafa]]'' ([[Sony Music Entertainment]])

===Compilations===
:''His compilations include soundtracks from different works.''
*1996: ''[[P.S. (album)|PS]]'' ([[Komuna Belgrade|Komuna]])
*1998: ''Ederlezi'' ([[PolyGram]])
*1999: ''[[Magic book]]'' ([[Bravo Records]])
*2000: ''[[Songbook (Goran Bregović album)|Songbook]]'' ([[Mercury Records]], [[Universal Music Group|Universal]])
*2000: ''[[Music for films]]'' ([[PolyGram]])
*2009: ''[[Welcome to Bregović]]'' ([[Wrasse Records]])

===Other albums===
*1976: ''[[Goran Bregović (album)|Goran Bregović]]'' ([[PGP RTB]])
*1991: ''[[Paradehtika]]'' with [[Alkistis Protopsalti]] ([[Polydor]])
*1997: ''[[Düğün ve Cenaze]]'' with [[Sezen Aksu]] ([[Raks Müzik]])
*1997: ''[[Thessaloniki – Yannena with Two Canvas Shoes]]'' with [[George Dalaras]] ([[Minos-EMI]])
*1998: ''[[Silence of the Balkans]]'', live in [[Thessaloniki]] ([[Mercury Records]])
*1999: ''[[Kayah i Bregović|Kayah & Bregović]]'' with [[Kayah (singer)|Kayah]] ([[ZIC-ZAC]])
*2000: ''[[Balkanica]]'' with [[Athens Symphony Orchestra]] (FM Records)
*2001: ''[[Krawczyk & Bregović Daj mi drugie życie]]'' with [[Krzysztof Krawczyk (singer)|Krzysztof Krawczyk]] (BMG Poland, Rada)
*2002: ''[[Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals]]'' (Mercury)
*2007: ''[[Goran Bregović's Karmen with a Happy End]]'' (Mercury)
*2009: ''[[Alkohol: Šljivovica & Champagne]]'' (Kamarad, Mercury)
*2012: ''[[Ederlezi x Four]]'' (FM Records)
*2012: ''[[Champagne for Gypsies]]'' (Kamarad, Mercury)
*2017: ''[[Three Letters from Sarajevo, Opus 1]]'' (Wrasse Records)

=== Guest performances ===
*2017: "El Futuro Es Nuestro" (''[[Residente (album)|Residente]]''), by [[Residente]]<ref name="TNYT">{{cite web|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|author-link1=Jon Pareles|title=Residente Chases His Muse, at the Genetic Level|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/arts/music/residente-calle-13-solo-album-interview.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220102/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/arts/music/residente-calle-13-solo-album-interview.html |archive-date=2022-01-02 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=11 April 2017|date=20 January 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
*On 31 June 2006, he received a copy of the key of the city of [[Tirana]] by [[Edi Rama]] on the occasion of his visit to Albania.<ref>[http://www.tirana.gov.al/Celesi_qytetit/bregovit.jpg Received a copy of the key of the city of Tirana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005042016/http://www.tirana.gov.al/Celesi_qytetit/bregovit.jpg |date=5 October 2011 }}</ref>
*In 2021, he was awarded the [[Order of Karađorđe's Star]] by President [[Aleksandar Vučić]] on the occasion of [[Statehood Day (Serbia)|Statehood Day of Serbia]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Председник Вучић уручио одликовања поводом Дана државности Републике Србије|url=https://www.predsednik.rs/pres-centar/vesti/predsednik-vucic-urucio-odlikovanja-povodom-dana-drzavnosti-republike-srbije-29620|access-date=2021-02-24|website=Председник Републике Србије}}</ref>

==Annotations==
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Marković, Aleksandra. "Goran Bregović, the Balkan Music Composer." Ethnologia Balkanica 12 (2008): 9–23.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.goranbregovic.rs}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0005975}}
* [https://ckord.com/artists/f2edf20b-351e-486f-b932-04ba9f60dd96 Goran Bregović] on [https://ckord.com/artists/f2edf20b-351e-486f-b932-04ba9f60dd96 CKORD]

{{S-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Apocalyptica]]}} 
{{s-ttl|title=[[Eurovision Song Contest]]<br>Final Interval act|years=[[Eurovision Song Contest 2008|2008]]}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Fuerzabruta]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Goran Bregović}}
{{Bijelo dugme}}
{{Golden Arena for Best Film Music}}
{{Balkan music}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bregovic, Goran}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Sarajevo]]
[[Category:Yugoslav musicians]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina rock musicians]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina people of Croatian descent]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina people of Serbian descent]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina guitarists]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina male guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century guitarists]]
[[Category:Golden Arena winners]]
[[Category:World Music Awards winners]]
[[Category:Indexi Award winners]]
[[Category:20th-century male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century male musicians]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina film score composers]]
[[Category:Yugoslav composers]]
[[Category:Male film score composers]]
[[Category:Yugoslav film score composers]]