Halid Bešlić | |
|---|---|
 Bešlić in 2007 | |
| Born | (1953-11-20)20 November 1953 |
| Died | 7 October 2025(2025-10-07) (aged 71) Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Pop-folk,folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1979–2025 |
| Labels | Nimfa Sound,Diskoton,Jugoton,City Records |
Musical artist | |
Halid Bešlić (Bosnian pronunciation:[xǎːlidbɛ̂ʃlitɕ]; 20 November 1953 – 7 October 2025) was a Bosnianfolk singer and musician whose career spanned nearly five decades. Renowned for his distinctivebaritone voice and emotive delivery, he became one of the most influential and best-selling performers in the formerYugoslavia and throughout theBalkans.[1]
Rising to prominence in the early 1980s with the albumsSijedi starac (1981),Pjesma samo o njoj (1982) andDijamanti... (1984), Bešlić developed a devoted following across the Balkans and among the Bosnian diaspora. He released more than a dozen studio albums and performed widely across Europe and North America.
During theBosnian War, Bešlić organized and took part in numerous humanitarian concerts for displaced persons and war victims. In 2009, he survived a serious car crash that left him with lasting injuries but continued to perform and record in the following years. Bešlić's work is regarded as an important contribution to Bosnian musical and cultural heritage, and he remained a regional cultural icon until his death inSarajevo in 2025.[2]
Bešlić was born in theKnežina village nearSokolac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, while it was part ofFPR Yugoslavia. His father Mujo Bešlić, a military man, died on 1 April 2016 at the age of 83 in a Sarajevo hospital. Halid, who was on tour in the United States at the time, managed to arrive at the funeral held in a village byOlovo, where Mujo had lived since the start of theBosnian War in 1992.[3]
After serving mandatory military service in theYugoslav People's Army, Bešlić moved from Knežina toSarajevo and began performing at local restaurants. After several years, his first musical releases were eightsingles between 1979 and 1982, with his first studio album, entitledSijedi starac (Grey Old Man), being released in 1981.
By 1984, he started becoming more and more well known, with popular songs such as "Neću, neću dijamante" (I Don't Want, I Don't Want Diamonds) and "Budi budi uvijek srećna" (Always, Always Be Happy) being heard all over Yugoslavia. Bešlić released eight albums during the 1980s, with hit songs including "Vraćam se majci u Bosnu" (I Am Returning to My Mother in Bosnia), "Sjećam se" (I Remember), "Hej, zoro, ne svani" (Hey, Dawn, Don't Rise) and "Eh, kad bi ti" (Oh, If Only You Would).
In the 1990s, during thebreakup of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovinawent into war and Bešlić staged more than 500 humanitarian concerts across Europe for the victims in his home country. During his career, he recorded 18 albums and staged countless concerts.
Bešlić also had several hit songs in the 2000s and 2010s. The 2003 albumPrvi poljubac (First Kiss) featured the hit song of the same name. The song "Miljacka", named afterthe Bosnian river, was featured on his 2007 albumHalid 08 and the songs "Štiklom o kamen" (High Heels on Stone) and "Kad zaigra srce od meraka" (When the Heart Dances from Joy) were featured onRomanija (2013). The albumTrebević, named afterthe Bosnian mountain, was released in February 2020.[4]
On 11 September 2025, the Serbian pop bandMiligram released a single featuring Bešlić, titled after his wife Sejda.[5] The song was dedicated to her and would become Bešlić's final single, as he died less than a month later, on 7 October, after falling ill in late August.[6]
Bešlić married his wife Sejda in November 1977.[7] In 2015, he acquiredCroatian citizenship.[8]
On 10 March 2009, Bešlić left his gas station at around 4 in the morning, and ran hisŠkoda Superb off the road, due to icy conditions, and crashed.[9][10][11] Bešlić, who was not wearing his seat belt, suffered serious injuries to his face and right eye, initially being in a coma. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina showed concern after his wreck, as they awaited any news regarding his condition. He would eventually make a full recovery. Attempts to save his eye were undertaken at hospitals in Bosnia, Turkey and Belgium, however they were all ultimately unsuccessful. After his recovery, Bešlić slowly made his way back onto the music scene. Notably, he held a major concert inZagreb at the end of October 2009.
Bešlić had earlier survived a car wreck in 1986 with the singerSuzana Mančić.[12]
On 21 August 2025, Bešlić was forced to cancel his concert inGradačac due to undisclosed health reasons.[13] He was hospitalized at thenephrology department of theClinical Center of the University of Sarajevo the following day.[14] In September 2025, his manager revealed that Bešlić was transferred to theoncology department and that he was "doing better and feeling well."[15]
Bešlić died inSarajevo on 7 October 2025, at the age of 71.[16]
Following Bešlić's death, many prominent politicians paid their respects, includingBosnian Presidency membersDenis Bećirović,Željko Komšić andŽeljka Cvijanović, former Presidency membersDragan Čović andMilorad Dodik, former Serbian prime ministerIvica Dačić and former Croatian presidentKolinda Grabar-Kitarović, as well as many notable regional public figures, such as singersSeverina,Miroslav Ilić,Hanka Paldum,Dino Merlin,Lepa Brena,Zdravko Čolić,Ana Bekuta,Marija Šerifović,Mladen Vojičić Tifa,Sejo Sexon,Marko Perković Thompson,Šerif Konjević,Željko Samardžić andSelma Bajrami, former footballersEmir Spahić andEdin Džeko, actorsEnis Bešlagić andEmir Hadžihafizbegović, and many others.[17][18]Petar Grašo and the bandCrvena Jabuka subsequently cancelled their concerts in Sarajevo in respect to Bešlić.[19]
Apart from regional media, foreignmedia also reacted to Bešlić's death, including those in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Turkey and others.[20] Upon his death, the government ofSarajevo Canton announced that 13 October 2025, the day of his burial, would be anational day of mourning throughout the canton.[21] TheFederal government also declared a day of mourning for 13 October in the entity.[22]
On 12 October, over 20,000 people gathered in front of theEternal flame memorial in Sarajevo to pay tribute to Bešlić.[23] Additionally, people in more than 150 cities, both in the region and internationally, gathered to honor him.[24] Bešlić was buried in Sarajevo at theBare Cemetery on 13 October. Thousands of people attended his funeral, including Presidency members Denis Bećirović and Željko Komšić, Serbian politicianČedomir Jovanović, and regional public figures such asNeda Ukraden, Ana Bekuta,Nikola Rokvić,Saša andDejan Matić,Zorica Brunclik, Tifa,Željko Joksimović,Haris Džinović,Duško Kuliš,Meho Kodro,Faruk Hadžibegić, Dino Merlin, Selma Bajrami,Emina Jahović,Jala Brat, and many more.[25] Merlin, Enis Bešlagić and Emir Hadžihafizbegović, among others, delivered eulogies at his memorial at theSarajevo National Theatre prior to the funeral.[26]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Border Post | Singer |
| 2021 | Not So Friendly Neighborhood Affair | Himself |
| International | |
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| Artists | |
| People | |
