Himzo Polovina

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Himzo Polovina bigraphy, stories - Music

Himzo Polovina : biography

11 March 1927 – 5 August 1986

Dr. Himzo Polovina (11 March 1927 – 5 August 1986) was a Bosniak singer and songwriter, and one of the most famous and widely revered sevdalinka artists in the region. In addition, Dr. Himzo Polovina was a neuropsychiatrist by profession.

Personal life and death

Polovina was married to a woman named Fikreta Medošević. They had a daughter Rubina and a son Edmir.

He died at the age of 59 from a heart attack while on vacation with his family in Montenegro. According to his brother Mirza, the final song Himzo sang was Emina, shortly before his sudden death.

Himzo Polovina was buried in the Bare (Puddles) Cemetery in Sarajevo.

Early life and career beginnings

Polovina was born in March 1927 in Mostar, while Bosnia and Herzegovina was a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. His father, Mušan Polovina, was a soldier during World War I in the 1910s. During his service in Ljubljana, he met and married Ivanka Hlebec, making Himzo Polovina the child of an ethnically "mixed marriage" between a Bosniak father and a Slovene mother.

Himzo was introduced to music and singing as a young child. His father played the šargija and would often sing sevdalinka songs. As their father sang, Himzo and his siblings sang along in unison.

In the late 1930s, right before World War II broke out, Polovina was taught to play the violin by renowned Czech professor and violinist Karla Malaceka.

From 1947 until he left for Sarajevo, he was a member of the folk ensemble "Abrašević", with whom he toured cities and villages across Yugoslavia. He loved the "richness" of the Bosnian national costume, and wore it every time he performed.

While he was a student of medical school in 1950, he was a member of the Student Cultural Club "Slobodan Princip – Seljo" and performed with several other cultural clubs. During this, he succesfully completed medical school and became a psychiatrist. In practice, he successfully applied methods of psychiatry, socio-therapy and music therapy. He continued to work in his profession even after becoming a successful singer. Polovina was a respected doctor in the Jagomir mental rehabilitation hospital in Sarajevo until his death.

Discography

The following is the complete list of albums, singles and extended plays (EPs) released by Himzo Polovina:

Tracks Released
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Stade-Se-Cvije%C4%87e-Rosom-Kititi/release/2364440|title=Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi
  2. U lijepom starom gradu Višegradu
1958
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Gon%C4%91e-Ru%C5%BEo-U-Zelenom-Sadu/release/2364425|title=Gonđe ružo u zelenom sadu|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Gonđe ružo u zelenom sadu
  2. Mustafu majka budila
1958
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Pokraj-Ku%C4%87e-Male/release/2364398|title=Pokraj kuće male|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Pokraj kuće male
  2. Magla pala od pola Saraj’va
1958
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Gon%C4%91e-Ru%C5%BEo-U-Zelenom-Sadu-Mustafu-Majka-Budila/release/4115071|title=Gonđe ružo u zelenom sadu / Mustafu majka budila|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Gonđe ružo u zelenom sadu
  2. Mustafu majka budila
1960
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-i-Du%C5%A1anka-Labor-Kad-Se-Jangin-Iz-Sokaka-Pomoli/release/3240178|title=Kad se Jangin iz Sokaka pomoli|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}} with Dušanka Labor

  1. Kad se Jangin iz Sokaka pomoli
  2. S one strane pive
  3. Otvor’ vrata od hamama
  4. Zaplakala stara majka Džafer Begova
1963
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Telal-Vi%C4%8De/release/2364582|title=Telal viče|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Telal viče
  2. Prošetala Suljagina Fata
1963
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Moj-Behare-Pjesma-O-Mehmed-Pa%C5%A1i-Sokolovi%C4%87u/release/3473379|title=Moj behare / Pjesma o Mehmed-Paši Sokoloviću|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Moj behare
  2. Pjesma o Mehmed-Paši Sokoloviću
October 1964
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Emina-Hasanagin-Sevdah/release/2364687|title=Emina / Hasanagin Sevdah (Što te nema)|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Emina
  2. Hasanagin Sevdah (Što te nema)
1964
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Azra/release/2774675|title=Azra|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Azra
  2. Meni draga sitna pisma piše
  3. Na prijestolju sjedi Sultan
  4. Lutaj, pjesmo
October 1965
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Stade-Se-Cvije%C4%87e-Rosom-Kititi/release/3646168|title=Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi
  2. U lijepom starom gradu Višegradu
  3. Telal viče
  4. Pošetala Suljagina Fata
May 1966
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Ehlimana/release/2481156|title=Ehlimana|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Ehlimana
  2. Akšam Geldi
  3. Imam curu malenu
  4. Komšinica
1967
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Mila-Majko-%C5%A0alji-Me-Na-Vodu-U-Sotonu-Jedne-Proljetne-No%C4%87i/release/4115054|title=Mila majko, šalji me na vodu / U sotonu jedne proljetne noći|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Mila majko, šalji me na vodu
  2. U sotonu jedne proljetne noći
1969
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Jutros-Pro%C4%91oh-Kroz-%C4%8Car%C5%A1iju-Dvore-Gradi-Komadina-Mujo/release/4115047|title=Jutros prođoh kroz čaršiju / Dvore gradi komadina Mujo|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Jutros prođoh kroz čaršiju
  2. Dvore gradi komadina Mujo
1969
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Jesi-Li-%C4%8Cula-Du%C5%A1o–Otputovah-U-Daljine/release/2364706|title=Jesi li čula dušo? / Otputovah u daljine|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Jesi li čula dušo?
  2. Otputovah u daljine
1970
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-U-Stambolu-Na-Bosforu-Okladi-Se-Mom%C4%8De-I-Djevoj%C4%8De/release/4115061|title=U Stambolu na Bosforu / Okladi se momče i djevojče|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. U Stambolu na Bosforu
  2. Okladi se momče i djevojče
1971
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Narodne-Pjesme-Iz-Bosne-I-Hercegovine-Bosnian-Folk-Songs/release/3721644|title=Narodne pjesme iz Bosne i Hercegovine|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Sarajevo, divno mjesto
  2. Zaplakala stara majka
  3. Oj djevojko, džidžo moja
  4. Širi mjesec po Igmanu zrake
  5. Imal’ jada
  6. Čije je ono djevojče
  7. Čudna jada od Mostara grada
  8. Mila majko šalji me na vodu
  9. Dunjaluče, golem ti si
  10. Voljelo se dvoje mladih
  11. Gonđe ružo
  12. Široka kita rakita
21 November 1972
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-U-Sutonu-Jedne-Proljetne-No%C4%87i/release/4035584|title=U sutonu jedne proljetne noći|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. U sutonu jedne proljetne noći
  2. Crne oči dobro glede
  3. Na put se spremam
  4. Tiha je noć
1975
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Kradem-Ti-Se-U-Ve%C4%8Deri/release/3083792|title=Kradem ti se u večeri|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Kad ja pođoh na Bembašu
  2. Vino piju age Sarajlije
  3. Kradem ti se u večeri
  4. Sjećaš li se kad si lani
  5. Razbolje se lijepa Hajrija
  6. Pokraj vrela
  7. U Stambolu na Bosforu
  8. Oj djevojko anadolko
  9. Djevojka je zelen bor sadila
  10. Ikindija
  11. Ja zagrizoh šareniku jabuku
  12. Kad se Jangin iz Sokaka pomoli
1976
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Emina-U-Stambolu-Na-Bosforu/release/2605535|title=Emina / U Stambolu na Bosforu|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Emina
  2. U Stambolu na Bosforu
1977
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Kliknu-Vila-Sa-Vrha-Porima/release/3124629|title=Kliknu vila sa vrha porima|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. U Trebinju gradu
  2. Izvi se Mujo na grade
  3. Kliknu vila sa vrha Porima
  4. Jasenice, nestalo ti gaza
  5. Dobro došli, kićeni svatovi
  6. Omere, prvo gledanje
  7. Poletjela dva goluba
  8. Ali-Paša na Hercegovini
  9. Mujagu majka budila
  10. Nema ljepše cure od malene Đule
1979
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Mehmed-Pa%C5%A1a-Tri-Cara-Slu%C5%BEio-U-Lijepom-Starom-Gradu-Vi%C5%A1egradu/release/4115082|title=Mehmed Paša tri cara služio / U lijepom, starom, gradu Višegradu|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Mehmed Paša tri cara služio
  2. U lijepom, starom, gradu Višegradu
1980
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Mila-Majko-%C5%A0alji-Me-Na-Vodu-Djevojka-Je-Zelen-Bor-Sadila/release/2190832|title=Mila majko, šalji me na vodu / Djevojka je zelen bor sadila|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Mila majko, šalji me na vodu
  2. Djevojka je zelen bor sadila
1982
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Sevdah-I-Suze/release/4205648|title=Sevdah i suze|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Tamburalo momče uz tamburu
  2. Poljem se vija hajdar delija
  3. U lijepom starom gradu Višegradu
  4. Kad ja pođoh na Bembašu
  5. Otvor’ vrata od hamana
  6. Karanfile, cvijeće moje
  7. Oj, jdevojko, pod brdom
  8. Snijeg pade na behar, na voće
  9. Oj, bogati, siva ptico sokole
  10. Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi
September 1984
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Magla-Pala-Od-Pola-Sarajva/master/510713|title=Magla pala od pola Saraj’va|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Magla pala od pola Saraj’va
  2. Ehlimana
  3. Pod Skočićem trava pogažena
  4. Meni draga sitna pisma piše
  5. Imam curu malenu
  6. Otputovah u daljine
  7. Okladi se momče i djevojče
  8. Pjesma o Mehmed-Paši Sokoloviću
  9. Pusti me, majko
  10. Laku noć
  11. Pokraj kuće male
  12. Komšinica
  13. Jesi li čula dušo
1987
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Himzo-Polovina/release/1777332|title=Himzo Polovina|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Emina
  2. Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi
  3. Pošetala Suljagina Fata
  4. Jutros prođoh kroz Čaršiju
  5. Moj behare
  6. Lutaj, pjesmo
  7. Hasanagin Sevdah
  8. Na prijestolju sjedi Sultan
  9. Azra
  10. Telal viče
  11. Akšam geldi
  12. Dvore gradi komadina Mujo
1988
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Voljelo-Se-Dvoje-Mladih-Pod-Sko%C4%8Di%C4%87em-Trava-Poga%C5%BEena/release/4115097|title=Voljelo se dvoje mladih / Pod skočićem trava pogažena|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Voljelo se dvoje mladih
  2. Pod skočićem trava pogažena
unknown release date
author=|url=http://www.discogs.com/Himzo-Polovina-Nema-ljep%C5%A1e-cure-Pusti-me-majko/release/3721662|title=Nema lijepše cure / Pusti me, majko|publisher=Discogs|date=|accessdate=15 May 2013}}

  1. Nema lijepše cure
  2. Pusti me, majko
unknown release date

Emina

His cover of the Bosnian sevdalinka, Emina, is considered by many to be the best version of the song. His 1960s version featured added verses, which were written after the subject of the song, Emina Sefić, died in 1967. Upon hearing Emina’s death, Polovina went to poetess Sevda Katica’s home in the village of Donja Mahala. He found her in the yard of the family home, informed her of Emina’s death and she shuddered with grief and spoke the verses:

Added verses Translation
Umro stari pjesnik, umrla Emina
ostala je pusta bašća od jasmina
slomljen je ibrik
uvehlo je cvijeće
pjesma o Emini, nikad umrijet neće.
The old poet has died, Emina has died
The empty garden of jasmine was left behind
The pitcher is broken
The flowers have withered
The song about Emina, will never die.

Career

In January 1953, his medical colleagues persuaded him to audition live for Radio Sarajevo. He performed the sevdalinka song "Mehmeda je stara majka karala", despite the fact that he had a speech impediment which made it difficult for him to pronounce the letter "r." He was admitted and received excellent feedback from skilled musical artists.

He frequently performed at gala concerts for charity, in hospitals, for pensioners, for the decrepit, the elderly and for children in orphanages.

At one point in his career, Polovina went on a five-year hiatus from Radio Sarajevo, due to disagreements with his the heads of that company. The matter was resolved and he continued performing.

During his three-decade long career, he performed in virtually every city in Bosnia.