Silvana Armenulić

Silvana Armenulić
Portrait on vinyl cover "Jugo, moja Jugo" (1971) by Jugoton
Born
Zilha Bajraktarević

(1939-02-10)10 February 1939
Died10 October 1976(1976-10-10) (aged 37)
Other names
  • Zilha Armenulić
  • Queen of Sevdalinka
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actress
Years active1955–76
Spouse
  • (m. 1961)
Children1
Parents
  • Mehmed Bajraktarević (1909–1966)
  • Hajrija Bajraktarević (1916–2008)
Relatives
Musical career
Genres
Labels

Zilha Armenulić (Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Силвана Барјактаревић; born Zilha Bajraktarević; Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Зилха Барјактаревић; 18 February 1939 – 10 October 1976), known professionally as Silvana Armenulić (Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Силвана Арменулић; pronounced [silvǎːna armɛ̌nulit͡ɕ]), was a Yugoslavian singer-songwriter and actress and one of the most prominent commercial folk music and traditional sevdalinka singers in Yugoslavia. She is called the "Queen of Sevdalinka". Her life was cut short when she died in a car crash at the age of 37, but she continues to be well regarded in the region and she is recognized for her unique singing style and voice. Armenulić's song "Šta će mi život" (What Do I Need a Life for), written by her friend and contemporary Toma Zdravković, is one of the best-selling singles from the former Yugoslavia.

Two of her sisters were also professional singers: Mirsada "Mirjana" Bajraktarević and Hajrudina "Dina" Bajraktarević.