Damir Urban & Stjepan Hauser - Everybody Hurts REM (Hope for Haiti)

intense day. crowded. full house you could say. got home few hours ago. gotta go to a farewell party coz our friend from Malaysia is going back home.

came across my favorite singer Damir Urban singing an REM song everybody hurts accompanied by this really cool cello player Stjepan Hauser. both from Croatia. talented. I personally have been a fan of Urban for some time now. just recently heard of Stjepan Hauser. since him and another cello player recorded 'smooth criminal' - great thing as well. gotta see if you haven't already.

it says it's a video from a Christmas concert in Zagreb. great ambient of Croatian national theater. still in his early twenties, Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser has already performed in the biggest venues in Europe, as the soloist with many major orchestras in country and abroad. outstanding performances in most European countries, South Africa, New Zealand and the USA, with sensational debuts in Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and South Bank Centre bear witness of his incomparable artistry.

Damir Urban released his first solo album in 1996, entitled Otrovna kiša (Poison Rain), to critical and commercial acclaim. the album produced hits such as "Astronaut", but the highlight of his career was yet to follow.
in 1998, he released Žena dijete (Woman-Child) to even greater critical and commercial acclaim, and the album spawned a string of number ones: "Mala truba", "Odlučio sam da te volim" and "Black Tattoo" (which features the Split hip-hop group The Beat Fleet) all received extensive airplay. he refused to receive the Porin (Croatia's equivalent to a Grammy) for the album, as it was nominated for best alternative album and Urban believed his album to be a rock album, therefore, he considered he would be stealing a prize from real alternative artists.

so, that's about it for today. two amazing people you should definitely check out and listen to and judge for yourself if you like them or not.

feels good to listen to them every time. all over again.



this post was written as part of the ‘Seven Day Blogging Challenge’.