Hari Varešanović

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Hajrudin "Hari" Varešanović (born January 16, 1961 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, now Bosnia-Herzegovina) is a famous and popular singer in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Varešanović is best known as the vocal soloist, composer, and leader of the musical group Hari Mata Hari.

As of 2006, his career has lasted over 20 years and he has performed at over 1000 concerts. In 1999, Varešanović performed his song "Starac i More" in hope of representing Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999. However, after "Starac i More" had won it turned out the song had already been recorded, since Varešanović had sold the song to record label Unirecords in Finland, and Finnish artist Janne Hurme recorded that song in 1997 in name "Heart Blood" ("Sydänveri").Hari Mata Hari was disqualified. The runner-up, Dino Merlin, was sent to the ESC instead.

On February 9, 2006, the Bosnian television network PBSBiH announced that Hari Varešanović will represent Bosnia and Herzegovina with the song "Lejla" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The announcement confirmed rumors circulating throughout the country for more than two months.

Varešanović will perform a song with music written by composer Željko Joksimović and lyrics written by Bosnian writers Fahrudin Pecikoza and Dejan Ivanović.

"The song is the best in the world. I have to admit that I have not heard a better one. I am impressed with it and Pecikoza's lyrics. We have made a song that comes out the spirit of our people and I am glad to be singing it," Hari Varešanović told the Bosnian newspaper Nezavisne Novine.

On May 20, 2006, Hari Varešanović and his group Hari Mata Hari reached 3rd place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Greece.