Riva

Formation and Early Success

Riva was a Croatian pop band formed in 1986 in Zadar, Croatia. The group gained significant attention after participating in Zagrebfest in 1988 with their song "Zadnja Suza" ("Last Tear"). Their breakthrough came in 1989 when they won the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland with the song "Rock Me," marking a historic moment as it was the first and only victory for Yugoslavia in the competition. This unexpected win brought them widespread acclaim and recognition.

Albums and Disbandment

Following their Eurovision success, Riva released two albums: "Rock Me" in 1989 and "Srce Laneta" ("Deer Fawn's Heart") in 1990. The band was poised for further success and signed with a Swiss agency to produce a third album titled "Lude Glave, Lude Godine" ("Crazy Heads, Crazy Years"). However, tensions arose due to the agency's insistence on presenting the band as Yugoslavian despite Croatia's recent independence. This misrepresentation led to a fallout, and the band ultimately disbanded in 1992, feeling betrayed by the agency's actions during a tumultuous time in their homeland.