Historic Night in Zagreb: Thompson's Record-breaking Concert Brought Together Half a Million People
Marko Perković Thompson's music concert at the Zagreb Hippodrome began with the song "Ustani iz sjene", [Emerge from the Shadows] with light effects, fireworks and hundreds of thousands of cheers from enthusiastic fans. Thompson told the audience that Europe must find its way back to its Christian foundations and traditions, with the message that Croatia is strong when it cherishes its family, homeland and faith.
On July 5, 2025, Croatian singer Marko Perković Thompson attracted an incredible number of people to the Zagreb Hippodrome, thus becoming the creator of the largest paid concert in the history of music. With more than half a million confirmed visitors, this event not only broke records but also became a symbol of Croatian unity and national pride. Thompson thus set a new standard in the world of music, showing what it means to organize a spectacle of this scale. The figure surpasses all previous paid concert records, and Thompson now holds the title of the world record holder for the number of tickets sold.
The concert was a huge undertaking, both technical and human. Months of preparation culminated in a single evening that required careful coordination of almost every conceivable logistical detail. The Hippodrome had to be transformed into a concert venue capable of accommodating a larger audience than most cities could or had ever imagined. This transformation required extensive preparatory work – literally and figuratively. The concert also represented the pinnacle of innovation: systems and applications were developed to help control crowds, facilitate ticket use, navigate the space, find content, and collect data on the health needs of visitors. These data were used to create detailed protocols for medical teams, firefighters, and police. To ensure maximum safety, the most modern technologies were used to simulate various scenarios of entry, exit, and emergency evacuation.
About the Songs
But what made this night unforgettable was not only the impressive logistical preparations, but also the incredible energy of togetherness that filled the space. This was no ordinary concert – it was a national gathering that brought together all generations: families, veterans, young people and Croatians from the diaspora.
As organizers, we witnessed something rare: a peaceful gathering of people who came not only for the music, but also to experience a moment of shared identity and remembrance. Our goal was to emphasize unity, not division, and to bring together people from different social and generational spectrums. Marko’s message throughout the night focused on shared heritage, national memory and values such as family, faith, dignity and identity. The concert began with the song “Ustani iz sjene” [Emerge from the Shadows], which set the tone for togetherness. Throughout the evening, Thompson sang his greatest hits – “Lijepa li si” [You Are Beautiful], Bojna Čavoglave” [Čavoglave Battalion], “Geni kameni” [Genes of Stone], each of which resonates deeply with themes of the Croatian homeland, cultural identity and collective memory.
The concert was a musical and symbolic affirmation of what it means to belong to a nation with a difficult but proud history. Croatia’s path to sovereignty, especially in the 1990s, was marked by immense sacrifice. Thompson, a veteran himself, has long integrated these themes into his music, reflecting the emotional and historical journey of modern Croatia. While critics have politicized his songs for decades, for the hundreds of thousands of attendees, this concert was something far more personal – a collective memory, a celebration of unity and a rare moment of immense togetherness.
The Concert Has No Political Connotations
Despite the criticism that Thompson's musical art has suffered for decades from Yugo-nostalgia, various political entities and individuals, we as organizers want to convey a message to the international media, cultural experts and our partners around the world about what can be achieved when creativity, professionalism and a clear sense of purpose come together. Thompson's message in this was loud and clear throughout the night: to unite in love, faith, memory and peace. This was confirmed by the huge number of fans present as the night ended - without any significant incidents, violence or casualties, but just half a million people who proudly celebrated their heritage. We believe that this concert became more than a musical event - it was a reminder of the power of togetherness. Therefore, we want to avoid any political interpretations.
We are extremely proud of what we have achieved and thank everyone who contributed to making this event safe, strong and historically important. We believe that this concert was not only a turning point in live music, but also a reminder of the strength of togetherness that comes from a shared experience. As such, we wish to exclude any political or other connotation.
Finally, we thank everyone -- fans, partners and all who helped make this incredible vision a reality.
ÄŚavoglave Battalion
Homeland War Anthem
Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić also said that young people gathered at Thompson's concert to sing songs about the homeland, faith and heroes of the Homeland War. "If someone thinks it's a shame, I would say that he is a shame for this Croatia, if he doesn't recognize the values that were sung about," he said, responding to the SDP, which described the concert as "a global disgrace in which extreme messages received state logistics and direct support from the top of the government."
The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that last weekend was no ordinary concert. "It was much more than a concert, and at this moment some things will irreversibly begin to change in politics and society, when we talk about Croatia, about Croatian consciousness and the Croatian people," he said.
On Tuesday, Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić said that he and half a million others responded to Thompson's call "For the Homeland" at the concert with "Ready," adding that he sees nothing objectionable in it, as well as in the song "Bojna Čavoglave" [Čavoglave Battalion] because it is the anthem of the Homeland War, which encouraged Croatian defenders.
"Half a million of us said we were ready because that song and the shout in it encouraged us in 1991. As a Croatian veteran, I know how much that song meant to me and how much that encouragement meant to me. That song became the anthem of the Homeland War, it is protected by a decision of the High Misdemeanor Court and as such cannot be prosecuted," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Republic of Croatia Ivan Anušić.
Let us recall! In 1991, the internationally recognized, independent, free and democratic Republic of Croatia was attacked by the JNA, Serbia, Montenegro and the neo-fascist Serbian right-wing Chetniks who organized themselves to kill Croatians in Croatia and demolish homes with the aim of enslaving the Croatian people and overthrowing the establishment of Croatian statehood.
Croatians, united as one, stood in defense of their freedom, without weapons but with faith, the strength of the spirit of determination and unwavering fighting courage.
Janez Janša, president of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), the main conservative and right-center party in Slovenia, and a former prime minister, on his X profile commented on the concert by Marko Perković Thompson, which he himself attended.
"A sea of light, faith and patriotism. Congratulations, neighbors! 500,000 people, mostly young, and not a single incident. A manifestation of the eternal values of our civilization, expressed in the words of Ivan Cankar: 'Mother, homeland, God...'" reads the top of the Slovenian politician's X profile.
In his post on X, Janša responded to the extreme left Slovenian website "Levica", which attacked him for attending Thompson's concert.
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