Elvir Lakovic Laka
Encyclopedia
Elvir Laković, also known as Laka, (born 15 March 1969) is a Bosnian
rock
singer-songwriter
, born in Goražde
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
He attended music school there studying guitar, but he disliked the school's teaching methods and views towards music, and then subsequently quit the school. He also studied two years of the occupational health university course in Niš
, Serbia
, but did not graduate. During the Bosnian war, he was mobilized in the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the war, he worked for various international organizations for six years. His parents live in Goražde
; his father is a lawyer and his mother works for a telecommunications company.
During his early aspiring music career, Laka played popular Bosnian folk songs at café building minor popularity.
Laka recorded his first song "Malo sam se razočar'o" (I'm a little bit disappointed) in 1998. The song turned out to be a major success, and launched his show business career nationally, and then released more songs, among which were "Vještica" (The Witch), "Mor'o" (I had to) and "Piškila" (You've peed yourself), highly increasing his popularity in Bosnia.
In 2004, Laka left for New York City
, where he tried to start a band, but returned to Bosnia unsuccessful and a little bit disappointed after two-and-a-half years. However, he then released his first solo album Zec (Rabbit) in 2007.
In 2003, his song "Ja sam mor'o" (I Had To) won the Bosnian Davorin Music Award for the best rock song of the year. The album Zec has also been released in Croatia
on the Menart record label.
Laka and his 14 years younger sister Mirela represented Bosnia and Herzegovina
at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Pokušaj
" ("Try"). Laka was the spokesperson reading out the results from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, born in Goražde
Goražde
Goražde , is a city and municipality in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Drina river. It is located between Foča, Sokolac and Višegrad, and is administratively part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the center of the Bosnian Podrinje Canton.-Location:Goražde is situated on the...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
.
He attended music school there studying guitar, but he disliked the school's teaching methods and views towards music, and then subsequently quit the school. He also studied two years of the occupational health university course in Niš
Niš
Niš is the largest city of southern Serbia and third-largest city in Serbia . According to the data from 2011, the city of Niš has a population of 177,972 inhabitants, while the city municipality has a population of 257,867. The city covers an area of about 597 km2, including the urban area,...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, but did not graduate. During the Bosnian war, he was mobilized in the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the war, he worked for various international organizations for six years. His parents live in Goražde
Goražde
Goražde , is a city and municipality in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina on the Drina river. It is located between Foča, Sokolac and Višegrad, and is administratively part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the center of the Bosnian Podrinje Canton.-Location:Goražde is situated on the...
; his father is a lawyer and his mother works for a telecommunications company.
During his early aspiring music career, Laka played popular Bosnian folk songs at café building minor popularity.
Laka recorded his first song "Malo sam se razočar'o" (I'm a little bit disappointed) in 1998. The song turned out to be a major success, and launched his show business career nationally, and then released more songs, among which were "Vještica" (The Witch), "Mor'o" (I had to) and "Piškila" (You've peed yourself), highly increasing his popularity in Bosnia.
In 2004, Laka left for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he tried to start a band, but returned to Bosnia unsuccessful and a little bit disappointed after two-and-a-half years. However, he then released his first solo album Zec (Rabbit) in 2007.
In 2003, his song "Ja sam mor'o" (I Had To) won the Bosnian Davorin Music Award for the best rock song of the year. The album Zec has also been released in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
on the Menart record label.
Laka and his 14 years younger sister Mirela represented Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Pokušaj
Pokušaj
"Pokušaj" , is a song by the Bosnian singer Elvir Laković Laka. "Pokušaj" is an alternative rock-style song and was composed and written by Laka, who is a popular alternative rock singer from Bosnia and Herzegovina....
" ("Try"). Laka was the spokesperson reading out the results from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
.
See also
- Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008Laka was chosen to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The song representing Bosnia-Herzegovina at the 2008 Contest in Belgrade was first announced to the public following the most recent tradition of a Sunday prime time TV show...
- Eurovision Song Contest 2008Eurovision Song Contest 2008The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...