Željko Samardžic
Encyclopedia
Željko Samardžić is a Serbian
pop-folk
singer popular throughout the former Yugoslav republics
. He lives and works in the capital of Serbia
, Belgrade
.
father Milivoje and mother Nada from the Mostar
suburb of Ilići, Samardžić's father was a Yugoslav People's Army
officer, which meant that the family had to move around a lot. After spending the first seven years of his life in Mostar, young Željko lived and attended school in Nikšić
, Igalo
and Zadar
before eventually returning to Mostar during his teenage years.
He first started singing during high school, and soon became known around Mostar for being a good Kemal Monteno
impersonator. Samardžić's musical activity during this period was essentially little more than a hobby as he didn't put out any official releases and mostly sang in kafana
s and restaurants in addition to competing in the occasional obscure festival. The closest he came to wide main stream success was a schlager "Moja Marija je drugačija" that became a hit in Bosnia during 1970s after he performed it at Prvi aplauz festival in Banja Luka
, but he mostly earned his living running a cafe in Mostar, located in close proximity to the famous Old Bridge
.
When the war
broke out in 1992, Željko was wounded in Mostar while sitting in his apartment while the chaotic fighting between the Muslim, Croat and Serbian army was raging outside. A stray bullet entered his leg and exited his hip. After much trouble, along with his wife and their daughter, he managed to flee the city through the Croat controlled western part of Herzegovina
and eventually reach Serbia
after going through Istria
, Slovenia
and Hungary
. Once in Serbia, they lived in the Belgrade
suburb of Borča
and Samardžić soon started getting low-paying gigs in various discothèques and café
s, building up a fairly devoted niche
audience. Almost 40 years old at this point, his big break came unexpectedly when some businessmen who enjoyed his nightclub performances brought him to the elite club Ambassador and also financed him with DM30,000 to record an album with Marina Tucaković
and Aleksandar "Futa" Radulović. In 1995 he also appeared at the Pjesma Mediterana
festival in Budva
, where he left a great impression singing "Sipajte mi još jedan viski", which further opened the doors to show business
.
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
pop-folk
Pop-folk
Pop-folk is the umbrella term for the popular musical genres originating in the Balkans and Eastern Europe that are characteristic by the fusion of commercial folk music and "nightclub" music. The term is used alternatively for Turbo-folk and Chalga and is mostly used in Bulgaria...
singer popular throughout the former Yugoslav republics
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. He lives and works in the capital of 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...
, Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
Biography
Born to MontenegrinMontenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
father Milivoje and mother Nada from the Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
suburb of Ilići, Samardžić's father was a Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
officer, which meant that the family had to move around a lot. After spending the first seven years of his life in Mostar, young Željko lived and attended school in Nikšić
Nikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
, Igalo
Igalo
Igalo is a town next to Herceg-Novi which is accessible via the E65/E80 North headed to Dubrovnik, Croatia. According to the 2003 Census, it has a population of 3,754...
and Zadar
Zadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
before eventually returning to Mostar during his teenage years.
He first started singing during high school, and soon became known around Mostar for being a good Kemal Monteno
Kemal Monteno
Kemal Monteno is a popular Bosnian singer-songwriter. He was born to an Italian father and a Bosniak mother. He recorded his first song Lidija in 1967 and has enjoyed a prosperous career in the former Yugoslavia...
impersonator. Samardžić's musical activity during this period was essentially little more than a hobby as he didn't put out any official releases and mostly sang in kafana
Kafana
Kafana , kafeana , kavana are terms used in the former Yugoslav countries for a distinct type of local bistro which primarily serves alcoholic beverages and coffee , and which sometimes also has a live band.The concept of a social gathering place for men to drink...
s and restaurants in addition to competing in the occasional obscure festival. The closest he came to wide main stream success was a schlager "Moja Marija je drugačija" that became a hit in Bosnia during 1970s after he performed it at Prvi aplauz festival in Banja Luka
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
, but he mostly earned his living running a cafe in Mostar, located in close proximity to the famous Old Bridge
Stari most
Stari Most is a 16th century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on November 9, 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak War...
.
When the war
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
broke out in 1992, Željko was wounded in Mostar while sitting in his apartment while the chaotic fighting between the Muslim, Croat and Serbian army was raging outside. A stray bullet entered his leg and exited his hip. After much trouble, along with his wife and their daughter, he managed to flee the city through the Croat controlled western part of Herzegovina
Herzegovina
Herzegovina is the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While there is no official border distinguishing it from the Bosnian region, it is generally accepted that the borders of the region are Croatia to the west, Montenegro to the south, the canton boundaries of the Herzegovina-Neretva...
and eventually reach 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...
after going through Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Once in Serbia, they lived in the Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
suburb of Borča
Borca
Borča is a suburban settlement of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in the Belgrade's municipality of Palilula.-Location:...
and Samardžić soon started getting low-paying gigs in various discothèques and café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
s, building up a fairly devoted niche
Niche market
A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact...
audience. Almost 40 years old at this point, his big break came unexpectedly when some businessmen who enjoyed his nightclub performances brought him to the elite club Ambassador and also financed him with DM30,000 to record an album with Marina Tucaković
Marina Tucaković
Marina Tucaković is a Serbian songwriter who has composed several hit albums in former Yugoslavia. She is a known collaborator with Ceca, Lepa Brena, Jelena Karleusa among others...
and Aleksandar "Futa" Radulović. In 1995 he also appeared at the Pjesma Mediterana
Pjesma Mediterana
Pjesma Mediterana is a pop music festival held every summer in Budva, Montenegro.The festival began in 1992 There have been various sponsors of the festival, including:Komuna Belgrade, Music Star Production and the Municipality of Budva. From 2008, the Municipality of Budva, together with HTP...
festival in Budva
Budva
Budva is a coastal town in Montenegro. It has around 15,000 inhabitants, and it is the centre of municipality...
, where he left a great impression singing "Sipajte mi još jedan viski", which further opened the doors to show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
.
Discography
- Oko tvoje neverno (1994)
- Bilo je lepo (1995)
- Sudbina (1995)
- Jednom kad nam dođu sijede (1996)
- Sjećanje na ljubav (1996)
- Zveket srca (1997)
- Sve je moje tvoje (1998)
- Sentimentalan čovek (2001)
- Lice ljubavi (2005)
- Ja Kunem Se U Ljubav i 16 Balada (2008)
- Kojim dobrom mila moja (2009)
External links
- Official web site
- Publika me održava u životu, Blic, March 8, 2008
- Koncert Željka Samardžića - 'Ljubavna adresa' bila je Zetra, Sarajevo-x.com, October 31, 2009