Željko Joksimović

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Željko Joksimović was born on April 20, 1972, in Belgrade, Serbia, and grew up in the town of Valjevo. He showed musical talent from a young age. At 12 years old, he won a prestigious award in Paris, earning the title “First Accordion of Europe” at a major music festival. This early achievement set the stage for his music career. Joksimović studied music at the University of Belgrade and started performing professionally by 1997. In 1998, he won the Pjesma Mediterana festival with his own song “Pesma Sirena,” gaining exposure in international festivals. These early successes demonstrated his potential and opened doors for him in the Balkan music scene.

Rise to Fame and Hit Albums

Joksimović released his debut album Amajlija in 1999. The album included the song “7 godina,” which became a huge hit. “7 godina” quickly reached number one on Serbian pop charts and was popular across the former Yugoslav countries. That same year, Željko won the Grand Prix at the Slavianski Bazaar arts festival in Belarus, further raising his profile.

His second album, Vreteno (2001), continued his success and featured songs like “Rintam” and a duet with folk singer Haris Džinović. In 2002, he released 111, which soared to number one on the pop charts in Serbia and nearby countries. This album produced popular songs such as “Varnice” and “Karavan,” solidifying Joksimović’s status as a leading pop-folk artist in the Balkans.

He also began writing music for others – notably composing “Čija si” for Toše Proeski, which won the Beovizija 2003 song contest. By the early 2000s, Željko Joksimović had become a household name in Serbian music, known for his soulful ballads and traditional-inspired pop songs.

International Success and Major Concerts

Beyond his early albums, Joksimović expanded his career by founding his own music production company, Minacord, in 2004. Through Minacord, he took creative control of his work and began composing for films and television.

In 2005, he released his fourth studio album Ima nešto u tom što me nećeš (also known as IV), marking a stylistic shift to pop ballads blended with Serbian folk elements. He continued to produce hit singles, and in 2007 he put out a Platinum Collection of greatest hits with new songs like “Devojka” and “Nije do mene”. Joksimović’s popularity led to large-scale performances. In 2007, he held a major concert at the Belgrade Arena for 18,000 fans, later released on DVD as Koncert Beogradska Arena. His next studio album Ljubavi came out in 2009 under Minacord/City Records. The title single “Ljubavi” became very popular in Serbia and the region, and another single “Žena za sva vremena” followed in 2010.

One of Joksimović’s most notable concerts took place on June 12, 2010, at the Koševo Stadium in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, drawing over 40,000 people. This massive show highlighted his ability to attract crowds across the Balkans. In 2015, he released a new album (Zvezda), continuing to produce music and perform live. Over the years, Željko has earned many awards, including regional honors. Notably, he was voted Best Male Performer in the Balkans for 2009, and his song “Ljubavi” won the Balkan Music Award for Best Song of the Year. These accolades, beyond his Eurovision fame, underscore his broad recognition in Southeast Europe.

Eurovision Song Contest Highlights

One of the key chapters in Joksimović’s career is his involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest. He first represented Serbia and Montenegro at Eurovision 2004 with the ballad “Lane moje,” achieving an impressive second-place finish. The song became a fan favorite and a best-selling single in the region. After Serbia’s victory in 2007, Željko co-hosted the Eurovision 2008 event in Belgrade alongside Jovana Janković (his future wife).

Joksimović returned to the Eurovision stage as a performer for Serbia in 2012, where his song “Nije ljubav stvar” earned third place in the final. In addition to performing, Željko has also composed Eurovision entries for other artists. He wrote the music for Bosnia & Herzegovina’s 2006 entry “Lejla,” which placed third and earned him a coveted composer’s award. He later composed “Adio” for Montenegro’s contestant in 2015. 

Television and Media Work

Outside of Eurovision, Zeljko Joksimovic has been active in television and media projects. He served as a judge on X Factor Adria during 2013, 2014, and 2015. In this role, he mentored aspiring singers on the Western Balkan edition of the popular talent show The X Factor. His presence on the judging panel further increased his visibility across the region and showcased his expertise beyond performing. Joksimović has also ventured into media production.

Through Minacord Media, he became involved in launching and co-owning a Serbian television channel called K1 in 2020. While he is not the host of K1’s programs, this venture demonstrates his expansion into the broadcasting industry. Additionally, Željko has composed theme music for TV series and films, such as the Serbian movie Ivkova slava (Ivko’s Feast) in 2005. His ability to cross into TV production and scoring highlights a versatile talent. Throughout these media endeavors, Joksimović has remained a familiar face on Balkan television, either on camera as a special guest or behind the scenes as a producer.

Personal Life and Other Ventures

Željko Joksimović’s personal life has also been in the public eye. In January 2012, he married Jovana Janković, a well-known TV presenter who co-hosted Eurovision 2008 with him. The couple has three children together: a son named Kosta (born 2014) and twin daughters, Ana and Srna (born 2017). Joksimović also has an older daughter, Mina, from a previous marriage. Balancing family life with a busy career, he often appears in the media alongside his wife, and they are regarded as a prominent show-business couple in Serbia.

In business, Željko continues to run Minacord, which not only produces his own music but has developed other artists and projects. He has used his platform to support charitable events and frequently performs at high-profile concerts and festivals across the Balkans.