Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jala Brat

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameJasmin Fazlić Born16 October 1986 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (Dalal & Deen ft. Ana Rucner & Jala, 2016) Biography Jasmin Fazlić, better known as Jala Brat, is a Bosnian rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer. Jasmin Fazlić was born in Sarajevo. He took his first steps in the music career in early 2000 by recording his first demo songs. He soon realized that rap was the genre he wanted to pursue. He created his first original songs in his home studio, which he shared with a close group of friends, and adopted his nickname “Jala” as his stage name. Initially, Jala worked alone, but in 2011, he formed a group called Blunt Blyon, with whom he worked more seriously and released his first album “Replay.” After the album’s release, his music career as a rapper started to flourish. In 2012, Jala met Sarajevo rapper Amar Hodžić. That same year, Jala and Amar started collaborating together, not only in music but also in live performances. Jala began releasing his songs on the YouTube channel Imperia, which they jointly managed. After the release of the album “Replay”, Jala worked on new material and collaborated with rappers such as Frenkie, Sajfer, Mayer, Klijent, and Buba Corelli. He recorded a total of 10 songs and released an album called “Riječ na riječ”, which came out on June 12, 2012. At the end of 2012, together with Buba and Kontro, he featured on the song “RMX” released on the album “Troyanac” by Tuzla rapper Frenkie, for which they also made a music video. The song received positive reviews, further launching Jala into the music scene. In the period from 2012 to 2013, he released two EP albums named “SA Sin City” in collaboration with Buba, and “Mahala” with rapper Shtela. In the same year, he met singer and producer Almir Ajanović, who decided to produce his music in his Tempo studio. Jala and Buba worked on new songs between 2013 and 2014, and together they recorded a studio album called “Pakt s đavolom” (Devil’s Pact). The album featured collaborations with various rappers and singers, including Rasta, Juice, MCN, and Sedžida Matoruga. “Pakt s đavolom” was released in 2014 and received positive reviews from the audience. The album was released by Tempo Digital, in cooperation with the record label RedEye Vision. In early 2015, Jala decided to change his stage name to Jala Brat, citing the fact that the nickname “Brat” (Brother) had started to appear frequently alongside his old name, Jala. He adopted it as his own and first introduced it in the music video for the song “Dom” (Home). Soon after, he recorded another joint album with Buba, titled “Stari radio” (Old Radio). The most popular songs from the album were “Skandal” and “Casino.” However, their collaboration with Buba was interrupted due to Buba being arrested. A significant turning point in Jala Brat’s career was his participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, where he co-wrote the song “Ljubav je” and performed it with singers Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Deen, and cellist Ana Rucner from Croatia. The Bosnian delegation did not qualify for the final of the competition after performing the song in the semi-final evening. The song was also recorded in English under the title “Love is all.” In November 2016, Jala Brat and Buba Corelli recorded an album titled “Kruna” (Crown). This was the first album released under the label of the Imperia publishing and media house. During the commercial success of the album “Kruna,” Jala Brat established contacts with mainstream singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. He recorded the song “Zvezde plaču za nama” (Stars Cry for Us, 2015) with rapper Vuk Mob, and the song “Dominantna” (Dominant, 2016) with folk singer Dado Polumenta. He collaborated with Elena Kitić again, this time on the song “Folira” (She’s Pretending, 2016), which he recorded in collaboration with Buba. Afterward, he continued to release singles collaborating with folk singer Maya Berović on the song “To me radi” (What She Does to Me, 2016), which he recorded together with Buba Corelli. In early 2017, he collaborated with Croatian pop singer Severina on the song “Otrove” (Poison), and with Serbian pop-folk singer Milan Stanković on the song “Ego.” In 2016, Jala decided to become politically involved and ran for the Municipal Council in the Local Elections in the Municipality of Vogošća as a candidate of the Party of Democratic Action. He faced criticism, mainly from the public and audience, for his candidacy, but he remained on the list due to the insufficient number of votes. Afterward, he withdrew from the political scene. The album “Alfa i Omega” (2016) was recorded in the Imperia studio and represents a continuation of Jala Brat’s collaboration with Buba Corelli. The highlight of the album was a concert tour, culminating in a sold-out concert at the Tašmajdan Arena in Belgrade, with an audience of over 15,000 people. Album “99” (2019) After seven years since the release of Jala’s first album, “Riječ na riječ,” his second solo album, titled “99,” was released on September 9, 2019. Jala Brat announced the album on July 4 via his Instagram profile. The album features collaborations with Buba Corelli, Coby, and Raf Camora. Music videos were made for all the songs. After launching the Imperia YouTube channel, Jala decided to produce songs for prominent artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Croatia, together with Buba Corelli. He wrote lyrics and music for Milan Stanković, Dado Polumenta, Severina, Katarina Grujić, Aca Pejović, Dara Bubamara, and Selma Bajrami. However, his most significant collaboration was with pop-folk singer Maya Berović, for whom he and Buba produced several studio albums and most of the songs from 2017 onwards. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Deen & Ana Rucner) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Ana Rucner

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameAna Rucner Born12 February 1983 Nationality🇭🇷 Croatian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (Dalal & Deen ft. Ana Rucner & Jala, 2016) Biography She was born into a musically talented family. Her mother, Snježana, is a cellist and soloist at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, while her father, Dragan, is a violinist and soloist in the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra. She received her primary and secondary music education at the Elly Bašić Music Institute in Zagreb, and during her high school years and studies (from 1993 to 2003), she was constantly engaged with the Maribor Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2006, she married singer Vlado Kalember, from whom she divorced eight years later. She became particularly famous after the release of the “Ode to Joy” music video, which promotes Croatian tourism. The video was created based on her idea, and besides her, it featured the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ivan Goran Kovačić Academic Choir. The video won the tourism Oscar (“Das goldene Stadttor”) at the 11th International Tourism Film and Multimedia Festival in Berlin, competing against 180 countries. On April 9, 2013, the video was awarded a bronze medal at the New York Festivals, along with 11 other awards. In 2016, Ana performed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden, together with singers Dalal Midhat-Talakić and Fuad Backović, also known as “Deen,” and rapper Jasmin Fazlić Jala, with the song “Ljubav je,” representing Bosnia and Herzegovina. The song was performed in the first semi-final on May 10 but did not qualify for the final on May 14. This was the first time that representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina did not qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest final. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Deen & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Dalal

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameDalal Midhat-Talakić Born05 August 1981 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm SongLjubav je (with Deen, Ana Rucner & Jala) Biography Dalal Midhat-Talakić (born August 5, 1981) is a Bosnian singer. She was born in Sarajevo, where she also attended school. Her first original song was performed in 1995 at a choir competition in Zagreb’s Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. In 1999, Dalal formed the group Erato with singer Aida Jašarević, where she co-wrote most of the songs they released together. They released two studio albums, “Backstage” (2003) and “Make Up” (2005), and performed numerous concerts and shows throughout the region. The albums were released by the JRTV record label. Erato disbanded in 2009, after which Dalal started her solo music career. As a singer and vocal soloist, she collaborated with many songwriters, musicians, and performers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. She has released several singles, such as “Bonbon” (2015). Dalal represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 together with singers Deen, Ana Rucner, and Jala Brat. They performed the song “Ljubav je” (Love Is) written and produced by Almir Ajanović. The song did not qualify for the Eurovision final. After the Eurovision Song Contest she released the singles “Never Give Up” (2017), “Gdje sam ja” (Where Am I, 2017), and “Instant” (2019). Entries Ljubav je (with Deen, Ana Rucner & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY

Deen

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameFuad Backović Born12 April 1982 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2016BH Eurosong 2004BH Eurosong 2003BH Eurosong 2001Vaš šlager sezone 1999 In Eurovision2016 Stockholm2004 Istanbul SongLjubav je (2016)In the disco (2004) Biography Fuad Backović (born April 14, 1982, in Sarajevo), known by his stage name Deen, is a Bosnian singer. At the age of 12, Fuad Backović Deen took his first musical steps by recording his first song. The song was recorded at a music studio called Studio Number 1, owned by Bosnian broadcaster BHRT. In 1997, Backović became the frontman of the Bosnian boy band “Seven Up”. The group released two albums, “Otvori oči” and “Seven,” and enjoyed great success in Bosnia and surrounding countries (Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro). They took part in the Bosnian national selection for the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Daj spusti se”. The song reached a 3rd place. In 1998, Deen received an offer to perform for the opera choir. His vocal abilities were noticed by the National Theater of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he accepted the role of the opera choir’s frontman during the production of Carmina Burana. Backović recorded a duet, “Poljubi me,” with Croatian singer Vlatka Pokos. Deen started a solo career after leaving Seven Up. In 2001, he took part in the Bosnian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. With his song “Deset miliona ljubavi”, he reaced a 7th place. A year later, his debut album “Ja sam vjetar zaljubljeni” was released. With the song “Taxi”, he took part in the 2003 national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and became the runner up. In 2004, Deen was chosen by BHRT to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul with the song “In the Disco.” Deen finished in 9th place. Shortly after the contest, Deen’s second album “In the disco” was released, followed in 2005 by a third album, “Anđeo sa greškom”. Towards the end of the 2000s, Fuad withdrew from the music scene to enroll in a fashion business faculty at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan. During that time, in early 2009, he released the song “Bez trunke srama” (Without a Trace of Shame), which achieved great success in the local music scene. After some time, he released a song with the singer from the talent show Zvezda možeš biti ti, Verena Cerovina, titled “Voli me hitno” (Love Me Urgently) at the end of 2012, and already in 2013, he released the song “Rane manje bole” (Less Wounds Hurt). After completing his fashion studies, Deen is preparing his fourth studio album, which will see the light of day in the near future. Deen represented Bosnia and Herzegovina for the second time, this time in the Swedish capital Stockholm, together with Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Ana Rucner, and Jala. They performed the song “Ljubav je” (Love Is), but they did not qualify for the final. Entries Ljubav je (with Dalal, Ana Rucner & Jala) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2016 LanguageBosnian LyricsAlmir AjanovićJasmin Fazlić Jala MusicAlmir Ajanović BackingsEna ĐapoZorana Guja Results Semi Points: 104Position: 11Running order: 17 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/QLrXmTB8OaY In The Disco Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2004 LanguageEnglish LyricsVesna Pisarović MusicVesna Pisarović BackingsMaja Sarihodžić1 other singer, name unknown Dancers3 dancers, names unkown Results Semi Points: 133Position: 7Running order: 21 Results Finals Points: 91Position: 9Running order: 12 https://youtu.be/B1USil8eOsE

Feminnem

About Quick Facts MembersNika Antolos (2010)Ivana Marić (2005)Neda ParmaćPamela Ramljak Active2004-2012, 2022- Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian (Ivana, Pamela)🇭🇷 Croatian (Nika, Neda) National SelectionDora 2010Dora 2009Dora 2007BH Eurosong 2005 In Eurovision2010 Oslo2005 Kyiv SongLako je sve (2010)Call me (2005) Biography Feminnem is a Croatian female pop-dance group made up of Pamela Ramljak, Neda Parmać, and Nika Antolos. The group is known for writing their own songs and for their urban pop-dance music. Their name was inspired by the American rapper Eminem. Feminnem’s Beginnings In 2004, after participating in the TV show Hrvatski Idol, Pamela, Neda, and Ivana Marić formed Feminnem and released their first hit single, “Volim te, mrzim te.” They quickly became popular and became the leading Croatian girl band after the group Divas broke up. 2004 – 2007: First Eurovision, Feminnem Show, and Ivana Leaves In 2005, they represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Call Me” by Andrej Babić, finishing in 14th place. In December 2005, they released their first album, Feminnem Show, named after their TV show on BHT. In 2006, they performed at HRF with the song “Reci nešto, al’ ne šuti više.” In 2007, they competed in Dora with the song “Navika” and placed 9th. Later that year, Ivana left the group to start a solo career. Neda and Pamela began searching for a new member. 2007 – 2009: Nikol Joins and Leaves, Another Try at Dora Neda and Pamela held auditions and chose Nikol Bulat as the new member. They released the single “Chanel 5” and performed at HRF, winning an award for most online votes. In 2009, they competed in Dora with the song “Poljupci u boji,” placing 3rd. That summer, they performed at HRF with “Oye, Oye, Oye” featuring Spanish singer Alex Mungo. However, Nikol didn’t fit well with the group and left in late summer 2009 after many disagreements. 2009 – 2012: Second Eurovision, Lako je sve, Easy to See, and Breakup Neda and Pamela found a new member, Nika Antolos, who started her career on RTL’s Hrvatska traži zvijezdu. They released the hit single “Sve što ostaje.” In 2010, they competed in Dora with “Lako je sve,” winning the most points from the jury and televoters. They released their second album Lako je sve. In May, they competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 and placed 13th in the semifinals. They then released their third album Easy to See, with songs from Lako je sve in English and a Spanish song, “Mil Amantes.” They performed at the Mediterranean Song Festival in Budva and released the single “Baš mi je dobro” for the CMC Festival in Vodice. In April 2011, their new single “Sve što ti nisam znala dati” leaked online. In November 2011, they released “Subota bez tebe” with Antonija Šola and Branimir Mihaljević. In February 2012, they confirmed their breakup on Dalibor Petko’s music show. 2022: Return to Music In May 2022, the group announced on social media that they had reunited. Since December, Pamela and Neda had been thinking about bringing Feminnem back while recording a Christmas song. In March, they contacted Nika, who happily joined. They gave an exclusive interview to Story magazine about their comeback. They use the hashtag #FeminnemDokNePreminem to promote their return on social media. In early May, they released the single “Zajedno,” which they performed at the 14th CMC Festival in Vodice. On June 1, they released the official video for “Zajedno,” which received nearly 100,000 views in a week. 2023: Victory at the 70th Zagreb Festival They won the 70th Zagreb Festival with the song “Trending” in a duet with Alejandro Buendija (Saša Antić from TBF). Entries Lako je sve Country🇭🇷 Croatia Year2010 LanguageCroatian LyricsPamela RamljakNeda Parmać MusicBranimir Mihaljević DancersLydia IvekovićIrma Results Semi Points: 33Position: 13Running order: 15 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/JYU37jzeQTo?si=OehMW7HpduBWjFzr Call Me Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2005 LanguageEnglish LyricsAndrej Babić MusicAndrej Babić BackingsMija Martina?? Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 79Position: 14Running order: 21 https://youtu.be/Kqof50gLBIo?si=voGepXnKZ8tXruQH

Vukašin Brajić

About Quick Facts NameVukašin Brajić Born09 February 1984 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2010Beovizija 2009 In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongThunder And Lightning (2010) Biography Vukašin Brajić, born on 9 February 1984 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a renowned Bosnian Serb pop-rock singer. His musical journey commenced in the midst of his childhood, though his aspirations faced delays due to the Bosnian War, prompting his family’s relocation to Serbia. Despite these challenges, Brajić’s passion for music remained undeterred, leading him to self-study various instruments and vocal techniques. His big break came through his participation in “Operacija Trijumf,” an ex-Yugoslav rendition of Star Academy, where he secured the second position in its inaugural season (2008-09). This platform catapulted him into the limelight and paved the way for his selection as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song “Thunder and Lightning,” marking a significant milestone in his career. Brajić’s early life was deeply affected by the Bosnian War, prompting his family’s move to Serbia. His interest in music sparked at a young age, leading him to self-teach the keyboards and guitar amidst financial constraints. He first ventured into music with the band Affect, followed by an acoustic duo phase with Lucky Luke, showcasing his versatility across genres. His discography includes a mix of band and solo projects. With OT Bend, he released singles such as “Blagoslov za kraj” (2009). The song was 2nd in the Serbian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. As a solo artist, he delivered hits like “Thunder and Lightning” (2010) and “Mogli smo sve” (2013). In 2013 OT Bend did a new attempt to represent Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest, but they were not selected for the national final. In June 2014, Brajić released a new solo single, “Na usnama”. For a new single, Gary Moore cover “Empty rooms”, he teamed up with Silverhand Project. This project was formed by drummer Bane Vesović and Vladimir Kurćubić Joja. The song was released on April 28, 2016. Meanwhile, he was the manager of the Wurst Platz Bar in Belgrade from 2016 to 2020. It was in November 2018 when a new Vukašin Brajić track appeared: “Kad se ljubav gasi”. OT Bend split up in January 2024. Entries Song Title Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsDino ŠaranUlvija TanovićVukašin Brajić MusicDino Šaran BackingsElma SelimovićDanijela VečerinovićDunja Gallineo KajevićEdvin HadžićMarko Vulinović Results Semi Points: 59Position: 8Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: 51Position: 17Running order: 6 https://youtu.be/IPBo9vaN9Vc?si=3wEZIFLwgqXocUxB

Dino Merlin

About Quick Facts NameEdin Dervišhalidović Born12 September 1962 Nationality🇧🇦 Bosnian National SelectionInternal selection 2011Vaš šlager sezone 1999 In Eurovision2011 Düsseldorf1999 Jerusalem SongLove In Rewind (2011)Putnici (with Beatrice, 1999) Biography Dino Merlin, born Edin Dervišhalidović on September 12, 1962, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a renowned Bosnian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He grew up in the historic Alifakovac neighborhood of Sarajevo. Despite his mother’s initial reluctance, Dino pursued a career in music, forming his first band, Merlin, with childhood friends. Merlin’s early life was marked by his parents’ divorce when he was seven, leading him to be raised by his mother. His musical journey began with a gift of a guitar from his mother at the age of 12. By 14, he was writing his own songs, heavily influenced by Yugoslavian musicians like Bijelo Dugme and Zdravko Čolić. In university, he formed the band Merlin, which started his musical journey in earnest. Merlin’s early career was not without struggles. He had to work in a metal factory to support his family while trying to make a mark in the music industry. His perseverance paid off when he released his first album with his band in 1985. The band Merlin went on to record five studio albums, gaining significant popularity. During the Bosnian War, Merlin faced personal loss with several members of his band Merlin, including their long-time manager, being killed in attacks. This period marked a challenging phase in his life, leading to a brief contemplation of abandoning music. However, Merlin’s resilience and passion for music prevailed. In 1991, Merlin embarked on a solo career, releasing several successful albums such as “Moja bogda sna” (1993), “Fotografija” (1995), and the highly acclaimed “Sredinom” (2000). This album, in particular, became a massive hit, selling around 2,000,000 copies in the former Yugoslav republics. Merlin’s solo career also saw him perform at large venues, including a record-breaking concert at the Koševo Olympic Stadium in Sarajevo. Merlin’s music style is predominantly pop, incorporating elements of rock, folk, jazz, and classical music. His lyrics often explore themes like love, loss, nostalgia, and social issues. He has collaborated with various artists, including Haris Džinović and Goran Bregović, and has won numerous awards, such as the Zlatni melos, MTV Europe Music Awards, and Porin awards. Notably, Merlin represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest on several occasions. He wrote and performed “Sva bol svijeta” in 1993 and collaborated with French singer Béatrice in 1999 for the song “Putnici.” His contributions to music and culture have made him one of the most influential figures in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following the year 2000, Dino Merlin’s career continued to flourish, solidifying his status as one of the most prominent figures in the music scene of the Balkans. His album “Sredinom,” released in 2000, was a monumental success, becoming the top-selling album in Bosnia and Herzegovina and across the former Yugoslav republics. The album’s remarkable sales, estimated around 2,000,000 copies, set a new benchmark in the region. Merlin’s “Sredinom” tour comprised over 200 concerts, including a historic, record-breaking performance at the Koševo Olympic Stadium in Sarajevo, attracting an audience of approximately 80,000 people. In the subsequent years, Merlin continued to release successful albums, including “Burek” in 2004, “Ispočetka” in 2008, “Hotel Nacional” in 2014 and “Mi” in 2021. He was also deeply involved in the cultural and national identity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Merlin was invited by the Bosnian state government to write its first-ever national anthem, “Jedna si jedina,” which served as the state’s anthem until the late 1990s. His Eurovision participation continued, representing Bosnia and Herzegovina again in 2011 with the song “Love in Rewind.” In 2021, Merlin released the single “Jedan dan jedna noć”. followed in 2022 by “Krive karte” and “Kako da ti kažem”. In November 2023, his song “Skoro će zima” came out. Entries Love In Rewind Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2011 LanguageEnglish LyricsDino Dervišhalidović MusicDino Dervišhalidović BackingsMaya SarAida MušanovićEdvin HadžićNermin PuškarMahir BeatHouse Results Semi Points: 109Position: 5Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 125Position: 6Running order: 2 https://youtu.be/1VCS-qa1RGs?si=FBzGadMTDfxGNLZJ Putnici (& Beatrice) Country🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina Year2012 Language🇬🇧 English LyricsDino Dervišhalidović MusicDino Dervišhalidović BackingsVesna Andrée-ZaimovićSelma Muhedinović?? Results Points: 86Position: 7Running order: 22 https://youtu.be/RRxgcossuOs?si=hKA-jipYhE8QZlkb