Jelena Karleuša
Encyclopedia
Jelena Karleuša Tošić professionally known under her maiden name Jelena Karleuša and initials JK, is a Serbian
pop
singer, fashion designer and former columnist
. She rose to fame with her debut turbo-folk
album Ogledalce
(1995), and has since been a popular Serbian female singer. She is married to football player Duško Tošić
, with whom she has two daughters.
, Belgrade (Yugoslavia
then, Serbia
now), but did not finish her schooling. In 2004, Karleuša married Bojan Karić, the son of Serbian businessman Sreten Karić. They divorced after two months.
In 2008, Karleuša married Serbian football player Duško Tošić
, who currently plays for Red Star Belgrade
. On 7 September 2008, she gave birth to their first daughter, Atina, named after Greek
goddess Athena
. Their second daughter, Nika, was born on 7 September 2009, and named after Greek
goddess of victory Nika
.
(1995), selling more than 100,000 copies in Serbia and Montenegro
. Later, she started singing pop music
exclusively. She has since had several #1 hits, most of which were written by Marina Tucaković
. Jelena has released nine studio albums, which charted in Serbia, Montenegro
and neighboring countries such as Croatia
, Macedonia
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
and Bulgaria
. Her biggest hits are: "Ženite se momci", "Zovem se Jelena", "Gili, gili", "Ludača", "Nije ona, nego ja", "Još te volim", "Manijak", "Samo za tvoje oči", "Moj dragi", "Slatka mala", "Upravo ostavljena", "Ide maca oko tebe", "Nisi u pravu", "Casino", "Tihi ubica", "Testament", "Jedna noć i kajanje", "Baš je dobro biti ja", "Ko ti to baje", "Insomnia", "Muškarac koji mrzi žene" and "Nova religija (Plava Šeherezada)".
Karleuša's single, "Insomnia", featuring Mirza Hamzić, was downloaded 1.5 million times from her website, just a day after its official premiere on the final night of the reality show Big Brother
. "Insomnia" became the third most viewed video on YouTube
, with over 4 million viewers for two weeks. The song is a cover of the Bollywood
hit "Dance Pe Chance" from the film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Karleuša's second single, "Muskarac koji mrzi zene", was released on January 4, 2011. Fans soon noticed a striking resemblance to "Lucifer (Shinee song)
" by Korean boy band SHINee
, which has sparked angry responses from fans and netizens. SHINee's entertainment company, SM Entertainment
, stated that they would launch a copyright violation investigation. Her third single "Nova religija (Plava Šeherezada)" was premiered on June 26, 2011. On the scene she performed an unusual performance with belly dancing and for this performance she painted herself in light brown color. The song is a cover from another Bollywood
hit "Dum Dum" from the film Band Baaja Baaraat
.
brand, named JKWear. The collection included dresses and other accessories. In 2010, she was guest star on the reality show Big Brother All Stars VP
for two days. The same year, it was rumoured Karleuša would start her political career, as she openly supported the ideas of Zoran Đinđić and Čedomir Jovanović
.
In 2010, Karleuša began writing her own column for the Serbian newspaper Kurir
, in which she criticized and mentioned Serbian celebrities such as politicians Boris Tadić
, Čedomir Jovanović and Ivica Dačić
, and singers Lepa Brena
and Svetlana Ražnatović. She stopped writing it in November 2010 as she was "afraid for her own security". Her column drew criticism, with some people stating she was just trying to draw attention.
Karleuša has often been called the biggest gay icon
of the Balkans, mostly because of her fighting for LGBT rights but also because of her looks some describe as camp
and her songs that are hugely popular among the gay population in the Balkans.
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
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer, fashion designer and former columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
. She rose to fame with her debut turbo-folk
Turbo-folk
Turbo-folk is a popular musical sub-genre that originated in Serbia, the Balkans. Having mainstream popularity in Serbia, although closely associated with Serbian performers, its sound is as popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro...
album Ogledalce
Ogledalce
Ogledalce is the debut album of Serbian pop singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:#Ogledalce / Dragan Brajovic - Dragan Brajovic - Zoran Tutunovic /...
(1995), and has since been a popular Serbian female singer. She is married to football player Duško Tošić
Duško Tošic
Duško Tošić is a Serbian footballer who plays as a defender for Real Betis, on loan from Red Star Belgrade.-Early career:...
, with whom she has two daughters.
Early and personal life
Jelena Karleuša was born on 17 August 1978 to Serbian father Dragan, a senior police officer, and a Slovene mother Divna. She was born and raised in Fontana, Novi BeogradNovi Beograd
Novi Beograd or New Belgrade is the most populous municipality that constitutes the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is a planned city, built in 1947 on the left bank of the Sava river which was previously an uninhabited area, opposite of the old Belgrade...
, Belgrade (Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
then, 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...
now), but did not finish her schooling. In 2004, Karleuša married Bojan Karić, the son of Serbian businessman Sreten Karić. They divorced after two months.
In 2008, Karleuša married Serbian football player Duško Tošić
Duško Tošic
Duško Tošić is a Serbian footballer who plays as a defender for Real Betis, on loan from Red Star Belgrade.-Early career:...
, who currently plays for Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
. On 7 September 2008, she gave birth to their first daughter, Atina, named after Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
goddess Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
. Their second daughter, Nika, was born on 7 September 2009, and named after Greek
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
goddess of victory Nika
Nike (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Kratos , Bia , and Zelus...
.
Musical career
She began her singing career as a turbo folk singer in the mid-90s and gained popularity with her debut album, OgledalceOgledalce
Ogledalce is the debut album of Serbian pop singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:#Ogledalce / Dragan Brajovic - Dragan Brajovic - Zoran Tutunovic /...
(1995), selling more than 100,000 copies in Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
. Later, she started singing pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
exclusively. She has since had several #1 hits, most of which were written by 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...
. Jelena has released nine studio albums, which charted in Serbia, Montenegro
Montenegro
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...
and neighboring countries such as 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 ...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, 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...
and Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Her biggest hits are: "Ženite se momci", "Zovem se Jelena", "Gili, gili", "Ludača", "Nije ona, nego ja", "Još te volim", "Manijak", "Samo za tvoje oči", "Moj dragi", "Slatka mala", "Upravo ostavljena", "Ide maca oko tebe", "Nisi u pravu", "Casino", "Tihi ubica", "Testament", "Jedna noć i kajanje", "Baš je dobro biti ja", "Ko ti to baje", "Insomnia", "Muškarac koji mrzi žene" and "Nova religija (Plava Šeherezada)".
Karleuša's single, "Insomnia", featuring Mirza Hamzić, was downloaded 1.5 million times from her website, just a day after its official premiere on the final night of the reality show Big Brother
Veliki brat
Veliki brat is a reality show shot and produced in Belgrade, Serbia. It is a local franchised version of the Big Brother reality series, which mostly includes contestants from Serbia along with some from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro.Produced by Emotion media company, the first...
. "Insomnia" became the third most viewed video on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, with over 4 million viewers for two weeks. The song is a cover of the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
hit "Dance Pe Chance" from the film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. Karleuša's second single, "Muskarac koji mrzi zene", was released on January 4, 2011. Fans soon noticed a striking resemblance to "Lucifer (Shinee song)
Lucifer (Shinee song)
"Lucifer" is a song performed by South Korean boy band Shinee. The song was written by Yoo Young-jin, who also penned the lyrics of many other songs performed by Shinee.-Korean version:...
" by Korean boy band SHINee
SHINee
Shinee is a contemporary R&B South Korean boy band. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2008, they made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo with their promotional single, "Noona Neomu Yeppeo "...
, which has sparked angry responses from fans and netizens. SHINee's entertainment company, SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea...
, stated that they would launch a copyright violation investigation. Her third single "Nova religija (Plava Šeherezada)" was premiered on June 26, 2011. On the scene she performed an unusual performance with belly dancing and for this performance she painted herself in light brown color. The song is a cover from another Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
hit "Dum Dum" from the film Band Baaja Baaraat
Band Baaja Baaraat
Band Baaja Baaraat , also known by the abbreviated form BBB is a 2010 Indian feature film that marks the directing debut of Maneesh Sharma and stars Anushka Sharma and newcomer Ranveer Singh in the lead roles. Produced and distributed by Yash Raj Films, the film is a romantic comedy set in the...
.
Other activities
In 2006, Karleuša launched her own fashionFashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
brand, named JKWear. The collection included dresses and other accessories. In 2010, she was guest star on the reality show Big Brother All Stars VP
Veliki brat
Veliki brat is a reality show shot and produced in Belgrade, Serbia. It is a local franchised version of the Big Brother reality series, which mostly includes contestants from Serbia along with some from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro.Produced by Emotion media company, the first...
for two days. The same year, it was rumoured Karleuša would start her political career, as she openly supported the ideas of Zoran Đinđić and Čedomir Jovanović
Cedomir Jovanovic
Čedomir "Čeda" Jovanović is a Serbian politician and president of the Liberal Democratic Party .- Early life :...
.
In 2010, Karleuša began writing her own column for the Serbian newspaper Kurir
Kurir
Kurir is a high-circulation daily tabloid published in Belgrade. Its first issue appeared at the news stands on May 6, 2003.Kurirs tone is abrasive, direct and irreverent. It runs sensationalist stories, the other publications won't touch...
, in which she criticized and mentioned Serbian celebrities such as politicians Boris Tadić
Boris Tadic
Boris Tadić is the President of Serbia and leader of the Democratic Party. He was elected to a five-year term on 27 June 2004, and was sworn into office on 11 July. He was re-elected for a de facto second five-year term on 3 February 2008 and was sworn in on 15 February...
, Čedomir Jovanović and Ivica Dačić
Ivica Dacic
Ivica Dačić is a Serbian politician. He is the leader of Socialist Party of Serbia and is First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Internal Affairs....
, and singers Lepa Brena
Lepa Brena
Fahreta Jahić Živojinović is Yugoslavian pop-folk singer, better known as Lepa Brena , . Born in Tuzla and raised in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina , she moved to Novi Sad in 1980 to pursue her career in singing. In 1982...
and Svetlana Ražnatović. She stopped writing it in November 2010 as she was "afraid for her own security". Her column drew criticism, with some people stating she was just trying to draw attention.
Karleuša has often been called the biggest gay icon
Gay icon
A gay icon is a public figure who is embraced by many within :lesbian, :gay, :bisexual and :transgender communities...
of the Balkans, mostly because of her fighting for LGBT rights but also because of her looks some describe as camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
and her songs that are hugely popular among the gay population in the Balkans.
Studio albums
- OgledalceOgledalceOgledalce is the debut album of Serbian pop singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:#Ogledalce / Dragan Brajovic - Dragan Brajovic - Zoran Tutunovic /...
(1995) - Ženite Se MomciŽenite Se MomciŽenite Se Momci is the second album of Serbian pop singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:...
(1996) - Veštice, VileVeštice, VileVeštice, Vile is the third album of Serbian pop singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:#Antihrist #Veštice, vile #Cicija #Grom nek' ubije #Oko crno ...
(1997) - JelenaJelena (album)-Track listing:#Žena zmija #Ne veruj ženama #Sudbinu poreci #Jelena#Kume #Žene vole dijamante #Kraljica i sluga ...
(1998) - Gili, GiliGili, GiliGili Gili is a 1999 studio album by Serbian singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:#"Oro osmoro" #"Beznadežan slučaj" /Dejan Abadic - Marina Tucakovic - Dejan Abadic/...
(1999) - Za Svoje GodineZa svoje godineZa svoje godine is a 2001 studio album by Serbian singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:#Ludača #Bezobrazna #Pregorela #Bye, Bye#Za tobom hodam ja #Pa naravno...
(2001) - Samo Za Tvoje OčiSamo Za Tvoje OciSamo za tvoje oci is the seventh album of Serbian pop singer Jelena Karleuša.-Track listing:#Manijak #Samo za tvoje oči #Pazi se ...
(2002) - MagijaMagijaMagija is an album by Jelena Karleuša, released in 2005 by City Records, fully arranged and produced by Atelje Trag...
(2005) - JK RevolutionJK RevolutionRevolution is the latest album by Jelena Karleuša, released on February 7, 2008 after 3 years hiatus, by City Records, fully arranged and produced by Atelje Trag from June–December 2007. The first single is "Tihi Ubica", which is the most expensive videoclip released by any artist in the Balkans...
(2008) - The Diamond CollectionThe Diamond CollectionThe Diamond Collection is the first greatest hits album from Serbian pop singer Jelena Karleuša.- Background :In early 2009, Jelena announced the plans for the release of a greatest hits album by July. She also added that she had plans to go to the studio and record new material for the album...
(2009)
Videography
- Ogledalce (1995)
- Najbolja drugarice (1995)
- Ženite se momci (1996)
- Sad smo stranci postali (1996)
- Preživeću (1998)
- Gili gili (1999)
- Ludača (2001)
- Samo za tvoje oči (2002)
- Manijak (2003)
- Slatka mala (2005)
- Upravo ostavljena (2006)
- Tihi ubica (2008)
- Mani se (2009)
- Insomnia (2010)
- Muškarac koji mrzi žene (2011)
- Nova Religija (2011)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 1998 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity (Banja Luka) | Album of the Year "Vestice vile" | |
| 1999 | Golden Melodies | Album of the Year "Zovem se Jelena" | |
| 1999 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity | Album of the Year "Gili, gili" | |
| 2000 | Golden Melodies | Best Female Dance Singer | |
| 2001 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity | Best Female Dance Singer | |
| 2002 | Golden Melodies | Album of the Year "Ludaca" | |
| 2003 | Beovizija 2003 | Album of the Year "Samo za tvoje oci" | |
| 2004 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity | Best Female Musician | |
| 2005 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity | Album of the Year "Magija" | |
| 2005 | Serbian Grammy's | The Duet "Ne smem da se zaljubim u tebe" | |
| 2006 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity (Banja Luka) | Best Female Singer | |
| 2008 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity | Album of the Year "JK Revolution" | |
| 2009 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity (Banja Luka) | Best Female Pop Singer | |
| 2010 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity (Banja Luka) | Song of the Year "Insomnia" | |
| 2010 | GayEcho Annual Gay Icon Awards 2010 | Gay Icon of the Year | |
| 2010 | Loud & Queer Annual Awards 2010 | LGBT person of the Year | |
| 2011 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity | Best Female Folk Singer | |
| 2011 | Serbian Oscar Of Popularity (Banja Luka) | Best Female Pop Singer |