At age 12, Željko Joksimović earned the title of First Accordion of Europe at a prestigious music festival in Paris. This early success established his trajectory as a multi-instrumentalist who eventually mastered 12 different instruments, including piano, guitar, and drums, before becoming a prominent figure in the Balkan music industry as a composer and singer.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1972 in Belgrade, Joksimović spent his childhood in Valjevo. He pursued formal training at the Faculty of Music Arts in Belgrade. His professional music career began in 1997. By 1998, he achieved recognition at the Pjesma Mediterana festival with his song "Pesma Sirena," which prompted invitations to international festivals in Belarus. He subsequently secured the Grand Prix award at two Belarusian festivals and later won the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk in 1999.
Studio Recordings and Chart Success
Following his initial festival success, Joksimović released his first studio album, Amajlija, in 1999, which featured "Pesma Sirena." He gained significant traction with the single "7 godina," a collaboration with Leontina Vukomanović that topped pop charts in Serbia and various former Yugoslav territories. Throughout the early 2000s, he maintained a steady release schedule, issuing albums including Rintam in 2001, 111 in 2002, and Ima nešto u tom što me nećeš in 2005 under the City Records label.
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Joksimović became a fixture at the Eurovision Song Contest both as a performer and a composer. In 2004, he represented Serbia and Montenegro with "Lane moje," finishing second. He returned as a performer in 2012 for Serbia, placing third with "Nije ljubav stvar." Beyond his own entries, he composed five ballads for other artists at the contest: "Lane moje," "Lejla," "Oro," "Nije ljubav stvar," and "Adio." In 2008, he co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade alongside Jovana Janković.
Broadcasting and Later Performances
Expanding into television, Joksimović served as a judge on X Factor Adria from 2013 to 2015 and held a judging role on Zvezde Granda in late 2014. His recent musical output includes live concerts such as "Dva sveta" at the Sava Centar and performances at the Zenica Summer Fest. His discography continued into the 2020s, marked by the 2024 releases "1000 žena" and "Ella," along with collaborations with artists like Ceca Ražnatović and Saša Matić.
Fast facts
- Born: 1972, Belgrade, Serbia
- Education: Faculty of Music Arts, Belgrade
- Primary Instruments: Accordion, piano, guitar, drums
- Eurovision 2004 Placement: Second place
- Eurovision 2012 Placement: Third place
- Languages: Serbian, French, Polish, English, Russian, Greek
- Notable Role: Eurovision 2008 co-host
- Television roles: Judge on X Factor Adria and Zvezde Granda
Questions readers ask
How many instruments does Željko Joksimović play?
He plays 12 different instruments, including the accordion, piano, guitar, and drums.
Which countries' Eurovision entries has he composed?
He has composed Eurovision entries for various countries including Serbia and Montenegro and Montenegro.
Is Željko Joksimović multilingual?
Yes, he is fluent in Serbian, Greek, English, Russian, Polish, and French.
Achievements
- Instruments: accordion and voice
- Genres: pop music and folk-pop
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