Marija Šerifović

Marija Šerifović (Serbian: Марија Шерифовић, pronounced [mǎrija ʃerǐːfoʋitɕ]; born 14 November 1984) is a Serbian singer and record producer. She is best known for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with 'Molitva' (Prayer), making her Serbia's first and only Eurovision winner to date. Šerifović is recognised for her powerful and emotional vocal performances.

Marija Šerifović
In 2009
Born (1984-11-14) 14 November 1984
Kragujevac, SFR Yugoslavia
Occupation
  • Singer
  • producer
  • television judge
Years active2003–present
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocal
Labels

Life and career

Early life

Marija Šerifović was born on 14 November 1984 in Kragujevac in central Serbia. Her father, Rajko Šerifović, was a drummer, and her mother, Verica Šerifović, is a popular folk singer. She comes from a mixed marriage of a Muslim/Orthodox father and an Orthodox mother.[1] When Verica was nine months pregnant with Marija, her husband left her for another woman with whom he had a son, Danijel, who is also a singer and a vocal coach. Šerifović described her father as an abusive alcoholic who would regularly beat her mother.[2]

2003-2014: Breakthrough and Eurovision

Šerifović released her debut album Naj, Najbolja (The Very, Very Best) in 2003 under City Records.[3] The following year she won at the Budva Music Festival with 'Bol do ludila' (Pain until Insanity). She also claimed victory at the Radio Festival in 2005 and released her sophomore record Bez Ljubavi (Without Love) in 2006.[4] A year later she held her first concert in Sava Centar, Belgrade.

In the search for the newly formed independent Serbia's entry for 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, Šerifović with 'Molitva' (Prayer) was chosen winner according to the jury and the public vote. On 10 May, she performed fifteenth, placing first with 298 points. Two days after, she claimed victory with 268 points, becoming Serbia's first and to date only Eurovision winner.[5] Returning home, she was greeted by more than 70,000 people in front of the Civic Assembly of Belgrade. She also held a concert in her home town in front of 60,000 co-citizens. The following year, Serbia hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, where Šerifović performed her winning song and handed over the title to Dima Bilan from Russia. She was also in the jury to choose the Irish entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2008 and Swedish for Eurovision Song Contest 2009. 'Molitva' was included in the list of the 10 best Eurovision winners according to the SBS in 2016 and to The Independent in 2019, while The Eurovision Times, a fan blog, ranked it as the third best Eurovision song of all time.[6][7][8]

In 2008, Šerifović released her third album titled Nisam anđeo (I'm not an angel), and a year later her fourth Anđeo (Angel).[9][10] In May 2010, she held a concert in the Belgrade Arena. Her documentary series, Confession, was broadcast on Prva TV in 2013, in which she talked about her difficult childhood, rose to fame and coming out as a lesbian.[11] In 2014 she released her fifth record, Hrabro (Bravely).[12]

2015-present: Zvezde Granda and major success

In July 2015, Šerifović released single "Pametna i luda" (Smart and Crazy). In September, she became a judge on the televised singing competition Zvezde Granda alongside Jelena Karleuša.[13] While in October, Šerifović also saw success with "Sama i nervozna" (Alone and Nervous).

In March the following year, she held a concert in Zetra Olympic Hall in Sarajevo. Then, Šerifovć released "Svoja i tvoja" (My Own and Yours) in May. She ended the year with another single, "Deo prošlosti" (Part of the Past).

Single "11" was released in November 2017.

In March of 2018, she also released "Nije ljubav to" (Love isn't That). Šerifović then performed in the sold out Belgrade Arena and in July at the Koševo City Stadium in Sarajevo.

Between March and May of 2019, Šerifović embarked on a tour, titled 'Druga strana ploče' (The Other Side of the Record), during which she covered her favorite songs from other artists as well as performed her own hits. It listed seven sold out shows, six of which were in Sava Centar in Belgrade and one concert in SPC Vojvodina in Novi Sad.[14] Additionally, in June, Džejla Ramović, mentored by Šerifović, won the 13th season of Zvezde Granda.[15]

Discography
Main article: Marija Šerifović discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee/work Result Ref.
2007 Marcel Bezençon Awards Artistic Award Herself Won
Eurovision Song Contest 2007 Contest Participant/Herself Won
2019 Music Awards Ceremony Female Pop Song of the Year "Nije ljubav to" Nominated [16]
Music Video Song of the Year "11" Nominated
Concert of the Year Štark Arena, 24 May 2017 Nominated
Female Artist of the Year Herself Won
2020 Concert of the Year Druga strana ploče (Sava Centar) Won

See also

References
  1. "Ispovest" (PDF). Marija Šerifović. 2014. p. 14. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  2. "MARIJA ŠERIFOVIĆ OTKRIVA: Lezbijka sam, seks sa devojkom je divan!". Telegraf. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  3. "Naj, Najbolja". discogs.
  4. "Bez ljubavi". discogs.
  5. http://www.theage.com.au/news/general/eurovision-glitter-brings-hope-to-gay-serbs/2008/05/20/1211182773178.html
  6. "10 Most Deserving Eurovision Winners". SBS. 13 April 2016.
  7. "Eurovision Song Contest: Every winner ranked from worst to best". The Independent. 18 May 2019.
  8. "Best Eurovision Song Ever". The Eurovision Times. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  9. "Nisam Anđeo". discogs.
  10. "Anđeo". discogs.
  11. "I Am A Lesbian! – Marija Serifovic Opens Up in Her Film "Confession"". InSerbia News. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  12. "Hrabro". discogs.
  13. "Počinje snimanje nove sezone: Evo ko su novi članovi žirija "Zvezda Granda"!". Blic (in Serbian). 15 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  14. "Druga strana ploče - na bini plesao hrvatski voditelj, u publici pala prosidba, Marija najavila povlačenje iz medija". svet.rs (in Serbian).
  15. "Džejla Ramović pobjednica Zvezda Granda". ba.n1info.com (in Bosnian). 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  16. "Ovo je lista dobitnika regionalnih MAC muzičkih nagrada" (in Serbian). Tracara.com. January 2019.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Lordi
with Hard Rock Hallelujah		 Winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
2007		 Succeeded by
Dima Bilan
with Believe
Preceded by
No name		 Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest
2007		 Succeeded by
Jelena Tomašević
with Oro
Preceded by
Flamingosi feat Louis		 Beovizija winner
2007
Preceded by
Saša Matić
Dado Topić		 Music Festival Budva winner
2004		 Succeeded by
Tijana Dapčević
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