Željko Šašić | |
|---|---|
 Željko Šašić in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Žeki |
| Born | Željko Šašić (1969-10-31)31 October 1969 (age 56) |
| Genres | Turbo Folk music, Pop music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Lucky Sound, PGP RTS, City Records, Grand Production, JVP Vertrieb AG, Best Records, SKYMUSIC |
Spouse | Sonja Šašić (married 1994-2007) |
| Website | instagram |
Željko[1] "Žeki" Šašić (Serbian Cyrillic:Жељко Шашић; born 31 October 1969) is a Serbianturbo-folk singer[2] and musician.[3] Active since 1994, he has released eight studio albums and become one of the prominent figures in Serbian folk music. In late 2013, he competed inthe first season of the Serbian version ofYour Face Sounds Familiar. After the 12 weeks, he claimed 7th place, but was a public favourite,[4][5] with a wide spectre of enjoyed performances asAca Lukas,Bijelo Dugme,Riblja Čorba,Snežana Babić Sneki and many more.[6][7]
Željko Šašić was born on 31 October 1969 inZemun,Belgrade, then part ofSFR Yugoslavia.[8] He began his professional music career in 1994 with the release of his debut album Gori more, recorded with the Futa band and released by Lucky Sound.
The album's title track "Gori more" became an immediate hit, along with other songs including "A tebe nema," "Crna ženo," and "Ima dana i kafana." The album also featured a notable duet withCeca Ražnatović titled "Ko na grani jabuka," which achieved significant success.[9]
In 1995, Šašić released his second album Na istoj talasnoj dužini,[3] again with the Futa band. The album contained eight songs, with "Ti lutko moja" and "Podočnjaci" becoming club favorites. The song "Voli me, voli" showed his versatility by incorporating rock elements, which had been his initial musical preference.
In 1996, Šašić began collaborating with composer and lyricist Dragan Brajović Braja[3] and signed withPGP RTS. This partnership resulted in his third album Dve rane, which included the ballads "Ne bacaj ruže majko" and "Metak," both of which received music videos. The album also featured a successful duet withDragana Mirković titled "Oči pune tuge," which became one of the most played songs on radio stations acrossSerbia and the region.
His fourth album Ona je priča života moga (1997) was marked by the title track written by Dragan Brajović and Zlaja Timotić. In 1999, he released Zaboravi me, continuing his string of successful albums.
The albumNeko drugi (2000) was released for theYugoslav market by Best Records and internationally by Austrian label JVP Vertrieb AG. Besides ten new songs, it included his greatest hits such as "Gori more", "Metak", "Magla", and his duets withCeca andDragana Mirković. The song "Osmi dan u nedelji" by Greek musician Jorgos Alkaios achieved particular success.
In 2001,City Records released a compilation albumThe Best Of featuring twenty of his biggest hits. His seventh studio album007 (2003) included "Meni dobra si", written byŽeljko Joksimović andMarina Tucaković. After this release, Šašić took a nine-year hiatus from recording albums.
In 2006, Šašić released the single "Bravo za nas", marking his return to the music scene. The 2009 hit "Mali je ovo grad" became one of his signature songs. His eighth studio album,Još kunem se u nas, was released in 2012.[3]
From October to December 2013, Šašić participated in the first season ofTvoje lice zvuči poznato (Your Face Sounds Familiar), broadcast onTV Prva.[10]
During the competition, Šašić gained widespread acclaim for his versatile performances. His imitation ofAca Lukas was particularly successful, winning the fourth episode and earning €1,000 for children's oncology charity.[11] Lukas himself praised the performance, calling it "šmekerski" (cool/slick).[12]
Other notable performances included imitations ofŽeljko Bebek (Bijelo Dugme), members ofRiblja Čorba,Snežana Babić Sneki, andZvonko Bogdan.[13] Despite finishing 7th overall, fellow contestants includingNenad Knežević Knez,Aleksa Jelić, andGoca Tržan expressed disappointment that he didn't reach the finals, with Knez stating that Šašić's "character and work were one of the essential imitations of this show."[13]
Šašić made his return to "Tvoje lice zvuči poznato" in 2019, competing in the fifth All Stars season.[14] This special edition featured contestants from previous seasons competing as pairs. Šašić was teamed withKnez, forming Team 5.
Throughout the season, Šašić showcased his imitation skills once more, with their team achieving considerable success. Team 5 ultimately placed second in the season finale.
Šašić has appeared on various programs onRadio Television of Serbia (RTS), including "Na večeri kod" (2022) and "Leto u Srbiji."[15]
Šašić is recognized as a prominent figure in the Serbianturbo-folk genre, which emerged in the 1990s as a fusion of traditionalSerbian folk music withcontemporary pop andelectronic elements.[16] His work is situated within the broader context of newly composedfolk music that has been extensively studied byethnomusicologists.[17]
Šašić was married to Sonja Šašić from 1994 to 2007.[12] They have one daughter together, Sofija Šašić. After their divorce, Sonja married fellow turbo-folk singerAca Lukas, which added a layer of public interest when Šašić performed as Lukas onYour Face Sounds Familiar in 2013.
As of 2024, Šašić maintains an active presence on streaming platforms, with over 70,400 monthly listeners onSpotify.[18] His music is also available onApple Music[19] and other international platforms. He maintains an officialInstagram[20] account andYouTube[21] channel