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Tooji | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Tooji |
| Born | Touraj Keshtkar[1] (1987-05-26)26 May 1987 (age 38) |
| Origin | Norway |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer, model, television host, social worker |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Japanese stage name | |
| Kanji | 冬至 |
| Romanization | tōji |
| Literal meaning | winter solstice |
Touraj Keshtkar[1] (Persian:تورج کشتکار; born 26 May 1987), known professionally asTooji, is an Iranian-born Norwegian singer, painter, model and television host. He representedNorway in theEurovision Song Contest 2012 inBaku, Azerbaijan and finished 26th (last) in the final.[2]
Tooji Keshtkar was born inShiraz, Iran, and moved to Norway when he was one year old.[3] His mother is author and political commentatorLily Bandehy.[4] At the age of 16, he started modelling. Afterwards, he started working onMTV Norway where he presented "Super Saturday" and "Tooji's Top 10".[5] He was also educated as a social worker and has worked in asylum reception centres.[6]
He wonMelodi Grand Prix 2012 and was given the opportunity to represent Norway in theEurovision Song Contest 2012 inBaku,Azerbaijan with his entry "Stay."[7]
From 2012 to 2022, Tooji presented, withMargrethe Røed, theMelodi Grand Prix Junior in Norway. In 2013, he released a single entitled "Rebels". Tooji himself describes ‘Rebels’ as "dramatic pop-dance, with new organic elements blended in with hard electronica".[8]
He moved to Stockholm prior to the release of the song "Packin' Guns".[9] His songs often express a political and social message. Tooji's single "Cocktail" deals with the gender roles in today's society.[10] The music video starts with a quotation fromGloria Steinem: "We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters". After coming out, he released his The Father project. Tooji's single and EPFather emanating from the project is about sexual relationships in the church and the hypocrisy in the public positions of the church. The music video for his following single "Say Yeah" tackles homophobic hate crimes.[11]
His EP and single "Father" was part of his coming out process by tackling the subject of sex and the church. The music video, filmed inside an Oslo church, received criticism.Ole Christian Kvarme, the Bishop of Oslo of the LutheranChurch of Norway, condemned the video as "totally unacceptable" and "a gross misuse of the church", accusing the video's producers of misinforming the church's administration prior to filming about the video's actual contents.[12]
Tooji said he lost his job as a host toMelodi Grand Prix Junior, a version of Eurovision for younger performers as a result of the "Father" video and the Father Project.[12] Tooji called this project as "the most important thing I've done in my life."[13]
Tooji is a supporter of Green Wave, Iran's democratic reform movement. Tooji wore a Free Iran green bracelet[14] during his performance in theEurovision Song Contest 2012 held inBaku, Azerbaijan.
In June 2015, Toojicame out as gay to the Norwegian websiteGaysir, stating that he hoped he could make it easier for young gay people by being open about his own sexuality. He was praised for his decision by the NorwegianNational Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender People.[15]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Stay |
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| Father |
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| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Swan Song" | 2008 | — | Non-album singles | ||||||||||||||||
| "Stay" | 2012 | 2 | Stay | ||||||||||||||||
| "If It Wasn't For You" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Rebels" | 2013 | — | Non-album singles | ||||||||||||||||
| "Packin' Guns" | 2014 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "Cocktail" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Money" | 2015 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "L.Y.S" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Father" | — | Father | |||||||||||||||||
| "Say Yeah" | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
