Damir Kedžo
{{short description|Croatian pop and pop-folk singer (born 1987)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Damir Kedžo
| image = Kedzo ljeto na gradini.jpg
| caption = Kedžo performing at the closing ceremony of tenth Ljeto na Gradini (2016)
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|5|24}}
| birth_place = Omišalj, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
| nationality = Croatian
| occupation = Singer
| alma_mater =
| parents =
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children =
| relatives =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|pop-folk}}
| instrument = Vocals
| years_active = 2003–present
| label = {{ubl|Croatia Records (2003–2007, 2018–present)|Menart (2007–2015)|Hit Records (2014–2017)}}
| associated_acts =
}}
}}
Damir Kedžo (born 24 May 1987) is a Croatian pop singer. While he started his career in 2003 by participating in Story Supernova Music Talents, he became even more famous in Croatia after winning the third season of Tvoje lice zvuči poznato, the Croatian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar.{{cite web
| url = http://tvojelice.dnevnik.hr/intervju-s-damirom-kedzom-pobjednikom-trece-sezone-tlzp/| language = hr| title = Intervju s Damirom Kedžom pobjednikom treće sezone TLZP!| publisher = dnevnik.hr| date = 2016-12-18| access-date = 2017-02-04}} He also performed in musicals.{{cite web| url = https://www.biografija.com/damir-kedzo/| language = hr| title = Damir Kedžo - biografija.hr
| publisher = biografija.hr| date = 2016-12-19| access-date = 2017-02-04}}
Life and career
=1987–2002: Early life and education=
Kedžo was born on 24 May 1987 in Omišalj, where he finished musical school, and was singing in a church choir. When he was a child, besides singing, he wanted to be a gynecologist, but he gave up on that idea when signed up for the Story Super Nova Music Talent Show. Damir had a jaw surgery, because he could not speak or eat normally, and he had problems with pronunciation of words, which was important for the profession he chose. After the surgery, he could not speak for a month, and the complete recovery took him three months, when he could chew normally again. He admitted that, after the surgery, he became a stronger person, and more confident in himself and his decisions.
=2003–2005: Story Supernova Music Talents and Saša, Tin i Kedžo=
In 2003, Kedžo auditioned for the first and only season of Nova TV's talent show Story Supernova Music Talents, where he excited the audience and the jury with his personality and attitude and his song interpretations which took him into the top 7.{{cite web|last=Pušić|first=Bruno|url=https://www.24sata.hr/show/story-supernova-zastitari-su-nas-cuvali-gdje-god-smo-isli-652205 |title=Story SuperNova: Zaštitari su nas čuvali gdje god smo išli...|publisher=24sata |language=hr|date= 7 October 2019 |access-date=16 January 2020}} He was 16 at the time when he decided to compete in one of the most famous Croatian TV shows.
A year after, in January 2004, he became a part of the Croatian boy band "Saša, Tin i Kedžo" along with Saša Lozar (winner of the second season of Tvoje lice zvuči poznato) and Tin Samardžić.{{cite web|url=https://www.index.hr/magazin/clanak/rafo-snimio-prvi-singl-ja-sam-rafo/183544.aspx |title=Rafo snimio prvi singl "Ja sam Rafo"|publisher=Index |language=hr|date= 31 January 2004 |access-date=16 January 2020}} The band's debut album, titled Instant, sold 10,000 copies in its chart run, while their debut single "365" topped the Croatian charts for six weeks.{{cite web|last=Krnić|first=Hana|url=https://www.24sata.hr/video/damir-kedzo-nemam-prave-prijatelje-na-hrvatskoj-estradi-637695 |title=Damir Kedžo: Nemam prave prijatelje na hrvatskoj estradi |publisher=24sata |language=hr|date= 3 July 2019 |access-date=16 January 2020}} In 2005 the band disbanded and Kedžo took a year off in his career.
=2006–2009: ''Melodije Istre i Kvarnera'' and debut album=
After he won an award at Melodije Istre i Kvarnera (MIK) for the best debuting artist with the song "Ki bi sad reke" in 2006 and the award for the best interpretation for the song "Kanet na vetru" in 2007, he has seen his path in pop songs with elements of Italian canzone. That was visible in his song "Odlučio sam otići".
=2010–2014: ''Slavianski Bazaar'', ''Dora 2011'' and musicals=
Damir has also appeared in Croatian performance of musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in double role, Benjamin and Potiphar. He had a great start in his acting career, he got awarded for great successes of young artists in operetta and musicals for the role of Hudi in musical "Crna kuća".
He debuted in 2006 on MIK with the song “Ki bi sad reke” and won the best debuting artist award. In 2007, on MIK, he won the award for the best interpretation with the song “Kanet na vetru” and the first place of the juries. In 2008 he published his debuting album with his most popular songs “Sjećam se”, “Idem” and “Kažnjen u duši”. A year later on MIK, he won the second place of the jury and third place of the audience with the song “Peza od zlata”. In 2010 on the international festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, Belarus, he won the Grand Prix.
In 2011, Kedžo applied for Dora 2011, Croatian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011. In 2012, he won the best interpretation award on MIK with the song “Daj mi kapju vodi” and the first place of the juries. 2014 was a very successful year for Damir, he already sold two concerts in HKD Sušak.
=2015–2019: ''Tvoje lice zvuči poznato'' and continued success=
In 2015 he won on a Russian festival "New Wave". Since then, he started working on his songs in English. In 2016 Kedžo had one of his biggest concerts on International Women's Day in front of 3,500 people in Zamet Hall, Rijeka.
In December 2016, Kedžo won the third season of Tvoje lice zvuči poznato, the most watched Croatian TV show. After a wide spectre of enjoyed performances (Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Britney Spears, Petar Grašo, Doris Dragović), he claimed the victory of the show as Mariah Carey. In January 2019, Kedžo won Zagrebfest with the song "Srce mi umire za njom".{{cite web|last=Ivanković|first=Helena|url=https://www.24sata.hr/show/kedzo-je-pobijedio-a-na-kraju-su-odali-pocast-morskom-vuku-610985 |title=Kedžo je pobijedio, a na kraju su odali počast Morskom vuku|publisher=24sata |language=hr|date= 25 January 2019 |access-date=13 November 2020}}
=2020–present: ''Eurovision Song Contest 2020''=
On 23 December 2019, Kedžo was announced as one of the 16 participants in Dora 2020, the national contest in Croatia to select the country's Eurovision Song Contest 2020 entry, with the song "Divlji vjetre".{{cite web|last=Herbert|first=Emily|title=Croatia: Dora 2020 Finalists Revealed|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/12/23/croatia-dora-2020-finalists-revealed/|publisher=eurovoix|access-date=16 January 2020|date=23 December 2019}} He won the competition with a total of 31 points and was supposed to represent Croatia in Rotterdam.{{cite web|last=Farren|first=Neil|title=Croatia: Damir Kedžo to Eurovision|url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/02/29/croatia-damir-kedzo-to-eurovision-2020/|publisher=eurovoix|access-date=29 February 2020|date=29 February 2020}} However, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |title=Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam is cancelled |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2020-in-rotterdam-is-cancelled |website=eurovision.tv |access-date=13 November 2020 |language=en |date=18 March 2020}} He later was denied the opportunity to represent Croatia in the 2021 contest.
Kedžo was one of the 18 acts to perform in Dora 2023, which was held on 11 February 2023.{{cite web|title=Evo tko sudjeluje na Dori 2023.|url=https://eurosong.hr/evo-tko-sudjeluje-na-dori-2023/|publisher=eurosong.hr|access-date=9 December 2022|date=9 December 2022}} He performed the song "Angels and Demons", and placed fifth.{{cite web|title=Croatia: 'Dora 2023' details revealed|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/croatia-dora-2023-details-revealed |website=eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=10 February 2023|date=21 December 2022}}
Kedžo was again included in the 24 participants of Dora 2024, with the song "Voljena ženo";{{cite web|date=15 December 2023|title=Croatia 2024: HRT reveal the 'Dora' lineup|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/croatia-2024-hrt-reveal-dora-lineup|access-date=15 December 2023|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} he advanced from his semi-final on 23 February 2024. but placed 4th on the final evening.
Personal life
Kedžo suffers from borderline personality disorder.{{cite web | url=https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/kedzo-je-zbog-poremecaja-zavrsio-na-psihijatrijskom-odjelu-lijecio-sam-se-na-razne-nacine-1671163 | title=Kedžo je zbog poremećaja završio na psihijatrijskom odjelu: 'Liječio sam se na razne načine' }}{{cite web | url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/scena/domace-zvijezde/damir-kedzo-otvoreno-o-poremecaju-osobnosti-i-odlasku-na-psihijatriju-htio-sam-ljudima-reci-da-se-ful-bojim-15324306 | title=Jutarnji list - Damir Kedžo otvoreno o poremećaju osobnosti i odlasku na psihijatriju: 'Htio sam ljudima reći da se ful bojim' | date=10 April 2023 }}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" | CRO Peak positions in Croatia (albums):
|
| scope="row"| Damir Kedžo
|
| {{n/a|*}} |
| scope="row"| Poljubi me sad
|
| 1 |
| scope="row"| Tajna mojih pobjeda
|
| — |
=Singles=
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Association ! Category ! Nominee / work ! Result ! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| rowspan="1"| 2018
| rowspan="3"| Cesarica | rowspan="3"| Song of the Year | "Mi protiv nas" (with Domenica Žuvela) | {{nominated}} |
| rowspan="2"| 2019
| "Srce mi umire za njom" | {{nominated}} |
| "Vidi se izdaleka"
| {{nominated}} |
| rowspan="1"| 2020
| rowspan="1"| Porin | Best Male Vocal Performance | "Srce mi umire za njom" | {{nominated}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist|Damir Kedžo}}
- {{IMDb name|nm5948053}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|ach}}
{{succession box
| before= Roko Blažević
with "The Dream"
| title=Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest
| years=2020 (cancelled)
| after=Albina
with "Tick-Tock"
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=autocollapse}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2020|state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kedzo, Damir}}
Category:People from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
Category:People with borderline personality disorder
Category:Croatian folk-pop singers
Category:Slavianski Bazaar winners