Tooji

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Tooji

| image =

| caption = Tooji at "Vg-lista" Top 20

| birth_name = Touraj Keshtkar{{cite web|url=http://skattelister.no/skatt/profil/touraj-keshtkar-42299879/ |title=Touraj Keshtkar – Skatten 2010 – Skattelister.no – VG Nett |publisher=Skattelister.no |access-date=2012-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512213231/http://skattelister.no/skatt/profil/touraj-keshtkar-42299879/ |archive-date=May 12, 2014 }}

| alias = Tooji

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|5|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Shiraz, Iran

| origin = Norway

| instrument =

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|Dance|House|Electronic}}

| occupation = Singer, model, television host, social worker

| years_active = 2008–present

| label =

| associated_acts =

| website =

| current_members =

| past_members =

| module = {{Infobox Chinese/Blank

| header = Japanese stage name

| lang = Kanji

| lang_content = 冬至

}}

{{Infobox Chinese/Blank

| header =

| lang = Romanization

| lang_content = tōji

}}

{{Infobox Chinese/Blank

| header =

| lang = Literal meaning

| lang_content = winter solstice

}}

Touraj Keshtkar ({{langx|fa|تورج کشتکار}}; born 26 May 1987), known professionally as Tooji, is an Iranian-born Norwegian singer, painter, model and television host. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan and finished 26th (last) in the final.{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/musikk/grand-prix/artikkel.php?artid=10043418 |title=Tooji vant MGP: – Jeg vant! – VG Nett om Melodi Grand Prix |date=11 February 2012 |publisher=Vg.no |access-date=2012-08-09 |archive-date=2012-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630190926/http://www.vg.no/musikk/grand-prix/artikkel.php?artid=10043418 |url-status=live}}

Career

Tooji Keshtkar was born in Shiraz, Iran, and moved to Norway when he was one year old.{{cite web|url=http://www.ambisjoner.no/artikkel.asp?artikkel=376 |title=Tooji – Artist og menneskevenn |publisher=Ambisjoner.no |access-date=2012-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917115037/http://www.ambisjoner.no/artikkel.asp?artikkel=376 |archive-date=September 17, 2011}} His mother is author and political commentator Lily Bandehy.{{cite news|url=https://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/debatt/i/7gqw/lily-bandehy-om-soennen-tooji-jeg-takker-gud-for-at-han-er-homofil|title=Lily Bandehy om sønnen Tooji: Jeg takker Gud for at han er homofil|work=Aftenposten|date=16 June 2015}} At the age of 16, he started modelling. Afterwards, he started working on MTV Norway where he presented "Super Saturday" and "Tooji's Top 10".{{cite web |url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=510108 |title=TV-kjendiser raser etter at sjef lurte muslimsk ansatt – VG Nett om Tro og livssyn |publisher=Vg.no |date=2008-01-24 |access-date=2012-08-09 |archive-date=2008-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331171258/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=510108 |url-status=live }}

He was also educated as a social worker and has worked in asylum reception centres.{{cite web |author=AV: arve henriksen |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/Tooji-knuste-forhandsfavorittene-6760560.html |title=Tooji knuste forhåndsfavorittene – Aftenposten |publisher=Aftenposten.no |access-date=2012-08-09 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000523/http://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/Tooji-knuste-forhandsfavorittene-6760560.html |url-status=live }}

He won Melodi Grand Prix 2012 and was given the opportunity to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan with his entry "Stay."{{cite web |url=http://www.siste.no/underholdning/grand_prix/article5834697.ece |title=– Han er fryktløs og skamløs |language=nb |publisher=siste.no |date=2012-02-13 |access-date=2012-08-09 |archive-date=2012-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804003203/http://www.siste.no/underholdning/grand_prix/article5834697.ece |url-status=dead }}

Since 2012, Tooji presents, with Margrethe Røed, the Melodi 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.scandipop.co.uk/tooji-rebels/|title=Scandipop.co.uk – Tooji: 'Rebels'|work=Scandipop.co.uk|date=30 September 2013 |access-date=23 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129055820/http://www.scandipop.co.uk/tooji-rebels/|url-status=live}}

He moved to Stockholm prior to the release of the song "Packin' Guns".{{cite web|url=http://bloggar.aftonbladet.se/wimp-bloggen/2014/03/nykomlingen-tooji-jag-blev-olycklig-av-eurovision/|title=Nykomlingen Tooji: "Jag blev olycklig av Eurovision"|work=WiMP Musik|date=24 March 2014|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-date=27 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327202553/http://bloggar.aftonbladet.se/wimp-bloggen/2014/03/nykomlingen-tooji-jag-blev-olycklig-av-eurovision/|url-status=live}} His songs often express a political and social message. Tooji's single "Cocktail" deals with the gender roles in today's society.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/ytring/guttete-og-jentete-1.11941860|title=Guttete og jentete|author=NRK|date=23 September 2014|work=NRK|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129043100/http://www.nrk.no/ytring/guttete-og-jentete-1.11941860|url-status=live}} The music video starts with a quotation from Gloria 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 EP Father 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.{{Cite web |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2015/10/24/say-yeah-lyrics-and-review-tooji-video/105456/ |title=Wiwibloggs: Tooji tackles homophobic hate crimes in brutal "Say Yeah" video |date=24 October 2015 |access-date=2020-04-05 |archive-date=2021-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226214819/https://wiwibloggs.com/2015/10/24/say-yeah-lyrics-and-review-tooji-video/105456/ |url-status=live }}

= The Father Project and single =

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 Lutheran Church 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thelocal.no/20150608/tooji-coming-out-video-would-make-madonna-blush |title=TheLocal.no: Tooji coming out video 'gross misuse of church' |access-date=2020-04-05 |archive-date=2020-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123071910/http://www.thelocal.no/20150608/tooji-coming-out-video-would-make-madonna-blush |url-status=live }}

Tooji said he lost his job as a host to Melodi Grand Prix Junior, a version of Eurovision for younger performers as a result of the "Father" video and the Father Project. Tooji called this project as "the most important thing I've done in my life."{{Cite web |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2015/06/08/touche-tooji-comes-releases-father-project/97673/ |title=Wiwibloggs: Norway: Tooji comes out, releases new song "The Father Project" |date=8 June 2015 |access-date=2020-04-05 |archive-date=2020-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025134509/https://wiwibloggs.com/2015/06/08/touche-tooji-comes-releases-father-project/97673/ |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Tooji is a supporter of Green Wave, Iran's democratic reform movement. Tooji wore a Free Iran green bracelet{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/06/01/azerbaijan-and-iran-locked-in-a-spat-over-rumours-of-a-gay-parade/|title=Azerbaijan and Iran locked in a spat over rumours of a gay parade|date=June 2012|publisher=Pinknews.co.uk|access-date=2015-06-12|archive-date=2016-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829135105/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/06/01/azerbaijan-and-iran-locked-in-a-spat-over-rumours-of-a-gay-parade/|url-status=live}} during his performance in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In June 2015, Tooji came out as gay to the Norwegian website Gaysir, 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 Norwegian National Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender People.{{cite news |last=Marthinussen |first=Linn-Christin |date=8 June 2015 |title=Tooji står fram som homofil: – Har fått nok av at unge jenter og gutter føler skam |url=http://www.kjendis.no/2015/06/08/kjendis/tooji/homofil/artist/star_fram/39553158/ |newspaper=Dagbladet |access-date=10 June 2015 |language=no |archive-date=9 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609195122/http://www.kjendis.no/2015/06/08/kjendis/tooji/homofil/artist/star_fram/39553158/ |url-status=dead}}

Discography

=Extended plays=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" style="width:10em;"\| Title ! scope="col" style="width:16em;"\| Details
scope="row"\| Stay \| Released: 16 January 2012 Format: Digital download Label: Tooji Music
scope="row"\| Father \| Released: 20 May 2015 Format: Digital download Label: Kawaii Records

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Details

scope="row"| Stay

Released: 16 January 2012
Format: Digital download
Label: Tooji Music

scope="row"| Father

Released: 20 May 2015
Format: Digital download
Label: Kawaii Records

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"\| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"\| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Album
scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| NOR
scope="row"\| "Swan Song" \| 2008 \| — \| {{n/a\|Non-album singles}}
scope="row"\| "Stay" \| rowspan="2"\| 2012 \| 2 \| rowspan="2"\| Stay
scope="row"\| "If It Wasn't For You" \| —
scope="row"\| "Rebels" \| 2013 \| — \| rowspan="5" {{n/a\|Non-album singles}}
scope="row"\| "Packin' Guns" \| rowspan="2"\| 2014 \| —
scope="row"\| "Cocktail" \| —
scope="row"\| "Money" \| rowspan="4"\| 2015 \| —
scope="row"\| "L.Y.S" \| —
scope="row"\| "Father" \| — \| Father
scope="row"\| "Say Yeah" \| — \| {{n/a\|Non-album singles}}
colspan="20" style="font-size:85%"\| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| NOR

scope="row"| "Swan Song"

| 2008

| —

| {{n/a|Non-album singles}}

scope="row"| "Stay"

| rowspan="2"| 2012