Deen (singer)

Deen
Deen in 2016
Born	Fuad Backović 12 April 1982 Sarajevo, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia
Occupation	singer
Years active	1996–2008; 2015–present
Musical career
Genres	pop
Instruments	vocals
Labels	Hayat Production
Associated acts	7Up, Vlatka Pokos, Anabela, Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Ana Rucner, Jala Brat
Website	Official website

Fuad Backović (born 12 April 1982), better known by his stage name Deen, is a Bosnian pop recording artist, reality star and fashion designer. Backović was the lead singer of the Bosnian boy band 7Up from 1997 until 2002, when he became a solo artist. He represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song "In the Disco".

In 2008, Backović competed on the reality television show Farma. That same year, he retired from music to become a fashion designer, but revived his music career in November 2015 when he agreed to representing his country once again at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Ljubav je" together with Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Ana Rucner and rapper Jala Brat.

Early life

Fuad Backović was born into a Muslim Bosniak family on 12 April 1982 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, then SFR Yugoslavia. When Backović was two years old, his father Zaim, who worked as a representative of a construction company in Libya, relocated the family to the Middle Eastern country for six years.^[1] The name Fuad means "heart" in Arabic, while his stage name Deen is taken from the Arabic Dīn meaning "faith". Backović has stated his love for music stems from his mother Sabina, an amateur singer who gave up the prospect of a career in music to raise a family. Backović has a younger brother named Faris.

The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 to 1996, stands out as the most difficult moments in his life. He spent most of the war with his mother, brother and grandparents in the basement of the family home in the Koševo neighborhood of Sarajevo, while his father was in the battlefield, a soldier in the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following the war, his father became a politician, serving as the Minister of Economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a member of the Bosnian parliament.

Career

Deen performing in 2004.

At the age of 12, Fuad Backović took his first musical steps by recording his first song in 1994. The song was recorded in a musical studio called Studio Number 1 owned by PBSBiH. Gradually his local success grew and obtained the attention of Sarajevo record labels. By 1997, Backović took the opportunity to become the lead singer of the Bosnian boy band 7Up.^[2]

The band released two albums, Otvori oči (1998) and Seven (2000). The band enjoyed great success in Bosnia and the neighboring countries Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro. In 1998, Deen received an offer to perform for an opera choir. His vocal abilities had been noticed by the National Theater of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he accepted the role of the lead singer for the opera choir during the production of Carmina Burana.

Backović decided to leave 7Up and become a solo artist, releasing his first studio album Ja sam vjetar zaljubljeni in 2002. In a 2007 interview he said that being a part of 7Up was an unforgettable experience which left him with many good memories.^[3] Backović has been praised for his vocal abilities by people such as Davorin Popović, Kemal Monteno, Hajrudin Varešanović, and many others.

Backović recorded the duet "Poljubi me" (Kiss Me) with the popular Croatian singer Vlatka Pokos.

In 2008, Backović competed on the reality television show Farma. That same year, he retired from music to become a fashion designer,^[4] but revived his music career in November 2015 when he agreed to representing his country once again at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 together with Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Ana Rucner and rapper Jala Brat.^[5]

Eurovision Song Contest 2004

In 2004, Deen represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul, with the song "In The Disco". Deen finished in ninth place with 91 points automatically earning Bosnia and Herzegovina the honour of participating in the final of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest.

Eurovision Song Contest 2016

Fuad represented Bosnia and Herzegovina for the second time at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, this time in Sweden's capital Stockholm. He was joined by Dalal Midhat-Talakić, Ana Rucner and rapper Jala Brat. They performed the song "Ljubav je" in the second half of the first semi-final, but failed to qualify for the final, making it the first time since the introduction of the semis in 2004 that Bosnia has failed to qualify.^[6]

Personal life

Backović graduated from the Istituto Marangoni with a degree in Fashion Business. He is currently studying postgraduate degree at the same institution.

Deen lives in Milan, Italy. Backović has dodged rumors of his homosexuality for years. When asked by the Bosnian magazine Gracija in September 2010 if he had relocated to Milan to live an openly gay life outside of more conservative Bosnia, he replied that although he knew many gay people, that he was heterosexual.^[7] He also stated that he was not open to marriage. Backović was in a possible lavender relationship with Bosnian socialite Hana Hadžiavdagić, who later came out as bisexual.^[8]

Discography

• Otvori oči (1998), lead vocal of 7Up
• Seven (2000), lead vocal of 7Up
• Ja sam vjetar zaljubljeni (2002), first solo album
• In the Disco (2004)
• Anđeo sa greškom (2005)

References

1. "Duhovit i dobar anđeo s greškom". Gloria. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
2. Jeffries, David. "Biography: Deen". AMG. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
3. "Nisam rob trendova". Nezavisne. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
4. "Odustao sam od muzike jer danas svako može da bude pevač". Hello Magazine. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
5. "ODLAZAK NA EUROSONG GRAĐANE BIH NEĆE KOŠTATI NITI JEDNOG FENINGA". Kameleon. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
6. Leon, Jakov I.; Jordan, Paul (19 February 2016). "Dalal, Deen, Ana & Jala sing 'Ljubav je' for Bosnia & Herzegovina!". eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
7. "Sve mi dobro ide, osim ljubavi". Gracija. 14 September 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
8. "Bosanske zvjezdice Deen i Hana odsad se prenemažu i u Zagrebu". Index. 6 March 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

External links

• Official Website of Deen