BOSANSKI | ENGLISH

Despite the fact that he is busy with preparations for the performance in Istanbul as well as the upcoming promotion of his new album, representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 and currently the hottest Bosnian pop star Deen has found a few minutes to return eurobosnia.com's call for an interview. At this time, eurobosnia.com would like to send many thanks to Deen for his time and also to Ms. Vesna Andree Zaimovic for her help with this matter.

1. Firstly, congrats from me and all of the readers of this interview. Are you happy now?
A: Well, of course I am. Even as a little child I paid attention to every Eurovision and imagined how I would be appearing on one of these kind of European musical stages. I had the luck on my side this year to be given trust by the public and of course the expert jury, who gave me the chance to represent Bosnia in Istanbul.

2. What is it that attracts you to Eurovision that much that you performed three times at the national preselection, even after yearly disappointments?
A: Well, I can't say that I was really disappointed, because for me, every performance was a big experience and a success on the local music scene. Knowing the fact that I am a very stubborn and relentless person by nature, every goal that I set for myself I want to make true, including my participation at Eurosong. This "ram-like" persistance of mine paid off.

3. Your first solo album was released more than three years ago. When can we finally expect to hear the new matrial and will it include the songs from this year's BH Eurosong?
A: In April of this year will be exactly two years since the release of my solo album. I did not want to rush with the new one, because the CD "Ja sam vjetar zaljubljeni" has really become a huge success in the entire area of former Yugoslavia. It would not have been good for me to stop this with new songs. Now, preparations for the release of the new album are in high gear and the promotion of it will begin before our departure to Istanbul. It will be a multimedia CD with videos, pictures, etc.

4. Will you change the team of songwriters on this new album?
A: I always like to experiment and in any case, I do not like to be stereotypical. All of those who think they can offer me a song are absolutely welcome in doing that. I like to give chances to young and talented authors from around the world, because, in the end, the world rests on us young people.

5. What are your goals with the new album? Will you try to expand the reach of your songs beyond borders of the Balkans, or is the Balkans big enough?
A: My appetite is truly huge. Saying what I am about to say, I don't want t give impression of being narcissistic and overly amibitious, but if I was able to become a star in former Yugoslavia by age of 21, I don't see why I couldn't rule the European music scene by 27. I know best how much and what I can do.

6. You know yourself that when people speak of you, there are two groups, with completely opposite opinions. Ones like you and respect you, others try to discredit you and it's as if they are afraid of your appearance and the influence you bestow on the people's consciousness. Can you comment on this bipolarity?
A: It's very important to me to leave a certain impression with my work. Up until now I have not met anybody who did not have an opinion of me at all. It's true that there are many out there who love me, but also those who don't like my work. This, of course, depends on the person, but I care about people thinking about me and to spread various stories. I exist for it.

7. What is Deen's goal in life? And how to attain it?
A: Before all, I want to remain a happy person and to make all people of this world happy with my music. I honestly hope that I will reach what I set out for myself in life, but primarily thanks to hard work and effort, and of course, the team without which you cannot survive in this line of work.

8. You have a very, so to say, risky image. Do you work on it alone or do you have help?
A: I am risky as a character and a person, above all, and this is reflected in my image. I try to be honest towards everyone, especially the audience at all times. I don't like to pretend to be what I am not and I want the audience to accept me with all my vices and virtues. Show business does no tolerate mediocrity.

9. Do you visit Eurovision websites? Have you had the chance to see the reactions of Europeans to In The Disco as well as your local and complete performance?
A: I visit all kinds of music sites very often, and right now I am concentrated on Eurovision. I have to admit that I am very satisfied with all the reaction to this year's Bosnian song. I think that it is a very modern song which outlines my character and personality unbelievably well. I think Europe will accept it very well.

10. The song In The Disco is a kind of a tribute to old disco hits from the 70s, and so it contains some chords from those hits. Will you change the song to avoid accusations of plagiarism?
A: I am very nostalgic of the music of 70s and 80s because I think that the best music of all times was made back then. I think the song In The Disco paints the picture of those times really well, of course, made to fit out times.

11. Vesna mentioned somewhere that you asked her to write a song for your new album. It turns out that she is the one who wrote the winning song. Is this a coincidence?
A: I did not ask Vesna for a song for my new album, but I suggested to her, since she is Bosnian-born, to take part in BH Eurosong with one of her songs. It turned out successfully.

12. What can we expect from Deen and the team on the stage in Istanbul? Will we see an entirely new choreography and look?
A: You can expect all kinds of things. As I said, I am very unpredictible as a personm but everything I do is planned out and very calculated. Anyway, my team's motto is "Never leave anything to chance."

13. This year, Balkan country are the most numerious in the semifinal. Do you think this will help you to get into the final?
A: I want the song In The Disco to be understood by entire Europe, and not just our language area. I think that this is why the song won at BH Eurosong, but in any case, it would be nice for the countries of former Yugoslavia to support one another, because I really respect and regard all of my colleagues and neighbors.

14. This year we are seeing the comeback of Serbia and Montenegro and they are represented by Zeljko Joksimovic. Macedonians chose Tose Proeski as their representative. Together with you, then, three big Balkan star in one niht. Is Balkan trying to show what i can do or is it coincidence?
A: We from the Balkans have very many young and talented people in all walks of life, including pop music. There is no reason for someone who comes from our area not to be able to build an envious musical career, like for example Tarkan from Turkey and Shakira from Columbia have done. I believe we're able to do it.

Following few questions were asked by fans from the forum of website www.doteurovision.com.

15. What musical style would you say In The Disco is? (Yair)
A: It is disco style modified and adjusted to today's times. Retro is in. It's like the Puma sweatpants worn by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.

16. Have you had the chance to hear the song selected so far and do you have a favorite? (Doron)
A: I've head some of the songs, but I am not preocupied with that right now and I can't tell you who would be my favorite at this time. May the best win.

17. How would you compare last year's Taxi with In The Disco? Do you think Taxi would have done better than Ne brini in Riga? (Martin)
A: I don't want to reflect on last year. What happened happened, and Taxi became a huge hit in Bosnia and around, which is most satisfying. As for comparing Taxi with In The Disco, I think any comparison is impossible. Two worlds.

18. In a recent interview, Vesna Pisarovic said that she wrote the song after you two went out clubbing in Sarajevo. She said she got inspired by watching you. Give us your side of the story. (HaeR)
A: It's absolutely right what Vesna said. I love clubs and I enjoy when I dance. Recently I was in Greece, in Athens and spent one night with some friends at a very trendy night club and I danced so much that the owner asked to meet me.

19. Do you know how you would react if you got 0 points in May? (Kevin)
A: Every performer's career is made up of ups and downs. This has to be accepted as something completely normal. If it happens, I won't like it, but I will survive it, because life and career have to move on.

20. Would you represent any other country besides Bosnia and which? (Kevin)
A: I have not thought about that yet. Right now I am reprsenting my homeand and that's what's important right now.

21. Give us your three favorite dance songs. (TorontoDan)
A: Cher - "The Music's No Good Without You," Kylie Minogue - "Can't Get You Out of My Head," Madonna - Vogue; ah, there's tons...

22. What is the concept of the In The Disco video? (TorontoDan)
A: I have to emphasize that the video for In The Disco was done by way of some very expensive technology, similar to the kind used in the film trilogy The Lord of the Ring. What's at hand, I can't say right now, but it's very interesting and is full of beautiful people.

23. Do you agree that "Daj spusti se" is one of the best Bosnian songs written for Eurovision and were you pissed off when you lost? (Luke)
A: I wasn't pissed off, because I was very young back then, I was not even 16 years old and this was my first experience of that kind, and so I did not even expect a victory. The fact that we came second after the disqualification of Hari Mata Hari gave me a lot of satisfaction for my future work. It is truly a beautiful memory in my life.

24. What does your artistic name mean? And what will happen if Laith Al'Deen wins in Germany? (Yair)
A: My artistic name is translated from Arabic as "faith" and from Greek as "allmighty." I am a person of faith and I believe in God, in love, in music and everything that makes people happy. It is for this very reason that I chose the name Deen. I have to admit that success has been with me with this name. As for Laith Al'Deen, it will be great to have a namesake at the event.

25. Where did you get the kneepads? (Bostonian)
A: My stylists Kao Pao Shu thought of it - they always have ideas like this. At least this is how I inspire them. There will be lots of suprises in Istanbul, as far as this is concerned. :)

26. Would you leave Bosnia if you were to become famous somewhere else? (Alan)
A: I would never forget my homeland and would always go back, of course, to my town and to my people. In the times of globalization it's completely unnecessary where a person is physically. Even this interview is virtual and can be found and read anywhere...

Dear Noah and all the other dear and people with good intentions of this world, I say to you:
Enjoy life, love and remember - love is energy that moves everything and which should rule the world. Love and kisses from your Deen.