Three sold-out concerts at Belgrade’s “Shtark Arena” and four more in Zagreb solidify Serbian singer Aleksandra Prijovic as a regional phenomenon. The 28-year-old folk singer is currently on her “From East to West” regional tour, and her concerts consistently sell out.
The singer is scheduled to perform three concerts in Zagreb, and the 4th one is already completely sold out. These concerts will take place from 01/12/2023 to 04/12/2023. Notably, some ticket buyers are attempting to capitalize on the high demand by reselling tickets at prices ranging from 75 to 150 euros.
The singer’s astonishing rise to popularity took many by surprise, both in the audience and the media. What began, less maliciously as some tabloids suggest, under wedding tents, has now translated into immense online success through social networks. Her YouTube videos have garnered millions of views, with the song “Za nas kasno je” amassing over 80 million views on YouTube.
The success on social networks is one of the factors contributing to the surprise expressed by traditional media, which are less surprised by the Croatian interest in Prijovic.
“I believe that what she did in Zagreb is a significant wake-up call for Croatian media. Everyone is now taken aback and pondering, “Who is she?” In reality, the story is quite straightforward. Today’s audience is less inclined to tune in to radio stations or watch television; instead, they’re closely following the internet and social networks, with YouTube leading the way. Online, people get to listen to what they genuinely want to hear, as opposed to what mainstream media serves them. My colleagues and editors often assume they have an exclusive grasp of what the audience prefers and therefore play songs they deem to be chart-toppers. Nonetheless, the actual reality is far different.
You and I may not listen to Aleksandra, but 90 percent of other people love her, listen to her, and find a way to get her songs. It is undoubtedly a reflection of the prevailing societal preferences. We can only talk about the mentality of the society that loves such music in Croatia. There is no other explanation, it is not exactly a miracle. I remind you that she is not the only one, but she broke the record with tickets sold. Aca Lukas and Sasha Matic achieved similar success among Serbian folk performers in Zagreb, who also sold out arenas”.
said Dubravko Jagatić, rock critic from Zagreb
Who is Aleksandra Prijovic?
Undoubtedly, the singer stands as one of the most popular in the region, as evidenced by the packed concerts in Belgrade and Zagreb, along with the sold-out shows in Nish and Sarajevo. It’s noteworthy that two concerts in Sarajevo are scheduled to take place in the Zetra Olympic Hall (which was renamed Juan Antonio Samaránch in 2010). Tens of thousands of euros have been invested in the organization of the concerts, as reported by the Serbian portal N1.
Prijovic is married to the son of the renowned former Yugoslav tennis player, Boba Zhivojinovic. The tennis player, in turn, is married to Lepa Brena, who frequently joins Prijovic on stage during her concerts. Aleksandra Prijovic first gained public recognition in the early 2010s, thanks to her participation in “Zvezde Granda”. Her debut album, “Testament,” was released in 2017, propelling her to one of the most sought-after singers in Serbia almost immediately. In 2022, she recorded the album “Zvuk tishine,” followed by her most recent release in 2023, “9 Zhivota.” Beyond her music career, she ventured into acting, with a role in the series “Ubice mog oca”. She also performed the title song, “Dugujesh mi dva zhivota,” for the series’ fourth season.
It’s noteworthy that the singer’s choice of music genre, modern folk, enjoys considerable popularity in the region. Modern folk has consistently held a prominent position among the most-listened-to music styles in the area. Over the past three months, the most favored song by Prijović, particularly among the younger population, has been “DAM DAM DAM”.
