Ceca (singer)

Svetlana Ražnatović (née Veličković; Serbian Cyrillic: Светлана Ражнатовић, née Величковић; pronounced [sʋětlana raʒnǎːtoʋit͡ɕ]; born 14 June 1973), better known by her stage name Ceca (Serbian Cyrillic: Цеца, pronounced [t͡sěːt͡sa]), is a Serbian singer. Nicknamed the "Serbian mother", she is recognized as one of the most popular pop-folk singers in Serbia and Balkan, having sold seven million records.[1][2][3] She is the widow of Željko "Arkan" Ražnatović, a career criminal and paramilitary commander in the Yugoslav Wars. During her Poziv Tour in 2013, she held a concert in Belgrade with over 150,000 attendants, making it one of the highest-attended concerts in the world.[4]

Ceca
Цеца
Ceca performing in Düsseldorf, 2018
Born
Svetlana Veličković

(1973-06-14) 14 June 1973
Prokuplje, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Other names
  • Ceca Ražnatović
Occupations
  • Singer
  • TV personality
  • businesswoman
Years active1987–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1995; died 2000)​
Children2, including Anastasija Ražnatović
Musical career
GenresPop-folk
InstrumentsVocals
Labels

Early life

Svetlana Veličković was born on 14 June 1973 in Prokuplje to Mira and Slobodan Veličković.[5][6] She grew up in the nearby village of Žitorađa.[5] Ceca has a younger sister named Lidija.[5] Veličković graduated from the high school of agriculture, studying pig farming.[7]

Career

While vacationing with her family on the coast of Montenegro as a teenager, Ražnatović was discovered by the prominent accordion instrumentalist Mirko Kodić, who helped her to pursue a recording career.[5][6] Ceca made her debut in 1988 with the release of Cvetak zanovetak through PGP-RTB. The album's title song was presented at the Ilidža Folk Music Festival, where it received an award.[6] Following the release of the three succeeding albums, which saw moderate success, Ceca gained more significant popularity when she began working with the songwriting duo Marina Tucaković and Milan Radulović on her fifth album Šta je to u tvojim venama.[6] Released in 1993 under Juvekomerc, the album featured the stand-out hit "Kukavica". The record was promoted with Ceca's first solo concert, held in Belgrade's Tašmajdan Center. Šta je to u tvojim venama was followed by the albums Ja još spavam u tvojoj majici (1994) and Fatalna ljubav (1996), which included hits like "Volela sam te", "Nije monotoija", "Idi dok si mlad", "Tražio si sve" and "Beograd". In 1996, Ceca performed in Hala Pionir.[6] Ražnatović also starred as Koštana in the 1996 film adaptation of Borisav Stanković's novel Impure Blood, but was eventually cut out from the picture due to poor critical reception.[5][8] Her scenes were eventually featured on the television series Tajne nečiste krvi, which broadcast in the beginning of 2012.[9] In 1997, she released Maskarada and in 1999, Ceca 2000. These records produced popular songs "Maskarada", "Nevaljala" and "Crveno".

After the release of Decenija (2001) through Grand Production, on 15 June 2002, Ražnatović performed at the Marakana Stadium in Belgrade to 70.000 people.[10] Decenija was succeeded by Gore od ljubavi in May 2004 and Idealno loša in June 2006. On 17 June 2006, Ceca held a concert in Belgrade's Ušće Park. Album Ljubav živi was subsequently released in June 2011. It was followed by her fifteenth album Poziv in June 2013, released under City Records.[11] It spawned hit songs like "Da raskinem sa njom", "Ime i prezime" and "Turbolentno". To promote the album, on Vidovdan 2013, Ražnatović held her second concert in Ušće Park. According to Ceca's management Ušće 2 attracted 150,000 people, making it one of the highest-attended concerts by a solo artist in the world.[12][13] Same year, Ceca also performed at the New Year's Eve concert in front of the House of the National Assembly in Belgrade.[14] In June 2016, she released the album Autogram, featuring songs like the title track, "Trepni" and "Metar odavde".[15]

She has served as a judge on the singing competitions Pinkove Zvezde (2014–2016) and Zvezde Granda (2021–present).[16] In October 2022, Ceca's reality show, titled Ceca Show: Ceca i deca, also began airing on Blic TV.[17]

Personal life

In 1993, Ceca was introduced by singer Oliver Mandić to career criminal and paramilitary commander in the Yugoslav Wars, Željko "Arkan" Ražnatović, while performing for the soldiers at a military camp in Erdut. They got married on 19 February 1995.[6] Their wedding, which was broadcast internationally, was portrayed as the "Serbian fairytale" by the local media.[18] The couple has two children, Veljko (born 1996) and Anastasija (born 1998).[6] Arkan was assassinated on 15 January 2000.[19]

Following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in March 2003, Ražnatović was arrested under suspicion of harboring the leaders of the Zemun Clan in her house, and subsequently spent 121 days in commitment.[20][21] Due to lack of evidence she was ultimately released of the charge, but was suspected of illegal firearm possession and embezzlement from transfers of her husband's football club, FK Obilić, between 2000 and 2003.[20]

After eight years of investigation, in March 2011, a criminal charge was filled against Ražnatović by Serbian state prosecutors under suspicion of illegal appropriation of 4 million Deutsche Marks and over 3 million dollars from FK Obilić player transfers, as well as for illegal possession of 11 machine guns.[22] Ceca, who took over the club after Arkan's murder, had argued that the deals were maintained by her late husband, and that the guns also belonged to him.[23] In June 2011, Ražnatović, who had pleaded guilty, was charged for embezzlement and illegal firearm possession, and sentenced with €1,5 million fine and to a year in house arrest.[23][24][25] She finished serving her detention, which was eventually reduced to eight months, in late February the following year.[26]

Moreover, due to her past legal issues, Ražnatović is officially banned from entering Croatia, being proclaimed persona non grata.[27]

Politics

Ceca was involved in politics by serving as the honorary president of the Party of Serbian Unity before Arkan was assassinated. Following her husband's death, she has kept relationships with Serbian politicians Ivica Dačić, who was also born in Žitorađa, and Dragan Marković, who was Arkan's former business associate.[28][29] Ražnatović has publicly endorsed Aleksandar Vučić since the 2017 Serbian presidential election.[30][31] In January 2019, Ražnatović, alongside President Vučić, representatives of the Serbian Government and Patriarch Irinej, was at the official welcoming party for Vladimir Putin at the plateau of Church of Saint Sava.[32]

Ražnatović has also maintained close ties with Bosnian Serb politician Milorad Dodik and has publicly endorsed him and his party SNSD.[33][34] In June 2021, according to the reports of Insajder, Ceca was flown in by the Government-owned helicopter from Belgrade to Dodik's hometown of Laktaši in Republika Srpska to attend a private wedding party.[35]

Discography
Main article: Ceca discography

Filmography
Filmography of Svetlana Ražnatović
Year Title Genre Role Notes
1995 Ceca i Arkan Television Herself
2004 Sav taj folk
2012 Tajna nečiste krvi Koštana Main character
2014-2016 Pinkove Zvezde Herself Judge
2017 Nikad nije kasno Guest judge
2018 Godine slatkog greha
2021-present Zvezde Granda Judge and mentor
2022 Ceca Show: Ceca & Deca

Tours
  • Šta je to u tvojim venama Tour (1993)
  • Ceca Tour '94 (1994)
  • Fatalna ljubav Tour (1995)
  • Decenija Tour (2002)
  • Ceca Tour '05 (2005)
  • Grom Tour (2006-10)
  • Ljubav živi World Tour (2012-13)
  • Poziv Tour (2013-16)
  • Autogram Tour (2016-20)
  • The best of Ceca Tour (2021)

References
  1. "Beauty and the beast". The Guardian. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2004.
  2. "Uklonjen video "Junaci doba zlog: Svetlana Ražnatović – srpska majka"". N1 (in Serbian). 16 July 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  3. "Oni su bili najtiražniji izvođači: Brena, Šaban, Zorica, Miroslav i Halid prodali najviše ploča!". Mondo.rs (in Serbian). 23 January 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  4. "Ceca surpassed Lady Gaga and Madonna: Usca's concert was the third most visited in the world". Sloboden Pečat. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  5. Vasić, B. (19 May 2005). "Žitije sa pevanjem i pucanjem" (in Serbian). Vreme. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  6. Jovanović, V. (14 June 2022). "Sve Cecine drame: Pevačica sa najburnijom biografijom danas puni 49 godina". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  7. Kolarević, A. (12 March 2021). "Svinjarstvo, daktilografija: Koje je škole završila estrada". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. "Nečista krv obeležila je njenu mladost: Kada je zaigrala lik Koštane Ceca je bila maloletna, nikad viđene fotografije sa snimanja filma". Magazine Hello (in Serbian). 25 December 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  9. "Ceca sa prirodnim grudima u seriji "Nečista krv"". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 15 December 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  10. "Ceca Ražnatović pdržala koncert na Marakani pred 70.000 ljudi". Nezavisne novine (in Serbian). 18 June 2002. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  11. "OTKRIVAMO: Cecin novi album zove se Poziv!". Kurir.rs (in Serbian). 25 May 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  12. "Na Ušću 150.000 ljudi skandiralo "Ceco, mi te volimo"". Pulsonline.rs (in Serbian). 28 June 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  13. Savić, B. (27 July 2022). "Ceca nadmašila Lejdi Gagu: Koncert na Ušću treći najposećeniji na svetu". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  14. Davidović, N. (27 December 2013). "Grad izdvaja 4,5 miliona dinara za najluđu noć". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  15. Rakočević, D. (23 June 2016). "Novi album folk dive! Ceca kakvu dosad niste čuli". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  16. Dejanović, M. (7 September 2020). "Ceca stigla na prvo snimanje nove sezone Zvezda Granda". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  17. Madžarević, N. "Ekskluzivno! Zavirite u prvu epizodu serijala Ceca Show". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  18. Dejanović, M. (23 November 2019). "Detalji svadbe Cece i Arkana 1995. godine koje ste možda zaboravili: Šta su joj ubacili u cipelu?". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  19. R. S. V. (15 December 2011). "Čovek koji je ubio Arkana – uhapšen zbog heroina u Južnoj Africi" (in Serbian). Vreme. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  20. "Serbian Pop Diva Investigated Over Soccer Transfers". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  21. R. D. (28 March 2011). "Optužnica protiv Svetlane Ražnatović". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  22. Vulliamy, Ed (29 March 2011). "Serbian singer Ceca charged with embezzlement". The Guardian. London.
  23. "Serbian pop singer Ceca, widow of warlord Arkan, avoids jail term". The Guardian. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  24. "Ceca u kućnom pritvoru". RTS. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  25. I P. (22 February 2012). "Svetlani Ražnatović skinuta narukvica". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  26. "Ceca, Persona Non Grata u Hrvatskoj 'Mogu se samo nasmijati na njihove zabrane, nisam se nimalo potresla. Moja brojna publika iz RH uvijek nađe put do mene'". Jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 5 April 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  27. Cvetković, Lj. (22 April 2021). "Dragan Marković Palma – od Arkana i 'Tigrova' do navoda o podvođenju". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (in Bosnian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  28. Gligorijević, J. (2 December 2011). "Poslovi, putovanja i prijatelji Cece Ražnatović". Vreme (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  29. "I Ceca podržala Aleksandra Vučića". Rtvbn.com (in Bosnian). 26 March 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  30. "I CECA JE UZ ALEKSANDRA VUČIĆA: Podrška lideru SNS-a od poznate pevačice". Novost.rs (in Bosnian). 30 March 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  31. P. D. (19 January 2019). "Otkud Ceca sa Putinom i državnim vrhom ispred Hrama?". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  32. "Arkan, Ceca i Dodik". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (in Bosnian). 30 September 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  33. Bursać, D. (30 September 2022). "Bursać: Ceca Ražnatović i Aca Lukas, zadnji Dodikovi izborni aduti". Balkans.aljazeera.net (in Bosnian). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  34. Jovović, P. (20 June 2021). "Kad Dodik lumpuje, Ceca leti helikopterom o trošku građana". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
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