Toše Proeski
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Toše Proeski |
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Todor "Toše" Proeski (Macedonian: Тодор „Тоше“ Проески) (January 25, 1981 – October 16, 2007) was born in Kruševo, Macedonia and was a famous Macedonian singer. Toše died in a car accident on October 16, 2007 at age of 26 as his Volkswagen Touareg car collided with a truck on Lipovac-Zagreb highway in Croatia, about 2km after the exit for Nova Gradiška.[1]
Biography
Toše Proeski was born in Republic of Macedonia, mother named Dominika and father named Nikola. He has collaborated with the celebrities such as Bora Čorba, Phoebus, Jeff Beck, Grigor Koprov, Goca Tržan, Leontina, Željko Joksimović, Antonija Šola, Toni Cetinski, Anja Rupel and Miro Buljan. Prior to his death, he was a student at final year of the Skopje Music Academy, at the solo singing department. Toše was best known for his trademark quote "Ve sakam site" (I Love You All).
Early Years
Toše began his career when he decided to participate in the teenage festival “Makfest” in 1996. Following this public exposure, he was awarded in Prilep for his strong vocal capabilities, which led to his rise to fame when he participated in “Makfest” with the song “Pusti me"(“Let me go") in 1997. His fanbase quickly grew and he continued to make use of festivals such as “SkopjeFest” and “OhridFest” as a platform for promotion and publicity. Toše collaborated with one of Macedonia’s greatest lyricists and composers, Grigor Koprov, to produce some of the greatest hits of his career such as “Usni na Usni" ("Lips on Lips") and "Sonce vo Tvoite Rusi Kosi" ("The Sun in Your Golden Hair"). In 1999, he released his debut album, "Nekade vo Nokta" ("Somewhere in the Night"), which contained eleven tracks. In the summer of the same year, Toše performed his first solo concert in Skopje which, in spite of the rain, was unforgettable for all the fans.
In 2000, Toše participated in the Eurovision pre-selection for Macedonia in “SkopjeFest.” He participated with the song "Solzi Pravat Zlaten Prsten" ("Golden Ring made of Tears"), which won the televoting from the public despite overall finishing in third place, behind Karolina Gočeva, and the winners XXL. During that period, he began recording the tracks for his second album “Sinot Božji" ("The Son of God"), which was promoted by the end of June 2000. The album brought some great hits, like "Nemir" ("Restless") (a duet with Karolina Gočeva), "Vo Kosi da ti Spijam" ("Sleeping in Your Hair"), "Izlazi me Ušte Ednaš" ("Lie to Me One More Time"), as well as "Iluzija" ("Illusion") (Grand Prix at the festival "Slavianski Bazaar" in Vitebsk ) and "Tajno Moja" ("Secret of mine"),two songs is composed by Kire Kostov, (winning second prize at the festival "Sunčane Skale", held in Herceg Novi, now Montenegro).
The Serbian production house “BK Sound” purchased the rights to release Toše’s latest album in the former Yugoslavian republics, which led to his victory of the Oscar of Popularity in former Yugoslav republics for the year of 2000, and his sell-out shows in Skopje and Belgrade. Toše set off on an Australian tour along with other Macedonian singers in 2001.
After spending his time in recording studios in Athens, Greece, Toše released his third album "Ako me pogledneš vo oči" ("If You Look Into My Eyes") in Macedonian and Serbian. After the release, Toše went on a tour throughout Macedonia doing intense promotion. He also went to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria for further promotion. Toše won "Beovizija" in Belgrade on April 2003, with "Čija si" ("To whom do you belong?"), a song which became a huge hit in Macedonia and the other former republics.
Superstardom
To improve his singing, Toše, took classes in New York from maestro William Riley, who was also coach to famous maestro Luciano Pavarotti. When he returned, Toše held humanitarian concerts throughout the Republic of Macedonia. He was awarded with the Mother Theresa Humanitarian Award and in 2003 he became a Regional UNICEF Ambassador.
In 2004, MKTV chose Toše to represent Macedonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey, and in February, he performed eight songs, where a jury, televote, and his own opinion chose the song. The song “Angel Si Ti” (“You’re an Angel”) was chosen by all three. In April, Toše released his album "Den Za Nas" ("A Day For Us"), which was two CDs featuring the eight songs from the Eurovision selection. In May, Toše finished 14th with the song "Life", which was the English version of “Angel Si Ti”. Prior to the contest he was popularised by reporters due to his tremendous opera singing ability, at his press conferences.
In 2004 he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and recorded the song "This World" which became the UNICEF anthem. Toše signed a contract with Dallas Records so his next album could be released in Croatia and Slovenia. To establish himself in these countries, Toše recorded “Krajnje Vreme” with Slovenian singer, Anja Rupel. In 2005, Toše’s fifth album “Po Tebe” (“After You”) was released all over ex-Yugoslavia. Po Tebe, was one of the most successful Balkan albums ever. It topped music charts for months in the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His last work, Božilak (Rainbow), was a compilation of 14 selected traditional Macedonian songs. The artist was backed up by a symphony orchestra on the album.
Songwriting
Proeski also established himself as a well known songwriter. He wrote several hits for himself including Ima Li Den Za Nas (Is There A Day For Us), Slusas Li (Can You Hear), Malecka (Little One) and Polsko Cvjeke (Field Flower). In 2004, Proeski composed Muza (Muse) which was a huge hit for Martin Vucic (FYR Macedonian Eurovision Song Contest Representative, 2005), and went on the become the title track for the young artist's second album. In interviews, Proeski stated that he has written over 100 songs but was waiting for the right moments to record them as they were still in demo form.
Fatal accident
On 16th October 2007, Proeski died in a car accident on a highway Zagreb-Lipovac near Nova Gradiška, Croatia. He was a passenger, together with his manager Lilijana Petrović, in a Volkswagen Touareg being driven by Đorđe Đorđevski. News reports suggest the Touareg crashed into the back of a truck, killing Proeski instantly. The other two occupants suffered severe injuries.[2][3]
Albums
1999:
- Nekade Vo Nokta (Macedonian: Некаде во ноќта, English: Somewhere In The Night)
2000:
- Sinot Božji (Macedonian: Синот Божји, English: The Son Of God)
2003:
- Ako Me Pogledneš Vo Oči (Macedonian: Ако Ме Погледнеш Во Очи, English: If You Look Into My Eyes)
- Ako Me Pogledaš U Oči (Serbo-Croatian language version)
2004:
- Den Za Nas (Macedonian: Ден За Нас, English: A Day For Us)
- Dan Za Nas (Serbo-Croatian language version)
2005:
- Po Tebe (Macedonian: По Тебе, English: After You)
- Pratim Te (Serbo-Croatian language version)
2006:
- Božilak (Macedonian: Божилак, English: Rainbow)
2007:
- Igri Bez Granici (Macedonian: Игри Без Граници, English: Games Without Borders)
- Igra Bez Granica (Serbo-Croatian language version)
Tose Proeski's complete discography
Singles
The song Čija si (English: To Whom Do You Belong) is considered to be Toše's greatest hit. Čija si received huge chart success and radio airplay bringing Proeski from star to music icon.
His chart toppers include:
- Čija Si - #1 Macedonia, #1 Serbia & Montenegro, #1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Tajno Moja (Macedonian: Тајно Моја, English: My Secret) - #1 Macedonia
- Ako Me Pogledneš Vo Oči (Macedonian: Ако Ме Погледнеш Во Очи, English: If You Look Into My Eyes) - #1 Macedonia, #1 Serbia & Montenegro
- Soba Za Taga (Macedonian: Соба За Тага, English: Room Of Sorrow)
- Life - #1 Macedonia, #2 Serbia & Montenegro, #49 South Africa
- Žao Mi Je (English: I Am Sorry)
- Koj Li Ti Grize Obrazi (Macedonian: Кој ли ти гризе образи, English: Who's Biting Your Cheeks) - #1 Macedonia, #1 Serbia & Montenegro, #1 Croatia
- Lagala Nas Mala (English: She Lied To Us) duet with Toni Cetinski - #1 Macedonia, #1 Serbia & Montenegro, #1 Croatia (20 weeks)
- Srce Nije Kamen (English: The Heart Isn't Made Of Stone) - #1 Croatia
- Vezi Me Za Sebe (English:Tie Me To You) - #2 Croatia
- Volim Osmijeh Tvoj (English:I Love Your Smile) - #1 Croatia
- Nikoj Kako Tebe Ne Baknuva (Macedonian: Никој како тебе не бакнува, Croatian: Ubijaš Me Usnama, English: No One Kisses Like You) - #1 Croatia
Song Remixes
- Lagala Nas Mala (DeeJay Time Remix)
- Srce Nije Kamen (DJ Wizard Remix)