Klemen Slakonja
Slakonja in 2016
Born (1985-06-03) 3 June 1985
NationalitySlovene
EducationAcademy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, television host, impersonator, musician
Years active2007–present
SpouseMojca Fatur (2010)
Children2

Klemen Slakonja (born 3 June 1985) is a Slovenian singer. He is employed at the Ljubljana Slovene National Theatre Drama and acting in it is his primary occupation.

He studied at the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television. Slakonja is known in Slovenia for his comedy sketches often made in the form of music videos as well as for anchoring various TV shows such as the Eurovision Song Contest in his home country. He has made numerous impersonations of Slovenian musicians, Slovene philosopher Slavoj Žižek, Pope Francis, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Angela Merkel and others.

Career

He was born in a Slovenian border town Brežice. His early impersonations started around second year of high school. He started his career at local Radio Energy near his home in the town of Krško, which is the most known for having the only nuclear powerplant in Slovenia. He was the radio anchor and he was hosting many different kind of local events.

2007: Breakthrough after Radio Ga Ga show

In late summer of 2007, he hosted the home reception for Slovenian world class hammer throw champion Primož Kozmus in Brežice, to celebrate his silver medal from 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka. To honour Primož Kozmus he translated the Slovenian Christmas song "Bela snežinka" to "Sivo kladivo" (Grey Hammer) and impersonated it with voices of various Slovenian popular musicians. That's when radio host Edi Štraus noticed him and recommended him to Sašo Hribar, satirical TV and radio host.

On 5 October 2007, Sašo Hribar invited Slakonja to make his first public performance on the national level to his satirical radio show called Radio Ga Ga where they are mocking mostly of out of Slovenian politicians and which is broadcast weekly on first channel of Slovenian National Radio.[1][2] He imitated Slovenian ballad singer Rok Kosmač which was the breaking point of his career and after this performance suddenly became known to a wide Slovenian audience.

Just a month later in November 2007, he made the first public television appearance at satirical television show Hri-bar hosted by Sašo Hribar which was mocking animated characters, mostly Slovenian politicians. Show was broadcast on RTV Slovenia national television. Show hosted regular and also musical guests where Slakonja performed mocking Slovenian musicians with perfect voice and disguise impersonation.

2008: Suddenly became host on national TV

On 17 February 2008 he practically over night became a national television host taking over popular Sunday afternoon family show called "NLP" on RTV Slovenia. He became a co-host with Tjaša Železnik who previously run this show alone for about two years.

2011: First time hosting EMA Festival

On 27 February 2011 he first time hosted EMA music festival competition, a Slovenian entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2011 and the winner was Maja Keuc. To honour this festival he wrote music and presented "16 let skomin", a mix song of all sixteen EMA festival winners. So far he was hosting this festival for three more times, in 2012, 2016 and 2020. In 2016 he presented "Putin, Putout" in the EMA show.

2013: Zadetek v petek & Je bella cesta

On 15 February 2013 he hosted his first own comedy show "Zadetek v petek" (Full on Friday) which was broadcast on commercial TV3 Medias. The whole thing was shot in Belgrade, however the show was canceled only few months later after only one season. Shortly after he started hosting his second own comedy show "Je bella cesta" (Damn) which lasted for two seasons from October 2013 to May 2014.

2015: Zadžuskaj hit song in commercial

He wrote "Zadžuskaj" (Juice it) song was released in 2014. He shot a music video in which he plays DeciDeci Klemzy, an awkward nerd character.[3] Jingle was used in a two commercials for health insurance company and became summer hit of the year 2015.[4][5]

2016: Putin, Putout and international fame

His comedy sketch "Putin, Putout" gained international popularity.[6] This was the first video he shot as part of his TheMockingbirdMan project. The video parodies Russian president Vladimir Putin. Shortly after airing on Slovene television, the comedy sketch was uploaded to Slakonja's personal YouTube channel where it went viral.[7][8][9]

His second TheMockingbirdMan project video entitled "Golden Dump (The Trump Hump)" impersonating Donald Trump has premiered on 17 July 2016 at Siti Teater BTC Ljubljana. Two days later it was uploaded to Slakonja's personal YouTube channel.

Work

Radio

Year Role
2007 "Radio Energy" (Radio Krško) host
"Radio Ga Ga" (Radio Slovenia 1) satire

Television

Year Title Role
2007 "Hri-bar" satirical late show
"Osa" short film
"Vučko" short film
2008 "Nekega lepega popoldne" (NLP) family show host
2009 "Palčica" short film
2011 "EMA 2011" eurovision entry host
2012 "EMA 2012" eurovision entry host
2013 "Zadetek v petek" comedy show host
"Je bella cesta" comedy show host
2014 "Cipercoper" animation voice
"Zadžuskaj s Klemzyem" commercial
2016 "EMA 2016" eurovision entry host

Film

Year Title Role
2009 "Osebna prtljaga" Vid

Web series

Year Title Role
2010 "Dan ljubezni" YouTube series (protective brother)

List of parodies

Year Title of parody Impersonating Role Video
2007 "Hepatitis B" Slovenia Anžej Dežan singer YouTube
"Urška" Slovenia Jan Plestenjak singer YouTube
"S.O.L.I.S." Slovenia Tomi Meglič singer YouTube
"You always dreamt about Njega" Slovenia Fredi Miler singer YouTube
"Čakam te" Slovenia Rok Kosmač singer YouTube
"S Katancem v JAR" Slovenia Vlado Kreslin singer YouTube
"Hamburger in marmelada" Slovenia Rok Ferengja singer YouTube
2008 "Da veš" Slovenia Alya singer YouTube
"Oda radosti" Slovenia Damjan Murko singer YouTube
"Nor sem" Slovenia Dennis ex. Game over singer YouTube
2011 "Twelve" Republic of Ireland Bono singer YouTube
"You're beautiful" England James Blunt singer YouTube
"Zero" Spain Enrique Iglesias singer YouTube
"It ain't over 'til it's over" United States Lenny Kravitz singer YouTube
"Marío" Puerto Rico Ricky Martin singer YouTube
"Left Outside Alone" United States Anastacia singer YouTube
"Viva la Corrida" England Chris Martin singer YouTube
"Jodl Jodl (This time for Slovenija)" Colombia Shakira singer YouTube
"Sex Bomb" Wales Tom Jones singer YouTube
"Bed of roses" United States Jon Bon Jovi singer YouTube
"Shape of a chicken" England Sting singer YouTube
2012 "Mi fa schifo questa vita" Italy Eros Ramazzotti
United States Tina Turner
singer YouTube
"Slovenia Will Win"
(Eurovision Song Contest)
One Man Band Aid
Republic of Ireland Bono
England Sting
England James Blunt
England Elton John
England Chris Martin
Austria Vienna Boys' Choir
Canada Justin Bieber
United States Lenny Kravitz
United States Gospel choir
United States Lady Gaga
singers YouTube
2013 "Slash" interview England/United States Slash musician YouTube
"Polka Gangnam Style" South Korea Psy singer YouTube
"JJ Style" Slovenia Janez Janša politician YouTube
"Ti moja rožica" Slovenia Modrijani band YouTube
"Cooking with Bojan Emeršič" England Jamie Oliver cooking YouTube
"Najlepše otroške pesmice" Slovenia Eroika vocal trio YouTube
"Nočem biti papež" Slovenia Franc Rode cardinal YouTube
"Proposing to Hannah Mancini" United States Hugh Hefner Playboy YouTube
"Jasna Kuljaj" United States Gregory House actor YouTube
"Holivud hils" Bosnia and Herzegovina Branko Đurić actor YouTube
"Penzioner" Belgium/Slovenia Karl Erjavec politician YouTube
"Dejan Zavec vs Chuck Norris" United States Chuck Norris actor YouTube
"Aplavz" United States Lady Gaga singer YouTube
"The Perverted Dance (Cut the Balls)" Slovenia Slavoj Žižek philosopher YouTube
"La Mia Strada È La Mia Decisione" Italy Andrea Massi skiing YouTube
"Zdaj prihajam in zdaj grem" Slovenia Magnifico musician YouTube
"Modern Pope" Vatican City/Argentina Pope Francis pope YouTube
2014 "Gromska strela" Slovenia Modrijani band YouTube
"Dragon, Dragone" Slovenia Goran Dragić basketball YouTube
"Delam vse, kar dela Pahor" Slovenia Borut Pahor politician YouTube
"Na veliko noč" Slovenia Soul Greg Artist musician YouTube
"Put me zove" Bosnia and Herzegovina Halid Bešlić musician YouTube
"Sad je tu sve EU" Croatia Oliver Dragojević musician YouTube
"Zgoraj brez" Slovenia Tanja Žagar musician YouTube

TheMockingbirdMan project

A project where he is impersonating and making fun of world leaders.

No. Title Impersonating Director Premiere Release date Video
1 "Modern Pope" Vatican City Pope Francis Miha Knific Pop 8 November 2013 YouTube
2 "Putin, Putout" Russia Vladimir Putin Miha Knific RTV Slovenia Studio 1 (EMA 2016) 27 February 2016 YouTube
3 "Golden Dump (The Trump Hump)" United States Donald Trump Miha Knific Siti Teater BTC Ljubljana 17 July 2016 YouTube
4 "Ruf mich Angela" Germany Angela Merkel Miha Knific 3 July 2017 YouTube

References

  1. "Slakonja's first national public appearance at Sašo Hribar's Radio Ga Ga show on 5 October 2007". stern.de. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  2. "With voice mutation to imitation". gorenjskiglas.si. Retrieved 12 May 2008.
  3. "Klemen Slakonja kot DeciDeci Klemzy - Zadžuskaj". YouTube. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  4. "Zadžuskaj s Klemzyem". YouTube. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  5. "Zadžuskaj 2: Klemzy kot polka Rajko". YouTube. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  6. "Slovenian comedian rocks with Putin parody; Trump to follow". Reuters. 7 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. "The Putin parody going viral in Eastern Europe". BBC News. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  8. "The Parody Everyone In The World — Except Vladimir Putin — Will Love". carbonated.tv. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  9. "Die Putin-Satire, die gerade mächtig für Furore sorgt". stern.de. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
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