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, convicted criminal and the second wife of the alleged war criminal Arkan. Born in Prokuplje and raised in Žitorađa, she made her recording debut in 1988 and has to date released sixteen studio albums. Ceca has been dubbed the "Serbian Mother" (Srpska majka).[1][2]

Ceca
Цеца
Ceca performing in Düsseldorf, 2018
Background information
Birth nameSvetlana Veličković
Born (1973-06-14) June 14, 1973
Prokuplje, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
GenresPop-folk
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • TV personality
  • businesswoman
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1988–present
Labels
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1995; died 2000)​

With sales of around 7 million records, she is recognized as one of the commercially most successful Serbian artists of all time.[3] Her 2013 solo concert, held during her Poziv Tour in Ušće, Belgrade was reportedly attended by 150,000 people, making it one of the highest-attended concerts in the world.[4] In 2023, Ražnatović also became the youngest recipient of the Life Achievement Award at the Serbian Folk Music Assembly.[5]

Between 1995 and 2000, Ceca was married to Željko Ražnatović 'Arkan', with whom she has two children. In 2011, Ražnatović was convicted of embezzlement and illegal firearm possession; she was fined with 1,5 million euros and to a one year in house arrest.

Life and career

Veličković was born on 14 June 1973 in Prokuplje and raised in the nearby village of Žitorađa.[6] She graduated from the high school of agriculture, studying pig farming.[7] Veličković pursued a professional career in music as a child after she had been discovered by Serbian accordion instrumentalist and songwriter Mirko Kodić, who took her to Belgrade where she made her recording debut. Ceca rose to prominence by competing at the Ilidža Folk Music Festival with the song "Cvetak zanovetak", receiving the first award for a debut performance.[8] Her first studio album of the same title was released in 1988 under PGP-RTB. In the following years, Ceca released three more records in succession: Ludo srce (1989), Pustite me da ga vidim (1990) and Babaroga (1991).

In 1993, Ceca released her fifth album, Kukavica, through JV Komerc, on which she began collaborating with the songwriting duo Marina Tucaković and Milan Radulović.[8] The record saw great commercial success, whilst the title track has become one of her signature hits.[8] Following the album's release, Ražnatović held her first solo concert at the Tašmajdan Center in Belgrade.[8] Kukavica was followed by the albums Ja još spavam u tvojoj majici (1994) and Fatalna ljubav (1995), which included stand-out hits like: "Volela sam te", "Nije monotoija", "Idi dok si mlad", "Tražio si sve" and "Beograd". To promote Fatalna ljubav Ceca had a live show at Hala Pionir.[8] In 1996, Ražnatović released Emotivna luda under Komuna. Same year she starred as Koštana in the film adaptation of the Borisav Stanković's novel Impure Blood. However, her scenes were eventually excluded from the movie due to poor critical reception.[6][9] The scenes were later included to the television series Tajne nečiste krvi, which broadcast in the beginning of 2012.[10] Ceca renewed her collaboration with PGP-RTS to release Maskarada in 1997. Her tenth studio album, Ceca 2000, was subsequently released in December 1999. These two records produced popular songs like "Maskarada", "Nevaljala" and "Crveno".

Following the death of her husband in 2000, Ceca took a break from music. She returned to the scene in 2001 with the album Decenija, released under Grand Production. It saw commercial success, becoming her highest-selling album to date.[6] To promote Decenija she embarked on a European tour, which ended with the concert at the Marakana Stadium in Belgrade on June 15, 2002, where she performed to 70.000 people.[11] The album was followed by Gore od ljubavi and Idealno loša in May 2004 and June 2006, respectively. On 17 June 2006, Ceca held a solo live show in Ušće, Belgrade.

In June 2011, she released Ljubav živi under Miligram Music, which was sold in 150,000 copies.[12] After she had served her detention for financial fraud and illegal firearm possession between 2011 and 2012, Ceca released her fifteenth studio album, Poziv, through City Records in June 2013.[13] It spawned hit-songs like "Da raskinem sa njom", "Ime i prezime" and "Turbolentno". The album was sold in over 100,000 units.[14] Poziv was promoted with another concert in Ušće Park on the Vidovdan 2013. 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.[15][16] Same year, Ražnatović also performed at the New Year's Eve concert in front of the House of the National Assembly in Belgrade.[17] In June 2016, she independently released Autogram under Ceca Music. It featured popular songs like the title track, "Trepni" and "Metar odavde".[18] Autogram circulated in 150,000 copies.[19]

She has served as a judge on the televised singing competitions Pinkove Zvezde (2014–2016) and Zvezde Granda (2021–present).[20] In October 2022, Ceca's reality television show, titled Ceca Show: Ceca i deca, also began airing on Blic TV.[21]

Personal life

Marriage and motherhood

While performing for Serbian soldiers at a military camp in Erdut during the Yugoslav wars in 1993, Ceca was introduced by singer Oliver Mandić to war criminal, paramilitary commander and politician, Željko "Arkan" Ražnatović. They got married on 19 February 1995.[8] Their wedding, which was broadcast internationally, was portrayed as the "Serbian fairytale" by the local media.[22] The wedding video was later also released on a VHS tape. The couple has two children, Veljko Ražnatović (born 1996) and Anastasija (born 1998).[8] Arkan was assassinated on 15 January 2000.[23]

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.[24][25] Due to lack of evidence she was ultimately released of the charge, however, the investigation raised suspicion of Ceca's illegal firearm possession as well as of embezzlement from transfers of her husband's football club, FK Obilić, between 2000 and 2003.[24]

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 US dollars from FK Obilić player transfers, as well as for illegal possession of 11 machine guns.[26] 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.[27] In June 2011, Ražnatović, who had pleaded guilty, was charged for embezzlement and illegal firearm possession, and sentenced with 1,5 million euros in fine and to a year in house arrest.[27][28][29] In February the following year, she finished serving her detention, which was eventually reduced to eight months.[30]

Moreover, due to her past legal issues, Ražnatović is officially banned from entering Croatia, being proclaimed persona non grata.[31]

Politics

Ceca was involved in politics by serving as the honorary president of the Party of Serbian Unity before Arkan was assassinated. Since her husband's passing, Ražnatović has maintained ties with Serbian politicians Ivica Dačić, who was also born in Žitorađa, and Dragan Marković, who was Arkan's former business associate.[32][33] Ražnatović has publicly endorsed Aleksandar Vučić since the 2017 Serbian presidential election.[34][35] In January 2019, Ceca, 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.[36] Ražnatović has also maintained close ties with Bosnian Serb politician Milorad Dodik and has publicly endorsed him and his party SNSD.[37][38] In June 2021, according to the reports of Insajder, Ceca was flown in from Belgrade by the Government-owned helicopter to Dodik's hometown of Laktaši in Republika Srpska to attend a private wedding party.[39]

In July 2021, CNN's affiliate in the Southeastern Europe, N1, aired an episode about Ceca as a part of the documentary series Junaci doba zlog (Heroes of the Evil Age), which discussed her involvement in politics throughout the years. Before its premiere, Ražnatović threatened the creators with legal consequences in order to "protect her own reputation and work", unless they fulfil her request to not air the episode.[40][41] The documentary episode was briefly taken off YouTube on the behalf of Ceca Music for copyright infringement.[2]

Discography
Main article: Ceca discography
Studio albums

Filmography
Television performances
  • Tajna nečiste krvi (2012); as Koštana
  • Pinkove Zvezde (2014-2016); as a judge
  • Zvezde Granda (2021-present); as a judge and mentor
  • Ceca Show: Ceca & Deca (2022-present)

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.me (in Montenegrin). 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" (in Macedonian). Sloboden Pečat. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  5. Vasiljević, N. (27 April 2023). "Ceca je najmlađa dobitnica nagrade za životno delo: Progovorila o trudnoći ćerke Anastasije". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  6. Vasić, B. (19 May 2005). "Žitije sa pevanjem i pucanjem" (in Serbian). Vreme. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  7. Kolarević, A. (12 March 2021). "Svinjarstvo, daktilografija: Koje je škole završila estrada". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  8. Jovanović, V. (14 June 2022). "Sve Cecine drame: Pevačica sa najburnijom biografijom danas puni 49 godina". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  9. "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.
  10. "Ceca sa prirodnim grudima u seriji "Nečista krv"". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 15 December 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  11. "Ceca Ražnatović pdržala koncert na Marakani pred 70.000 ljudi". Nezavisne novine (in Serbian). 18 June 2002. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  12. "Ljubav živi [Zvućni snimak]". Virtuelna biblioteka Srbije (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  13. "OTKRIVAMO: Cecin novi album zove se Poziv!". Kurir.rs (in Serbian). 25 May 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  14. "Poziv [Zvućni snimak]". Virtuelna biblioteka Srbije (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  15. "Na Ušću 150.000 ljudi skandiralo "Ceco, mi te volimo"". Pulsonline.rs (in Serbian). 28 June 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  16. Savić, B. (27 July 2022). "Ceca nadmašila Lejdi Gagu: Koncert na Ušću treći najposećeniji na svetu". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  17. Davidović, N. (27 December 2013). "Grad izdvaja 4,5 miliona dinara za najluđu noć". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  18. Rakočević, D. (23 June 2016). "Novi album folk dive! Ceca kakvu dosad niste čuli". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  20. Dejanović, M. (7 September 2020). "Ceca stigla na prvo snimanje nove sezone Zvezda Granda". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  21. Madžarević, N. (10 June 2022). "Ekskluzivno! Zavirite u prvu epizodu serijala Ceca Show". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  22. 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.
  23. R. S. V. (15 December 2011). "Čovek koji je ubio Arkana – uhapšen zbog heroina u Južnoj Africi" (in Serbian). Vreme. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  24. "Serbian Pop Diva Investigated Over Soccer Transfers". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  25. R. D. (28 March 2011). "Optužnica protiv Svetlane Ražnatović". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  26. Vulliamy, Ed (29 March 2011). "Serbian singer Ceca charged with embezzlement". The Guardian. London.
  27. "Serbian pop singer Ceca, widow of warlord Arkan, avoids jail term". The Guardian. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  28. "Ceca u kućnom pritvoru". RTS. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
  29. I P. (22 February 2012). "Svetlani Ražnatović skinuta narukvica". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  30. "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.
  31. 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.
  32. Gligorijević, J. (2 December 2011). "Poslovi, putovanja i prijatelji Cece Ražnatović". Vreme (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  33. "I Ceca podržala Aleksandra Vučića". Rtvbn.com (in Bosnian). 26 March 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  34. "I CECA JE UZ ALEKSANDRA VUČIĆA: Podrška lideru SNS-a od poznate pevačice". Novost.rs (in Bosnian). 30 March 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  35. P. D. (19 January 2019). "Otkud Ceca sa Putinom i državnim vrhom ispred Hrama?". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  36. "Arkan, Ceca i Dodik". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (in Bosnian). 30 September 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  37. Bursać, D. (30 September 2022). "Bursać: Ceca Ražnatović i Aca Lukas, zadnji Dodikovi izborni aduti". Balkans.aljazeera.net (in Bosnian). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  38. Jovović, P. (20 June 2021). "Kad Dodik lumpuje, Ceca leti helikopterom o trošku građana". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  39. "Produkcija "Junaci doba zlog": Cecini pritisci i pretnje neće uroditi plodom". Cenzolovka (in Serbian). 9 July 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  40. Novičić, M. (12 July 2021). "Junaci doba zlog: Ceca vs dokumentarna emisija". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
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