Narmin Atakishieva
Serbia – Dragana Mirković. A Serbian pop-folk singer and entrepreneur. Mirković is recognized as one of the best-selling artists from the former Yugoslavia. Mirković is seen as one of the most popular Serbian folk singers, particularly in the turbo folk genre, as well as being one of the most successful recording artists from the former Yugoslavia.
Most popular songs: “Umreću zbog tebe” ; “Dodaj gas”.
Other popular singers from the country: Jelena Karleuša; Šaban Šaulić; Ceca.
Bosnia and Herzegovina – Dino Merlin. a Bosnian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is the founder and leader of Merlin, which eventually became one of the best-selling rock-bands of Southeast Europe.
In 2000 Dino wrote and released his most successful album – “Sredinom” (trans. Middle). The album was the top-selling album in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was sold in all of the former Yugoslav republics. The album became the highest selling album of the region in the last 30 years.
Other popular singers from the country: Lepa Brena; Goran Bregović; Zdravko Čolić.
North Macedonia – Todor “Toše” Proeski. He was a Macedonian multi-genre singer and songwriter. Considered a top act of the local Macedonian and Balkan music scene, Proeski’s music was popular across multitude of countries of Southeast Europe. He was dubbed the “Elvis Presley of the Balkans” by BBC News. In 2004, Proeski represented Macedonia with the song Life at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Most popular songs: “Igra bez granica”; “ Jos i danas zamirisi tresnja”; “Cija si”.
Other popular singers from the country: Esma Redžepova; Kaliopi; Tijana Dapčević.
Belarus – Alexander Rybak (Belarusian-Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, pianist and actor) His debut 2009 album, Fairytales, charted in the top 20 in nine European countries, including a top position in Norway and Russia. Won the Eurovision in 2009 with 387 points—the highest tally any country has achieved in the history of Eurovision with “Fairytale”, a song he wrote and composed.
Most popular songs: “Fairytale”; “Europe’s skies”; “That’s how you write a song”.
Other popular singers from the country: Angelica Agurbash; Natalia Podolskaya; Maks Korzh; Bi‑2.
Greece – Nana Mouskouri. She released over 200 albums in at least 12 languages. Well known throughout Europe for the song “The White Rose of Anthens”. In 1963, she represented Luxembourg at the Eurovision wit “À force de prier”. Her “Je chante avec toi Liberté” is her biggest hit to date.
Most popular songs: “Plaisir D´amour”; “Les Parapluies De Cherburg”; “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”.
Other popular singers from the country: “Haris Alexiou”; “Demis Roussos”; “Maria Callas”.
Bulgaria – Aneliya. 23 singles have topped the Bulgarian music charts. In 2012, she won the artist of the year award.
Most popular songs: “Погледни ме в очите”; “Дай ми още”.
Other popular singers from the country: Sylvie Vartan; Philipp Kirkorov; Alexander Raytchev.
Slovakia – Collegium Musicum. A Slovak art rock / progressive rock band formed by Marián Varga and Fedor Frešo in Czechoslovakia in late 1969,best known for their complex, predominantly instrumental compositions centred around Varga’s keyboards/organ, and for their interpretations of classical works by Rimsky-Korsakov, Stravinsky, Bartók, and others. While never achieving mainstream popularity, the band was among the most influential formations on the Czech/Slovak music scene in the 1970s, drawing comparisons to the Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Most popular albums: “On a Ona”; “Konvergencie”; “Collegium Musicum”.
Other popular singers from the country: Edita Gruberová; Lucia Popp; Katarína Hasprová.
Kosovo – Rita Ora. Born on 26 November 1990 in Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia (modern-day Kosovo),to Albanian parents. Ora was named an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo in 2015. Throughout 2011, Ora released covers and videos about working on her debut album on YouTube. The videos caught the attention of DJ Fresh, who at that time was looking for a female vocalist for his song. She became one of the world’s most popular female singers.
Most popular songs: “Black Widow”; “Let You Love Me”; “Body On Me”.
Other popular singers from the country: Era Istrefi; Loredana Zefi; Dafina Zeqiri.
Latvia – Lauris Reiniks. A Latvian pop music singer, songwriter, television host, and actor. He has released 9 solo albums and singles in 11 languages. As a composer and recording artist Lauris Reiniks has received more than 20 National Latvian awards and has gained international recognition in the Baltic states. The millions of views of his music videos on YouTube has unofficially made him a “King of YouTube” in Latvia.
Most popular songs: “Es skrienu”; “Sirds sadeg neparasti”; “Tik Balti”; “Es neesmu neprātīgs”.
Other popular singers from the country: Elīna Garanča; Marija Naumova; Renārs Kaupers; Kristine Opolais.
Romania – Inna. A Romanian singer. She adopted the stage name “Alessandra” in 2008 and adopted a pop-rock style; later that year, she changed her stage name to “Inna” and began releasing house music. “Hot” (2008), her debut single, was a commercial success worldwide and topped the Romanian and Billboard‘s Hot Dance Airplay chart, among others. Her debut studio album of the same name followed in August 2009 and was certified Gold and Platinum. It featured several other successful singles in Europe, including “Amazing” (2009), the singer’s second number-one single in Romania.
Most popular songs: “Hot”; “Amazing”; “Sun Is Up”; “Love”; “Cola Song” (feat. J Balvin).
Other popular singers from the country: Delia Matache; Andra; Angela Gheorghiu; Júlia Várady.
Czech Republic – Michal Tučný. A Czech singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most popular Czech country singers and he is regarded as a legend of the Czech country music (he was often referred to as the king of the genre).
Most popular songs: “Všichni Jsou Už V Mexiku” ; “Snídaně V Trávě” ; “Báječná Ženská”; “Nádraží”.
Other popular singers from the country: Karel Gott; Yzomandias; Viktor Sheen; Pokáč; Charlotte Ella Gottová, Michal David, Dalibor Janda.
Moldova – Natalia Barbu. She is a Moldovan singer and songwriter. She is best known for representing Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song “Fight”. Throughout her career, Natalia has worked with a group of musicians called Trigon on an alternative jazz-folk experiment. She writes her own lyrics, composes the music for most of her songs, and collaborates on the arrangements with her crew.
Most popular songs: “Suflet Gol”; “I said it’s sad”; “Let’s jazz”.
Other popular singers from the country: Arsenie Todiraș; Nelly Ciobanu; Natalia Gordienco; Geta Burlacu; Aliona Moon.
Poland – Edyta Górniak. A Polish pop singer with a career spanning 3 decades. Górniak started as a musical theatre actress in 1990. She performed in the most popular musical in Polish history, the Tony Award-nominated Metro. Górniak was Poland’s first representative in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 with the song “To nie ja”. She placed second which still remains the country’s best result at the competition.
Most popular songs: “To Nie Ja”; “Glow On”; “Nie Proszę O Więcej”.
Other popular singers from the country: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf; Czesław Niemen; Maryla Rodowicz; Sanah.
Lithuania – Jurga Šeduikytė. A Lithuanian singer, music creator and actress. She became known in Lithuania as a finalist of the Baltic music television competition “Fizz Superstar”, later as the vocalist of the girl rock group “Muscat”, became famous in 2005. The song “Nebijok” presented in the spring of the same year was the most played song on Lithuanian radio stations, and Jurga became one of the most popular artists.
Most popular songs: “Sapnas”; “Dance”; “Kelionė Laiku”; “Reikalingi”.
Other popular singers from the country: Andrius Mamontovas; Andrius Pojavis; Donny Montell; Sasha Song.
Hungary – Aurora (punk band). Aurora Cirkáló was founded in Győr, Hungary by the young local punks “Vigi” (guitar vocals), “Galacs” (bass), “Polyak” (drums) and “Dauer” (vocals). This was in 1983, at the height of the Hungarian punk blast, a period in which a punk gig caused big agitation, occasionally by starting riots.
Most popular songs: “Kifacsart citrom”; “Nincs térerő”; “Bella csaó”.
Other popular singers from the country: Éva Marton; Zsuzsa Koncz; Kati Kovács; Márta Sebestyén; Attila Csihar.
Montenegro – Rambo Amadeus. Rambo Amadeus is one of the most prominent cult figures on the ex-Yugoslav music scene. He is a renowned songwriter, guitarist, entertainer, composer, performer, as a sail champion and eco – activist also. His songs combine satirical lyrics on human nature and the silliness of local politics with a mixture of musical styles including jazz, rock, hip-hop and lately drum and bass, and self-conscious ironic wit. Rambo Amadeus represented Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song “Euro Neuro”.
Most popular songs: “Smrt popa Mila Jovovića”; “Fala ti majk”; “Jemo voli jem”; “Urbano, samo urbano”.
Other popular singers from the country: Sergej Ćetković; Enisa; Šako Polumenta; Goga Sekulić.
Estonia – Arvo Pärt. An Estonian composer of contemporary classical music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs tintinnabuli, a compositional technique he invented. From 2011 to 2018, Pärt was the most performed living composer in the world, and the second most performed in 2019—after John Williams.
Most popular songs: “Credo”; “Spiegel im Spiegel”; “Te Deum”; “Tabula Rasa”.
Other popular singers from the country: Ivo Linna; Anne Veski; Tanel Padar; Katrin Siska.
Slovenia – Slavko Avsenik. A Slovene composer and musician. Beginning in 1953 with the formation of the Avsenik Brothers Ensemble, Avsenik produced more than 1,000 songs and garnered success both in Slovenia and in other parts of Europe and America, and is viewed as a Slovenian cultural icon.
Most popular songs: “Bele lilije”; “Breze v vetru”; “Aljažev stolp”; “Casanova”.
Other popular singers from the country: Eva Sršen; Darja Švajger; Ana Soklič; Tinkara Kovač.
Croatia – Gibonni. A Croatian singer-songwriter and composer. He is one of the most successful and awarded recording artists from Croatia, receiving record-high 43 Porin music awards for his albums and songs. In 2003 Stipišić was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He is involved in many humanitarian concerts and organizations fighting hunger and poverty.
Most popular songs: “Činim pravu stvar”; “Divji cvit”.
Other popular singers from the country: Tereza Kesovija; Neda Ukraden; Dado Topić; Josipa Lisac.
Ukraine – Ruslana. She is a World Music Award and Eurovision Song Contest winning recording artist, holding the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine. She is also a former MP serving as deputy in the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) for the Our Ukraine Party. She is recognized as the most successful Ukrainian female solo artist internationally and was included in the top 10 most influential women of 2013 by the Forbes magazine. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, she performed her self-composed song, Wild Dances and won the contest receiving 280 points.
Most popular songs: “Wild Dances”; “Karpati”; “Spasіnnya”.
Other popular singers from the country: Max Barskih; Ani Lorak; Sofia Rotaru.
Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia) – Alla Pugacheva (People’s Artist of the USSR, awarded in 1991). The highest honor that could be bestowed to a musical artist). Honored as one of the BBC 100 Women in 2022. Pugacheva’s repertoire includes over 500 songs in Russian, English, German, French, Kazakh, Hebrew, Finnish, Ukrainian, and her discography has more than 100 records, CDs and DVDs. In addition to Russia and the former Soviet Union, Pugacheva’s albums were released in Japan, Korea, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. In total, Pugacheva has sold more than 250 million records.
Most popular songs: “Старинные часы”; “Позови меня с собой”; “Миллион роз”; “Айсберг”.
Other popular singers from the country: Miyagi; Viktor Tsoy; Grigoriy Leps; Zemfira.
Cyprus – Anna Vissi. Greek Cypriot singer and songwriter. Over the course of her career she has released over two dozen albums, most of which have been certified at least gold in the two countries Vissi has won six Arion Music Awards, 15 Pop Corn Music Awards, and nine MAD Video Music Awards. Vissi has received 37 Platinum and 16 Gold certifications from IFPI Greece and has become one of the country’s best-selling artists of all time, having sold over 10 million records worldwide and is one of the country’s top earning artists.
Most popular songs: “Dodeka”, “Methismeni Politia”, “Oso Exo Foni”, “Pragmata”, “Agapi Ipervoliki”, “Psihedelia”.
Other popular singers from the country: Evridiki; Ziynet Sali; Despina Olympiou.
