Klemen Slakonja Explained

Klemen Slakonja
Birth Date:1985 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Brežice, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia
Education:Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television
Occupation:Actor, comedian, television host, impersonator, musician
Nationality:Slovene
Years Active:2007–present
Spouse:Mojca Fatur (2010)
Children:2

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

YearRole
align=center rowspan=22007"Radio Energy" (Radio Krško) host
"Radio Ga Ga" (Radio Slovenia 1) satire

Television

YearTitle Role
align=center rowspan=32007"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
align=center rowspan=22013"Zadetek v petek" comedy show host
"Je bella cesta" comedy show host
align=center rowspan=22014"Cipercoper" animation voice
"Zadžuskaj s Klemzyem" commercial
2016"EMA 2016" eurovision entry host

List of parodies

YearTitle of parodyImpersonatingRoleVideo
align=center rowspan=72007"Hepatitis B" Anžej DežansingerYouTube
"Urška" Jan PlestenjaksingerYouTube
"S.O.L.I.S." Tomi MegličsingerYouTube
"You always dreamt about Njega" Fredi MilersingerYouTube
"Čakam te" Rok KosmačsingerYouTube
"S Katancem v JAR" Vlado KreslinsingerYouTube
"Hamburger in marmelada" Rok FerengjasingerYouTube
align=center rowspan=32008"Da veš" AlyasingerYouTube
"Oda radosti" Damjan MurkosingerYouTube
"Nor sem" Dennis ex. Game oversingerYouTube
align=center rowspan=112011"Twelve" BonosingerYouTube
"You're beautiful" James BluntsingerYouTube
"Zero" Enrique IglesiassingerYouTube
"It ain't over 'til it's over" Lenny KravitzsingerYouTube
"Marío" Ricky MartinsingerYouTube
"Left Outside Alone" AnastaciasingerYouTube
"Viva la Corrida" Chris MartinsingerYouTube
"Jodl Jodl (This time for Slovenija)" ShakirasingerYouTube
"Sex Bomb" Tom JonessingerYouTube
"Bed of roses" Jon Bon JovisingerYouTube
"Shape of a chicken" StingsingerYouTube
align=center rowspan=22012"Mi fa schifo questa vita" Eros Ramazzotti
Tina Turner
singerYouTube
"Slovenia Will Win"
(Eurovision Song Contest)
One Man Band Aid
Bono
Sting
James Blunt
Elton John
Chris Martin
Vienna Boys' Choir
Justin Bieber
Lenny Kravitz
Gospel choir
Lady Gaga
singersYouTube
align=center rowspan=172013"Slash" interview / SlashmusicianYouTube
"Polka Gangnam Style" PsysingerYouTube
"JJ Style" Janez JanšapoliticianYouTube
"Ti moja rožica" ModrijanibandYouTube
"Cooking with Bojan Emeršič" Jamie OlivercookingYouTube
"Najlepše otroške pesmice" Eroikavocal trioYouTube
"Nočem biti papež" Franc RodecardinalYouTube
"Proposing to Hannah Mancini" Hugh HefnerPlayboyYouTube
"Jasna Kuljaj" Gregory HouseactorYouTube
"Holivud hils" Branko ĐurićactorYouTube
"Penzioner" / Karl ErjavecpoliticianYouTube
"Dejan Zavec vs Chuck Norris" Chuck NorrisactorYouTube
"Aplavz" Lady GagasingerYouTube
"The Perverted Dance (Cut the Balls)" Slavoj ŽižekphilosopherYouTube
"La Mia Strada È La Mia Decisione" Andrea MassiskiingYouTube
"Zdaj prihajam in zdaj grem" MagnificomusicianYouTube
"Modern Pope" / Pope FrancispopeYouTube
align=center rowspan=72014"Gromska strela" ModrijanibandYouTube
"Dragon, Dragone" Goran DragićbasketballYouTube
"Delam vse, kar dela Pahor" Borut PahorpoliticianYouTube
"Na veliko noč" Soul Greg ArtistmusicianYouTube
"Put me zove" Halid BešlićmusicianYouTube
"Sad je tu sve EU" Oliver DragojevićmusicianYouTube
"Zgoraj brez" Tanja ŽagarmusicianYouTube

TheMockingbirdMan project

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

No.TitleImpersonatingDirectorPremiereRelease dateVideo
1"Modern Pope" Pope FrancisMiha KnificPop8 November 2013YouTube
2"Putin, Putout" Vladimir PutinMiha KnificRTV Slovenia Studio 1 (EMA 2016)27 February 2016YouTube
3"Golden Dump (The Trump Hump)" Donald TrumpMiha KnificSiti Teater BTC Ljubljana17 July 2016YouTube
4"Ruf mich Angela" Angela MerkelMiha Knific3 July 2017YouTube

Notes and References

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