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Selma Bajrami
Bosnian pop-folk singer (born 1980) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Selma Bajrami (pronounced [sělma bajrǎːmi]; born 4 July 1980) is a Bosnian singer. She began her music career by releasing her debut album Kad suza ne bude... (1998) at the age of 18. To date, Bajrami has released nine studio albums and is regarded as one of the most popular female singers from Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1]
Throughout her career, Bajrami’s musical style has evolved significantly. She began with a distinctively Balkan folk-pop sound in the late 1990s, characterized by traditional instruments and emotive vocals. By the early 2000s, she incorporated more pronounced pop-folk elements, blending turbo-folk rhythms with contemporary pop influences, which helped her gain a wider audience across the former Yugoslavia.
With the release of Kakvo tijelo Selma ima (2004), she introduced more provocative themes and dance-oriented tracks, solidifying her image as a bold and dynamic performer. The 2007 album Ostrvo tuge marked a shift towards a more polished pop production with traces of rock and balladic expressions, reflecting personal and emotional depth. In later years, especially throughout the 2010s, Bajrami experimented with modern pop, urban sounds, and collaborations with rappers and younger producers, keeping her music relevant to newer generations.
Despite stylistic shifts, Bajrami maintained a distinctive vocal delivery marked by a powerful, emotive timbre, which remained her artistic signature across decades.
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Early life
Bajrami was born in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, then part of SFR Yugoslavia, to a Bosniak mother, Enesa (née Suljić; born 2 March 1960), from the village of Kuge, and a father, Fadil Bajrami (born 30 March 1957), of mixed Bosniak and Albanian heritage. Her paternal grandfather, Redžep Bajrami (8 September 1933 – 12 April 2013), was born in Gjilan (now in Kosovo) and later settled in Tuzla.
She grew up in the nearby village of Mramor, where she spent the entirety of the Bosnian War (1992–1995). During this time, she began performing at local festivals and venues.[2] She has an older sister, Fahira (born 13 July 1977), and a younger brother, Enis (born 12 September 1984).
In 1996, she returned to Tuzla and completed cosmetology school.
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Career
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1998–2003: From Kad suza ne bude… to Žena sa Balkana, IF, and Eurovision national selection
Bajrami debuted in 1998 with the album Kad suza ne bude..., released by the record label Nimfa Sound. Early in her career, she gained attention with hits such as Njemu osmijeh, meni suze, Šta će žena ta?, and Nije moja majka kriva.
Shortly after her debut, Bajrami joined the all-female pop group IF from Tuzla. Between 1999 and 2000, the group released three songs: Ne vjeruj muškarcima, Ne mogu bez tebe, and Ako se desi.[3]
In 1999, she released her second studio album Ljubav si ubio gade, which brought her nationwide popularity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It established her as one of the most promising young performers. The album produced several hits, including Pijanico, Život liječi rane, Mrva hljeba, and the title track. The song Nikad od tebe čovjeka was written for her by acclaimed singer-songwriter Dino Merlin.
Her third studio album, Revolucija, was released in June 2001. This marked her first appearance on the Serbian music scene, where she performed on TV Pink and Grand Production shows. The album was released by Nimfa Sound in Bosnia and Herzegovina and by Grand Production in Serbia. Saša Popović, director of Grand Production, introduced her on the Grand Show as the most popular singer from Bosnia and Herzegovina.[4] The album featured popular songs such as Svi ste vi isti, Otvori se, zemljo, and Oči zelene.[5]
Her fourth studio album, Žena sa Balkana, was released in 2002 and was her final release with Nimfa Sound. The album included notable tracks such as Nana, Škorpija, and Žena sirena, the latter of which became one of her signature nicknames.[6]
In 2003, Bajrami competed in the Bosnian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, finished in sixth place in the final with the song Zaljubljena.[7]
2004–2008: Kakvo tijelo Selma ima, Ostrvo tuge, and the Show Zvijezde sa zvijezdama
After ending her contract with Nimfa Sound, Bajrami released her fifth studio album Kakvo tijelo Selma ima on 27 December 2004,[8] under the Saraton and Song Zelex labels. A reissue was released in April 2005 by Hayat Production.[9] Songs such as the title track, Tijelo uz tijelo, and Kad iza sebe pogledam helped solidify Bajrami’s status as one of the leading pop-folk artists in the Balkans. On Kakvo tijelo Selma ima, Bajrami was credited as the composer of Divlji zov and Prva ljubav, and as the lyricist of Ljubavi jedina. Notably, in 2010, a demo version of the song Muška suza surfaced on YouTube, performed by Dragana Mirković.[10]
According to media reports, Bajrami was initially selected to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song C’mon Boy. However, just days before the national selection, the song was withdrawn after its songwriter, Aleksandra Kovač, decided to keep it for herself. Kovač later won an MTV award with the same song.[11]
Bajrami’s sixth studio album, Ostrvo tuge, was released on 25 April 2007, by Grand Production and sold over 280,000 copies, making it her best-selling album to date.[12] The standout tracks included Ostrvo tuge, Promijeni se, Korak do nervnog sloma, and Lijepe žene. The video for the title track was shot in Skopje in late 2006. The album also featured a duet with Aca Lukas titled Kad se ne da, ne da se. The song Tako si hladan was written by Bajrami herself.
From 26 October to 28 December 2008,[13] Bajrami took part in the second season of the talent show Zvijezde sa zvijezdama, where she and her partner, Enver Lugavić Kice, emerged as winners.[14]
2009–2014: Hit Singles, Zakon sudbine, Reality Show, and Selma
In July 2009, Bajrami released the single Đavolica featuring rapper Deda, followed by the duet Šta je od Boga, dobro je with Macedonian singer Elvir Mekić in November. The single Farmerice, along with its accompanying music video, premiered on 24 December 2009. In February 2010, she competed in Grand’s Axal III festival with the song Rukujmo se kao prijatelji.
Her seventh studio album, Zakon sudbine, was released on 2 June 2010, marking her final release under Grand Production. The album sold over 100,000 copies and included hits like Voli me do bola, Bakšiš, and the title track.[15] The song Nemoj da se šališ was written by Bajrami herself.
On 19 January 2011, she released a reissue of Zakon sudbine via Hayat Production.[16] That same year, Hayat TV aired her reality show Voli me do bola, in which Selma searched for dancers and models for the music video of the title song, which was filmed in August.[17]
The first single from her eighth studio album Selma was originally titled Djevojke, but was later renamed James Dean. A 20-second preview was released on SoundCloud on 30 November 2012,[18] while the full version premiered on YouTube on 14 December 2012.[19]
On 19 December 2013, Bajrami released the ballad Nisam ti oprostila as the album’s second single.[20] The music video for the song was filmed in August 2013. Less than two weeks later, she performed the emotional ballad Moje milo during a New Year’s Eve television special. Serving as the album’s third single, the song is dedicated to her son, who was 17 months old at the time.
On 4 June 2014, the album’s fourth single Tijelo bez duše — an upbeat pop track co-produced by Atelje Trag — premiered with a music video that had been filmed in March 2014. [21]
The full album was released on 23 July 2014 through City Records, with a physical edition issued in a print run of 50,000 copies.[22] A Bosnian edition followed in late October 2014, released by Hayat Production.[23]
2015–2024: From Mlađe slađe to Embargo – Singles, Leaks, and the Ninth Studio Album
On 9 October 2015, Selma released a duet with Enela Palavra titled Mlađe slađe under the IDJ Tunes label. The music video, filmed in August 2015, became a hit and currently has over 15 million views.[24]
On 9 May 2016, she released the single Zvjerka on digital platforms. The music video, shot in Mostar, was published on YouTube on 15 June 2016. Her televised performance of the song on the Zvezde Granda specijal has amassed over 33 million views.
This was followed by several singles in quick succession, including Uzbuna (23 September 2016), and U zemlji krvi i meda (16 December 2016), a song inspired by the tragic love story of Boško and Admira, often referred to as the Romeo and Juliet of Sarajevo.[26]
On July 7, 2017, she released “Sve mi nudi”, and later that year, “Incidentno” — first on digital platforms on December 1, followed by its music video release on December 22.
In February 2018, Selma announced a high-profile collaboration with Jala Brat and Buba Corelli. The track, titled Rizik, was initially intended as a duet with Buba Corelli and was scheduled for release on the Imperia YouTube channel on 24 August 2018. However, due to creative disagreements, the original version was never officially released. A teaser uploaded on Imperia’s channel gained over 500,000 views within 24 hours, and shortly after, the unreleased duet version featuring Buba leaked online. On 13 September 2018, the official version of Rizik, now featuring Marko Dragić Pablo in Buba’s place, was released along with a music video.[27]
On her 39th birthday, 4 July 2019, Selma released the single Lažni gospodin.[28]
Between 2021 and 2023, she continued releasing singles such as Neka gori ova noć (a collaboration with young artist Belmin Malkić), as well as Prva žena, Maska, and Harem.
On 18 March 2024, she released the single Dama, written for her by renowned Bosnian singer-songwriter Al' Dino.[29]
On 30 August 2024, Selma released the single Embargo, completing a body of work spanning nearly a decade. With this release, she finalized her ninth studio album, which she described as a personal and emotional reflection of the past ten years of her life. The album includes songs recorded and released between 2015 and 2024, encapsulating the different artistic and emotional phases she experienced during that period.[30]
2025–present: Upcoming Album and New Collaborations
In 2025, Bajrami announced that she was working on her tenth studio album in collaboration with a new team of songwriters and producers.[31]
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Personal life
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Bajrami met her first husband, Zoran Vučković from Sarajevo, in March 2003 in the Croatian city of Makarska. They married six months later,[32] but the marriage ended in divorce in February 2004.[33] She met her second husband, Mujo Musić, in July 2011 during a performance at Modrac Lake near Lukavac.[34] They married on 22 December 2011 at Hotel Tuzla after a month-long engagement, and subsequently moved to Vienna, Austria.[35] The couple filed for divorce in October 2014.[36]
Bajrami was about two months pregnant on her wedding day, and although the expected due date was 4 July 2012,[37][38] her 32nd birthday, she gave birth via caesarean section[39] to a son, Daris, on 11 July 2012 in Vienna.[40] She later stated that she does not celebrate her son’s birthday as it falls near the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, out of respect for the victims.[41]
On 23 December 2020, custody of Daris was granted to Bajrami’s former husband. She explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic she lacked legal representation, while her ex-husband filed multiple false claims against her. As she did not respond, the court interpreted this as consent resulting in his custody being awarded.[42] Bajrami has publicly discussed the limited contact with her son, stating that her ex-husband often prevents Daris from calling her. In June 2025, she shared a comment from Daris on TikTok, in which he expressed missing her despite the restrictions.[43]
Selma lived in Tuzla before relocating to Sarajevo in 2005. From 2009 to 2012, she resided in the Bosmal City Center residential tower,[44] which drew considerable media attention at the time. She currently lives in Purkersdorf, a town near Vienna.[45]
Philanthropy
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Beyond her music, Bajrami has frequently participated in humanitarian concerts and plihantropic actions, supporting those in need, especially in the Balkan region.
Following the birth of her son in July 2012, she donated his umbilical cord stem cells to the children’s leukemia department at the hospital in Mödling, Austria, contributing to ongoing efforts in treating young patients battling this disease.
In January 2016, Bajrami donated her performance fee and, together with the owner of the Matrix club, Fuad Jukić, arranged assistance for people in need in the town of Trnovac, Bosnia—a community facing economic difficulties and largely neglected by many institutions.[46]
On February 2016, Selma received an invitation from Vienna’s Mayor, Michael Häupl, to attend a humanitarian reception organized by the Austrian government. Representing Bosnia and the surrounding countries, she was one of the few artists recognized for her humanitarian efforts. The event raised funds for a children’s hospital in Vienna, where young patients from Serbia and Bosnia receive treatment. Selma commented on the occasion: “It was an honor to attend such an important event, which is of great significance both for our countries and for the children receiving treatment in Vienna.”[47]
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Public image and controversies
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On 23 January 2009, TV Vogošća aired Selma’s music video for the song Nana at 7:10 PM, in which she plays a teacher handing out candies to children. Following the broadcast, the Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CRA) issued a written warning to the local TV station, stating that the message of the music video calls into question the welfare and dignity of minors. [48]
In May 2023, Selma visited Davor Dragičević, who had been protesting for over a month in front of the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, demanding justice for the murder of his son David and the uncovering of a cover-up. With this gesture, Bajrami publicly expressed her support for the “Pravda za Davida” movement. The visit attracted public and media attention, sparking discussions about her social and political engagement.[49][50]
In July 2023, after a concert at Kalemegdan in front of 10,000 people at the Dragi Bravo festival,[51] Selma performed at the Belgrade gay club “Musk,” which sparked debates in the public. While many praised her support of the LGBTQ community through this performance, others considered it controversial due to the conservative context of her usual audience. This was one of the rare occasions when a mainstream artist openly performed in an LGBT-specific venue in the region.[52]
On 25 November 2023, a video surfaced of Bajrami performing the wedding song “Valle Kosovare” while making the “Double-Headed Eagle” hand gesture, a symbol of Albanian identity.[53] The video went viral in Serbian media, leading to a media backlash and criticism from figures such as Jovana Jeremić, Maja Nikolić, and Dragan J. Vučićević, among others.[54]
On 22 January 2024, Bajrami was denied entry into Serbia upon landing in Belgrade from Vienna.[55][56] Serbian authorities cited “security concerns.” Shortly afterward, Serbian politician Aleksandar Vulin publicly stated that he had personally issued the ban.[57] In response, Bajrami appeared on N1, denying any animosity toward the Serbian people and emphasizing that many of her collaborators and friends are Serbian.[58] She stated that the gesture she made represented belonging to the Albanian people, not support for “Greater Albania,” as portrayed by some Serbian media outlets.[59]
Bosnian politician Elmedin Konaković commented on the incident, calling Serbia’s actions “a black hole,”[60] and criticized Vulin for issuing bans based on personal or political disagreement.[61] After Konaković’s statement defending Bajrami, the situation escalated into a political dispute, and the media outlet N1 published the headline: “Selma caused a rift in the Bosnian state leadership.”[62]
Later, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated during a TV Pink news segment that Selma Bajrami and Severina were “haters of the Serbian people.”[63] However, in a subsequent appearance, he announced that both would be allowed to enter Serbia again.[64] Both artists later stated they would not return while Vučić remained in power.[65]
In December 2024, Bajrami expressed public support for Serbian students who were protesting university conditions and demanding accountability after a tragic incident in Novi Sad, where the collapse of a roof structure killed 16 people.[66] Following her support for the Serbian anti-corruption protests, the Serbian tabloid Informer portrayed Bajrami as a supporter of the “Greater Albania” idea, claiming that her backing of the protests was actually a show of support for the Serbian opposition rather than for the students.[67] Bajrami responded on her X (formerly known as Twitter) profile, accusing Informer of poisoning the public and inciting ethnic hatred.[68]
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Discography
Studio albums
- Kad suza ne bude... (1998)
- Ljubav si ubio gade (1999)
- Revolucija (2001)
- Žena sa Balkana (2002)
- Kakvo tijelo Selma ima (2004)
- Ostrvo tuge (2007)
- Zakon sudbine (2010)
- Selma (2014)
- Embargo (2024)
Non-album singles
- 1997: “Pokaži put do neba” (guest appearance on Zijad Redžić’s song)
- 1998: “Zar tebi da vjerujem” (guest appearance on Ramiz Redžepović’s song)
- 1999: “Zabranjena ljubav” (guest appearance on Naser Bajrami’s song)
- 1999: "Ne vjeruj muškarcima" (as a member of IF)
- 2000: "Ne mogu bez tebe" (as a member of IF)
- 2000: "Ako se desi" (as a member of IF)
- 2003: "Zaljubljena"
- 2005: "To vodu ne pije" (guest appearance on Amir Kazić Leo’s song)
- 2006: "Gdje će ti duša" (guest appearance on Enes Begović’s song)
Compilations
- Najveći hitovi (2007)
- The Best of Selma Bajrami (2011)
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Videography
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Filmography
Awards and nominations
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References
External links
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