Slađana Milošević
Aleksandra "Slađana" Milošević Hagadone (; born 3 October 1955 in Belgrade, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia), better known as Slađana Milošević, , is a Serbian singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, and writer. During the early 1980s, she was one of the leading new wave vocalists in SFR Yugoslavia. Career. Early career. Slađana Milošević was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Her talent for music became very apparent at the early age, so she started education in classical music at the age of five, playing piano. Few years later, her interest turned to studying violin. At the age of twelve she became a singer  and a bass-guitarist in a rock and roll school band, though she had not given up violin playing. She recorded a first single at the age of fifteen, playing violin and singing Indian influenced music with a group "Ganesha". 1971—1977: Music groups. From then on, her interests had shifted towards various artistic expressions such as acting, playing music and dancing in the fringe theatres and experimental movies. She acted in Belgrade's Ex Art Theatre, Atelje 212 Theatre and in Academic Kino Club Krsmanović. As a violinist, a member of Radio Television Belgrade Orchestra, her career continued doing studio  work. Nevertheless, playing in a big orchestra appeared to be an obstacle for a further creative development, so she decided to proceed as a soloist. As a singer, she had won her first prize at "Maglaj Youth Festival" in 1974. In 1976, she toured the Soviet Union as a soloist in Sasha Subota Orchestra, where she had recorded a "Compilation of World Hits" LP and a single "Mikado" for Soviet label Melodiya. Besides extensive touring with hundreds of concerts performed throughout former Soviet Union, she took part in numerous TV shows. One of the highlights was her interpretation of Marina  Tsvetaeva's poem "I Like When You Are Yearning for Me", sung in Russian on Moscow TV, in a special birthday greeting for General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Leonid Brezhnev. 1977—1987: Successful solo artist. Being in constant discordance with restrictive regime and the media, despite all the efforts, she could not release a solo record in her homeland Yugoslavia for many years. Thus, she invests her funds and finally manages to produce and release the first single in 1977. Unexpectedly, it had achieved an immediate success hitting No. 1 on the charts. Milošević's provocative  first song "Au, Au" caused controversial reactions. However, her creative potential, persistence and consistence of ideas had won over. She stimulated and influenced younger musicians and other less courageous, to follow her path. From then on, every song she had released hit the top of the charts: “Au, Au” (1977), “Simpatija” (1978), "Sexy dama" (1978), then "Amsterdam", and "Očigledno nije mi svejedno", off of an "Gorim od želje da ubijem noć" LP (1979). Milošević’s fame spread throughout the entire region and the surrounding countries. At midnight, Hungarian audience celebrated with Alexandra an arrival of the New Year 1979, through  her one-hour performance on National TV, Budapest. In 1982, as a Special guest, she embarked with her band on a national Yugoslav tour with English rockabilly legends Matchbox. In 1983, she started a band "Neutral Design" in Munich, Germany and released a self-titled album. Musicians who took part in this project collaborated with stars and bands known worldwide such as: Santana, Nina Hagen Band, etc. Songs off of this LP were broadcast and sold in West Germany, Sweden, Yugoslavia and other European countries. A single "Das Licht von Kairo / Miki, Miki" released in Yugoslavia, became a mega hit . At Opatija Festival 1984 Milošević won a "Special Award for Interpretation" for the composition "Samsara". Another great success followed, with maxi-single "Princeza", a duet with Dado Topić, which premiered at the Jugovizija 1984. In the summer of that year, Alexandra filmed a 24 minutes animated show "The Girl in a World of Chips", for Bosnian TV, Sarajevo. The show was awarded a Plaquette at the international Montreux TV Festival. It also took "The Best Yugoslav TV Show of the Year" award on national "Struga TV Competition". Milošević had continued cooperation with her colleagues abroad and moved to London to  work with the likes of Alan Darby, Russell Bell and Peter Godwin (David Bowie's songwriter). She also did music for commercials for BBC1 Advertising Department. As a composer and arranger she contributed in the making of Alan Darby's LP, released in Great Britain in 1985, on CBS Records. She took part in the "U.S.E. Project" (United States of Europe, song performed by Alan Darby, author Midge Ure of Ultravox), recorded in Stevie Wonder’s studios in Paris where she took a role of a vocal producer assistant. In 1985, composition "Princess" was awarded a "Grand Prize" at Mesam  Festival, Belgrade, winning "Song of the Year" title. She supported organization of Yugoslav Live Aid (International movement for hunger relief in Africa, originated by Bob Geldof) and took part in a song dedicated to the cause, titled "Za milion godina" (1986). Next success, composition "Fantastično putovanje", was performed on Mesam Festival 1986. Soon after, Italian National Television with producer Gian Luigi Morgia, filmed her 20 minutes show for RAI2 TV channel. 1988—1990: Yugoslav icon of 1980s. In 1988, Milošević did a successful remake of a song "Dolazi zima" at the author's (Dušan Mihajlović) request. Album "Aleksandra Slađana Milošević & Darko  Kraljić" with mellow jazz ballads, (an exception to her rock style), was recorded in 1987. That same year, a song off of the album "Bez nade" won "Grand Prize" at Mesam Festival. During her career, she performed title songs for several movies: "Crazy Years", "National Class" and for few documentary movies. Frequently she had been a guest vocalist and a guitarist on other musician's albums such as: Dado Topić, Leb i Sol, Goran Milošević (Slađana's brother, singer of Generacija 5), Nityananda, YU grupa and others. She took part in numerous humanitarian projects. She was the originator and the  executive producer of the Charity Festival "United Yu-Rock Forces", organized for the benefit of paraplegics in Belgrade in 1988. Belgrade Paraplegic Organization nominated her an "Honorable Member" for the support she had given to the cause. Thus far, doing concerts she had moved through hundreds of cities in the Soviet Union, from the polar region of Murmansk to the south of Crimea. From Niagara Falls through Chicago, Cleveland, Mississippi, New York City to Los Angeles and many other cities in the USA, West Germany, Hungary, Greece, China, Canada and the entire former Yugoslavia. In 1988, she joined the group  of young classical composers from Belgrade Conservatorium recording and performing new classical artistic music. In 1989, composition "Toccata" by Igor Gostusky with Milošević’s vocal interpretation, had won two first prizes at the Experimental Classical Music Contest in Opatija and Munich. That same year, Slađana Milošević was invited to take part in the Invitational Contest of International Friendly Cities Singers Meeting in Beijing, China. She had won a "Special Honorary Award" for an overall two-part competition that included interpretation of a traditional Chinese song and her original music. In a free form competition she had won a "Silver Cup  Award". Since she was so well received by Chinese audience, for whom this was one of the first encounters with western music, she was invited to perform in various concert-venues and television shows. The success of the first tour in China resulted in yet another invitation in 1989, when she performed a number of concerts and TV shows including a concert at the famous Pierre Cardin’s Maxim's. Chinese "Hundred Flowers Records" signed and compiled Milošević’s hit songs for their market in 1989. Upon returning to Europe she co hosted a TV periodical titled "Cultural Bridge Beijing -Belgrade", produced by TV Belgrade. Further on, she continued to contribute in maintaining and developing cultural relations between China and Yugoslavia. In 1989, she joined Baby Sister, headlining band on Sunset strip rock club scene in Los Angeles, California. A contract with a legendary American manager Richard Papasian and his management company Artists at Work was soon signed. After completing short tours in Yugoslavia and Switzerland she worked on a new demo-material in London. 1990—1999. In 1990, she continued working on her album with American recording and production team in Los Angeles that included major American celebrities, such as  Guns N' Roses songwriter West Arkeen, Lary Wilkens, Jeff Buckley, Derek Davies, John Buxter with whom she did music for a Canadian CD-ROM production company. In the meanwhile she worked on improving her guitar skills, studying with Hollywood's MIT reputable instructors: Scott Henderson, Bruce Bouillet, Scott Van Zen, James Hagadone and others. During that time she appeared on American TV shows and live scene. Besides furthering her musical career, she enrolled in a Business school and specialized in the investment field, becoming a stockbroker. In this position she worked in film industry (Renegade Film Productions), digital communications (Digital  Communications Inc.), interactive multimedia industry and projects in developing new computer technologies. After connecting with Tania Delic's International Trust Peace Fund, which enabled continuation of her musical endeavors, she visited Yugoslavia in 1995. She recorded five new songs among which "Times are Changing" a collaboration with American author Derek Davis. She scripted and directed an animated video clip for "Times are Changing" in 1995. The following 1996, she and her brother Goran Milošević, recorded a duet "One must forgive" (also released on Goran's album). Milošević continued appearing in numerous TV shows and live performances in Yugoslavia and Europe . In 1997, she started working on a material for the new album. During that period she visited China twice, where in Beijing she had directed a video clip for a title song "Harmony" for the album soon to be released. A video was a symbolic tale of man's discordance with nature, which poses a treat to his existence. In spring of 1998, CD "Harmony – Compilation of Ballads vol. 1" was promoted in the artificial garden of Eden, Aleksandra designed for that purpose. When Serbia and Belgrade were bombed by NATO in spring of 1999, Aleksandra and her brother recorded  and shot a video clip for "No More Tears", a song they wrote together. It was an emotional call against violence and the sadness it consequently causes. Finnish singer Janne Hurme recorded this song for the Finnish market, where it reached a considerable success. The first video clip off of the album "Animal Tested" soon to be released, Alexandra scripted and directed in December 1999. It was a controversial "Legalize Freedom", which was, due to the rules of the repressive political regime, immediately banned on almost all TV stations in Yugoslavia. 2000—2003. On 13 January 2000, Serbian (Julian) New Year  celebration day, Milošević delivered the award to the "Most Resisting Media Reporter", political prisoner at the time. The celebration – protest was organized by "Otpor!" (Yugoslav Youth Resistance) at the main Belgrade's town square. During the protests against the authoritarian political regime of, at the time Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević, Slađana Milošević took an active role. Later that year, over 100 000 people were present on Belgrade's Republic Square during the Democratic Opposition gatherings organized by NGO G17+, when Slađana took stage to play a set with her band. She joined the efforts of the people of Serbia  in their strife for freedom and request for the new government. She also took part in "Vreme je" (The Time has Come) project conceptualized by ANEM (Association of Independent Media) and G17+. She sang and played the song in support of the awakening of the democratic awareness in Serbia and the first free elections. She had played concerts on public squares during the entire democratic campaign and spoke on the media in favor of it. After speaking at a Press Conference in Belgrade's Media Center in July 2000 with Mlađan Dinkić, one of G17+ leaders (former Treasurer  in Đinđić’s Government, current Minister of Economy of Serbia), she was arrested in her residence. There was neither explanation nor there were any charges brought up. After questioning, she was let free. Voice of America soon reported about this harassment, which has continued for Milošević for some time. In the year 2000, Slađana's album "Animal Tested" got released in Great Britain for Wastelands Unlimited Record Label. She commented: “This album of mine is created to challenge stupidity and backwardness, and is a voice against all-out manipulation.” The second clip off of the album, “My Cross is Bleeding ”, was also self written and directed in summer 2000. Due to her efforts in bringing new solutions to the disorganized music industry, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia appointed Aleksandra Slađana Milošević a “Coordinator of the Reform of Music Industry in Yugoslavia” in March 2001. RTS Radio "Program 202" produced 8 episodes of a one-hour weekly radio show she wrote and hosted, titled "Animal Tested". Her first literary achievement (with co-author Dr. Jasmina Malešević) "Adam Don't Get Mad", was published and released by "Draslar Partner", on 4 September 2001. As a director and a screenwriter , Aleksandra promoted the book, putting up an outdoor theatrical performance in Belgrade's Knez Mihailova Street. One of the critic's highlights of the book "Adam Don't Get Mad" is the commentary made by one of the world most famous living authors Paulo Coelho: "When I first met Alexandra in ‘97, I was struck by the boldness and originality of her self-expression. Then I spoke to her and quickly noticed her acumen and sharp wit. Over the years we've kept in touch. I've learned that Alexandra is not only a versatile and eclectic person, but a  highly resourceful individual as well. She has something that I've always admired in people: a heart to dream and courage to make her dreams come true. I hope that this book will just be the beginning of a long and rewarding writing career”. In the year 2002, her record label PGP RTS, released the greatest hits compilation "Metamorfoza", a triple CD box set. The compilation was to celebrate her 25 Years Jubilee. Slađana also shot "Metamorphosis", one-hour TV show, for the national TV RTS.