Klemen Slakonja

Klemen Slakonja (born 3 June 1985) is a Slovenian comedian, actor, television anchor, impersonator and musician. He is employed at the Ljubljana Slovene National Theatre Drama and acting in it is his primary occupation.

Klemen Slakonja
Slakonja in 2016
Born (1985-06-03) 3 June 1985
Brežice, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia
(now Slovenia)
NationalitySlovene
EducationAcademy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television
OccupationActor, comedian, television host, impersonator, musician
Years active2007–present
Spouse(s)Mojca Fatur (2011)
Children2

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, the pope, philosopher Slavoj Žižek, 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 two more times, next time in 2012 and last time in 2016 when he presented "Putin, Putout".

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

Year Role
2007 "Radio Energy" (Radio Krško) host
"Radio Ga Ga" (Radio Slovenia 1) satire

Television

Year Title Role
2007 "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
2013 "Zadetek v petek" comedy show host
"Je bella cesta" comedy show host
2014 "Cipercoper" animation voice
"Zadžuskaj s Klemzyem" commercial
2016 "EMA 2016" eurovision entry host

Film

Year Title Role
2009 "Osebna prtljaga" Vid

Web series

Year Title Role
2010 "Dan ljubezni" YouTube series (protective brother)

List of parodies

Year Title of parody Impersonating Role Video
2007 "Hepatitis B" Anžej Dežan singer YouTube
"Urška" Jan Plestenjak singer YouTube
"S.O.L.I.S." Tomi Meglič singer YouTube
"You always dreamt about Njega" Fredi Miler singer YouTube
"Čakam te" Rok Kosmač singer YouTube
"S Katancem v JAR" Vlado Kreslin singer YouTube
"Hamburger in marmelada" Rok Ferengja singer YouTube
2008 "Da veš" Alya singer YouTube
"Oda radosti" Damjan Murko singer YouTube
"Nor sem" Dennis ex. Game over singer YouTube
2011 "Twelve" Bono singer YouTube
"You're beautiful" James Blunt singer YouTube
"Zero" Enrique Iglesias singer YouTube
"It ain't over 'til it's over" Lenny Kravitz singer YouTube
"Marío" Ricky Martin singer YouTube
"Left Outside Alone" Anastacia singer YouTube
"Viva la Corrida" Chris Martin singer YouTube
"Jodl Jodl (This time for Slovenija)" Shakira singer YouTube
"Sex Bomb" Tom Jones singer YouTube
"Bed of roses" Jon Bon Jovi singer YouTube
"Shape of a chicken" Sting singer YouTube
2012 "Mi fa schifo questa vita" Eros Ramazzotti
Tina Turner
singer YouTube
"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
singers YouTube
2013 "Slash" interview / Slash musician YouTube
"Polka Gangnam Style" Psy singer YouTube
"JJ Style" Janez Janša politician YouTube
"Ti moja rožica" Modrijani band YouTube
"Cooking with Bojan Emeršič" Jamie Oliver cooking YouTube
"Najlepše otroške pesmice" Eroika vocal trio YouTube
"Nočem biti papež" Franc Rode cardinal YouTube
"Proposing to Hannah Mancini" Hugh Hefner Playboy YouTube
"Jasna Kuljaj" Gregory House actor YouTube
"Holivud hils" Branko Đurić actor YouTube
"Penzioner" / Karl Erjavec politician YouTube
"Dejan Zavec vs Chuck Norris" Chuck Norris actor YouTube
"Aplavz" Lady Gaga singer YouTube
"The Perverted Dance (Cut the Balls)" Slavoj Žižek philosopher YouTube
"La Mia Strada È La Mia Decisione" Andrea Massi skiing YouTube
"Zdaj prihajam in zdaj grem" Magnifico musician YouTube
"Modern Pope" / Pope Francis pope YouTube
2014 "Gromska strela" Modrijani band YouTube
"Dragon, Dragone" Goran Dragić basketball YouTube
"Delam vse, kar dela Pahor" Borut Pahor politician YouTube
"Na veliko noč" Soul Greg Artist musician YouTube
"Put me zove" Halid Bešlić musician YouTube
"Sad je tu sve EU" Oliver Dragojević musician YouTube
"Zgoraj brez" Tanja Žagar musician YouTube

TheMockingbirdMan project

A project where he is impersonating and making fun of celebrities, mainly world leaders and politicians.

No. Title Impersonating Director Premiere Release date Video
1 "Putin, Putout" Vladimir Putin Miha Knific RTV Slovenia Studio 1 (EMA 2016) 27 February 2016 YouTube
2 "Golden Dump (The Trump Hump)" Donald Trump Miha Knific Siti Teater BTC Ljubljana 17 July 2016 YouTube
3 "Ruf mich Angela" Angela Merkel Miha Knific 3 July 2017 YouTube

References

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