Tooji
 | This articlecontains content that is written likean advertisement.(January 2017) |
Tooji | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Touraj Keshtkar[1] |
| Also known as | Tooji |
| Born | 26 May 1987 Shiraz,Iran |
| Origin | Norway |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Singer, model, television host, social worker |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Japanese stage name | |
| Kanji | Đông chí |
| Romanization | tōji |
| Literal meaning | winter solstice |
Touraj Keshtkar[1](Persian:تورج کشتکار;born 26 May 1987), known professionally asTooji,is an Iranian-born Norwegian singer, painter, model and television host. He representedNorwayin theEurovision Song Contest 2012inBaku,Azerbaijan and finished 26th (last) in the final.[2]
Career
[edit]Tooji Keshtkar was born inShiraz,Iran, and moved to Norway when he was one year old.[3]His mother is author and political commentatorLily Bandehy.[4]At the age of 16, he started modelling. Afterwards, he started working onMTV Norwaywhere he presented "Super Saturday" and "Tooji's Top 10".[5] He was also educated as a social worker and has worked in asylum reception centres.[6]
He wonMelodi Grand Prix 2012and was given the opportunity to represent Norway in theEurovision Song Contest 2012inBaku,Azerbaijanwith his entry "Stay."[7]
Since 2012, Tooji presents, withMargrethe Røed,theMelodi Grand Prix Juniorin Norway. In 2013, he released a single entitled "Rebels". Tooji himself describes ‘Rebels’ as "dramatic pop-dance, with new organic elements blended in with hard electronica".[8]
He moved to Stockholm prior to the release of the song "Packin' Guns".[9]His songs often express a political and social message. Tooji's single "Cocktail" deals with the gender roles in today's society.[10]The music video starts with a quotation fromGloria Steinem:"We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters". After coming out, he released his The Father project. Tooji's single and EPFatheremanating from the project is about sexual relationships in the church and the hypocrisy in the public positions of the church. The music video for his following single "Say Yeah" tackles homophobic hate crimes.[11]
The Father Project and single
[edit]His EP and single "Father" was part of his coming out process by tackling the subject of sex and the church. The music video, filmed inside an Oslo church, received criticism.Ole Christian Kvarme,the Bishop of Oslo of the LutheranChurch of Norway,condemned the video as "totally unacceptable" and "a gross misuse of the church", accusing the video's producers of misinforming the church's administration prior to filming about the video's actual contents.[12]
Tooji said he lost his job as a host toMelodi Grand Prix Junior,a version of Eurovision for younger performers as a result of the "Father" video and the Father Project.[12]Tooji called this project as "the most important thing I've done in my life."[13]
Personal life
[edit]Tooji is a supporter of Green Wave, Iran's democratic reform movement. Tooji wore a Free Iran green bracelet[14]during his performance in theEurovision Song Contest 2012held inBaku,Azerbaijan.
In June 2015, Toojicame outas gay to the Norwegian websiteGaysir,stating that he hoped he could make it easier for young gay people by being open about his own sexuality. He was praised for his decision by the NorwegianNational Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender People.[15]
Discography
[edit]Extended plays
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Stay |
|
| Father |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOR | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Swan Song" | 2008 | — | Non-album singles | ||||||||||||||||
| "Stay" | 2012 | 2 | Stay | ||||||||||||||||
| "If It Wasn't For You" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Rebels" | 2013 | — | Non-album singles | ||||||||||||||||
| "Packin' Guns" | 2014 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "Cocktail" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Money" | 2015 | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "L.Y.S" | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Father" | — | Father | |||||||||||||||||
| "Say Yeah" | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released. | |||||||||||||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ab"Touraj Keshtkar – Skatten 2010 – Skattelister.no – VG Nett".Skattelister.no. Archived fromthe originalon May 12, 2014.Retrieved2012-08-09.
- ^"Tooji vant MGP: – Jeg vant! – VG Nett om Melodi Grand Prix".Vg.no. 11 February 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-06-30.Retrieved2012-08-09.
- ^"Tooji – Artist og menneskevenn".Ambisjoner.no. Archived fromthe originalon September 17, 2011.Retrieved2012-08-09.
- ^"Lily Bandehy om sønnen Tooji: Jeg takker Gud for at han er homofil".Aftenposten.16 June 2015.
- ^"TV-kjendiser raser etter at sjef lurte muslimsk ansatt – VG Nett om Tro og livssyn".Vg.no. 2008-01-24.Archivedfrom the original on 2008-03-31.Retrieved2012-08-09.
- ^AV: arve henriksen."Tooji knuste forhåndsfavorittene – Aftenposten".Aftenposten.no.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-03-04.Retrieved2012-08-09.
- ^"– Han er fryktløs og skamløs"(in Norwegian Bokmål). siste.no. 2012-02-13. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-08-04.Retrieved2012-08-09.
- ^"Scandipop.co.uk – Tooji: 'Rebels'".Scandipop.co.uk.30 September 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2014.Retrieved23 November2014.
- ^"Nykomlingen Tooji:" Jag blev olycklig av Eurovision "".WiMP Musik.24 March 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 27 March 2014.Retrieved23 November2014.
- ^NRK (23 September 2014)."Guttete og jentete".NRK.Archivedfrom the original on 29 November 2014.Retrieved23 November2014.
- ^"Wiwibloggs: Tooji tackles homophobic hate crimes in brutal" Say Yeah "video".24 October 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-02-26.Retrieved2020-04-05.
- ^ab"TheLocal.no: Tooji coming out video 'gross misuse of church'".Archivedfrom the original on 2020-01-23.Retrieved2020-04-05.
- ^"Wiwibloggs: Norway: Tooji comes out, releases new song" The Father Project "".8 June 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-10-25.Retrieved2020-04-05.
- ^"Azerbaijan and Iran locked in a spat over rumours of a gay parade".Pinknews.co.uk. June 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-08-29.Retrieved2015-06-12.
- ^Marthinussen, Linn-Christin (8 June 2015)."Tooji står fram som homofil: – Har fått nok av at unge jenter og gutter føler skam".Dagbladet(in Norwegian). Archived fromthe originalon 9 June 2015.Retrieved10 June2015.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1987 births
- Norwegian television presenters
- Living people
- Norwegian social workers
- English-language singers from Norway
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 2012
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants for Norway
- People from Shiraz
- Naturalised citizens of Norway
- Iranian emigrants to Norway
- Gay singers
- Iranian LGBT singers
- Iranian gay musicians
- Norwegian LGBT singers
- Norwegian gay musicians
- 21st-century Norwegian male singers
- 20th-century Norwegian LGBT people
- 21st-century Norwegian LGBTQ people
- 21st-century Norwegian artists
- LGBT Eurovision Song Contest entrants