Joksimovic Sweeps Balkan Music Awards

The event was organised by the Bulgarian-owned Balkanika Music Television, a cable and satellite television which airs music from all Balkan countries.

The awards ceremony was actually a concert open to the public and was held at the Alexander Batenberg Square in downtown Sofia. The event attracted thousands of spectators despite the pouring rain, Novinite reports.

Serbian performer Zeljko Joksimovic received the 2009 Best Song of the Balkans award for his song Ljubavi. He also won the prize for Balkan Singer of the Year.

The songs which competed for the support of viewers in 11 Balkan countries included Play Back by Flori (Albania); Med by Dino Merlin and Emina Yahovich (Bosnia and Herzegovina); You Know Nothing by Emanuela and Krum (Bulgaria); Lazu Oci Moje by Colonia (Croatia); Spase to Hrono by Sakis Ruvas (Greece); Kraj by Karolina ft. Sky Wikluh (FYROM); Suzama Kupices Me by Nenad Cheranich (Montenegro); That’s My Name by Akcent (Romania); S Tabo by Tanya Jagar (Slovenia); Ljubavi by Jelko Yoksimovich (Serbia); Fast Life by Hadise (Turkey).

The songs of Albania, Romania, and Bulgaria came in second, third, and fourth, respectively.

The Best Balkan Music Videoclip Award went to Greek star Anna Vissi for her song Stin Pira, who also carried home the award for “Overall Contribution to the Development of Balkan Music".

Romania’s Akcent grabbed the prize for Best Balkan Group/Duet of the year. Hadise from Turkey won the award in the category for Best Female Actress of the Balkans.