Alma Čardžić is a Bosnian singer, best known internationally for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contests in 1994 and 1997.
Biography
Born to a Bosniak family in Maglaj she demonstrated a flair for music even as a child. When she was 15 years old, she was judged the strongest amateur at the Studentsko ljeto festival. In 1992 and 1993, she competed in the Bosanskohercegovačko takmičenje za pjesmu Evrovizije where she was placed second with the song Svi na ulice. In 1994, Alma was selected to work with Dejan Lazarević as the Bosnian entry in the "Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin". In 1996, she released her first solo album called Plavo oko. In 1997 she entered the "Eurovision" song competition for Bosnia and Herzegovina with Milić Vukašinović with their song "Goodbye". In 1998 Alma released her second solo album titled Duša. In 2001, she released her third album entitled Malo po malo. At the second Bosnian Music Awards held on 22 January 2004, Alma won two prestigious awards : "Singer of the Decade" and "Single of the Year".
Čardžić appeared in four Eurovision pre-selections, once for Yugoslavia and three times for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her two unsuccessful attempts in 1992 and 1993 came in open competition against other singers and groups, but in 1994 and 1997 she performed all the competing songs: Yugoslavia
1992: "Ljubav ce pobijediti" – 10th
Bosnia and Herzegovina
1993: "Svi na ulice" –
1994: "Ostani kraj mene" – 1st
1997: "Goodbye " – 1st
In 1994, the ballad "Ostani kraj mene" went forward to the 39th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 30 May in Dublin. The performance is remembered primarily for the tumultuous and sustained cheering and applause given by the audience when the pair walked on stage, in acknowledgement of the prevailing situation in Bosnia, which had the unintended effect of causing Dejan to stumble on the opening lines of the song as he was unable to hear the music properly. In a field of 25, "Ostani kraj mene" finished in 15th place. Čardžić returned to Dublin for the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest on 3 May, where the uptempo "Goodbye" could only manage to place 18th of 25 entries.
Later career
Čardžić has released four CDs and remains a popular singer in her homeland.
