Deen

Fuad Backović, known by his stage name Deen, is a pop singer from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was born in 1982 in Sarajevo and grew up loving music. 

Deen, began his music career as the lead singer of the Bosnian boy band Seven Up. He joined Seven Up in 1997, when he was still a teenager. With Deen as frontman, Seven Up quickly became popular on the local pop scene.

While Deen was a member of Seven Up, the group achieved significant success. They released two albums during this period: Otvori oči (meaning “Open Your Eyes”) in 1998 and Seven in 2000. The Otvori oči album was a big hit – it even earned the band major record contracts and several music awards in 1998. Seven Up’s music was well-received in Bosnia and Herzegovina and also in neighboring countries like Croatia and Serbia.

In 1999, Seven Up took part in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. They performed a song called “Daj, spusti se” in the country’s Eurovision pre-selection that year. Seven Up finished in third place at that competition a notable achievement for the young group. Deen remained with Seven Up until 2002, when he decided to leave the band to pursue a solo singing career. This move marked the end of his boy band years and set the stage for his later solo projects, including his eventual Eurovision attempts as a solo artist.

National Selections

Deen’s first attempt to reach Eurovision as a solo singer came in 2003. He took part in BH Eurosong 2003, the national final to choose Bosnia and Herzegovina’s entry for Eurovision. He performed the song “Taxi” and finished in second place. However, Deen did not give up. His popularity continued to grow, and the very next year the national broadcaster decided to select him internally as Bosnia’s representative for Eurovision 2004.

In early 2004, a special song selection show was held to find the best song for Deen. Five songs competed in the BH Eurosong 2004 television final. A combination of jury votes and public televotes chose the upbeat dance song “In the Disco” as the winner. This became Deen’s track for Eurovision. 

Eurovision Song Contest 2004

In May 2004, Deen represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul. He performed “In the Disco” with an energetic stage show and flashy style. The performance was a success – Deen finished 9th in the grand final out of 24 entries. The 2004 contest made Deen a household name in his country. 

After Eurovision 2004, Deen continued to release music. He put out a solo album in 2005 and remained a prominent pop artist in Bosnia. His success at Eurovision opened many doors. He performed at concerts and festivals in the region, and his songs got radio airplay. However, a few years later, Deen decided to take his career in a new direction.

Television and a Break from Music

In 2008, Deen joined a reality TV show called Farma (“The Farm”). This show featured celebrities living on a farm and competing in tasks, and it made Deen a reality TV star. The same year, he surprised fans by announcing a hiatus from music. He decided to pursue his other passion – fashion. Deen moved to Milan, Italy to study fashion and later graduated with a degree in Fashion Business. This move allowed him to live more anonymously for a while and develop a new career. He largely stepped away from singing during this period. Even so, Deen stayed in the public eye through occasional interviews and media appearances. His fame from music and TV meant people were still interested in his life. In Milan, he embraced the fashion world and gained experience as a designer.

After some years in Italy, Deen relocated to Los Angeles in the United States. He enjoyed a cosmopolitan lifestyle and kept a lower profile in the music industry. Many wondered if he would ever return to performing. For a time, it seemed he had left his pop star days behind. However, the Eurovision stage was calling him back for one more adventure.

Eurovision Song Contest 2016 – The Return

Deen made a comeback to music in late 2015 when it was announced that Bosnia and Herzegovina would return to Eurovision after a few years’ absence. He was invited to represent his country once again in Eurovision 2016, this time as a returning artist 12 years after his first appearance. Deen accepted the offer and joined a team of artists for the 2016 contest. He teamed up with singer Dalal Midhat-Talakić, cellist Ana Rucner, and rapper Jala Brat to form a quartet representing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their song was “Ljubav je”, which means “Love is” in Bosnian. It was a dramatic pop ballad with a mix of classical and rap elements.

In May 2016, Deen and his colleagues performed “Ljubav je” on the Eurovision stage in Stockholm during the first semi-final. The performance was passionate and emotional, featuring a scenic stage setup and elaborate costumes. However, the outcome was disappointing for the team. Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to qualify. After the contest, Deen announced that he would step back from music once again.

Personal Life

Deen’s personal life has often been in the spotlight along with his music. During his career, he became known not just for his singing but also for his style and public personality. He was open about enjoying fashion and luxury, which made him a frequent subject in entertainment media. For years, there was also curiosity about his private life and identity. For a long time, Deen avoided discussing his sexual orientation in public. In a 2010 interview, he denied rumors that he was gay, stating that he was heterosexual at the time. He preferred to keep that aspect of his life private while he was living in the conservative environment of Bosnia and focusing on his career.

Later, Deen became more open about who he is. He has since embraced his identity and shared some of his personal life with the public. As of 2024, he is in a relationship with an American boyfriend and appears happy in his private life. This development was welcomed by many fans who support him. It shows how Deen has grown and become comfortable sharing more about himself over time.