Martin Vučić

Early Life and Musical Family

Martin Vučić is a Macedonian pop singer and musician born on August 7, 1982, in Skopje. He grew up in a musical family. His father is the late Dragan Vučić, a famous Macedonian singer, composer, and TV host. Dragan even composed Martin’s Eurovision song “Make My Day”. Martin’s maternal grandfather, Pece Atanasovski, was a renowned folk musician, which further enriched Martin’s musical roots. Surrounded by music, Martin started playing drums at the age of 3 and performed in children’s music festivals by age 7. This early start laid a strong foundation for his future career.

Rise to Fame in the Early 2000s

Martin Vučić’s professional career took off in the early 2000s. In 2002, he won second place at the Ohrid Fest with the song “Rano Mi E Da Se Vrzam” – a song that became Macedonia’s most popular song of 2002. That same year, he received the “Discovery of the Year 2002” award in Macedonia, earning him a record deal. He also impressed regional audiences by winning a journalists’ award at the Budva festival in Serbia and Montenegro in 2002. Martin continued to win accolades: he earned the Interpretation Award at MakFest for his song “Harem”. In 2004, he was honored as “Singer of the Year” in Macedonia and won “Duet of the Year”. His growing fame extended beyond his home country. Martin was even nicknamed the “Macedonian Tarkan” in Turkey for his dynamic pop style. By this time, he had signed with the Balkan music label City Records, indicating his rising star status across the region.

Eurovision 2005: “Make My Day”

Martin Vučić gained international recognition at Eurovision 2005. He represented North Macedonia (then F.Y.R. Macedonia) at the Eurovision Song Contest in Kyiv. His song “Make My Day,” an up-tempo pop track, was composed by his father Dragan Vučić. Martin’s performance, which featured him singing and even drumming on stage, earned a spot in the grand final. He finished 17th in the final with 52 points. Eurovision fans also remember his bold stage outfit – it won him the Barbara Dex Award for the most striking costume of 2005. Despite not winning Eurovision, Martin’s energetic performance of “Make My Day” made him a national hero to Macedonian audiences and introduced him to viewers across Europe. (Notably, the Macedonian-language version of the song is titled “Ti si son.”)

After Eurovision, Martin remained connected to the contest. In 2006, he was invited to be the Macedonian spokesperson, announcing the nation’s voting results on-air. 

Albums, Singles, and Collaborations

By 2005, Martin Vučić had released two pop albums: Rano Mi E Da Se Vrzam (meaning “It’s Too Early to Get Tied Down”) and Muza (“Muse”). Rano Mi E Da Se Vrzam featured the hit title track that first catapulted him to fame. His second album Muza, released in the mid-2000s, showcased Martin’s evolving artistry. The album’s title song “Muza” was written by the legendary Toše Proeski, a close friend of Martin. Muza also included a notable duet with Croatian pop star Danijela Martinović, highlighting Martin’s ability to collaborate across the former Yugoslav region. He later promoted a Serbian-language edition of the album titled “Put Do Istine” (“Road to the Truth”) to reach a broader audience.

Martin released several popular singles during this time. His Eurovision song “Make My Day” (2005) became an iconic single. In 2006, he teamed up with Croatian rocker Goran Karan for the power-ballad “Tiše Kucaj Srce Moje”, which won Martin the runner-up spot at the Sunčane Skale festival in Montenegro. He also released the upbeat track “Biber i Čokolada” in 2007. These songs solidified Martin’s post-Eurovision presence in the pop scene.

Later Career and Musical Roles

In 2008, Martin shifted his focus from mainstream pop to his deep musical roots. On August 2, 2008, he released an instrumental album titled Makedonski Zvuci (“Macedonian Sounds”), featuring traditional dance melodies (ora) composed by his grandfather Pece Atanasovski. This project honored his family’s folk heritage and showcased Martin’s skills as a percussionist. Around the same time, Martin began to step back from pop stardom and invested in academia and classical music. He earned a Master of Music Arts degree and became a docent (lecturer) at the Music Academy in Skopje, specializing in percussion. Martin also joined the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra as a percussionist and performed with the Big Band Orchestra of Macedonian Radio Television. These roles underscored his versatility – not only is he a pop vocalist, but he is also a classically trained drummer who can perform in orchestral and jazz settings.

Cultural sphere

In 2018, Martin Vučić took on a significant leadership role in the cultural sphere. He was appointed the General Manager (Director) of “Tanec,” North Macedonia’s national ensemble of folk dances and songs. This prestigious position aligns with Martin’s mission to preserve and promote Macedonian traditional music. Under his guidance, Tanec has collaborated internationally (for example, joint concerts with Croatia’s LADO ensemble). Even as an arts administrator, Martin occasionally returns to the stage. In 2013, he held a concert called “Pesni za Duša” (“Songs for the Soul”), performing traditional Macedonian songs dedicated to his grandfather’s legacy. Such events show that Martin never truly left the spotlight – he simply transitioned from pop star to a multifaceted musician and educator.

Martin Vučić nowadays

Martin continues to serve as the director of the Tanec national ensemble, fostering cultural heritage. He also appears on stage when the Philharmonic or other projects call for his percussion expertise. While he has not released new pop singles in recent years, he is still fondly remembered for hits like “Rano e da se vrzam” and “Make My Day”. Martin occasionally features in media – for instance, commemorating his father Dragan’s contributions to music or appearing at Eurovision fan events – but he keeps a relatively low profile in everyday life. His career status could be summed up as that of a respected musician dedicated to preserving Macedonian music and mentoring young talent, rather than chasing pop charts.