Klemen Slakonja (born 3 June 1985) is a Slovenian actor, singer, comedian, television host, and musician. He was employed at the Ljubljana Slovene National Theatre Drama and acting between 2010 to 2018. He represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song "How Much Time Do We Have Left".
Slakonja studied at the Academy of Theatre, Radio, Film and Television. He is known in Slovenia for his comedy sketches, often made in the form of music videos, as well as for anchoring various shows such as the Slovenian national finals for the Eurovision Song Contest. He has made numerous impersonations of Slovenian musicians, Slovene philosopher Slavoj Žižek, Pope Francis, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Angela Merkel and others.
Career
He was born in a Slovenian border town Brežice. His early impersonations started around second year of high school. He started his career at local Radio Energy near his home in the town of Krško, which is the most known for having the only nuclear powerplant in Slovenia. He was the radio anchor and he was hosting many different kind of local events.
2007: Breakthrough after Radio Ga Ga show
In late summer of 2007, he hosted the home reception for Slovenian world class hammer throw champion Primož Kozmus in Brežice, to celebrate his silver medal from 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka. To honour Primož Kozmus he translated the Slovenian Christmas song "Bela snežinka" to "Sivo kladivo" (Grey Hammer) and impersonated it with voices of various Slovenian popular musicians. That's when radio host Edi Štraus noticed him and recommended him to Sašo Hribar, satirical TV and radio host.
On 5 October 2007, Sašo Hribar invited Slakonja to make his first public performance on the national level to his satirical radio show called Radio Ga Ga where they are mocking mostly of out of Slovenian politicians and which is broadcast weekly on first channel of Slovenian National Radio. He imitated Slovenian ballad singer Rok Kosmač which was the breaking point of his career and after this performance suddenly became known to a wide Slovenian audience.
Just a month later in November 2007, he made the first public television appearance at satirical television show Hri-bar hosted by Sašo Hribar which was mocking animated characters, mostly Slovenian politicians. Show was broadcast on RTV Slovenia national television. Show hosted regular and also musical guests where Slakonja performed mocking Slovenian musicians with perfect voice and disguise impersonation.
2008: Host on national TV On 17 February 2008, he became a national television host taking over popular Sunday afternoon family show called "NLP" on RTV Slovenia. He became a co-host with Tjaša Železnik who previously run this show alone for about two years.
2011: First time hosting EMA Festival On 27 February 2011, he first time hosted EMA music festival competition, a Slovenian entry for Eurovision Song Contest 2011 and the winner was Maja Keuc. To honour this festival he wrote music and presented "16 let skomin", a mix song of all sixteen EMA festival winners; he also was spokesperson for Slovenia in the ESC Grand final. So far he was hosting this festival for three more times, in 2012, 2016 and 2020. In 2016 he presented "Putin, Putout" in the EMA show.
2013: Zadetek v petek & Je bella cesta On 15 February 2013, he hosted his first own comedy show "Zadetek v petek" (Full on Friday) which was broadcast on commercial TV3 Medias. The whole thing was shot in Belgrade, however the show was canceled only few months later after only one season. Shortly after he started hosting his second own comedy show "Je bella cesta" (Damn) which lasted for two seasons from October 2013 to May 2014.
2015: Zadžuskaj hit song in commercial He wrote "Zadžuskaj" (Juice it) song was released in 2014. He shot a music video in which he plays DeciDeci Klemzy, an awkward nerd character. Its jingle was used in a two commercials for health insurance company and became summer hit of the year 2015.
2016: Putin, Putout and international fame His comedy sketch "Putin, Putout" gained international popularity. This was the first video he shot as part of his TheMockingbirdMan project. The video parodies Russian president Vladimir Putin. Shortly after airing on Slovene television, the comedy sketch was uploaded to Slakonja's personal YouTube channel where it went viral.
His second TheMockingbirdMan project video entitled "Golden Dump (The Trump Hump)" impersonating Donald Trump premiered on 17 July 2016 at Siti Teater BTC Ljubljana. Two days later it was uploaded to Slakonja's personal YouTube channel. The third project was an imitation of Angela Merkel, the former German chancellor. The title of the song is "Ruf mich Angela".
2025: Eurovision Song Contest
In 2025, he was chosen to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with the song "How Much Time Do We Have Left" in Basel, Switzerland. Performing during the first semi-final on 13 May 2025, he failed to qualify to the grand final, finishing 13th in a field of 15 countries.
Controversies
Shortly after winning EMA in 2025, Slakonja uploaded a video to his YouTube channel where he impersonates every Eurovision winner from 2000 to 2024, coming under fire after he darkened his skin for his Dave Benton impersonation. Benton defended Slakonja but Slakonja later removed the Dave Benton segment from the video and issued an apology.
Work
Radio
YearRole2007 "Radio Energy" (Radio Krško) host "Radio Ga Ga" (Radio Slovenia 1) satire
Television
YearTitle Role2007 "Hri-bar" satirical late show "Osa" short film "Vučko" short film2008 "Nekega lepega popoldne" (NLP) family show host2009 "Palčica" short film2011 "EMA 2011" Eurovision entry selection host2012 "EMA 2012" Eurovision entry selection host2013 "Zadetek v petek" comedy show host "Je bella cesta" comedy show host2014 "Cipercoper" animation voice "Zadžuskaj s Klemzyem" commercial2016 "EMA 2016" Eurovision entry selection host2019"Zadnji večer s Klemnom Slakonjo"comedy show host2020"EMA 2020"Eurovision entry selection host2024"Kdo si ti? Zvezde pod masko"comedy show host
Film
YearTitle Role2009 "Osebna prtljaga" Vid
Web series
YearTitle Role2010 "Dan ljubezni" YouTube series (protective brother)
List of parodies
YearTitle of parodyImpersonatingRoleVideo2007 "Hepatitis B" Anžej Dežan singer YouTube "Urška" Jan Plestenjak singer YouTube "S.O.L.I.S." Tomi Meglič singer YouTube "You always dreamt about Njega" Fredi Miler singer YouTube "Čakam te" Rok Kosmač singer YouTube "S Katancem v JAR" Vlado Kreslin singer YouTube "Hamburger in marmelada" Rok Ferengja singer YouTube2008 "Da veš" Alya singer YouTube "Oda radosti" Damjan Murko singer YouTube "Nor sem" Dennis ex. Game over singer YouTube2011 "Twelve" Bono singer YouTube "You're beautiful" James Blunt singer YouTube "Zero" Enrique Iglesias singer YouTube "It ain't over 'til it's over" Lenny Kravitz singer YouTube "Marío" Ricky Martin singer YouTube "Left Outside Alone" Anastacia singer YouTube "Viva la Corrida" Chris Martin singer YouTube "Jodl Jodl (This time for Slovenija)" Shakira singer YouTube "Sex Bomb" Tom Jones singer YouTube "Bed of roses" Jon Bon Jovi singer YouTube "Shape of a chicken" Sting singer YouTube2012 "Mi fa schifo questa vita" Eros Ramazzotti Tina Turner singer YouTube "Slovenia Will Win"(Eurovision Song Contest) One Man Band Aid Bono Sting James Blunt Elton John Chris Martin Vienna Boys' Choir Justin Bieber Lenny Kravitz Gospel choir Lady Gaga singers YouTube2013 "Slash" interview / Slash musician YouTube "Polka Gangnam Style" Psy singer YouTube "JJ Style" Janez Janša politician YouTube "Ti moja rožica" Modrijani band YouTube "Cooking with Bojan Emeršič" Jamie Oliver cooking YouTube "Najlepše otroške pesmice" Eroika vocal trio YouTube "Nočem biti papež" Franc Rode cardinal YouTube "Proposing to Hannah Mancini" Hugh Hefner Playboy YouTube "Jasna Kuljaj" Gregory House actor YouTube "Holivud hils" Branko Đurić actor YouTube "Penzioner" / Karl Erjavec politician YouTube "Dejan Zavec vs Chuck Norris" Chuck Norris actor YouTube "Aplavz" Lady Gaga singer YouTube "The Perverted Dance (Cut the Balls)" Slavoj Žižek philosopher YouTube "La Mia Strada È La Mia Decisione" Andrea Massi skiing YouTube "Zdaj prihajam in zdaj grem" Magnifico musician YouTube "Modern Pope" / Pope Francis pope YouTube2014 "Gromska strela" Modrijani band YouTube "Dragon, Dragone" Goran Dragić basketball YouTube "Delam vse, kar dela Pahor" Borut Pahor politician YouTube "Na veliko noč" Soul Greg Artist musician YouTube "Put me zove" Halid Bešlić musician YouTube "Sad je tu sve EU" Oliver Dragojević musician YouTube "Zgoraj brez" Tanja Žagar musician YouTube2020Slovenia’s 25 years in the Eurovision Song Contest Winners of Ema musiciansYouTube2025All Eurovision Winners (2000–2025) The Ultimate Eurovision Challenge by Klemen SlakonjaEurovision Winners musiciansYouTube
TheMockingbirdMan project A project where he is impersonating and making fun of world leaders.
No.TitleImpersonatingDirectorPremiereRelease dateVideo1"Modern Pope" Pope FrancisMiha KnificPop8 November 2013YouTube2 "Putin, Putout" Vladimir Putin Miha Knific RTV Slovenia Studio 1 (EMA 2016) 27 February 2016 YouTube3 "Golden Dump (The Trump Hump)" Donald Trump Miha Knific Siti Teater BTC Ljubljana 17 July 2016 YouTube4"Ruf mich Angela" Angela MerkelMiha Knific3 July 2017YouTube
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result 2025 Eurovision Awards Miss Congeniality Himself
References
External links Klemen Slakonja on YouTube Klemen Slakonja on Spotify