Touraj Keshtkar[1] (Persian: تورج کشتکار; born 26 May 1987), known professionally as Tooji, is a Norwegian singer, painter, model and television host. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan and finished 26th (last) in the final.[2] Beginning with his single "Cocktail", he also started using the kanji characters 冬至 (tōji) in his artistic identity.
Tooji Keshtkar was born in Shiraz, Iran, and moved to Norway when he was one year old.[3] At the age of 16, he started modelling. Afterwards, he started working on MTV Norway where he presented "Super Saturday" and "Tooji's Top 10".[4] He was also educated as a social worker and has worked in asylum reception centres.[5] He now works as a child protection consultant in the department of after-care.
On 10 March 2012, he presented the international jury votes on behalf of Norway at the finals of Melodifestivalen 2012, the Swedish preselection. On 18 May 2013 he presented the Norwegian votes for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 held in Malmö, Sweden.
Since 2012, Tooji presents, with Margrethe Røed, the Melodi Grand Prix Junior in Norway. In 2013, he released a single entitled "Rebels". Tooji himself describes ‘Rebels’ as “dramatic pop-dance, with new organic elements blended in with hard electronica“.[7]
He moved to Stockholm to advance his sound. With the release of the song "Packin' Guns".[8] He combines electronic elements with urban heavy and organic sound. Tooji uses irony to contrasts with a dark and heavy beat. With his education and background as a social worker, his songs often express a political and social message. Tooji's single "Cocktail" deals with the gender roles in today's society.[9] The music video starts with a quotation from Gloria Steinem: "We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters". After coming out, he released his The Father project. Tooji's single and EP Father emanating from the project is about sexual relationships in the church and the hypocrisy in the public positions of the church. The music video for his following single "Say Yeah" tackles homophobic hate crimes.[10]
Personal life
Tooji holds a bachelor's degree in child welfare. He has worked in asylum reception centres helping children and teenage refugees and victims of human trafficking. This work motivated him to use his songs and profile to speak out for those who suffer in silence. Tooji is a supporter of LGBT and women's rights, as well as a supporter of Green Wave, Iran's democratic reform movement. Tooji wore a Free Iran green bracelet[11] during his performance in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
His EP and single "Father" was part of his coming out process by tackling the difficult subject of sex and the church. He said "My new video "Father" is out, and so am I!".
The music video is filmed inside an Oslo church and depicts Tooji, hooded and caped like a monk, interrupting an attractive priest in the middle of his sermon and kisses him passionately, after which the video cuts to the couple having gay sex in front of the altar, along with generally approving reactions of the congregation met with a lot of criticism. Ole Christian Kvarme, the Bishop of Oslo of the Lutheran Church of Norway, condemned the video as "totally unacceptable" and "a gross misuse of the church", accusing the video's producers of misinforming the church's administration prior to filming about the video's actual contents.[13]
Tooji said he lost his job as a host to Melodi Grand Prix Junior, a version of Eurovision for younger performers as a result of the "Father" video and the Father Project. "The reason I was fired was that the music video was not consistent with being a role model for children," he said.[13]The Father Project is an attack on organized religion's hypocrisy and willingness to persecute others for being different. Tooji called this project as "the most important thing I've done in my life".[14]
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This article contains content that is written like an advertisement Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view January 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Touraj Keshtkar 1 Persian تورج کشتکار born 26 May 1987 known professionally as Tooji is a Norwegian singer painter model and television host He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku Azerbaijan and finished 26th last in the final 2 Beginning with his single Cocktail he also started using the kanji characters 冬至 tōji in his artistic identity ToojiBirth nameTouraj Keshtkar 1 Also known asToojiBorn 1987 05 26 26 May 1987 age 35 Shiraz IranOriginNorwayGenresPopDanceHouseElectronicOccupation s Singer model television host social workerYears active2008 presentJapanese stage nameKanji冬至RomanizationtōjiLiteral meaningwinter solstice Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 2 1 The Father Project and single 3 Discography 3 1 Extended plays 3 2 Singles 4 References 5 External linksCareer EditTooji Keshtkar was born in Shiraz Iran and moved to Norway when he was one year old 3 At the age of 16 he started modelling Afterwards he started working on MTV Norway where he presented Super Saturday and Tooji s Top 10 4 He was also educated as a social worker and has worked in asylum reception centres 5 He now works as a child protection consultant in the department of after care He won Melodi Grand Prix 2012 and was given the opportunity to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku Azerbaijan with his entry Stay 6 which qualified from the second semi final and went on to place 26th last in the final scoring 7 points On 10 March 2012 he presented the international jury votes on behalf of Norway at the finals of Melodifestivalen 2012 the Swedish preselection On 18 May 2013 he presented the Norwegian votes for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 held in Malmo Sweden Since 2012 Tooji presents with Margrethe Roed the Melodi Grand Prix Junior in Norway In 2013 he released a single entitled Rebels Tooji himself describes Rebels as dramatic pop dance with new organic elements blended in with hard electronica 7 He moved to Stockholm to advance his sound With the release of the song Packin Guns 8 He combines electronic elements with urban heavy and organic sound Tooji uses irony to contrasts with a dark and heavy beat With his education and background as a social worker his songs often express a political and social message Tooji s single Cocktail deals with the gender roles in today s society 9 The music video starts with a quotation from Gloria Steinem We ve begun to raise daughters more like sons but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters After coming out he released his The Father project Tooji s single and EP Father emanating from the project is about sexual relationships in the church and the hypocrisy in the public positions of the church The music video for his following single Say Yeah tackles homophobic hate crimes 10 Personal life EditTooji holds a bachelor s degree in child welfare He has worked in asylum reception centres helping children and teenage refugees and victims of human trafficking This work motivated him to use his songs and profile to speak out for those who suffer in silence Tooji is a supporter of LGBT and women s rights as well as a supporter of Green Wave Iran s democratic reform movement Tooji wore a Free Iran green bracelet 11 during his performance in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 held in Baku Azerbaijan In June 2015 Tooji came out as gay to the Norwegian website Gaysir stating that he hoped he could make it easier for young gay people by being open about his own sexuality He was praised for his decision by the Norwegian National Association for Lesbians Gays Bisexuals and Transgender People 12 The Father Project and single Edit His EP and single Father was part of his coming out process by tackling the difficult subject of sex and the church He said My new video Father is out and so am I The music video is filmed inside an Oslo church and depicts Tooji hooded and caped like a monk interrupting an attractive priest in the middle of his sermon and kisses him passionately after which the video cuts to the couple having gay sex in front of the altar along with generally approving reactions of the congregation met with a lot of criticism Ole Christian Kvarme the Bishop of Oslo of the Lutheran Church of Norway condemned the video as totally unacceptable and a gross misuse of the church accusing the video s producers of misinforming the church s administration prior to filming about the video s actual contents 13 Tooji said he lost his job as a host to Melodi Grand Prix Junior a version of Eurovision for younger performers as a result of the Father video and the Father Project The reason I was fired was that the music video was not consistent with being a role model for children he said 13 The Father Project is an attack on organized religion s hypocrisy and willingness to persecute others for being different Tooji called this project as the most important thing I ve done in my life 14 Discography EditExtended plays Edit Title DetailsStay Released 16 January 2012 Format Digital download Label Tooji MusicFather Released 20 May 2015 Format Digital download Label Kawaii RecordsSingles Edit Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumNOR Swan Song 2008 Non album singles Stay 2012 2 Stay If It Wasn t For You Rebels 2013 Non album singles Packin Guns 2014 Cocktail Money 2015 L Y S Father Father Say Yeah Non album singles denotes a single that did not chart or was not released References Edit a b Touraj Keshtkar Skatten 2010 Skattelister no VG Nett Skattelister no Archived from the original on May 12 2014 Retrieved 2012 08 09 Tooji vant MGP Jeg vant VG Nett om Melodi Grand Prix Vg no Retrieved 2012 08 09 Tooji Artist og menneskevenn Ambisjoner no Archived from the original on September 17 2011 Retrieved 2012 08 09 TV kjendiser raser etter at sjef lurte muslimsk ansatt VG Nett om Tro og livssyn Vg no 2008 01 24 Retrieved 2012 08 09 AV arve henriksen Tooji knuste forhandsfavorittene Aftenposten Aftenposten no Retrieved 2012 08 09 Han er fryktlos og skamlos in Norwegian Bokmal siste no 2012 02 13 Archived from the original on 2012 08 04 Retrieved 2012 08 09 Scandipop co uk Tooji Rebels Scandipop co uk Retrieved 23 November 2014 Nykomlingen Tooji Jag blev olycklig av Eurovision WiMP Musik 24 March 2014 Retrieved 23 November 2014 NRK 23 September 2014 Guttete og jentete NRK Retrieved 23 November 2014 Wiwibloggs Tooji tackles homophobic hate crimes in brutal Say Yeah video Azerbaijan and Iran locked in a spat over rumours of a gay parade Pinknews co uk June 2012 Retrieved 2015 06 12 Marthinussen Linn Christin 8 June 2015 Tooji star fram som homofil Har fatt nok av at unge jenter og gutter foler skam Dagbladet in Norwegian Archived from the original on 9 June 2015 Retrieved 10 June 2015 a b TheLocal no Tooji coming out video gross misuse of church Wiwibloggs Norway Tooji comes out releases new song The Father Project External links EditTooji s official siteAwards and achievementsPreceded byStella Mwangiwith Haba Haba Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest2012 Succeeded byMargaret Bergerwith I Feed You My Love Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tooji amp oldid 1141531607, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
