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Serbia: Željko Joksimović is open to the possibility of returning to the Eurovision!

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The final of the Pesma za Evroviziju 2024 , where Serbia chose its representative for Eurovision in Malmo, took place on Saturday, with Teya Dora winning and eventually representing the Balkan country in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest.

Rehearsals before the final were underway in the studio in Košutnjak, attended by Željko Joksimović, who represented Serbia in Istanbul 20 years ago with the song “Lane moje” and almost won. Whether and how much has changed about Eurovision in these twenty years, Duska Vucinic, head of Corporate Image and Public Relations at RTS, talked with Joksimović.

In an interview with Belgrade Chronicles, Duska Vucinic highlights that as far as they are concerned, Željko Joksimović won in 2004. When he saw the footage from Istanbul in the news a few days ago, Željko Joksimović says he was overcome by strange emotions, as if 20 years had not passed.

“Half a century, which is not at all small. And many things have happened in the meantime. So it’s nice to remember, and that’s perhaps a reminder with a duty,” says Joksimović.

The song “Lane moje” still lives today, and Joksimović has tried his luck at Eurovision several times as a performer and songwriter. But would this song be equally successful in these Eurovision circumstances?

“I think so. Like the song ‘Yesterday’ is always Yesterday, so is ‘Lane moje.’ If something was really good and generally accepted at that moment, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be the same in 20 years. Emotion is something that doesn’t change, it is very recognizable and I think people always react to it. I, since I’m often in Greece, people still shiver at that song today. I think it has no expiration date and I’m really happy about that. In the end, Eurovision helped make that song what it is,” emphasizes Joksimovic.

“In the meantime, I wrote several times and was very successful. Although in 2012 I counted on at least second place, those Russian grandmothers moved me down one place to third. And then I enjoyed it, and of course I enjoyed it on the stage in Belgrade when I hosted Eurovision here. So, those 20 years go by quickly, but when we summarize, it’s not quite that little and there was something in between,” adds Duska Vucinic’s interlocutor.

Zeljko Joksimovic performed in the interval of the Pesma za Evroviziju 2024 final evening program, and he promised that he will certainly perform a few more times at Eurovision under the flag of Serbia, if not as a performer, then certainly as a songwriter.

When asked if the compositions have changed over these two decades, Joksimovic emphasizes that the melodies have not changed, but the arrangements have, the packaging has changed.

“However, again, looking at an Adele who appears at the piano and works wonders, or Miley Cyrus who works wonders with a classic arrangement, there isn’t much difference there. Trends have never been decisive for Eurovision. I think that even songs that didn’t follow trends always did better. Those that were a little different. That’s what ‘Lane moje‘ was like,” says Zeljko Joksimovic at the end of his appearance on Belgrade Chronicles.

Željko Joksimović holds the unique distinction of being the sole individual to have participated as a performer, songwriter of a competing entry, and as a host in the Eurovision Song Contest. His entries in the contest include:

  • 2004 – Representing Serbia & Montenegro – Song: Lane moje – Placement: 2nd – Points: 263
  • 2006 – Representing Bosnia & Herzegovina – Song: Lejla performed by Hari Mata Hari – Placement: 3rd – Points: 229
  • 2008 – Representing Serbia – Song: Oro performed by Jelena Tomasevic feat. Bora Bugic – Placement: 6th – Points: 160
  • 2012 – Representing Serbia – Song: Nije ljubav stvar – Placement: 3rd – Points: 214
  • 2015 – Representing Montenegro – Song: Adio performed by Knez – Placement: 13th – Points: 44

Serbia will be represented in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest by Teya Dora with the song “Ramonda“, where she will perform in the first half of the first semi-final!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments regarding Serbia’s participation in Eurovision 2024 in Malmö!

Source: RTS

Serbia: Pesma Za Evroviziju ’24 songs will be released on January 25!

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Just a short while ago, the Serbian broadcaster RTS announced that the songs that will be competing in Pesma Za Evroviziju ’24, the country’s national final for Eurovision 2024, will be unveiled on January 25.

Pesma Za Evroviziju ’24 was discussed by Nenad Pribak, the chairman of OGAE Serbia, and Srđan Mladenović from RTS’s Corporate Image and Public Relations Department in a recent, slightly different episode of the RTS Eurovision Story podcast.

Srđan Mladenović announced that the festival is well underway and that all songs will be released on various music platforms and the official YouTube channel “RTS Eurovision Song” on January 25. The semi-final artist lineup will be revealed at the same time. The top eight performers from each semi-final advance to the final, with a total of 14 artists competing in both rounds.

A modification to the public voting announcement method for Pesma Za Evroviziju ’24 was also disclosed via the podcast:

We’re also going to alter how the votes are announced in the final this year. Thus, this year’s vote announcement will follow the Eurovision concept, stated Srđan Mladenović.

He went on to say that the jury’s point total would match the public’s point total and that the announcement process will follow the same guidelines as the Eurovision Song Contest.

It’s a technical process. It’s not something we didn’t want to do. It’s something that has to be implemented from start to finish, and now we’re ready for it.

PZE2024’s semi-finals are scheduled for February 27 and 29, while the grand final is scheduled for Saturday, March 2. The following acts are set to perform at Pesma Za Evroviziju ’24:

  1. Nemanja Radošević – Jutra bez tebe
  2. Bojana x David – No No No
  3. Marko Mandić – Dno
  4. Dušan Kurtić – Zbog tebe živim
  5. Milan Bujaković – Moje tvoje
  6. Hydrogen – Nemoguća misija
  7. Kat Dosa – Tajni začin
  8. Filarri – Ko je ta žena
  9. M.IRA – Percepcija
  10. Saša Báša i Virtual Ritual – Elektroljubav
  11. Hristina – Bedem
  12. Kavala – Vavilon
  13. Martina Vrbos – Da me voliš
  14. Breskvica – Orlovo gnezdo
  15. Ivana Vladović – Jaka
  16. Lena Kovačević – Zovi me Lena
  17. Keni nije mrtav – Dijamanti
  18. Zejna – Najbolja
  19. Konstrakta – Novo, bolje
  20. Iva Lorens – Dom
  21. Zorja – Lik u ogledalu
  22. Yanx – Kolo
  23. Chai – Sama
  24. Durlanski – Muzika
  25. Nadia – Sudari
  26. Džordži – Luna park
  27. Filip Baloš – Duga je noć
  28. Teya Dora – Ramonda

Luke Black represented Serbia at the Liverpool after  winning the 2023 national final with the song “Samo mi se spava”. He placed twenty-fourth overall.

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun to stay up to date on all the latest news about the world’s largest music competition!

Source: RTS 

Luke Black: Eurovision is very conceptual and elaborate | Exclusive Interview

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Luke Black from Serbia gave an exclusive interview to EurovisionFun and Paschalis, talking about his song “Samo mi se spava“. Luke Black is taking part with this song in this year’s Pesma za evroviziju, hoping to represent Serbia in Eurovision 2023.

Who is Luke Black?

I’m a musician from Serbia that has been making music for quite a while. I don’t write much, but when I write I decide to make it a project and then I release it. I was born in a small town in Serbia and spent my early years in Belgrade. I live in London and that’s where the learning process for me started. I do electronic pop music that flirts with different styles and genres from project to project.

When I started, I used to listen to british pop and rock and music like David Bowie and then the Beatles. My inspiration was John Lennon. When I was a teenager I discovered Lady Gaga and I guess my music taste has changed since then. I still haven’t found anyone else with such an impact to my creativity as Lady Gaga.

Some things about the song

Samo mi se spava means I just wanna sleep. It’s about sleeping. I spent the last years very alieanted from the world, especially throughout the pandemic. I immersed myself into my bed, video games and anime and that’s how the song was created. It is basically about the feeling of isolation that people are feeling throughout the world. It is an embrace of the innocence. I think sleep is one of the most innocent places where one can go and feel safe outside of the world.

The song was made in 2020, in April. It was a nice collaboration I had. I worked at first with an old friend from Lebanon who lives in the US and he sent me the piano introduction of the song. With what was going on in the world melodies kept on coming. We actually finished the song in fifteen minutes on zoom. It was one of those moments of inspiration that rarely happen. Later on I worked more with a friend from Canada and colleagues from London and we elevated the track.

Last year Konstrakta sent her song and I felt it was the right time to do that. I tweeted joking about it and people felt excited said I should go, so I couldn’t say no.

Does Luke like other songs from Pesma za evroviziju?

I have listened to some of them and I was quite surprised with the amount of bangers. I was outside the musical culture of Serbia, but I’m happy that there are so many artists that do pop music in a great way. There’s a guy called Filip whose song I really like and a guy called Gipsii. Everybody is great in their way and there’s balance.

Konstrakta is a genious. Her lyrics have always been mature and thoughtful, like poetry. Before that I enjoyed Eurovision as a european contest, but I didn’t enjoy the serbian selection. I felt there wasn’t a place for me. Konstrakta definitely changed the game. I’m glad that people in my country appreciate more modern and conceptual sounds. Eurovision is very conceptual and elaborate.

What are his favorite Eurovision entries?

Maneskin is something I enjoyed. I wanted to feel more rock vibes in Eurovision and I think lots of teenagers were attracted to the singer and started to listen more to rock music.

His message to the readers and viewers

Lots of love from Serbia! I really hope you enjoy Samo mi se spava and I hope to see you in Eurovision in Liverpool this year!

We would like to thank Luke Black for his interview and wish him best of luck!