Serbia

Konstrakta

©EBU/Nathan Reinds About Quick Facts NameAna Đurić born Ignjatović Born12 oktober 1978 Nationality Serbian National SelectionBeovizija 2008, 2009, Pesma za Evroviziju 2022 In Eurovision2022 Turin SongIn corpore sano (2022) Biography Ana Đurić (born Ignjatović), professionally known as Konstrakta, is a Serbian singer and songwriter. She was born in Belgrade. Before launching her solo career in 2019, she distinguished herself as the lead vocalist of the indie pop group Zemlja Gruva!, which was founded in 2007. Ana gave herself the pseudonym Konstrakta when she was 20, because she liked to compose rhymes in a specific way, mathematically, which is in line with her profession, architecture. She made her debut with the lesser-known band Mistakemistake, but slowly became better known as the lead singer of a Belgrade band called Zemlja gruva!, which was formed in 2007. They released three albums: WTF Is Gruveland? (2010), Dino u Zemlji Gruva! (2013), which was inspired by the songs of the Croatian singer Dino Dvornik, and What do you really want? (2016). Some of the band’s most famous hits include “Best Wishes” (2010), “I Didn’t Know I Wanted This” (2011) and “Šta stvarno želiš?” (2013). Zemlja Gruva! He participated in Beovizija, the Serbian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, in 2008 and 2009. Konstrakta is the author of many songs of the band. The first solo song under the pseudonym Konstrakta was released in 2019, entitled “Žvake”. Her second solo single was called “Neam šamana” (2020) In February 2022, Konstrakta released her project “Triptych”, a 12-minute music video for three songs – “Nobl”, “In corpore sano” (In a healthy body) and “Mekano”.The video and songs illustrate modern life in Serbia, each in its own way. One of the three songs, “In corpore sano”, was chosen to represent Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022. Entries In corpore sano Country Country Serbia Year2022 LanguageSerbianLatin LyricsMilovan BoškovićAna Đurić MusicMilovan BoškovićAna Đurić BackingsKristina RadenkovićMilovan BoškovićKosta Mushu ĐurakovićMaja Nosović al RandjićJovan Antić Results Semi Points: 237Position: 3Running order: 3 Results Finals Points: 312Position: 5Running order: 24 https://youtu.be/nBtQj1MfNYA

And the last ten finalists are….

Yes, the die is cast again. Ten songs will go through to the final, to be exactly the ten countries you will find below: Belgium Czech Republic Azerbaijan Poland Finland Estonia Australia Sweden Romania Serbia Congratulations to the ten winners. And remember: only ten songs could go through. That does not mean that the other songs are bad.

Our prediction for the 2nd semifinal

Two days ago we made a prediction for the first semi-final. Okay, no Albania and Latvia, but Moldova and Iceland instead. But don’t forget: we got no less than eight countries right! That’s why we’re taking the risk for another prediction tonight, this time for the second semifinal. We think that these are the countries that will advance to the final tomorrow: Finland: Who doesn’t know The Rasmus? These rockers have a huge fan base all over Europe. They will vote en masse. Finland makes it to the final. Serbia: The bookmakers are even predicting that Serbia will finish in the top-10. The act with washing hands will be appreciated by enough people for a place in the final. Unfortunately, Britain’s Prince Harry lives in the US. He would definitely vote for this song that mentions his wife. Azerbaijan: This country almost always makes it to the final according to a fixed recipe: a foreign team writes a song. A strong act is built around it. A guarantee for success! Australia: This song is one you either love or hate. There are plenty of people who really appreciate the act with the mask and feathers. The message also gets across. Sheldon is also a very good singer. Cyprus: A surprising song in Greek. Cyprus is not necessarily high on all lists, but it is just such a number that still gets enough appreciation to reach the final tomorrow evening. Estonia: This song makes people happy. And if there’s one thing we need right now, it’s hope, and what’s this song about….? Stefan will be in the final on Saturday. Romania: Spain votes in this semi-final and that helps, but in the meantime WRS also puts on a slick show. We think there is a good chance that it will be a final place. Poland: This is one of two entries on which our entire team is unanimous: Poland goes to the final with the rock-solid, well-sung ballad. Welcome back in the final, Poland! Belgium: The Belgian gospel song is one of a kind, well sung and therefore stands out in a positive way. Although the Belgians themselves seem to have doubts, we are convinced of a place in the final for Jérémie Makiese. Sweden: If Sweden doesn’t go to the final, nobody will. Even when everything went wrong, Cornelia Jacobs remained professional. The bookmakers are still predicting a very high position. But are we right? We’ll know in about 24 hours!

Day 6: Bananas, raincoats, a circus and a rodeo rider

The storm around the still sun finally seems to have subsided a bit. This is not a weather forecast, but it is all about the Eurovision Song Contest. Now that everyone knows what really matters with the non-spinning sun, we can move on. And so we do. With ten countries from the 1st and 2nd semi, as well as the Big Five (more about that later), there is certainly something to look forward to. ICELAND: It is no surprise that the foursome (the girls’ brother is also there) can sing. The clothing and the setting are slightly reminiscent of “Little House on the Prairie”, for those who still know what that is. However, the whole thing seems a bit static. It’s not a done deal for the Icelanders. NORWAY: It ís a done deal for the Norwegians. They will make it to the final. Subwoolfer puts on a dazzling act. It is one of the kind that you either love or hate. Eurovision.tv notes that there is no change to the costumes. To be honest, we would also have been surprised if the gentlemen would suddenly wear something different. ARMENIA: She is the last one in the first semifinal. While she may not be the festival’s best singer, Rosa Linn does a good job. She walks around a bedroom covered with Post-Its. When she pulls it off the wall, for example, the title of the song appears, but also, yes, a Eurovision heart! FINLAND: The 2nd semifinal opens with the festival’s biggest stars: The Rasmus. The raincoats are now appropriate: the weather is not good. It also rains in Turin. Although the act is solid, there is something to be said for the vocals of Lauri Ylönen. We have heard better singing in the last few days…. ISRAEL: If we’re talking about song and dance, the Israelis do put down something. Michael Ben David never gets out of breath from all the dancing. He reaches the high notes effortlessly. The bookmakers’ expectations when it comes to Israel are not too high, but they could be completely wrong this time. SERBIA: No changes in the act of Serbia, which by the way is partially subtitled. The hands that are washed are also reflected in the graphics. Whether it is all sung very well, you can question that. Fun fact: for the second time in Eurovision history, someone from the British royal family is being sung: after Princess Diana in 1986 (“Européennes”, for France) it is now Megan Markle’s turn. AZERBAIJAN: Do you remember “Hold me”, Azerbaijan’s 2013 entry? It certainly wasn’t the strongest song that year, but thanks to the act it became second. We now see a similar act, but with a grandstand instead of a glass box. Big difference: Nadir is a very good singer. Because of the act and the good vocals this could end up higher than we all might expect. GEORGIA: “Lock me in” the members of Circus Mircus sing. And a circus it is, with flying goggles and a decorated beard. You may wonder whether the song is something that the televoter or the jury is going for. It just might become the least understood entry of 2022. MALTA: Few changes in the act. What we had not learned during the first rehearsals is that Emma not only sits behind the piano, but also stands on it. The moving and dancing seems to have an effect on Emma’s voice. SAN MARINO: The extravagant Achille Lauro jumps, dances, runs, rides rodeo: it won’t be three quiet minutes. Behind him are two musicians in cages. In addition, there are three guitarists. Achille Lauro’s agility does not benefit the vocals at all. It was all so wild that the rodeo seems to be broken by now. Hey wait…. I hear you thinking: and what about the Big 5!? Well, they will have their first rehearsals, without any press allowed. However, we will keep you updated about them later today.

Day 3: start of the 2nd semi rehearsals

Day three of rehearsals: the second semifinal has started. Nobody knows about the stage anymore. We try to keep you informed. For the time being, we’ll stick to the nine countries that rehearsed. FINLAND: Expectations were obviously high with a big name like The Rasmus in da’ house. In black and yellow rain gear, the stars stood on stage between huge black balloons. Eurovision.tv praises the professionalism of the band members. ISRAEL: It was quite exciting whether Israel would participate or not. However, the security issues died down. And so Michael Ben David stood on stage in white, surrounded by his dancers. Remarkable: eurovision.tv reports that there is good singing. That has not been done so far. SERBIA: Konstrakta’s act is little different from what we saw during the national final. She has the healthy hair of Megan Markle, which she also sings about. She washes her hands regularly. The dancers around her carry towels. Everything to stay “In corpore sano”, in a healthy body. AZERBAIJAN: It was to be expected: Azerbaijan has a standout act. Nadir Rustamli sings from a sort of staircase that looks like a grandstand. There is also a dancer in that stand. Halfway through the act, the stand is split in two and the dancer and singer can see each other. GEORGIA: Circus Mircus represents Georgia. And clowns belong to a circus. A singer in a leather jacket and flying goggles, a man with an eye patch and a belly organ and a bassist who seems to have borrowed the hat from the Ukrainians. That last man has a beard of flowers. Many colors can be seen on stage. Surreal is how even the official site describes it. MALTA: Emma Muscat performs in a dress covered with silver. She is flanked by four dancers. Later during the act, she sits behind a huge piano. She also uses the so-called B-stage, just in front of the green room. The sun springs into action and gives off its golden light during this act. SAN MARINO: You can expect a striking act from Achille Lauro. He wears body stocking, cowboy boots and hat, a black boa and he is at a red rodeo. While you’d expect that with the title “Stripper,” the clothes don’t come off. Where there is smoke there is fire: that certainly applies to this act, which ends with a lot of pyro technics. AUSTRALIA: Of course Sheldon Reily wears his jeweled mask. Surprising is the huge white suit he is also wearing. At the bottom of the suit is a huge tow. Eurovision.tv compares it to a wedding dress that drags on the floor. It almost seems as if Sheldon is staying in the clouds. CYPRUS: Andromache is singing in a purple dress with what looks like a huge fan behind her. The dancers move around that fan. The fan is also used to display the graphics. Different colors are visible.

Blast from the past: Serbia 2017

We know a lot about Eurovision. We want to share our knowledge by highlighting former Eurovision songs in a blast from the past. Today: Serbia’s entry from 2017. Selection Serbian broadcaster RTS decided to ask its music editors to select a participant. On February 27th it became public that Tijana Bogićević was going to be the Serbian participant for the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine. She was going to sing a song written by the songwriters team Symphonix International. Borislav Milanov, Joacim Bo Persson, Johan Alkenäs and Lisa Ann-Mari Linder would take the challenge to write the song. Tijana Bogićević Tijana Bogićević was 35 years old when she was presented as the 2017 Serbian contestant. Her career started in 2001 when she sang as a backing vocal for Vlada Georgieva. In those days, she also sang in a band called Shanene. She did an earlier attempt to go to Eurovision, back in 2009. It was not a great success: her song “”Pazi šta radiš” did not get any votes in the semifinal of Beovizija, the Serbian national selection. Two years later, in 2011, she actually sang on the Eurovision stage: as a backing vocalist for Serbian representant Nina, who sang “Čaroban” to a place in the final. In too deep The song Symphonix International wrote for Tijana was called “In too deep”. It was a song about someone who madly fell in love. “Won’t somebody save me tonight? Feels like I’ve been sentenced to life. I’m falling so deep, I’m in too deep, I’m falling so deep”, she sings. On March 11th, the song was debuted on YouTube. For promotion, Tijana went to the promo concerts in Tel Aviv, Amsterdam and Madrid. Rehearsals in Kiev The rehearsals in Kiev went well. Tijana sang well; however, there was a problem. According to many people, the song was okay, but it did not really stand out. It would therefore not be an easy match for Tijana to get into the final. Half of the journalists, present in the press centre, predicted a place for Serbia in the final. The other half did not expect Tijana to make it. Results The same thing happened when the real jury had to vote: the juries were divided. The expert jury gave Serbia an 11th place, the televoters wanted the song to be in the final with a 10th place. The televoting juries from North Macedonia and Switzerland even gave it their 12 points. It was not enough. In the overall result, Serbia became 11th and thus did not reach the final. After Eurovision This definitely did not end Tijana’s career. She released her debut album “Čudo” in 2018. It contained many of the songs she released before. The follow up of “In too deep” was the song “Dodirni me“. After that, she scored a hit song in duet with Damir Kedžo, the man who was supposed to represent Croatia in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest. Their song, “Hram“, became a hit in Croatia in 2021.

Hurricane

© EBU/Thomas Hanses About Quick Facts Group membersSanja VučićIvana NikolićKsenija Knežević Founded2017 Nationality🇷🇸 Serbian National SelectionBeovizija 2020 In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (cancelled) SongLoco Loco (2021)Hasta la Vista (2020) Biography Hurricane, also known as Hurricane Girls, is a Serbian R&B-pop girl group founded by Zoran Milinković in November 2017. It consists of three members: Sanja Vučić , Ivana Nikolic and Ksenija Knežević. The girls sing mostly in English; so far they have only released two songs in their native language Serbian. Hurricane aims to become recognized globally; they have collaborated with Hollywood producer Stephen Belafonte. They released a total of 18 singles so far. In 2020 they were supposed to represent Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen due to the corona crisis. One year later, they were asked again by Serbian television to represent their country. For that cause, they had a song called “Loco loco”. In may 2022 it was announced that Hurricane with the Eurovision line up was going to stop. A search for new members was announced. The members are:Sanja Vučić – lead vocalVucic is from a musical family. She has contributed in ethno and jazz bands as well as in church choirs. She was a member of the ZAA band for five years; she represented Serbia at the in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest.Ivana Nikolić – standard vocalNikolić is known to the world of modern dance and music. She first appeared on stage in the Belgrade arena with Yugoslav stars in the ’90s. She collaborated with Jala Brat on his single “Young and Crazy”.Ksenija Knežević – Standard VocalKnežević also comes from a musical family: her father is the popular Montenegrin singer Knez. She competed at children’s festivals as a youngster, and at Beovizija with her song “Magi” when she was a high school student. She was part of Sevdah Baby before joining Hurricane. Entries Loco Loco Country🇷🇸 Serbia Year2021 LanguageSerbian LyricsSanja Vučić MusicNemanja AntonićDarko Dimitrov BackingsJelena PajićOlga Popović-VulovićMladen Lukić Results Semi Points: 124Position: 8Running order: 9 Results Finals Points: 102Position: 15Running order: 8 https://youtu.be/Q1lkpIqf7a4 Hasta la vista Country🇷🇸 Serbia Year2020 LanguageSerbian LyricsKosana StojićSanja Vučić MusicNemanja Antonić Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/7fqZevYLUMs

Milan Stanković

About Quick Facts NameMilan Stanković Born09 September 1987 Nationality🇷🇸 Serbian National SelectionTri pa jedan za Oslo In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongOvo Je Balkan (2010) Biography Milan Stanković, born on September 9, 1987, in Obrenovac, then part of SFR Yugoslavia, is a well-known Serbian singer-songwriter. His journey to fame began in 2007 as a standout contestant on “Zvezde Granda,” where he finished fourth. Milan’s unique style, inspired by k-pop and his performances of Zdravko Čolić’s songs, caught public attention. His relationship with Rada Manojlović, a fellow contestant, also garnered media spotlight. His breakthrough came in 2010 when he represented Serbia at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Ovo je Balkan,” securing 13th place. Despite challenges, including a contract breach with Grand Production and a brief hiatus from the music scene, Milan made a strong comeback. He released the hit single “Od mene se odvikavaj” in 2013 and participated in the Pink Music Festival in 2014, winning three awards. The same year, he also became a judge on “Pinkove Zvezdice,” a role he held until 2018. Milan continued to evolve as an artist, releasing his second album in 2015, marked by the singles “Mašina” and “Nisi mu ti žena.” Collaborations with notable artists like Mimi Mercedez, Mile Kitić, and the hip hop duo Jala Brat and Buba Corelli further elevated his career. His single “Ego,” released in 2017, became a massive hit, amassing over eighty million views on YouTube. Following this success, Milan introduced his “Tokyo trilogy” between 2018 and 2019 and continued to release popular singles, including “Pablo” in 2020. Entries Ovo Je Balkan Country🇷🇸 Serbia Year2010 LanguageSerbian LyricsMarina TucakovićGoran BregovićLjiljana Jorgovanović MusicGoran Bregović BackingsMarko StojiljkovićAleksandar JelenkovićZorica BrkićSaška Janković Results Semi Points: 79Position: 5Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: 72Position: 13Running order: 8 https://youtu.be/4pVEII2pmso?si=CCCIsgWH3I3bMrMs

Željko Joksimović

About Quick Facts NameŽeljko Joksimović Born20 April 1972 Nationality🇷🇸 Serbian National SelectionInternal selection 2012Evropesma 2004 In Eurovision2012 Baku2004 Istanbul SongNije Ljubav Stvar (2012)Lane Moje (2004) Biography Željko Joksimović, a multifaceted Serbian artist born on 20 April 1972, has worn many hats throughout his illustrious career. As a vocalist, composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Joksimović is renowned for his incredible talent. His prowess with instruments is remarkable; he plays twelve distinct ones, including the accordion, piano, guitar, and drums. Additionally, his linguistic capabilities are notable, being fluent in multiple languages besides his native Serbian, including Greek, English, Russian, Polish, and French. Born in Belgrade and raised in the city of Valjevo, Željko Joksimović’s musical journey began early. By the age of 12, he had already made a significant mark, winning the First Accordion of Europe title at a prestigious music festival in Paris. His education included music studies at the University of Belgrade, leading him to kickstart his professional music career by 1997. Joksimović’s international recognition grew substantially after he won the Pjesma Mediterana festival in 1998 with “Pesma Sirena.” This victory opened doors to perform in Belarus, where he clinched the “Grand-Prix” award at two major festivals. His initial studio albums, like “Amajlija,” “Vreteno,” and “111,” not only defined him as a pop and folk artist but also showcased hit tracks that topped Serbian pop music charts. In 1999, he clinched the Grand Prix winner title of the International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk, Belarus. Eurovision has played a pivotal role in Joksimović’s career. He has penned five ballads for the contest, including popular numbers like “Lane moje,” “Lejla,” “Oro,” “Nije ljubav stvar,” and “Adio.” In the Eurovision Song Contest 2004, representing Serbia and Montenegro, he performed “Lane moje,” finishing a commendable second. He represented Serbia again in 2012 with “Nije ljubav stvar,” securing the third position. In 2008, Joksimović took on dual roles; not only did he compose “Oro” for Jelena Tomašević, he also co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest alongside Jovana Janković. He later contributed again to Eurovision in 2015, composing the song “Adio” for Montenegrin singer Knez. In 2021, Joksimović recorded the song “Ponoć”, from the movie Toma. The song was followed by a single “Ljubav je….”, in which Željko’s daughter Mina featured. His engagements weren’t just limited to performing and composing. Between 2013 and 2015, Joksimović showcased his expertise as a judge on X Factor Adria, the Western Balkan edition of the renowned talent show, The X Factor. His accomplishments span composing for films, television series, and theater shows, establishing his own MINACORD PRODUCTION in 2004, and releasing numerous successful albums. His concerts, such as the 2010 performance in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and those in Arena Zenica and Sava Centar, have drawn massive crowds, solidifying his place as a Balkan music legend. In January 2012, Joksimović took the significant step of marrying his co-host from the Eurovision 2008, Jovana Janković. With his diverse contributions to music, spanning multiple genres and formats, Željko Joksimović continues to be an influential figure in the Balkan music scene and beyond. Entries Nije Ljubav Stvar Country🇷🇸 Serbia Year2012 LanguageSerbian LyricsMarina TucakovićMiloš Roganović MusicŽeljko Joksimović BackingsKsenija MiloševićOlga VulovićDušan AlagićMiloš NikolićDragan Krstić Results Semi Points: 159Position: 2Running order: 1 Results Finals Points: 214Position: 3Running order: 24 https://youtu.be/R9x9VbJzaDQ?si=0tiLFnNbtdrsF-Yi Lane Moje (& Ad Hoc Orchestra) CountrySerbia and Montenegro Year2012 LanguageSerbian LyricsLeontina Vukamanović MusicŽeljko Joksimović Ad Hoc OrchestraTijana MiloševićRastko AksentijevićMiloš NikolićDragan KrstićBranko Popović Results Semi Points: 263Position: 1Running order: 20 Results Finals Points: 263Position: 2Running order: 5 https://youtu.be/z7OvpjplJ_8?si=pg7sjTergMxHAgCO

Nina

About Quick Facts NameDanica Prodanović – Radojčić Born05 August 1989 Nationality🇷🇸 Serbian🇦🇺 Australian National SelectionPesma za Evropu – Diseldorf 2011 In Eurovision2011 Düsseldorf SongČaroban (2011) Biography Nina, originally named Danica Radojčić and born on August 5, 1989, in Belgrade (then Yugoslavia, now Serbia), is a multifaceted Serbian talent. She is a Doctor of Pharmacy and a researcher by profession, but also a part-time singer, gaining popularity under her nickname Nina. Her early years were marked by a passion for music; she started piano lessons at the age of six and completed both elementary and secondary music school. Despite her musical talent, Nina chose to pursue a career in pharmacy, enrolling at the University of Belgrade. Her artistic side flourished as she performed in various clubs with her band “Legal Sex Department,” where she drew inspiration from artists like Duffy, Muse, and others from pop and alternative genres. Nina’s breakthrough in the music industry came in 2011 when she was selected by Kristina Kovač, a member of the renowned Kovač family, to perform a song titled “Čaroban” in the Eurovision Song Contest. Discovered through YouTube, Nina represented Serbia in the contest held in Düsseldorf, Germany. She garnered significant public support, securing her place with over 15,000 SMS votes. Nina’s journey in Eurovision was notable. She recorded an English version of her song, now named “Magical,” and performed at the Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam. In the contest, she performed sixth in the semi-final and eventually placed 14th in the final, after delivering her performance 24th in the lineup. Post-Eurovision, Nina announced plans to release a debut studio album with PGP RTS, but later, in an interview with OGAE Serbia, she revealed a shift in her focus. Nina had moved to Melbourne, Australia, in 2014 to pursue her PhD in immunopharmacology, and the album plans were cancelled. Nina’s main job is currently in pharmacy but she tries to combine it with music. Every now and then, she releases a song and video. “Colors Of My Love” was released in 2016. After years of singing mainly covers, in 2020 she released a new single with official video: “Nemocna”, “Neispricane prične” in 2021. That was also the year of a brand new, accoustic, version of “Čaroban”. Entries Čaroban Country🇷🇸 Serbia Year2011 LanguageSerbian LyricsKristina Kovač MusicKristina Kovač BackingsSanja BogosavljevićSaška JankovićTijana Bogičević Results Semi Points: 67Position: 8Running order: 6 Results Finals Points: 85Position: 14Running order: 24 https://youtu.be/oHgXE90OSzM?si=UWnHp_t4MFMdnItu