Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

It seems MRT hasn't yet made any announcement how their Eurovision song contest 2016 entry for Stockholm will be chosen but the chances are the Skopje Fest will once again be it. Skopje Fest that originally run from 1968-1980 become one of the biggest festivals in Yogoslavia. It rose like a Phoenix from ashed in 1994 to become now independent Macedonia's main festival and run now until 2002. Financial problems put a stop to it until 2008. It has also used several times as the selection for the ESC. Last year's winner Daniel Kajmakoski went to Eurovision but his song Lisna esenski went through a total make over and was almost a different song in Vienna..... Listen below. Anyways, the list for 2015 Skopje fest is very much male dominated (Måns-effect?) and among the names we have several familiar ones, even a veteran trying again and again, Vlatko Ilievski, this time in duet. Also a Junior veteran makes her debut among the big ones, Anja Veterova. Skopje Fest takes pla...

Good news from Daniel Kajmakoski's website: Daniel had a visit and meeting with the general manager of the Children’s Hospital in Skopje, doctor Aspazija Sofijanova. As part of the eurovision campaign 2015, macedonian representative Daniel Kajmakoski and his team decided to donate the funds for printed and hard copy promo material. Instead of posters, notebooks, t-shirts and other type of promo material – the funds were located to donation worth 17,700 eur at the Intensive Care unit at the Children Hospital in Skopje. The donation process is completed with the delivery of the respiratory machine (Babylog 8000 plus, manufacturer company Dreger). “We thank infinitely Daniel’s donation, and it turned out that not only has a beautiful voice but also has beautiful soul. The unit will help us to struggle for the health of many children who are coming in our hospital. ” – said doctor Aspazija Sofijanova. Well done, Daniel! 

Eurovision acts have always been rather creative with merchandise from Belarusian vodkabottles to Swedish boxers and some less memorable items. Especially the eastern countries have been rather generous with them... Even though the economical situation everywhere may have ut a stop to that, some countries are not even giving away any promos not to mention any other stuff. This year Macedonia has decided to use the money ment for promos and stuff for something else instead: they both an incubator for premature babies in Skpje hospital, but that's another story. Azeris instead have all sort of things from jackets to pencils. No carpet this year though....

Now what to say? I loved the original version of this song, then grew some fondness to this new one. Daniel is a fine singer. I love the backdrop, I think it's one of the nicest ones this year but then I do have a thing for columns. But. Somehow this isn't working - unless the camerawork is amazing and hides all the akwad movement we see on stage in the video. Also I keep asking why he has this bacing group as they seem to thunder over him. There are too many things wrong with this staging, and the arrangement of the song. Such a shame. I desperately want to like this so much more than I can make myself to do at this point by listening it. Watching this performance? Hmm, I may use it as a toilet break.... Sorry. And what's it with this flasher's jacket in the forest?

The Macedonian entry surely has went through some transformations step by step dropping any hint of Macedonia from it. The song that won originally was first totally rearranged and now the staging takes it to another diretion again. To a very American that is. Daniel, who actually lives in Vienna, has invited American vocal group MERJ (ex-Blackstreet) to perform with him. It all comes across very boybandish affair but the staging is also nicely retro, and the backdrop and colors are very beautiful. Somehow this comes across very likable. I always liked the song, but maybe I tend to forget it when spotting out favourites. Now with this stunning visuals I will remember it for sure....

Daniel Kajmakoski (31) is the fresh winner of Skopje Fest and the Macedonian entrant for the Eurovision song contest 2015 in Vienna. His winning song is Lisja esenski , here's the studio version . There is a possibility the song will be changed before March 2015, but this blogger ctually likes it a lot so I hope they will stick with it.  He's also the winner of the first X Factor Adria where his mentor was none other than Zeljko Joksimovic, they also recorded a duet together Skopje-Beograd . Another Eurovision connection is he wrote to Karolina Goceva Vis ne se vrakas in 2010 that was a big hit. For him it's a return to Vienna as that's where he grew up after moving there when six year's old. He even participated in the Austrian talent show Starmania seasson two in 2003 where he reached the top-8. (The next season was won by Nadine Beiler and runner up being certain Tom Neuwirth aka Conchita Wurst! Even Eric Papilaya was in it). His career didn't quite g...

The Macedonian Skopje Fest ended with Daniel Kajmakoski's win with Esenski lisja . Tamara Todevska finished second with Brod sto tone and Evgenija Cancalova third with Da ne te sakam . All three were in both international jury's and televoters top-3. This blogger agrees with the top-2 but had a little preference to Tamara, like most fans online it seems and she indeed was also the international jury's favorite but in the televoting she only managed third that cost her victory while Daniel and Evgenija were in the league of their own in that.... Reality television rules.... Here above you have the jury votes.... ... and here the televotes.... .... and here the final result. Today the vote rigging claims have arisen in Macedonia and police is investigating a question of about 1000 seized phonecards.... Let's see how this ends....