MKRTV, the broadcaster of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, has confirmed that a duet created especially for the occasion will be representing them in Malmö and the names of the lucky ones who will carry their flag are the queen of gypsy music Esma Redzepova and the popstar Vlatko Lozanoski
FYR Macedonia broadcaster MKRTV has announced that two of their biggest stars, Esma Redzepova-Teodosievska and the popstar Vlatko Lozanoski-Lozano have been internally chosen to represent them at the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. They are two of the most popular Balkan performers enjoying success in the Balkan Peninsula but also ambassadors of Macedonia’s music all around the world.
The announcement was made last evening during the news program aired by MRT. The duo, like their predecessor Kaliopi, has been chosen internally after the success last year with the first qualifying for the grand final in five years and the second best position achieved in the country’s history at the contest.
Esma is one of the most relevant figures not only in the arts scene but also in Macedonian politics as nowadays she is part of the city council of Skopje. She is a veteran artist well known in her home country and throughout her career she has performed nearly a thousand of concerts in different countries. Originally from a Roma family she began her artistic career in a school talent show aired by Radio Skopje. There, besides winning the first prize, she was discovered by Stevo Teodosievski who later became her artistic and personal partner. Her fame is notorious because of her striking image and musical style, the Cocek, which is the typical gypsy folk from the Balkans very popular especially in Bulgaria and FYR Macedonia. Last year she celebrated forty years of her prolific career being one of the most successful Macedonian performers of all times but she is also well known for her humanitarian work as she has devoted her life to philanthropy projects being eligible twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. She has tried to represent her homeland at the Eurovision Song Contest several times and she was the runner-up in the Macedonian national selection in 2006 singing Ljubov E algonside Adrian Gaxha who represented the country in 2008.
Vlatko Lozanoski has one of the most powerful male vocals and he is one of the most promising young artists of the Macedonian pop music scene. Since his childhood he always knew that music would be his greatest passion and profession and he plays piano, accordion and guitar. He became very popular after his participation in the television show called Mak Stars in 2008 where the audience recognized his amazing voice and talent. His first single Врати ме (Take Me Back) brought him a very convincing victory and Grand Prix Award at the first Macedonian Radio Festival called Starry Night and later he achieved a huge success winning one of the most renowned festivals in Macedonia, the Makfest, with the song Времето да застане (If Time Could Stand Still). He has also participated in other relevant international song competitions such as the Pjesme Mediterana Festival in Montenegro, the Slavjanski Bazar Festival from Belarus or the Golden Wings Festival in Moldova. Vlatko was also one of the candidates at the Skopje Fest, the Macedonian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and 2010, ranking fourth in both editions. He has released one album to date along with a dozen singles and with his enormous music talent and brilliant interpretation he amazes both the audience and the critics. He is also very well known for his wonderful performing of old Macedonian folk songs which are part of the Macedonian tradition and cultural inheritance.
The song that will be representing the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest will be selected through an internal selection process. The broadcaster confirmed that they will try to find the perfect song for both of them and there are several well-known composers already working on that mission.
We will have to wait for a couple of months until the official presentation of this entry that will be held at the end of February.
Below you can watch our 3D video of Kaliopi performing Crno I Belo at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. As always, we strongly recommend watching this video in 3D to enjoy it to its fullest, but if you do not have a pair of suitable glasses this can easily be turned off in the player below to watch in regular 2D.
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