Read my interview with Maja here.

Bosnian daily "Nezavisne" May 14th

Vesna Pisarović
I like that my sexy look has been noticed

Vesna Pisarović, this year's Croatian singer for Eurovision in Estonia, has, as opposed to many other entertainment stars, never thought that she would end up living a singer's life. She always wanted to be a professor, even her education was headed in that direction. Currently she's studying phonetics and croatistics and as only two more exams until graduation. However, as she says herself, music has always been a part of her life. She completed primary music school, specilizing in the flute, and today she is completely sure that singing is her life's call. For Nezavisne, Vesna sat down and talked about Dora, Eurovision, her career and announced her concerts in Bosnia and Serbia.

Q: Vesna, your beginnings are tied in with your performances in the kid shows like "Hrtić-Hitić" and "Turbo Limach Show." Did you always know you'd work with music?
A: When I look at it all in retrospect, there was a genuine evolution of me as a singer. Kid shows, first bands, restaurants, hotels, rock clubs...But, I've never seen the music around me as "working" with music. It was prefectly natural to dress up even in kindergarten and entertain the other kids. I never even said: "Mom, I want to be a singer!" I always said I would be a woman who travels and makes important deals. When I grew up a little, I said I'd become a professor, then that I'd work with people with impaired hearing, then this and that and so on. In the end, music was stronger than all of those. And here I am! I can say basically that I have been singing all my life.

Q: The more serious steps in your career were taken at Dora. Did you ever hope for a victory like this year's?
A: I tend to apply to everything a sort of a philosophy of mine, so I have maybe a somewhat peculiar opinion about Dora. It always was a silent, child's pain. I played with other children of Eurovision, but I have to admit that it was purely just a dream. When I first took part in Dora, I was flabbergasted for just singing, so there was no room for the idea of victory. When I was at Dora the second time, at the time it was already a different story. I enjoyed the song I was singing thoroughly, I enjoyed the orchestra, the big stage, the dress I was wearing - it was again like a dream and that's all that was enough for me. The third time Dora was a real challenge for me. Very spontaneously, a team of people was created around me and everyone got into the song deeply. I took great pleasure in going to the rehearsals for the scenography; the dress, the hair color change happened spontaneously as well. I could hardly wait for those three minutes of my performance and where is there room for thinking about victory? We are not runners or skiers and we don't have stop-watches in our hands. We sing, and song is an emotion, hence I could only think about how to make my performance even stronger.

Q: Why did you break up your collaboration with the famous Croatian manages Edvin Softić?
A: It would sound better if I just said I moved to another company. Edvin and I functioned very well and I am especially thankful for the support he has given me at the start of my so-called show business career. However, at one point, a point I felt was important, we did not agree about the vision of my career and the songs I would sing and that's that.

Q: How did you end up deciding that your new manager be Lidija Samardžija, who is also Severina's manager?
A: I know Lidija from 1996. Even then she sent friendly advice my way. Our acquaintance is longer than that between me and Milana, and Edvin, so it was completely natural for me to approach her.

Q: What is going on with your studying of phonetics and croatistics? As you are in preparations for the Eurovision at the moment, how much time can you put away for studying?
A: Only two exams are keeping me away from my diploma, so neither my career nor Eurovision are hindrances. I am lucky that the who showbiz noise started just as the lessons were finishing up, so exams are a form of entertainment and escape from reality, more than they are a responsibility.

Q: You have experience also as a teacher of Croatian language. What is it like to work with children? Were they surprised when they saw you?
A: The exam for "Teaching Methodology" requires, before the very test-taking, an internship in primary or secondary school, so I had to do that as well. However, that was a wonderful experience, especially with the young ones, who took me very seriously; the class went by unusually calmly. I lived to experience being called a professor, addressed with Vi (formal second person address)... But I have to admit that I was a little nervous, something I never experience on stage. It is a wonderful job, most of all because one works with children, who are warm and sincere, unadulterated; but what can I do if singing isn't letting me rest.

Q: Behind you are two albums, "Da znaš" (If You Knew) and "Za tebe stvorena" (Made For You). When can the people expect the third album?
A: The third album will be out on exactly May 30th. I will promote it in Sibenik at the "Hrvatski radijski festival" (Croatian Radio Festival) and I'm very excited about the songs we are recording, because of all the new people we've been working with. I think that Milana's and my collaboration and friendship have reached the level of ripeness and that this will be felt in the new songs and the overall sound.

Q: How hard was it for one Požegan to break through into the world of music and show business?
A: You mean, the big journey from rural to urban? No... No career has a "break-through." There is only a desire - smaller or larger, which takes you somewhere near or far. This is especially tangible in music. Nothing can be broken through there, you either feel it or you do not.

Q: Journalists and critics are commenting more on your new sexy look than on the song which won Dora 2002. Does that make you angry?
A: The fact that they noticed it is a compliment to me. Though I do not know how "it" is sexy or not. I can't see myself that way. I moved on the stage how I always move, except that they have never seen me in this more aggressive rhythm. I showed my leg at one point as well, but that's not a new gimmick, really.

Q: What placing are you expecting at Eurovision?
A: For the same reason why I did not think in those terms at Dora, I do not want to preoccupy myself with the placing at Eurovision, albeit I know that to those who voted for my victory it is very important. But, I am aware of the weight of the pressure either way, because after all, an entire country is expecting from me. However, I should not burden myself with that, because song is, like I said, only an emotion. I can influence my performance, no doubt, but the placing - no. That said, all the excess burden is nonsensical.

Q: How are the preparations for Estonia going?
A: For Eurovision I have been psychologically ready since I was little. As far as the costumes, stage image is concerned, we're still working on that, but I have turned that over to those who know it better than I.

Q: Is Vesna as happy privately as she is professionally? Do you have someone whom you've given your heart to?
A: I don't differentiate the private and the non-private anymore. From what I have told you, you judge on your own if I'm happy or not. My definition of happiness is doing what you love and making others happy. Concerning men... there were rare periods in my life when I'm not loved or don't love anyone, but I feel like I have not met my other half. I feel like I will meet them soon, though.

Q: What are the vices and what the virtues of Vesna Pisarović?
A: Except for the fact that I am always late and sometimes overly stubborn, there are many more vices, but these are the most prominent. As far as virtues go, that I do not know...

Q: Tell me the craziest gossip you've heard about yourself.
A: As long as we have any kind of human emotion, gossip will either hurt you or make you happy. One of the craziest I've heard recently is that I have been married for a long time and that I have a child, but I hide him effectively (laugh).

Q: What can throw you off the curse?
A: The only things that can make me angry are irresponsibility and unculturedness.

Q: How closely are your songs reflecting your personality?
A: I am all of that. In some songs, absolutely, in others partially, but all the songs I sing I have more or less lived through.

Q: Do you have an idol in your business?
A: To me, idols are all the people who are entirely living their life, when they are working. But, singing or rather vocalic idols are Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Washington, Anna Oxa...

Q: Is there an event in your career which you remember with great joy?
A: When you asked me this, a million of wonderful moments with audiences flew through my mind. The moments when there is a sort of a connection between us.

Bosnian daily "Nezavisne" May 7th

Maja Tatic
Everything is going according to plan
excerpt:

Banjalukan Maja Tatić is an own kind of surprise winner of this year's Bosnian Eurovision preselection. But, it can be said that Maja has beenn dealing with music since she was little - she was in the famous Banjalukan children's choir "Vrapčići." When she headed to Belgrade just before the war with her band to record the material for her first album, she did not imagine she would end up on Canary Islands, and especially that she would win at the Bosnian festival for Eurovision.

She says she has inherited her musical gift from her mother, and persistance from her father. It's not surprising that competent music critics say of Maja that the stage is her "second home," and that she is presupposed to succeed. She herself adds that musical notes flows through her veins - music is love, passion and profession to her.

Q: Are you already packing luggage for Estonia?
A: Yes, I have been preparing for a long time. I'm travelling from Banja Luka to Sarajevo and back constantly. Choreography exercises have also began. I have three backing singers and we have to bring everything to perfection. It is necessary to mesh the abcking choreography with the song, indispensible to harmonize the moves on the stage with the interpretation. Ms. Gordana Magaš has thought up of how it will all look on May 25, and it's up to us to practice the moves, so it all looks effective. I have also had numerous apparances in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Pink TV (in Serbia). I've taken part in the shows "Svet plus," "Za milion godina," and I've also been a guest at TV stations BK, Yu Info and RTS. All of them say they will cheer for me this year, as I come from Republika Srpska. I am departing on the journey on May 19th and I will be there for seven days. For now, everything is going according to plan. I am very satisfied.

Q: What language will you sing in in Tallinn?
A: Half-half, that is, little bit in Bosnian, little bit in English. There will be no problem there, as I speak English perfectly. I also speak Spanish and Slovene languages. In any case, I will do everything to show myself in the best of lights, and to make sure that everything ends up the way we have thought and planned.

Q: Has the song been played with in relation to the original version?
A: It has been worked on a little bit. I believe it will sound a little better, that is, that it will be enter the audience's ears.

Macedonian daily "Dnevnik" April 9th

Scandolous proposition by MRT
Andrijana Janevska for Eurovision instead of Karolina Goceva?

Andrijana Janevska instead of Karolina Goceva in Tallinn at the Eurovision Song Contest - that is the proposition contained in a letter MRT sent to the EBU since the Macedonian pop-star Karolina began instisting on performing her song completely in English.

"Dnevnik" has found out that the actual chances that Andrijana will go to Tallinn with her second-placed song are rather slim since the deadline to annouce the representatives has passed. So, this year it is highly likely that Karolina will go to Tallinn with Od nas zavisi.

Today there will be a meeting between Karolina and the MRT General Director Ljupco Jakimovski which will bealso attended by the executive producers of the recording company "Avalon" as well as some of the people from the Macedonia ESC 2002 delegation.

At these meeting there will be various issue discussed and resolved. The main issue it the language of the song Od nas zavisi. MRT, who have the licence to choose the Macedonian entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest, wants the song to be sung in Macedonian. On the other hand, Karolina ha statted that she will be handicapped if she is not allowed to sing in English like most other countries (21 out of 24) this year.

We have found out that the video clip for Od nas zavisi directed by Mile Grozdanovski has already been sent out to the participating countries and will be shown on national televisions but that the parts directed by Dejan MIlicevic have been left out of it.

If MRT and Karolina do not find a common ground and it is too late to send a new singer to Tallinn, the EBU could punish MRT rigorously. Macedonia would be disqualified from the contest for at least two years, and there could be a hefty monetary fine. There are suggestions to find a compromise, so that one part of the song is sung in Macedonian, while another in English. Two years ago in Sweden the girls of the group "XXL" sang the last chorus of the song in English.

Macedonian daily "Dnevnik" April 5th

Ljupco Jakimovski - MRT General Director
We're going to Estonia with dignity and honor
excerpt:

Q: Currently there are talks about which language Karolina will sing in in Tallinn. After all, you have the last word, so may we hear your decision?
A: The decision was made long ago. There was a similar type of a dilemma back in 2002 when we took part in ESC in Stockholm, but that's not the case with me. I have never had a dilemma about which language our representative was going to sing. In the official papers that we sent to EBU we already state that the song will be sung in Macedonian. So, I do not know why there would be any dilemma about it anymore.

Q: Probably because almost all the countries will sing in English. Out of that comes the question whether singing in our mother tongue will be a benefit or a hindrance.
A: I think it will be our virtue. I do not think we will come second or third if we sing in English. Ultimately, the placing will not depend on the language of the singing. It's a good virtue to have the Macedonian word and language be heard at an event such as this, which is watched by millions of people. This is the best choice and we should be ignified at least in front of ourselves.

Macedonian daily "Dnevnik" April 5th

Karolina: Either I am singing in English or I am not going to Estonia

Karolina Goceva, our representative at the Eurovision Song Contest, will most likely cancel her participation at this manifestation if she is not allowed to sing the song Od nas zavisi in English. Her big wish is to sing in English and our sources tell us that so far she has not changed her mind.

"I am going to be handicapped if I sing the song in Macedonian, knowning that most all participating countries at Eurosong will sing in English.

"Germany and Spain are allowing its representatives to sing in English. After my victory, I was told that I will have to sing in Macedonian, even though there was an option to record the song in both versions to hear which sounds better. The decision was to be made after that. The English version of Od nas zavisi sounds very good," says Karolina

However, Ljupco Jakimovski, general director of MRT, said in his interview in today's insert "Antena":

"Following the official rules of EBU, the Estonian TV has already been informed that the composition is going to be sung in Macedonian. I don't know why there exists a dilemma."

Our sources say that, to avoid conflict, the best thing to do is to perform the song in two languages, the same way XXL did back in 2000 in Stockholm. We have found out that the official MRT ESC delegation has talked to Karolina, but it is not known if they managed to change her mind. If Karolina refuses to participate in Tallinn, Macedonia will not have a representative, since the deadline has passed. Close sources say that if Karolina indeed does refuse, she will be rigorously punished.

Croatian daily "Večernji list" January 25th

The jury will decide whether to disqualify "Magazin"

Songs for Dora 2002 have only just been chosen and scandals have begun when authors' and performers' names are not even made official. The focus of the scandals is the winner of most Doras - Tonči Huljić. It is not known whether there's a threat of disqualification of his band "Magazin." Even though the letter was anonymous, chairman of the ten-member jury Velimir Đuretić took it seriously, so the jury will convene again to decide whether there is basis for the disqualification.

Everything began with letters of Unknown from Croatia, who said that she was deeply involved with Dora matters, and that she used the name Ksenija Urličić on the anonymous letters as a way to get attention. Firstly she wrote to Croatian Television alone, and later to journalists who follow Dora. She warns that Jelena Rozga, the lead singer of "Magazin" talked about Huljić's "Tko me zove" as a world-trendy song, a week before the jury had listened to the submitted songs.

Jelena Rozga, like Maja Blagdan last year

Jelena didn't exactly say the song was made for Dora, but the entire story she gave was set in context of last year's victory of Vanna, so it is self-evident. Last year, in an interview for "Večernji list" Maja Blagdan mentioned the title of the songs Zrinko Tutić and she sent to Dora, because of what they were disqualified, with the explanation that this was an influence on the jury.

In her letter, Unknown warns about the fact that a certain Leonida sent her demo CD with the name "Davor Tolja" on it. It is hard to tell how much influence that had on the jury, but suffice it to say Davor Tolja and Leonida managed to make the cut with Laž. She also pointed out that this, supposedly - expert - jury mistook female vocals of Putokazi with those on the demo recording of Ave Maria Laudata and who belong to an unknown choir from Rijeka. Unknown claims that, even though the jury results were announced on Monday, January 21st, she had known the majority of the outcome that Saturday evening.

Miranda Đakovic's attack on Branko Matutinović

Clearly the author of the letters is familiar with details regarding this and last year's Dora, so we may believe her that she has ties with the event. Even though she worked hard to conceal her identity, judging by how precisely she talks of Rijekan and Istrian musicians, and mentions both "Putokazi" and "E.N.I." there's guessing to be had about this unknown author being the leader of "Putokazi" Miranda Đaković. The fact that Miranda accepts defeat very difficult, as well as the fact that there is a rumor coming out of HRT headquarters at Prisavlje that she attacked Branko Matutinović adds more to all this guessing.

The fact is that the Unknown, no matter who she is, was right about one of her claims. The official deadline for revelation of the names behind the codes under which the songs were submitted is Friday, January 25th. However, through various ways, the names of majority of those taking part at Dora 2002 were known before that date.

All this supports Ekran's year-after-year thesis that Dora is a spectacle not because of the visual and scenic glamour, but because it offers promition like no other festival does, no other performance in no other TV program. This is precisely why those like Tonči Huljić keep coming back even after they repeatedly say they will never do it again.

Bosnian weekly "Nezavisne" January 11th

Bosnian Selection for Eurosong
Lighter notes too much for Banja Luka

Why isn't this year's Bosnian preselection despite wishes from the performers and musical public being held in Banja Luka, but in Sarajevo? Was the deciding factor lack of organizational and technical abilities, bad financial situation or something else...

Announcing the results of its work, the selection jury also stated to the public that the Bosnian finals will be held on February 23rd and broadcast live from the big studio of Federal TV in Sarajevo.

While being in the RTRS TV program "Saturday Afternoons on January 5th, the chariman of the said jury, also Musical director of RTRS, Milorad Kenjalović, said that the fact that there are no objections to how last year's final was organized, as far as technical-technological and programming aspects are concerned explain why there is no reason not to use good experiences.

"Work of the combined teams, the united orchestra, the production part of the job was done very well. The big studio offers possibilities for a quality realization of such programs. The one thing by which this year's preselection will differ from last year's is the composition of the jury and the way they will vote, so that some of last year's uncomfortable situations aren't repeated. We'll also ask to include people's voice into the voting," explains Kenjalović.

"But, at the time during selection process itself, there were talks about having this year's Bosnian final in Banja Luka.

Injection of encouragement.

There was even talk of a true festival which would have probably been held in the Sport hall "Borik" in front of a few thousand spectators. That way, at once, Banja Luka, that is the creators and performers of pop music from this part of Bosnia-Herzegovina would receive an injection of encouragement. Namely, there is no dilemma that in this big B-H center, once a relevant musical center, home to many musicians, the life of entertainment and music have been stagnating the last few years.

"That would be a good chance for artists from both parts of Bosnia to work together and remain in contact," said Milić Vukašinović.

Artists from the Serb entity were the ones who were especially happy about such an event in Banja Luka.

"It's not a matter of believing in one's home court, but there's a bit of that involved. It's natural that I would perform with more ease in my city. But it would be good for the Banjalukan and the region's musical scene to awaken from the winter sleep they're in," told us Boris Režak, whose song made the cut.

"We took that into consideration and as such it does exist. Especially since there hasn't been Festival Banja Luka in some years. So, there's a wish for the preselection to be held in Banja Luka. But, that wish, unfortunately, will not come true for now," admitted Milorad Kenjalović, during a recent meeting in Holiday Inn in Sarajevo during the selection of Sport Personalities of the Year, organized by "Nezavisne."

Still, we found out that there was agreement on the side of PBS BiH and RTVFBiH for the contest to held in Banja Luka. Director of PBS, Drago Marić confirmed this:

"We reached an absolute agreement about the venue. We wanted for it to be Banja Luka out of thousands of reasons. Radio Television of Republika Srpska was given the first offer. However, they could not accept it due to difficulties in organization and realitively small period of time we had to work in. I believe that primarily financial reasons are to blame, because of the expensive nature of the manifestation.

RTRS declined

Director of PBS gave the statement to our journalist on January 8th, adding that the date of the event isn't known yet.

"In any case, it will happen towards the end of February, perhaps beginning of March," said Marić.

March 11th is the date by which Estonia must receive the Bosnia's choice, including a video clip.

One day earlier, Ismeta Dervoz, coordinator of the Eurosong procect, informed us of February 23rd as the date of the final.

We asked Ms Dervoz why the venue isn't in Banja Luka as well.

"Because the headquarters of PBS are in Sarajevo, because Sarajevo is the capital of this country, because FTV we have all the technical and technological means to organize the program with quality while using as few resources as possible... But, primarily because RTRS declined the offer. And this came after a meeting in Banja Luka when all the costs and needs for the organization and realization of the preselection were layed out. That's simply when RTRS came to the decision that they cannot accept it and it was agreed what was agreed and made public."

Ismeta Dervoz comments on the fact that it was already announce that Banja Luka would be the venue:

"I know this was the desire of the colleagues from Banja Luka, the artists. Desire so big that it was made public, before the facts about the material needs were known".

Milorad Kenjalović agrees with these words:

"What this is about is financial resources only. We do not have enough money. The time to organize the event would not be a problem, and we were able to realize the project technically. I know it brought happiness for many musicians and singers in Republika rpska. I believe we'll be able to do it maybe next year.

There'll be other chances

So this is, the complete truth about the selection of the venue and the reasons why the event is taking place in Sarajevo. This is really a time when material reasons and conditions are the basis of every job, and PBS, RTVFBiH and RTRS have been publically announcing their tough financial situations for some time. There's less and less subscribers, especially those who pay their fees on time.

As far as Eurosong is concerned - the most important thing is that everything around the final go smoothly and that our representative, in May in Estonia, do us proud and manages to secure next year's participations. And then there's a chance for a new Bosnian preselection, around whose venue and sources of financing the organizers can agree on time.

Bosnian daily "Dnevni avaz" January 9th

Al' Dino, taking part in Bosnian preselection for Eurovision 2002
I do not expect a high placing at the contest

One of the artists this year's Bosnian final to choose the representative for Eurovision is Al' Dino, who will perform Sanjam bolji svijet in Sarajevo on February 23rd.

"I think that this song is one of the best I've written so far. It is full of symbolism and speaks of love, but not individual love. Namely, my idea for the song was for it to be about cosmopolitan love. There's a lot of Bosnian ethno styles in the songs, but the rhythm is on par with world's trends," says Al' Dino.

According to him, he's happy he's taking part this year as well, but he doesn't expect huge success.

"Last year I won the second place, which I didn't expect, either. In the beginning I didn't even think the song would pass the jury selection. However, now that it has, I will need more people to make it better," admits Al' Dino.

Song"Sanjam bolji svijet has been translated to English already, and, as he says, no matter the placing, he will offer it to European producers and try to make it into foreign markets.

Bosnian daily "Dnevni avaz" January 10th

Režak: One of the presleection contestants
The song's arrangment will be done in Berlin

One of the sixteen songs which managed to pass the jury selection to be performed at the Bosnian final is the song Ti i ja smo mogli sve, whose music and lyrics were written by the young Banjalukan Boris Režak. As well as writing the song, Boris will appear as the singer of the song on February 23rd.

"I'm satisfied that my song has entered the compeition. Last year I came fifth and this year, like every competitor, I'm expecting something," says Boris.

Song Ti i ja smo mogli sve is a love theme. According to Boris' words, the arrangement for the composition will be done in Berlin, with the renowned German singstress Kathy Karni.

"This collaboration was made final long ago, but only when I found out I've made the cut did all the details get straightened out and soon I'm going to Berlin.

Boris is these days thinking about what choreography will be used in Sarajevo and he promises he will his all, and that his performance will be up to world standards.

After the contest, Boris will finish recording his first album. "This material has been awaited for a long time and I hope to have it on the market in March."

According to what we have found out, during the jury selection, eight out of the sixteen songs received the high grade of A. Among these eight best is Boris' Ti i ja smo mogli sve.

Bosnian daily "Dnevni avaz" January 10th

Young singer hurt in an accident
Lily fell while skiing

As we found out, young singstress Ljiljana Galić Lily got hurt while skiiing.

"I was on Blidnje, and I have not skied since two, three years ago. None of my descents were good and I had a nasty fall, because of which I returned home after only three days. Lucky I didn't break anything, but I have not recovered completely yet," says Lily.

No matter the fact that she's still nto ready for work, Lily went into studio today, where she will finish "Vjerujem," the song she will sing at the Bosnian Eurovision preselection.

"Beside that, because of the accident, I've canceled a few appearances, and my graduation is coming up soon and I have to get ready for that. Along with studying, I have to worry about my look, and choose the dress for the prom.

Croatian daily "Večernji list" January 4th

Who of the famous composers and singers has sent songs to the Croatian contest Dora 2002?

As the singer has more success, there is less need for Dora

Who will represent Croatia at the 47th Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held on May 25th in Estonia's capital Tallinn will be decided on March 10th in Zagreb. And while Europe's preparations are in full swing, and the performance order is known since November, according to which Croatia will sing 10th, Croatian musical and TV spectacle Dora 2002 is still in its beginning stage, the selection of the songs.

Contest for Dora 2002 was open in mid-No and it will last until tomorrow, January 5th. This year's Dora rules are identical to last year's, with some of them being influenced by the ESC 2002 rules. With that, the song can't last longer than three minutes, the performer on the demo can be replaced by another, the arrangement is also susceptible to change, Dora version must be sung primarily in Croatian, while the Eurovision version may be, upon conslultation, be performed in English. Like last year, there will not be any debutants, because it says in the rules that the performer must have had at least one CD released. The composer of the song, along with a crystal Dora statue will be awarded 100.000 kunas.

Croatian TV sources are still very careful about any kind of information connected with Dora 2002, primarily because by the time Dora is televized HRT will have a new, different management team, so it is not known whether the new people will bring up new rules. Apparently, director Saša Broz will again this year be in charge of the whole spectacle, while the editor is Aleksandar Kostadinov. He was the Croatian commentator since the beginning of Croatia's participation, and last year he lead the Croatian delegation to Copenhagen.

Since Dora is a project which everyone talks about in Croatia, last few years efforts were made to attract the best composers. So, last year Dora was a combination of songs drawn from an open-call contest and songs ordered from the most famous domestic composers. This year - there is no orders.
Out of all received songs, the jury will pick around 20 of the best. Driven by last year's semi-scandal in which fifth-placed Tony Cetinski accused HRT of fabricating the winner, people at HRT are thinking of having a two-round voting session. In the first round everyone will be voted on and out of those, the top five will be voted on again to find the winner.


As Dora is one of the most watched programs, and a television project, many composer, and singers surely want to be featured in it. They're not driven by victory (even though a hundred grand isn't a small sum) as much as by promotion. Having learned by last year's mistake of Zrinko Tutić and Maja Blagdan, this year many do not even want to confirm if they submitted a song or if they are singing it. But, we've found out that we could again see Zdenka Kovačićek, Alen Nižetić, Josip Katalenić, Branka Delić and for the first time "Gazde."

Of course, some singers, traditionally, like Josipa Lisac, are avoiding the event, while others are still calculating.

"Honestly, I haven't thought about Dora" - said Severina and added that she would haveto consult with composer Đorđe Novković. And Novković, who has been to Eurovision a few times already, last time with "Put" in 1993 says he has definitely given up. "I have no interest this year" - admits he and explains, "I'm working with Petar Grašo on Danijela's album, I've finished the work with Minea, and as far as Severina is concerned, at this moment, Dora is not necessary for her either."

The composer without which Dora was unthinkable the last few years - Tonči Huljić - didn't want to comment if he will compete this year. He said though that he doesn't want to participate in any kind of expensive polls no matter what they are about.

Contrary to Huljić, few established composers have accepted Ekran's questionnaire, even though they've as well said they may change their opinions in the last moment.

Zdenko Runjić: Maybe for the sake of continuity
I didn't send any songs to this year's Dora, and if you remember I celebrated 40 years of work in showbusiness. You know what that means for a man - retirement, so I can only songs as a retired man. But, so there's no confusion, I'll see if something will come to mind these days to send. In any case, I have given songs to some singers, so it's not out of question that they could send them instead. Maybe I will send one number, just to symbolize the 41st year of creativity and that my work's continuity isn't broken.

Rajko Dujmić: I need a mezzosoprano
I have a good, strong song in fast tempo. It's international and can be sung in Croatian and in other languages. Surely I will record it, and it came out of one of the themes of Robert Kakarigi's documentary "Land of Desert Eagle." We both thought the theme was suitable for editing to represent Croatia outside in musical terms. But, having talked to Stevo Cvikić, we're still thinking about the performer. We need a mezzosoprano.

Nenad Ninčević: This time I'm submitting three songs personally
Year before last I was the lyricist of Ostani (Kad zaspu anđeli), composed by Zdenko Runjić, and with which Goran Karan represented us in Sweden. Last year, even though I was first on the list of authors whose songs were ordered I was not in the final line-up. None of my songs made it as the recordings were received late. That's why this year I will submitted with my own hands. I'm sending at least three songs and this together with Miro Buljan and I'm very excited for me and my new conpany Millenium Music to be featured on the festival.

Zrinko Tutić: Combinations
"There exits different combinations" - Zrinko Tutić was very swift with his response to the question whether he will send any of his songs. We can't blame him, after the fact he was disqualified last year after speaking too much during the competition.

Marko Tomasović: I will send several songs
I'm happy there was understanding for my songs. Since Dora is an elite television festival and one I have competed in the last few years, I will send several up-tempo songs. They will probably be sung by some of the performers I've worked with before - EnJoy, Zdenka Kovačićek - and if there is time for recording, maybe a new name or two.