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Interview with OGAE Croatia
Serbia: Jelena Tomašević - "I can't compete with a turkey!"
Jelena and Željko Joksimović, the composer of her song Oro and Eurovision Song Contest runner-up in 2004, appeared on the HRT show Na domaćem terenu (On Home Ground) last weekend.
"I have been collaborating with Željko for several years, and our song Jutro came second at Evropesma in 2005, second for reasons known to all", says Jelena, thus alluding to the political situation in Serbia and Montenegro at the time.
"I think that it is a great honour to represent my country at such a big event", says the singer, who eventually plans to record the song in Spanish, Greek, Hebrew, Finnish, Russian and English. On asked why the song was being recorded in so many languages, Jelena said: "Ask my PR team! I like all the versions, but I'm going to sing completely in Serbian in May. I think a lot is lost by singing in English. Isn't that what Eurovision's all about, showing the difference?"
Jelena says that she always enjoyed watching Eurovision when she was a little girl, however when Željko sang Lane Moje in 2004, Eurovision became much more popular.
"I've heard all the songs for this year's contest, and I have to say that I have not been won over by a single one. But what I dislike most is the direction in which some countries are going. I'm thinking first and foremost about Ireland. I think it is totally bizarre, and the banalisation of a once respected musical event. I simply can't compete against a turkey. Isn't the whole point that the singer performing a song can be seen? Perhaps he is backstage, and it is playback!" says Jelena.
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For romanian guy/girl
How can you know what she THINKS 
Are you a mind-reader?
No, you are the same as Galena with putting your words in Jelena's mouth.........
Though how hard it is for all of you to admit,Jelena has said right thing.That is such a shame for Ireland! A turkey?I didn't mean you would fall that low.That song even doesn't deserve to show up at the ESC.And you shouldn't criticize Jelena,because it's her opinion about the other entries,everybody has right to express opinions.And you Galena,you are so pathetic and full of jealousy,but that will dear bring you nowhere.
Serbia: Jelena Tomašević - "I can't compete with a turkey!"
Andorra: GIsela - "I can't compete with Chikiliquatre". Every interview that Gisela gives in Catalan and Spanish TVs, she says, in correct words, this idea. She compete in a song contest, and performances as Chikiliquatre needs another contest, the Jokes Contest...
She thinks that she's the best one?! .....what a looser....shoot yourself Jelena 
)
She thinks that she's the best one?! .....what a looser....shoot yourself Jelena )
oh yeah.Sure and yours is the best...hehehehe yeah right.
Jelena is just being totally honest, I haven’t either been won by any song this year. I don’t even like ours (Serbian song) at all. There were many better songs in Athens and Helsinki. I'm very sad that Belgrade will host such a weak ESC and I'm quite mad at other countries for not sending good songs.
@ Galena
"She thinks that nothing can win her.She is the best.She definently underestimate all of our entries.I mean do you realy think that all other songs are not good enough and just her song is the most beautifull thing this year."
WHERE, OH WHERE have you read that??? She said "I have not been won over by a single one"!!! That just means that!!! Don't put your words in her mouth!!!
Enough.First of all people how cant you see what she said?She thinks that nothing can win her.She is the best.She definently underestimate all of our entries.I mean do you realy think that all other songs are not good enough and just her song is the most beautifull thing this year.Than,im the arogant and intolerant and i offend.Come on.See the realyti and see who is ofending here.Jelena Tomasevic underestimate all of the songs.The only thing that is not fair is that.Everything other that we say here is the fair thing.
@ Galena Lalova
Yeah, like you seen that "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia" on her OFFICIAL video... It may be seen on the videos that fans made, and they can put what ever message they want.
How can you be so ignorant???
First of all when iwatched the video in the end was saying Kosovo is a heart of Serbia.So this doesnt look political right?ok so I m the only one that talks about it...Dont be so naive its too clear that she will get her points on the card Europe feels sorry about us.I dont have nothing against Serbs you missunderstand me.But i have against this game they are playing this year to win the contest and yes Katarina i ve excpected more from your country,this entry is so so seen here.At least in our conditions and for the Balcans.thats the first reason i dont like it its boring,the second is that they are trying to use the Kosovo issue to get many pts.Sorry,but i wont vote for Serbia this year as i used to do the years before,i voted for all of Serbian entries,but this year not.
@ Rocket Radio
I fully respect what you said and it was refreshing to read your post, putting your point across without trying to be condescending which is I nice change for this website! I just think whether jury or public vote, it is frustrating when you can guess where the points will go before songs have even been performed like how the Montenegrin jury were only ever going to vote for the Montenegrin act.
My favourite example is always my own country Ireland consistently giving Lithuania 12 points. I can tell you that Lithuania hasn't had an entry that got Irish voters that excited to vote for it more than once, although for a Lithuanian living here it might be a different case.
I agree with your last sentiment though, let the best song win!
PS the best song is Ireland 
@ DannyT
I didn’t contradict myself. The system of voting in Evropesma back then and in Eurovision now are totally different. Even if we assume that No name got the largest number of votes by sms (what I seriously doubt), can you please tell me that the regular thing for you is that two years in a row two best songs from Beovizija didn’t get a single point from four out of four members of the jury from Montenegro. Believe me we don’t have that many good songs in our national final, so there is a big difference between the first two and the rest, when we talk about the quality. Evropesma 2005. is not so much about Jelena’s not going to the Eurovision, but it is about obvious cheating from the Montenegrin jury to make sure that their representative goes instead of Serbian. I didn’t care if our representative is from Montenegro or Serbia, because I actually saw it like one country and I knew that most of Europe won’t even know that that someone on the stage is from Serbia or from Montenegro. What bothers me even more is that they’ve done the same thing next year. Luckily, this time our national broadcaster didn’t just let go, like a year before. That is what 2005. & 2006. is all about.
I’m happy that you find so many songs at this Eurovision that you like. It’s the matter of taste. I don’t find that many good songs. Again, the matter of taste. Of course nobody can force you to like Serbian entry, and believe me I wasn’t trying to do that in my post. If you had that impression, you got it wrong. Feel free to love Ireland entry this year and vote as much as you like for it. You have the right to do that like any other citizen of Europe.
Once again, let the best song win!
I didnt like what she said about the rest of the entries! I was like "yeahbuwhat?" Like "mine is too good to be compared to"! I mean you should HAVE TO name at least one! Or lets say she hasnt heard them yet...i dont know it seemed a lil arrogant to me...
No offence! I still like her song though
Jelena is absolutly right !! I agree with her for 100% !!
@Christophe Lemonnier
OOO You poor thing..... I am really sorry for u..... But u can only dream that will happen!!!!
@ darko: criticism noted, taken into account and respected
and to be honest i usually enjoy reading ur comments 2 
hehe although i usually write wateva is on my mind, i generally dont go outta my way to offend ne1, so if there was ne offence, none was meant
Bojan,
Show some respect .... like you guys show respect ??? You've been negative towards absolutely everything, Ireland's entry to start with. Why does everyone always needs to have respect for the Serbs ? You guys have a major superiority complex. The Serbian songs this years sucks big time, it's boring, boring, boring... I will vote as often as possible for Ireland. It's fresh, good lyrics, good beat... and I want to go back to Dublin, and Ireland, to the bst orginisers and true overall winners of Eurovision.
Tom, in short, it's because I usually enjoy the spirited liveliness of your comments and this sounded totally uncalled for. It's perfectly OK for you not to like her song (though you tend to dwell on that fact, but then again we all do to varying degrees) - but to call her an arrogant twat...ONE thing she isn't, really...is a bit rich, regardless of your interpretation of what she said in the interview.
oh my god peepz please excuse the plethora of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors in that last post... its late and im tired here in sydney lol... shit im sounding like dima lol
@darko:
i disappoint u? zasto be? lol well maybe that was harsh but its just my personal opinion, ive noticed (and this is in no relaton to you dw ) that unless if totally agreein with serbs im, then i am anti serb, which is far from the truth.. but hey i got a soft spot for the balkans and i understand that unless u juz agree with a person's opinion then u r wrong, geez i should no from my grandfather
hehe feel free to give me a full posting in response or add me on msn and giv me a blasting lol, diff between me and jelena tho is i am no1 therefore i an be a self serving twat, im not representing any1, nehow hvala i cao
@ Rocket Radio
You kind of contradicted yourself there. You say that the biggest problem isn't the neighbour/diaspora voting but then complain about the voting in the Evropesma, maybe her song wasn't that good.
There may not be many good songs that appeal to you this year opinion but I like a large number of the entries, Serbia's is not included in that though.
Ireland to win!!!!!
Well said Rocket Radio.
Galena Lalova, your comment doesn't make sense. Bulgaria doesn't deserve to win. Jelaousy is sometimes good, but not in your case!!! Take a grip and grow up! Show respect!
CCCC
I don’t believe all the things people wrote here! The problem with ESC is not as much voting as you say, but truly lack of good songs. I don’t mean great songs, but good, decent songs. Even 20 years ago you could predict how the vote will go, partly. It’s normal, I guess. Get over it. You got two semi finals now. I can’t vote for the song I would like because it’s in the first semifinal and I can vote in the second. The main thing is that at the end the best song wins, and the winning song has to have votes from all the countries. Today, I see ESC like a big party where you can always find a reason to laugh, which wasn’t the case in the past. Who’s the one to blame, I don’t know and, frankly, I don’t care. I’m just happy that my country hasn’t sent a joke entry in the past and I hope it won’t happen in the future, either.
About what Jelena said. The reason why I like her, beside the great voice she has, is the fact that when ever I saw her on the TV she was always very nice and modest. Totally opposite of arrogant. I would want to see her arrogant, but I don’t think that’s possible, because she’s not capable of that. When she won at Beovizija and the journalist asked her about the Eurovision, I remember that she said what ever happens it’ll be fine, but she’s hoping to be at the top, which is completely normal. I think that later some of the people around her said to her that it would be good if she thinks of her as a possible winner, which is the right attitude because if you don’t see yourself as a winner how can you ask for the others to think of you as a winner. In every single interview she had to answer about 2005 and not going to Kiev that year. She was always polite and to nice by saying how it was meant to be and that she accepted it as God’s will. I guess she was tired of answering to the same question over and over again and this time she used the phrase “we all know what happened” (the reporter added due to the political situation, not her) and people jumped on her immediately. I was actually mad at her for not being more angry about what happened in 2005. The same thing happened in 2006!
About Irish entry this year I don’t have a comment. I must say that Ireland has a great tradition at the Eurovision and this won’t do any good to them. Personally, I don’t have anything against it, but I think it’s an insult for everyone who loves Eurosong. I hope for the sake of the Eurovision it won’t pass in to the final. I love the songs like “The Voice”, “In Your Arms” and, of course, “Hold me now” and I have them on my mp3 player even years after they won the Eurovision. When I think of Ireland at the Eurovision, I’ll always remember these songs.
What I’m trying to say is that I think a lot of you guys are to hard on Jelena about all this. You don’t have to like her song, but to attack her personally because she said that neither one of the songs made huge impression on her, c’mon. To be honest, there are only two songs that I like (not counting the Serbian, which btw I love and not just because it’s Serbian), which is a lot less then in previous years. And neither one of this two will find the place on my mp3 player, because I don’t like them that much.
Jelena is a great singer and a nice person and I’m really happy that she’ll represent Serbia. Good luck to everyone and let the best song win.
"because we all know what the political situation in Serbia is she will win"
Now, the discussion is turned into another Balkan "you ate my dog, so I'll eat yours" debate.
Outside of the Balkans, nobody cares whether Serbia and Kosovo are together or not. So that won't work with voters from Iceland, Poland, Spain, or Austria or anywhere else.
Arrogant, self-serving twat??
Tom, you disappoint me, you really do. 
marko
As matter of fact, people are annoyed by this snob who thinks she is too good for ESC, who says "I've heard all the songs for this year's contest, and I have to say that I have not been won over by a single one" Also while she states that "Eurovision's all about showing the difference" on the other hand she says " I simply can't compete against a turkey (Ireland)" Two different things/direction. She doesn't even know what she is talking about, why? Quiet simply because she has got jelsko behind her composing her song and she thinks she won ESC already, well, she will not win it. Previously the two songs in ESC (2004, 2006) that were composed by jelsko did not win and this is nother similar sound that could even score lower, as people are bored with that dream eater. Zelsko's new bloon will not win eating out its dream on stage. good luck anyway.
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