Interview with Ljupчоo Neчоovski, the biggest Eurovision fan in Macedonia: The differences between us are only in the minds, but not in the hearts

The biggest fan of Eurovision in Macedonia, Ljupco Necovski, Photo: Private archive

I started watching Eurovision more actively, by recording results, statistics, etc., in 2000, and since then I have been "driven" by that film, the feeling that I am witnessing something where there is no entry criterion, where everyone is accepted as he is and only contributes with its nuance to that huge variety of melodies, languages, cultures, says Ljupco.

Ljupчоo Neчоovski is 31 years old and works as a translator from Macedonian to English and vice versa. In his free time he listens and shares music, sings and is a member of the academic choir "Mirce Acev" for 12 years. He has a great appetite for researching music news, but one of his most distinctive features is his follow-up to Eurovision. Ljupco has been following the music competition for 20 years with fanatical dedication and shared with "Free Press" perspective and in-depth analysis of a fan of the show.

We all watch Eurovision, but your zealous commitment is unique. How was your love for music competition born and how do you nurture it?

- I first met Eurovision in less than 7 years, in 1998, when Macedonia participated in this competition for the first time and all that was announced so much in the media, so my family could not resist and on May 9, 1998 we were all in front of the TV. I was small then and went to bed early, so I did not watch the whole show until the end, but I remember the impressions from the stage, the orchestra, the colorful national flags and the different languages ​​of all the participating countries. I started watching Eurovision more actively, by recording results, statistics, etc., in 2000, and since then I have been "driven" by that film, the feeling that I am witnessing something where there is no entry criterion, where everyone is accepted as he is and only contributes with its nuance to that huge variety of melodies, languages, cultures… That's why I love Eurovision, because there is a place for everyone and because it encourages and supports the development and display of our unique talents and values, which I believe that each of us carries them within, only awakens them in different circumstances.

Photo: Private archive

What are the best Macedonian Eurovision performances seen through a subjective and objective prism?

- As songs and performances at Eurovision that are very dear to me personally, I would single out those of Vlado Janevski, "XXL", "Next Time", Kaliopi, Jana Burceska and Tamara Todevska, because I think that with these representatives and songs, regardless of the final results, at the same time we presented ourselves quite authentically, but we were also up to date with the music and other current trends for the time in which they performed. From an objective point of view, I would agree with the opinion of the wider European public, ie I would single out our songs that achieved the best rankings, such as those of Tose Proeski, Karolina Goceva, Elena Risteska, and I will mention Kaliopi and Tamara Todevska again. I would also say that Kaliopi's "Black and White" and Tamara's "Proud" were, in my opinion, the most complete packages that Macedonia presented at Eurovision, including great songs, singers and stage performances, which were appropriately awarded by the European audience.

A few days ago you wrote an open letter to MRTV in which you criticized him. What do you think are the shortcomings of the organization and how can they be remedied?

- As I wrote in that status, I personally, from the position of a spectator and Eurovision fan, get the feeling that the singers who represent Macedonia at Eurovision, do not always have the full support of the public service. On the one hand, I believe we all know that MRTV has limited resources when it comes to our Eurovision performance, but on the other hand, there is an invisible, psychological burden that the singers who represent us at Eurovision, seem to carry alone. An image is created how the role of MRTV stops at the moment when we choose a representative for Eurovision, and how to continue until the main event in May, the singers to do all the other work alone, with a little help from their producers, who can. Whenever we return from Eurovision with our heads down because we did not enter the finals or did not place ourselves solidly, the whole burden of negative criticism and responsibility falls on the shoulders and heads of the singers and, in my opinion, the most tragic thing is that after all that series of weaker results, the public service broadcaster does not give the impression that it is trying to change things for the better. Well, for the sake of truth, this year they chose a different approach in the selection for the Eurovision representative, but the idea of ​​national selection was performed quite amateurishly, and in such moments it is normal for the public, the spectators, to create dissatisfaction and frustration, because still It is a public service financed by the money of the citizens and I believe that every citizen wants to see the benefit of his contribution to society.

Necovski: For 15 years, the same people have been failing at Eurovision, and none of them is demanding responsibility

All this can change if as a public service we really sit down to analyze and find some NHS why we have not had success at Eurovision in the last few years and how to change that. We can take the example of other countries such as Spain, France, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Serbia and several others, which after fundamental changes in their way of selecting a Eurovision representative, have significantly improved their result in this competition. As a country and as a people, we miss the (Skopje) Festival, a national platform where we would promote young promising music names, singers, bands, but also composers. Let's see first what they have to offer us, let them show a result, and then be offered the opportunity to present their musical creations at Eurovision. I think that this approach will motivate many musicians in our country, because Macedonia really has talents. Here, the last national selection revealed wonderful performers like Andrea, Jon Idi, Kali and others, each with a unique expression and musical stamp. We only have one Andrea, one Ion, one Kali, so let's support them. Let's give a space where all those young people will promote their music, a space for healthy competition between them.

VIDEO | Simple and powerful: Andrea with a great performance in Turin

What are the world trends when it comes to Eurovision? How can we get closer to greater success or at least to the final?

- If we put Eurovision in a trendy framework, I think that the winners of this competition are usually the ones who dictate trends for future editions. But if I have to single out one X-factor that always generates success at Eurovision, it is the authenticity and originality of the singers, the songs or the country, ie the culture that is presented there. As the first and most representative example, I will point to Ukraine, the only country that has ever qualified for the Eurovision final. Ukrainian musicians have found their formula for success in the perfect interweaving of traditional music authentic to their culture and contemporary music that easily fits into almost anyone's ear. The Ukrainian representatives are always one of the most original at Eurovision, from Ruslana to "Go_A" and their current representatives "Kalush Orchestra".

Also, as a country of this caliber of Eurovision I would point out Italy, which from 2011 when it returned to the Eurovision stage until today, even 8 times placed in the top 10, thanks to the unique penetrating and emotional sound of the Italian music. I can say that some other countries are slowly recognizing this formula for success and applying it in some authentic way and managing to achieve great results. That is the formula for success: to be authentic and unique, and I think that we as a country should focus on what makes us unique, as our Macedonian language and our Macedonian culture, which with a little more effort we can turn into wonderful songs, which I believe at Eurovision can be very successful.

Photo: Private archive

What is your forecast for the final night? How will the winner be chosen this year? Does anyone other than Ukraine have a chance, given the military circumstances?

For seven years, the winner has been selected according to a system where song points are awarded by expert juries composed of national services of all participating countries, and the audience watching Eurovision in front of the small screens, in a ratio of 50-50. Yes, Ukraine is considered the main favorite because of the war and the feelings it evokes in Europeans, but I think that despite that, the Ukrainians have solid competition. The main favorites would be the representatives of Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as the hosts, Italy, who this year offer us really good songs with also very good stage performances. I would also like to include the Contract from Serbia, not only because it is my personal favorite, but also in my opinion, this year it offers us the most unique and original package of song, performance and message, which I see reach many people across Europe despite language barrier.

The "character" of Eurovision changes from year to year. What does the future of music competition look like?

- I have been following Eurovision for more than 20 years and I can notice that technology and technological solutions are more and more present in the organizational structure of this festival and competition. For example, last year, due to the covid-pandemic, for the first time the European Broadcasting Union allowed the accompanying vocals to be recorded on a matrix, ie. their part does not have to be sung live, a rule that remained in force for this year as well. I also think that social networks and media have a great impact on the metamorphoses of Eurovision over the years, so we can see that many countries and delegations decide to put more emphasis on the visual presentation of their songs, at the expense of the music. Some may not like it, but if the new generation of Eurovision fans sets it as a criterion, we of the older generations can not oppose it, because still, the world of youth remains. Apart from this, I have not thought much about how Eurovision would change in the future and what would become interesting and attractive. I just know that the purpose and meaning of Eurovision is to bring together peoples with different cultures in one place, and to unite them in their originality and authenticity. Simply, Eurovision shows us that the differences between us are only in our minds, but not in our hearts.

All previous Macedonian representatives at Eurovision: "Proud" made us proud, and the whole of Europe danced at "Ninanajna"

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