Croatia 2018: Get to know Franka Batelic

Franka Batelic also known as Franka, is a singer and songwriter from Croatia and she will represent her country at 63rd ESC with the song «Crazy».  She has risen to reputation as she was the winner of the first season of «Showtime».

Franka Batelić was born on June 7th, 1992 in Rijeka, Croatia, daughter of Ingrid and Damir Batelić.  Batelić has a younger brother called Nikola, who is the guitarist of Labin’s “Storm” band. Batelić began singing at her 3, initially singing as a soloist with the choir “Minicantanti” and also singing at the ecclesiastical choir of the Catholic parish of St. Andrew in Rabac.

Batelić took part in the first show of «Showtime» in 2007, singing Giorgia’s “Come saprei” for judges Jacques Houdek, Ivana Husar and Boris Banovic. She  defeated Marijo Ponjavić, Mijo Lešina and Artemija Stanić to win the contest on December 22, 2007, taking the highest number of TV scores in the final. As a prize for winning, Batelić signed a record contract with the record label Hit Records. Her first album, “Ovaj daj”, was officially released on November 14, 2007.

Batelić’s second single, “Ruža u kamenu”, written by Miro Buljan, Boris Đurđević and Neno Ninčević, was released in Croatia in May 2008. She performed at the 12th Croatian Radio Festival in Opatija where she won the Pop / Rock audience award, receiving the most points from the television audience.

“Pjesma za kraj” was released as Batelić’s third single in January 2009.  The song was recorded for the Croatian selection for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, where it finished 7th with a total of 18 points. In December 2009, Batelić and dancer Ištvan Varga won the 4th season of Ples sa zvijezdama, the Croatian version of «Dancing with the Stars».

On November 27, 2017, Batelić confirmed through the social media that her return song “S Tobom” was released on 4 December 2017.  The song for the first time played at «Nives Čanović’s 385 Show» on Narodni Radio on December 4 with Batelić giving a live interview. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Sandra Mihaljević and Igor Ivanović and premiered on HR Top RTL on 10 December 2017. It was announced on 13 February 2018 that Batelić would represent Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Franka is in relation with Croatian football player Vedran Ćorluka. She is an activist for  LGBT rights. Franka Batelić is an animal rights activist and was the face of Croatian’s “Animal’s Friend” in 2009.

Lyrics:

[Verse 1]
You make me feel
You got me deep inside this love
You make my heart go
When I saw your eyes, boy
You’re just like a movie, black and white
You make me go straight out of my mind

[Pre-Chorus 1]
I swear that I, I would remember
Roses, and horses, and the rain
Make it forever and I-I-I-I go

[Chorus]
Crazy
Go crazy for your love
Crazy
Go crazy for you love
Lo-o-o-ove
Lo-o-o-ove

[Post-Chorus]
I love you for this love knows no reason, no games
Just like Bonnie and Clyde, we walk the road together
No fear, no breaks

[Verse 2]
You light up my world
No I need no diamond or pearls, not that kind of girl
Over the moon
I’ll be your queen and I’ll be your fool

[Pre-Chorus 2]
Say you’ll remember the
Roses, and horses, and the rain
Make it forever and I-I-I go

[Chorus]
Crazy
Go crazy for your love
Crazy
Go crazy for you love
Lo-o-o-ove
Lo-o-o-ove

[Bridge]
Ain’t no running, no turning back
Now I’m caught in your web
Is it real, I keep asking myself
Sweet fantasy, I can’t help, can’t hide it
I’m shooting across the sky

[Outro]
I’m crazy for your love
Crazy, I’ll go crazy, I’ll go crazy
Lo-o-o-ove