North Macedonia: All you need to know about Tamara Todevska and her entry “Proud”
The national broadcaster of North Macedonia, MRT, opted for an internal selection in order to choose its Eurovision 2019 act. North Macedonia will be represented by Tamara Todevska and she will be singing the song “Proud” in Tel Aviv next May.
A few words about Tamara Todevska
Tamara had represented FYR. Macedonia in Eurovision 2008 alongside with Vrčak and Adrijan with the song Let Me Love You, which finished 10th in the second semi final. Under the old voting system, only the top 9 in the televote were guaranteed a space in the final with a backup jury selecting the final country. In this instance they opted for Sweden to advance instead, under the current system FYR Macedonia would have qualified. She has been part of the country’s delegation in Eurovision 2004 with Tose Proeski as a backing vocalist and in 2014 as a backing vocalist for her sister Tijana with her entry “To The Sky”
Tamara comes from a family of musicians, as her mother is an opera performer and her father is a professor in the Music Academy of Skopje while her sister Tijana Dapcevic, has represnted the country in Eurovision 2014. Tamara made her first steps in music at the age of 12 performing alongside with her sister Tijana the song Igra luda at Skopje’s Festival, and continued on by participating in several festivals in Ex Yugoslavian countries. She has released two albums entitled, Sino in 2005 and Eden Den in 2015. In 2007 she participated for the first time in the country’s national final with the entry Kazi Koj Si Ti and finished 2nd.
The entry “Proud”
The title of the song that Tamara Todevska will perform at the 64th Eurovision Song Contest is “Proud”. The song is composed by Darko Dimitrov, Robert Bibliov and Lazar Cvetkoski. The names behind the song are no strangers to the Eurovision family. Darko Dimitrov has been behind FYR. Macedonia’s entries at the Eurovision and Junior Eurovision Song Contest and has written multiple songs for the competition over the past decade. Lazar Cvetkoski was involved in the composition and production of the country’s Eurovision entries back in 2013 and 2014. Robert Bibliov had contributed in Tamara’s song at Eurovision 2008 and in was behind the 2015 entry “Autumn Leaves”.
On her official Instagram account, Tamara Todevska revealed some details and insights on her song “Proud”, that she will compete with at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv:
Today, as I look at my daughter, I want her to grow up in a world where people will not judge her, tell her how to act, smile and move. I want her to know that she doesn’t have to follow the rules to be accepted. I want her to be whoever she wants to be and most importantly, be proud of who she is. That’s the least I can do for her.
I am proud to say that on the 16th of May I will dedicate my song to my daughter and sing for everyone out there who has been told to always lower their heads and follow strict rules.
On May 16th, we will break the rules and at least for one night in the year, we will show the world that I AM PROUD is always stronger than their YOU WILL NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH!
The lyrics of the song “Proud”
Girl
They will try to tell you what to do
How to look, smile, act and move
All the rules are made for you to lose
But baby let me tell you something
Girl
For every tear the world makes you cry
Hold on to me, I am always on your side
Don’t be afraid to spread your wings and fly
Tell them
Raise your voice and say it loudly
Show them, what it means to stand up proudly
Tell them
This is me and thanks to you I am proud
Girl
They will try to tell you what to do
Have no fear, the power lies in you
Shine your light, go and break the rules
Tell them
Raise your voice and say it loudly
Show them, what it means to stand up proudly
Tell them
This is me and thanks to you I am proud
The Eurovision Story so Far
The Balkan country debuted at the comeptition in 1998 with the name FYR Macedonia. As FYR Macedonia the country attempted to debut at the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with Kaliopi, but didn’t make through the special premliminary audio semi-final. In its 18 years of participation the best result was in 2006 with Elena Risteka placed 12th in the Grand Final in Athens, while it has qualifies only 8 time in the final.
In 2018 Eye Cue were selected internally to represent the country in Lisbon. The duo with their song Lost and found failed to reach the final , making it the sixth year in a row without a grand final qualification.
