There’s a silver-haired light guiding our way and keeping us safe through Eurovision season and she’s called Nina Kraljic, Croatia’s 2016 representative. She was in Amsterdam last weekend for Eurovision in Concert. Just before she took to the Melkweg stage she spent a few minutes with our William. The “Lighthouse” singer proved to be as likeable as she is fierce.
Nina Kraljic interview at Eurovision in Concert
The Croatian superstar told us that her team wrote “Lighthouse” quickly — between late February, when she was selected, and March 9, when the song was released.
The actual recording took just one day — the result of Nina’s amazing vocals and her ease at mastering pretty much any song she takes on.
Nina understands the Ellie Goulding comparisons, but she likes to think that she’s more special on stage… even a bit bipolar in her performances.
As for “Lighthouse”, Nina says it carries an intense message of empowerment, both for people and for her country.
And the lighthouse in the song isn’t just a message — it refers to a friend of hers who sadly passed away, and to whom she dedicates every song she sings.
Nina’s career has gone from strength to strength and she’s one of the biggest stars in the Balkans, having won The Voice of Croatia and later the Porin Award (not the Porn Award, as she points out).
But fame hasn’t changed this edgy girl-next-door. She opted for real promotional photos that show her as she is, not over-the-top Top Model ones.
Nina Kraljic – Lighthouse live in Amsterdam
As for her performance, Nina absolutely slayed the pack. The vocals were on point as was her stunning black and white kimono with mystical tree-print.
Uncover Zara Larsson similar Lihghthouse Nina Kraljic. Too overatted in betting odds and especialy in wiwi juries points and final score.
Thank you all for such nice comments on Nina and her song. 🙂 I really hope Croatia manages to get to finals this year. Anything more is a bonus, but I really want to see her in finals. She is truely brilliant. 🙂
People…come down… Don’t fight here. Nina wouldn’t like that. 🙂
Take a moment and appreciate a good music.
Thank you Nina for giving us this beautiful song.
@Do Do John, whoever you are
If you don’t take criticism well, don’t visit the comment section. Also, don’t dare to call anyone here ‘a liar’, just because you don’t agree with them. Respect our opinion!
Nina is too good for this sort of competition.
She is in the league with Sia.
Just wait and see..
xoxo Sergey!
John Doe writes: “It was in my Top 5 at the beginning but now I am getting annoyed by Nina’s voice. It is getting more difficult to listen to this song many times because of her voice. In addition, after her live performance I felt nothing. Something is missing from this song.”
Oh John, I don’t think so, mate! I don’t think so at all. Her live performance was absolutely amazing! I think you are here on a mission, mate. Nice try.
No matter what the voters’ and the jury will eventually come up with, Nina has already won…..my attention! He he… Well done Nina!
In this parade of hammy-la-la-la-hop-hop-hop- tunes (definition of “catchy”) you are the only light. My lighthouse.
I just love this song – from the first time I heard it till now. Touching, mysterious and atmospheric. And her voice…oh God…pure eargasm…
That performance from Amsterdam was mesmerising. I didn’t think she can perform live so good… Top 5 definitely…
The most interesting artist of Eurovision song contest. Croatia is the dark horse of this year’s competition!
@Andrey (from Russia)
No, she went down at bookies just right after idiotic accusations of plagiarism. It is sad, though… None of this matters cause she will SLAY in Stockholm!!!!!
Thanks again William for a great interview. Nina sings the song perfectly in tune a capella, which is very impressive. She comes across as very real and with no nonsense – i like that. It’s sad actually that her team only had TWO WEEKS to come up with a song though. Fortunately there were two young guys in Vienna who had written a song about a lighthouse. Reminds me of my youth. 😀
She was the 4th at bookies and after her live performances she went down to the 13th now. Obviously, Croatia is not in top 15 this year.
One of my favorite Eurovision songs in the past 15 years and favorite song of Eurovision 2016. Her vocals are otherwordly <3
My favorite this year! Greetings from Finland!
Her Amsterdam`s live performance has over 100,000 views and that tells something. Whatever we may think she absolutely SLAYED that night. Her vocals were on point and she looked really good. I like her hair and that weird dress but weird in a good way! 😀 And I like the fact she doesn`t look like a pop star. Very cool girl!
Oh I just love this song… It`s on repeat all the time. <3
Croatia – 12 points!
This song is a pure gem. And that is it`s biggest problem. I think this entry is maybe too good for Eurovision song contest and that people will not understand that, just like Jamala`s “1944”. Two comletely different but brilliant songs.
I like Nina even more after this interview. 🙂
Let’s face it – this is the best song this year. Pure quality. The combination of the voice, production and lyrics with really strong message is just stunning.
I see it in top 3.
nina is so cool… 😀 i would like to meet her. 🙂
thank you wiwibloggs for interviewing my this years`s favorite! 🙂
Well…first of all… I must say that I`m not one of the Lighthouse`s fans but I must be honest. That perfromance in Amsterdam was nearly perfection. I really didn`t expected she`ll be that good! After that perfromance I like her entry a little bit more, but it`s not my style.
And Nina is cute. 😉
Nina is not beautiful as Ira Losco from Malta, not a showman as Barei from Spain, but oh my God…she is hands down the best vocalist (along with Kaliopi) of Eurovision 2016.
I like the fact she is so unique and what I saw from this interview a very, very likeable and smart young woman.
Not my favorite, but I can’t argue about this entry. I see why it’s so popular – excellent vocalist, beautiful song and BRILLIANT production. I’m amazed how nobody noticed that…
Overrated?! NOT AT ALL! I was there in Amsterdam and let me tell you something – this girl CAN SING!!!! Me and my friends (who, by the way, are not all of them fans of her song) admitted she was captivating. The way she moves her hands while she singing… we were just frozen by here enigmatic performance.
greetings from austria
when she won the voice my friend from croatia sent me a youtube clip where she sings a beautiful rendition of chris isaac’s wicked game and i was instantly hooked. what a voice, what an energy… i really can’t understand how someone can say that she has no charisma – her voice is absolutely EVERYTHING! Her biggest power! her voice tells you a story even of you don’t understand a language she sings… i don’t need anything more! nina <3
I can’t believe that someone can actually say that she “lacks the stage presence”?!?! Oh, God… What she has to do? Dancing with the wolves and jumping around lunatic while singing this beautiful, gentle song?! Come on… Nina is a lovely singer. What an instrument she has… Great, great performance. The best of the night!!
I didn’t watch this competition for 8 years, but this year i will watch it beacuse of this particular entry.
what great performer she is… that live performace in amsterdam was absolutely stunning. breathtaking…
her song is pretty much a cross between “Don’t Stop Believing” by Mariette and “Only Teardrops”
To be honest, I do not know what happened but I do not like her song as much as I liked it before. It was in my Top 5 at the beginning but now I am getting annoyed by Nina’s voice. It is getting more difficult to listen to this song many times because of her voice. In addition, after her live performance I felt nothing. Something is missing from this song.
Croatia is my favorite this year. Nina is absolutely great performer and brilliant vocalist, maybe the best in whole competition. As for “stage presence”, she has that but in her own way. She’s subtle, gentle and her vocals are pure emotion.
It’s easy to understand why is she the most polarizing artist in Eurovision because it’s not your typical eurovision performer and “Lighthouse” simply stands out beacuse of it’s simplicity, beautiful melody and excellent lyrics which is very rare in Eurovision song contest.
Croatia 12 points!
Yes i agree with Loo, Nina is a nice girl but she has no charisma or stage presence, her song is also dull and forgettable, i think she will fail to qualify but maybe i’m wrong..
This is the biggest fan wank of the year. She will flop real hard I’m afraid. I would not be surprised if it all ends in the semifinal.
Since when did Poli say she was homosexual?
Love Nina by the way. She seems like a very edgy yet very down-to-earth girl who I’d like to hang out in Costa with. Lovely woman, I wish I could be her friend.
She is going to perform this saturday on The Voice 😀
We will hear Lighthouse in full power 🙂
She is so beautiful and likeable. I wonder if she has a girlfriend. If not, Poli is still single! <3
Yes I agree. I think it was unreasonable that the bookies had it at 3rd at one point. 12th is much more realistic. I really like the song though, it’s much better than previous entries. People may forget this song like Estonia last year. A big favourite but as no-one had heard of Estonia that much so it didn’t do that well.
A bit overrated in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, the song is good, it’s a really, really pleasant surprise from Croatia. But that’s the only reason it got so much attention. Croata rarely sent a good song and now that they did, they caught attention. If perhaps Sweden sent this song, it wouldn’t be that well recieved.