Tony Cetinski Jacques Houdek My Friend

It’s been just over a week since Jacques Houdek released his Eurovision 2017 song “My Friend”. So far, reaction has been mixed to say the least. The bilingual, pop-opera song has proven to be a daring (and divisive) song drawing a range of reactions from love to loathing.

At the same time, the song’s social media campaign — #bemyfriend — has received some notable support. Artists supporting the campaign include last year’s Croatian representative Nina Kraljic and Eurovision 2007 winner, Serbia’s Marija Serifovic.

Unfortunately, one singer in particular seems a little bitter about all of this. Croatia’s Eurovision 1994 act — and Jacques’ fellow judge on The Voice CroatiaTony Cetinski. He’s accused Jacques of copying his pop-opera crossover from his song “Caruso”.

In an interview with Story.hr, Cetinski said:

“I am greatly disappointed because of its shamelessness. Jacques is an exceptional vocalist who listened attentively to my performance ‘Caruso’ and picked up the shock torque changing techniques of singing from opera to pop tone of voice. The arrangements are excellent, the production is beyond all expectations, but my suggestion would be to sing normally and be yourself at least once in your lifetime or at least in this contest.”

Cetinski’s also said that it would be a bad idea for Jacques to sing and look like his idol, Pavarotti. According to Cetinski, it’s because Pavarotti “does not deserve this”. Here’s the song in question:

Tony Cetinski — “Caruso”

The reaction has not been all negative. Many artists, in fact, have come to Jacques’ support. Emilija Kokic, lead singer of Eurovision 1989 winners Riva, is full of praise for Jacques’ participation. She says:

“Life is a miracle and we need it to live as if every day is the last. Jacques celebrates diversity, emits a noble message and this is the first time since Croatia sends the song to the Eurovision Song Contest that someone thought deeply about the song and the presentation, in every sense of the word”.

Of course, pop-opera crossover is also nothing new in the world of Eurovision. The likes of Malena Ernman and Cezar Ouatu have already given the genre to attention in the contest. Y’all, this feels a little like sour grapes and a bit too personal to us!

What do you think about Tony Cetinski’s allegations over Jacques’ “My Friend”? Let us know all your thoughts by shouting out on the wiwibloggs app. You can also leave a comment in the comments section down below, and don’t forget to vote in our “favourite act” poll if you’re supporting Jacques!

Follow all of our Croatia Eurovision news here

16 Comments
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Tommy
Tommy
7 years ago

The mix between pop and opera has many fans, this will do well.
For some people this is so bad, but just as much people think is great.

John Egan
John Egan
7 years ago

It was OK for Tony Cetinski to cover Florent Pagny’s “Caruso”, but Jacques Houdek’s done something wrong? Whatever…

Tomas Patrick Davitt
Tomas Patrick Davitt
7 years ago

Oh tony tony tony – what planet are you on? the opera -pop crossover is one of the worst aspects in this absolute car crash of a song. You should be distancing yourself from this song as much as humanly possible – not trying to claim to be the inspiration for this horrific stinking hot mess

Nikos
Nikos
7 years ago

I hate the song but I think people are unfairly attacking Jacques.

HateRofYou
HateRofYou
7 years ago

Jacques has two daughters, so your intentions to dare his sexuality is very lame.

Ilias5280
Ilias5280
7 years ago

It’s just way too much of everything. If his intention was to stand out good for him, if his intention was to be a serious contender…bless his heart.

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

@charles: the real question is, when are you gonna stop being a troll and start being yourself tho?

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

Tony Tony Tony …. drag that b***** and snatch that wig cause I am loving all this delicious shade. The shade writes itself qween 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 – “be yourself for once in a lifetime” – just this quote alone made my day and says exactly what I think of this “real house qween of croatia”. When you’re too full of yourself, when you want everybody to look at you cause in your tiny mind you’re the best and Eurovision is a desperation-pill you have been taking way too long for no reason but “look at me, you’re… Read more »

chromium
chromium
7 years ago

“but my suggestion would be to sing normally and *be yourself at least once in your lifetime* or at least in this contest”

I don’t know if that just got lost in translation, but dayyyyyyymmmmmm! LOL!

Soy
Soy
7 years ago

@Gio (Greece) Shut Up, so tired of it.

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

@Gio (Greece) oh please not this again…

Gippa
Gippa
7 years ago

Caruso is an Italian song written by Lucio Dalla (as another person already pointed out). And basically Cetinski just made a cover of the song performed by both Dalla and Pavarotti; the originality of Cetinski is to have performed and acted in both voices, not in the song itself. It’s an italian materpiece, it’s a song that every italian knows, please correct your sentence, it’s misleading.

kris
kris
7 years ago

Guys why does it say my comments are potentially unsafe?

Tommy
Tommy
7 years ago

Caruso ???????????????
Caruso was written by Lucio Dalla in 1986.

copypaste
copypaste
7 years ago

so the song mix with(aladdin:a whole new world)+(faith hill:there you’ll be)+(frozen-let it go)+(TONYCETINSKI:CARUSO)

fikri
fikri
7 years ago

idk it seems too gimmicky… but i love the performance of tony cetinski attached in this blogpost tho. it’s histerical!