On March 2 he’ll release the full version of “My Friend” — the song he’ll sing at Eurovision 2017 for Croatia.
And on Friday afternoon singer Jacques Houdek whet our appetites with a 20-s snippet of his song.
Giving wiwibloggs the honour of publishing the snippet first, he’s keen to connect with the many Eurovision fans who are intrigued by his big voice and star power. There’s a reason he is a coach on The Voice, y’all.
The 20-second sneak peek roars with energy, its strings drawing you in while simultaneously stirring drama. It balances symphonic with sass and suggests that Jacques will lean Pavarotti while pulling the song firmly into 2017.
Jacques wrote the song along with Siniša Reljic and Tony Malm, and collaborated with Ines Prajo, Arijana Kunštek and Fabrizio Laucella on the lyrics.
“I was developing the idea the whole summer and I’m especially proud of the song and its message of support,” he said in a statement sent to wiwibloggs. “I see it as an anthem that should have a positive influence on anyone who goes through difficult moments in their life because it celebrates life and the fact that every life is a miracle! This is a song of support with a generalized message that can be understood differently by different people, but it also brings us together in the celebration of diversity through its message of love — and love is the only thing that matters.”
In many ways the song represents a new chapter in Jacques’ musical and personal life, and can be read as a statement of rebirth and renewal.
“Although I am the author of some of my greatest hits, this is the first song I wrote after several years of creative pause and a difficult time in my life,” he explained. “This is the song of my life and certainly the best thing I wrote so far. I’m happy that I have gathered such a great team of authors who have helped me to make the idea of the song come true and we believe that it will represent our homeland in the most beautiful light.”
Jacques has already given strong hints about the content and theme of his song, launching a campaign that encourages friendship and openness.
Last week he asked his fans and followers to upload pictures of themselves and their friends using the hashtag #beMyfriend.
“Remember your friends, make them happy by dedicating a photo to them, show them how important they are to you, make new friends,” he wrote on Facebook. “Let this song and the #beMyfriend campaign be a celebration of friendship, the joy of living and a priceless wealth of love, trust and mutual respect.”
Since then a lot of folks — fans and stars included — have uploaded their pictures, which you can view on the singer’s official Facebook page. Among the supporters are beloved Eurovision stars Marija Serifovic, Nina Badric, Kaliopi, Nina Kraljic and Dalal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQx7MFQALxv/?taken-by=kaliopibukle&hl=en
Clearly overwhelmed by the support, Jacques said:
“I’m grateful to all the well-meaning people who have participated with so much love and friendship in the campaign that propagates the message of the song ‘My friend’. We receive hundreds of photos every day, we’re happy because we can feel that positive, friendly atmosphere, which was the goal of the song, and that’s why I can’t wait for the people to hear the song and to feel its message that inspires, connects people in their diversity and celebrates life.”
But it’s not only about famous people. Jacques said that he was particularly touched to receive a photo for Pink Shirt Day from first-grade students in Sinj who recognized with their teacher that the campaign could help counter bullying.
How are you feeling about the snippet? Do you want to take some strings to the dance floor? Is Jacques poised to take Croatia back to the Eurovision final? Let us know your thoughts below!
He was sentenced to prison for threatening the life of a journalist. A truly nasty man. Run this article through Google Translate.
http://www.story.hr/houdek-ponovno-osuden-u-sporu-sa-strukarom-84545
Horrible. Plus he’s a massive homophobe, and was even taken to court and found guilty of threatening a journalists life — sent him messages saying “I’ll kill you motherf*@ker” etc. NOT a nice person.
@LadyCro
The instrumental is absolutely stunning… Epic! I dare say that this has got the winning potential all over it. Best of luck, Croatia! Wonderful entry, great people and an absolutely lovable country!!! <3
The instrumental is out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DHDh8EFiOU
Another ballad!
This is by far, by far away…the worst entry of all times! He sounds terrible and he’s such a diva! Apart from being a frustrated gay in the closet he is a mean and disrespectul human being. There is so much hate and negativity inside him just because he is fat and frustrated for that he hates other people! Shame on you for defending him and his actions!
The song sounds good! Something different
Why is his views on gays even an issue. Grow up people. ESC is not a gay freak show. His opinion is OK in a free world. So many silly comments here! He might think as he like
@Kermit
Thanks a lot! I appreciate it!
@Frau Von Storch
I don’t want to believe you’re serious! You can’t say Croatia should change artist because of Jacques! Everything you say is just terrible for me!
We should definetely respect one another!
Why is there so much hate about Jacques?
Once again: focus on music people! Don’t be so mean and enjoy the Eurovision season!
@Mel First off, I could not have found any tweets, but they might have been deleted as well, Idrc. Second off, do you need Conchita herself joining his campaign? Because even Marija herself has joined his campaign. Does that mean nothing??? You should try to check both sides of a coin first. And I think this is my last post here because I am not trying to get into a fight here, I am just trying to make you see that people actually CHANGE and that he did just that. And I am sorry @MATT for stealing the name. I… Read more »
He is a bad person, also I’m aware he has multiple accounts, or people from his staff who try to wash our brains, please don’t let yourself fooled!
Oh, people…. Don’t worry, he won’t pass the semifinal anyway, he’s the gimmick act of the year like Georgia was in 2012 with Anri Jokhadze – “I’m a Joker” (another Diva)…. Everyone will laugh on Jacques, just wait and see…He’s such a diva, and I’m sure his song will be a flop. He think about himself he’s the new Luciano Pavaroti, but… :)) His song is far from being a pop-opera like Romania 2013 (Cezar – It’s My Life)… That was brilliant, from what I’ve heard this snippet is trash! Juries would never vote for that! Plus, he has strong… Read more »
@Mel you are soo stupid im actually laughing. Croatia has nothing to apologize for.
Croatia should publicly apologize in his behalf…. I wouldn’t mind if they would be disqualified, like Romania was lat year…. Shame on some people here to try to defend his actions. We are the victims, we’ve been attacked! He gets what he deserves, his song is crap anyway…
It’s sad to see some people actually try to defend disrespectful behavior from public figures like Jacques Houdek. We only want to be respected, that’s all. No mean tweets and no one would have anything against him. But what you give is what you get….
Funny how people think the Balkans = Eastern Europe. I don’t really care about your opinion about his views because you all proved that you are weak by attacking a singer from a rather small country beacuse of his 12-year-old unconfirmed comments. You can do that kinda stuff with small nations, right? But the sacred Sweden and – god forbid – Russia. Oh, we shall not touch these powerful nations beacuse we can attack small ones first. Pull yourself together, for Christ’s sake. #celebrateDiversity
@Frau Von Storch i am laughing so much about your stupid comments, how can u say that ” the kind of “opera” music that Jacques will sing is trash” if u didn’t listen it yet…. o my gosh… i am so sorry about your prejudices!!! I am so sorry for u!!
Stop with the overdramatization guys.This brings a bad name to the LGBT community.Some people keep saying LGBT people are drama queens and I always say that’s not true but with this attitude of non-acceptance of some people on this blog its difficult to prove those people wrong.You can’t force anyone to like anything all you can teach is tolerance.And Jacques very motto for this Eurovision is tolerance and brotherhood.Respect your own community and don’t let yourselves seem ignorant.
@lulius @senegal and all the haters, this is Jacques Houdek’s post (2011) that Polegend Godgarina was talking about https://www.facebook.com/notes/jacques-houdek/slu%C5%BEbeno-o%C4%8Ditovanje-jacquesa-houdeka-o-izboru-za-homofoba-desetlje%C4%87a/10150203728332227 A REAL PROOF that he never sayd anything against to gay people, read well!!! And there is no video footage and no proof at all on the web and there’s no evidence about him saying bad things about the LGBT (not even one), every journalist or blogger can write what he wants. I dare u all to prove it, ONLY one proof. U guys are good just to judge, u r the only people (hiding yourself behiond a screen) that deserve… Read more »
@lulius @senegal and all the haters, this is Jacques Houdek’s post (2011) that Polegend Godgarina was talking about, A REAL PROOF that he never sayd anything against to gay people, read well!!! And there is no video footage and no proof at all on the web and there’s no evidence about him saying bad things about the LGBT (not even one), every journalist or blogger can write what he wants. I dare u all to prove it, ONLY one proof. U guys are good just to judge, u r the only people (hiding yourself behiond a screen) that deserve to… Read more »
@An esc fan There is a popular user here called Vanuatu (his name is a joke i suppose) so i made mine in a similar way. I like Sadio Mane (Liverpool FC footballer, he is Senegalese, and I know something about the country) so i chose the name Senegal. I don’t have anything against them. If you want, i can change it. @Frau Von Storch, good idea. I mean, not everyone in the balkans is a homophobe, i have a friend from there – however, in countries like Serbia, Croatia or Montenegro LGBT rights are oftenly violated. People CAN change,… Read more »
Now haters & bullies are taking this to another level.Calling balkan people “uncivilized” is hate speech and haters do NOT belong to Eurovision.Eurovision is about including ALL OF EUROPE and if you haters can’t accept that, find another interest.True Eurovision fans respect diversity.
@ Frau Von Storch
Are you a russian troll ???
All your comments are negative about Eastern Europe (Russia included) but you act like a troll.
@olvresc Amen.
Politically Correctness nazis are NAZIS like the ones from 70 years ago.
@LeyaBoy: People, we should make a petition for Croatia to change the artist, before official submitting the song. They still have time to send a good song by a clean artist, not from a closed Diva. He exudes frustration because he’s a fat, ugly man (inside and outside) and that’s why he hates gay people, because they are attractive and take good care of themselves and their bodies… We should make a petition for your comment to be removed.You’re full of hate and you’ve just picked on people who are overweight and have health problems.You don’t know him so you… Read more »
People, we should make a petition for Croatia to change the artist, before official submitting the song. They still have time to send a good song by a clean artist, not from a closed Diva. He exudes frustration because he’s a fat, ugly man (inside and outside) and that’s why he hates gay people, because they are attractive and take good care of themselves and their bodies…
How many of you haters actually know what Jacques has said about LGBT? How many of you really know that all that stuff is true? I mean, I’ve understood that they’re just a bunch of rumours (or facts, I don’t know) or something. And, ten f-ing years ago? Are you serious, give him a chance, people can change! If homosexuality was classified as a disease in SOCIETY 30 years ago, why can’t a SINGLE PERSON change his opinion on LGBT in 10 years and realize that the hate made no sense? You can’t crush and judge someone completely because of… Read more »
@ Nickc : ”No sorry, it is not ok. He could have said similar things about blacks, gypsies, women or Muslims and it would not be ok either. Oppression of minorities is not ok. And anyone who tolerates such behaviour is disgusting. Did we not learn anything since second world war? Wake up people, seriously. There is no excuse for being fascist at this day and age.” You are probably a man like myself. Sorry to shock you, but is news that I have to tell you : women are not a minority. Women are majority. And you must know… Read more »
Griffin you are right
Is it matter if he was homophobic or not? Everyone has their opinion and perspectives and he’s just one in a billion, why bother? He won’t kill you either dear LGBT community. This is song contest not a gay parade.
P.S. (i’m a bi guy in the largest muslim country)
Remember people heterosexuals are also human and they too have a right to live.Let’s include them and treat them as equal.
@ Angie: You are right! Why care about such things! This is a SONG contest, for Christ saker! And I don’t like CW winning in 2014 either…won for all wrong reasons!
Oh, suddenly he’s a fascist.ROFL.Some people should check the terminology they use because they’re spreading hate and lies.Shame on you. Jacques experienced bullying before, he’s been bullied because of his weight and now because of some comments he posted on his nonexistent twitter profile.God, you do understand that half of esc contenstants who claimed they support lgbt rights did it just so they can enhance their chances of a good result and actually do not care about lgbt at all?But it’s ok, if you like to be manipulated like in 2015 when Mans claimed that he doesn’t care about the… Read more »
And yet many of these people have no problem with a corrupt winner destroying the sanctity of the contest.But I don’t love everyone in this world is a statement that should bring the house down.#Shame
Sorry, you don’t have a right to say to anyone that his point of view is wrong. I will never ever support LGBT community since I consider marriage and relationship between man and woman sacred thing. His opinion is probably the same and I respect that and you should too! If you celebrate diversity you might aswell celebrate opinion diversity!
No sorry, it is not ok. He could have said similar things about blacks, gypsies, women or Muslims and it would not be ok either. Oppression of minorities is not ok. And anyone who tolerates such behaviour is disgusting. Did we not learn anything since second world war? Wake up people, seriously. There is no excuse for being fascist at this day and age.
Shut up everyone for crying out loud! If he does not supports LGBT community it’s okay! Everyone has a right to do whatever they wish and that does not make him wrong, stop blaming him because of that. Other than that, you guys are a minority and if Jacques deserves to pass in the finals, he will, no matter if you don’t like his personality or what he said in the past! Dumb people, cannot understand…
You are free to dislike LGBT.But keep your opinion to yourself especially if you are public figure whose opinions matter to populace.But its song contest and I have already said if his song is a cut above rest I’ll vote for him despite my opinions on him.
I read the article and then I scrolled down to see comments on the article and instead I read things not related to the article. Can I just say in every post about Jacques there are numerous comments about if he’s homophobic or the LGBT rights etc? That’s enough! You can support his ideas or reject them, it’s your right. You have your own opinion. But I can’t read things like “I won’t vote for him because of what he believes”. You can’t stop someone from having his own opinion. It’s your right though to vote or not vote. Me,… Read more »
It sounds a bit like Lindsey Stirling-Crystallize
@ Senegal : ”I’m straight myself, but i come from a rightist and homophobic country-Poland (not Senegal :p, my name is a joke like Vanuatu’s one) and I fully support gay rights.”
So you are from Poland, but you say that you use the name Senegal as a joke. Why is this right? To use another country’s name as a joke seems very wrong to me. But you think you have the right to judge Jacques.
@Frau calling opera trash tells us a lot about u as a person and your disgusting musical taste and your age which is probably 10 and a half. Grow up? 🙂
My first comment wasn’t published/was deleted so I just want to say: don’t judge him by his words which he said 10 years ago,today he is a good friend with Marija Šerifovic (she even joined his project and published a picture with a hashtag #beMyfriend)… Be nice to each other and don’t hate someone because they are thinking in a different way. Also,people change.
Ugh you people stop saying he’s a homophobe! Croatian media made that up because, newsflash – Jacques is a diva type of guy and that’s why tons of people in Croatia dislike him., especially the media. The article was made up, get over it! And this is coming from a gay man… Like honestly in 2009 Alexander Rybak was against gay people, no one cared and they made him win and NONE of you even talked about it! In 2015 Mans Zelmerlow said IN A LIVE INTERVIEW that he thinks gay people are ill, it was only mentioned like twice… Read more »
@Monique he didn’t change like mans! One week before eurovision. He changed 7 years before eurovision and that makes a huge difference! If u accepted mans then u should definitely accept Jacques.
Eurovision is a gay, straight and every other orientation contests. And that’s what makes it great! It unites people not divide.
I don’t believe he has changed. Of course in the next interviews and especially on the press conference in Eurovision he will play nice, like…he is sorry, or the words were taking out of the context… He may be even apologize, but he’ll definitely not be doing it like he’ll mean it, in his mind he’ll think the same. But he’ll be advised by his team to be kind and to say he regrets, so he’ll do all these not to lose votes. He lost mine, and maybe some other people’s votes… My country is in the same semifinal with… Read more »
Kvira – finally some wise words! How many silly posts in this thread! I feel embarrsed by all this stupidity!!
Like someone said – it is not a gay contest. It is a song contest. Lots of fans are straight. And what he thinks of gays is just hus rightful opinion!
The gay arrogance of some gay fans is so annoying!
@senegal – seriously??? I really Hope what you write is irony or satire! I really hope you don’t mean this! But I am afraid you actually do. I dont mean to be rude, but what you say makes NO sense whatsoever….Sorry dude! How can you really say esc is not a song contest but a tolerance festival. Come on – of course it is about music and find the best song. What else? It is not pride festival or anything – thankfully! The problem however is how some “extreme” gay fans seem to think like you. They sort of try… Read more »
Can’t we just say music first and put all other factors second? This is a freakin’ song contest, for heaven’s sake.
I wonder what would happen to the world if everybody was judged on stupid comments they made 5-10 years ago and weren’t allowed to apologise and move on.
Sounds like it could be a good song; a much needed uptempo number.