She’s the Macedonian beauty with one of the best studio cuts of the year. And on Tuesday Jana Burceska revealed her eye-catching staging, which sees her strutting her stuff before a New York cityscape and dancing on top of a circular floor that transforms into a black record.


Thankfully there’s not much scratching. Unlike in the preview party season, Jana delivered a confident vocal performance. Compared to her competitors, she had a better time mixing lead and backing vocals, helping erase memories of the preview parties, where she frequently stumbled vocally. The backing gives her soft voice extra power, but thankfully there’s little discord.

The greatest strength of this comes from Jana’s bubbly personality. She’s telegenic and camera aware, and seemed completely at ease as she hit each camera angle. The fresh-faced beauty didn’t wear her stage costume, opting for casual wear during this rehearsal. But she gave a hint of what might come by slipping into a pair black hot pants which showed off her silky thighs. She covered up her endlessly lithe legs in a pair of knee-high suede boots. Despite her spikes she popped and locked and slut-dropped with ease. Thankfully there was no wardrobe malfunction!

As Jana dances alone the LED sometimes flashes to her official music video, adding a bright pop of colour to the largely monochrome stage. She’s revived my hopes that with tweaks (and some slip-ups from her fellow singers) she might sneak into the final.

Jana Burceska — “Dance Alone”: Reviews and Reactions

FYR Macedonia: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2017

FYR Macedonia: First press conference 2017

Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews

Read all of our FYR Macedonia Eurovision news here

Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)

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grab a snickers
grab a snickers
7 years ago

@coryn
Are u a macedonian teenager who is having his patriotic moment and can’t stand the fact that not everybody likes this performance?
Don’t worry. I understand u. I had the same moments 10 years ago when I was a teenager myself and couldn’t stand people criticizing my country’s songs. Lol

grab a snickers
grab a snickers
7 years ago

P.S: I remember back then wiwibloggs didn’t exist and Esctoday was the place to talk about ESC. lol
I had to connect via dial up internet and I throughoutly checked every thread for new comments. Lol
Miss those times.

bulgariastan
bulgariastan
7 years ago

The video we have from the official Eurovision channel is Jana’s VERY FIRST rehearsal, meaning the first time she ever set foot into the stage. In the following three run throughs, Jana became much more comfortable, from what I have heard. I have my concerns about to qualifying, but I really cannot see a modern song like this failing to appeal to neither the jury nor the televoters.

LjupcoMKD
LjupcoMKD
7 years ago

There are worse singers than Jana this year, but yet some of them are hot favourites for victory (Robin form Sweden, Blanche from Belgium, Koit from Estonia etc.). There are things like vocal colour and natural timbre that are different with each and every singer on the planet.
Besides, this is just the first rehearsal, where artists get to feel the stage and the arena for the first time. In this case, only people who have no single idea of the concept of vocal technique and vocal projection would claim that Jana cannot sing.?

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

Did the Greeks on this thread eagerly waited for Jana’s rehearsal just to thrash her full-out-and-about? It’s pathetic.

Go and swim with Demy in her pool! She is beautiful as a girl, but having 0 of a song which is shameful. You can’t hide that.

Joe
Joe
7 years ago

Not much going on in 3 minutes. The juries might push her down.
Still a borderline for now.

Hada
Hada
7 years ago

Ouch. Those are some weak vocals, and the staging so far doesn’t seem good enough. Also, what’s with so many entries putting their own (or for Czechia, other people’s) giant faces in the backdrop? Lokks kinda creepy

Jay
Jay
7 years ago

With all the changes in the world and the best camera angles and FYROM still won’t qualify… Her live singing is simply dreadful! The girl can’t sing! Period.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

I see the Poli comparisons.
I am still confident about this. I like the backdrop and her vocal is passable. Yeah, I think she can qualify.

Timo1962FI
Timo1962FI
7 years ago

FYR of Macedonia’s best entry up to now (and for me that year’s number 3) has been Kaliopi’s Crno i belo 2012. Dance alone is an ok Eurovision entry but not worth more than 16-20 in the Grand Final. But tbh, these half minute snippets with a bad sound quality don’t give a right perspective to the performances and how they managed their rehearals seen from a pc screen :/

Americanvision
Americanvision
7 years ago

Like I said on the Malta thread, her vocals were subpar and weak. Had high expectations on this song and like Belgium, was left very disappointed.

DaStar? (@dastarsays)
DaStar? (@dastarsays)
7 years ago

Hmmm her vocals are abit alarming to me..

The song is a regular on my playlist, though I fear her vocals might ruin her chances

Rachel
Rachel
7 years ago

So far the biggest losers are Macedonia and Belgium.

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago

I love ‘Dance Alone’ and Jana is really cute and cheerful. I want to see more of her performance, but I really hope she is able to fill the stage. The LED should also have some emotional elements like the old woman to reflect that it isn’t another “easy dancing” song, but has deep message too. Her vocals seems on point, but it could be better. I really want Macedonia to place well this year!

Eve
Eve
7 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Me too, I love this song, I really hope they will place well <3

Monika
Monika
7 years ago

Sorry, this is the worst rehearsal so far in these 3 days. I’m not disappointed, FYROM rarely passes the semifinal and for good reason. This year makes no exception… The song is OK-ish (studio version) but live she is pure awful! Disappointing act… Alone on the stage…that looks so empty without dancers… 0,5/10 is my verdict… Would have been 0 but I rate it 0,5 for the studio version of the song…

Sophie
Sophie
7 years ago
Reply to  Monika

This is the worst rehearsal we’ve seen so far. Even if she changes the staging/dancing, her singing won’t sound as good as the video clip. Overall 3/10.

KennyESC
KennyESC
7 years ago

@coryn @Purple Mask you are replying all comments, do you have a life?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  KennyESC

I’m sorry Kenny. 🙁
If there was a “delete” button I would use it.

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

Idk what to think about this at this moment, seems unfinished.. her vocal seems improved, outfit is nice for this kind of song (although I would put more retro vibe in it..). We”ll see how it works in the end..

M_K
M_K
7 years ago

I don’t think this song needs much happening on stage, to be honest. Something more simple actually goes very well with the message and the feel of the song.

Natalie
Natalie
7 years ago

It looked like she was dancing and singing karaoke alone in a pub. She is not a threat in the competition after that disaster.

Andy
Andy
7 years ago

BAD.
Lucky the song wasn’t one of my favourites otherwise I’ll be very disappointed. Could be a non qualifer in the 2nd semifinal.

Rhingo
Rhingo
7 years ago

Stage looks empty. If she was not dancing alone her back vocals would have come in handy. Let’s say with camera work and few changes here and there it will look a bit better but still I am not impressed. Borderline qualifier.
A concept to dance with alone among a crowd of plastic mannequin, people holograms or something else inanimate would have been more interesting, artsy and classy.

Joseph
Joseph
7 years ago

Another example of a great video clip but bad live singing. She has the stage presence but her vocals are very underwhelming as seen in all her live performances. Blanche on the other hand is in trouble with everything from vocals, charisma & staging. Dance Alone & City lights are only good for radio.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Joseph

i wonder why do you compare them, maybe because you want to reply to my comment but without getting involved, which only makes you dishonest and hypocritical JANA IS NOT YOUR PUNCHING BAG! She is a great girl, way more loveable than Blanche as a matter of fact, her english is better, her song is awesome, and i am not saying better cause it is a matter of personal taste, and we haven’t seen her performance more than a few seconds in order to give such a harsh comments. THAT’S WHAT I AM SAYING You are a hater! You have… Read more »

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Calm down. Having a negative opinion is not the same as hating.
If you like Jana, take pride in that and smile at the nay-sayers when she proves them wrong.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago

oh i hope russia attacks you soon to teach you a lesson, because you are dumb as dumb can be..freedom of opinion is not a freedom of hating, support your negative opinion, don’t just throw words because of your bias.. that’s what i am saying that you fail to see.. and you just don’t get it, your brain is too narrow, can’t reach..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

We shall all expand our brains from now on. 🙂
Not funny about Russia though.

Mattias Sollerman
Mattias Sollerman
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

The irony here is a bit mind-boggling.

bulgariastan
bulgariastan
7 years ago

Last year, do we remember how far Bulgaria dropped in the odds after the first rehearsal? She was alone on stage like this. That performance and this one are both composed by Ambra Succi, who composed Euphoria. She knows what she’s doing.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago
Reply to  bulgariastan

Poli went from 3rd to 14th that day. The bookies got it all wrong.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  bulgariastan

Thank you, there, such a reasonable comment, haters can learn from this how to grow up, wiwibloggs also..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

All opinions are valid. Please stop judging comments, or I will counter-comment you every single time.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

why would you threatening me!? i don’t mind if you counter-comment me at all, i mind if you give hateful, unsubstantiated biased comments.. as you can see i already greet this comment for being reasonable.. my god you are so uncivilized

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Yes you are probably right. I apologise.
🙁

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

I hope russia came to your country and teach you a lesson

Donna Vey
Donna Vey
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

All opinions aren’t valid.

Marko
Marko
7 years ago
Reply to  bulgariastan

Coryn, you really need to calm down, buddy. Arguing with everyone on the comment section is not going to change their minds…it is only going to provocate them more. The true is that no one can say for sure how the performance would look like in the end. These fan videos from parties and rehearsals can’t show the whole picture. There are ALWAYS some surprises in the end. People were hating on Jamala the whole time last year, but in the end she won. Jana was here in Sofia, at MixTape club rehearsing with Kristian and his team and she… Read more »

Stil
Stil
7 years ago

Her dancing is very awkward and as if she’s just making it up as she goes. Very amateur. This is Eurovision girl, not just a night out dancing with friends. Plan something cool! Learn from Dihaj from Azerbaijan if you want style, art, choreo, stage. Very disappointing as the music video was so cool (p.s. Even the old lady in the video dances better than Jana!) ?

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Stil

Obviously a comment that reveals what a huge hater you are. It speaks for yourself, now you know you are capable of just plain hate, just evil.. Jana however has a professional choreographer, the same that worked on Euphoria. JANA IS NOT YOUR PUNCHING BAG, SHE IS AN ADORABLE, LOVEABLE GIRL THAT WANTS TO HAVE SOME FUN, CORRECT YOU IMPRESSION THAT WIWIBLOGGS INITIALLY DESTROYED

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Rediculous. Artistic opinions are valued, otherwise there would be no point in having this blog exist in the first place.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

no you just call it that way in order to get away with it, you are trying to justify an offense, by painting anyone who confronts the offense, as offender.. Hate is not an opinion, it is a hate and it is wrong

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Good point. I’m sorry Coryn.

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

Not impressed! Not pleased! I’m rather indifferent in this performance!

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  AngieP

what you are is nothing else but a huge massive hater, there is just pure evil coming out of your comment. thanks wiwibloggs.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Oh for goodness sake. All musical (and artistic) opinions are valid here. That doesn’t mean Wiwibloggs is “evil.” That’s somewhat over-the-top, and a bit too religious a concept, haha.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

he just through out an offense without any substance whatsoever. Based on what is his so called evaluation, he said nothing artistically evaluative.. I am not fighting free opinion, but the freedom to hate, why can’t you see that ?!!?!??!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

I can see that, yes.
I’m sorry if my fan instinct got the better of me before. You have a valid point about cyber hate. Good luck with your cause.

Substantiating art has always been a challenge to do without expressing personal opinion. I do feel all opinions are valid, artistically. But personal hate is a big online problem, and perhaps we all need to be stricter with our words to help counter that. I hope that makes sense.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

If an artistic evaluation for you is considered “I don’t like it”, or “I am not impress with it” maybe you should turn off the comments section and just have like and dislike button, that will do. I am leaving… apologize to Jana for trashing her.

Darius
Darius
7 years ago

OMG, she’s awful! Starting with her live singing (she’s messy and out of tune), the chaotic dancing and the annoying graphics… Juries won’t buy that weird act, especially when there are so many other good songs this year that deserve passing into the final… Too bad, coz the studio version is awesome! But just like in Belgium’s case, another fan favorite is down the drain…

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Darius

yeah bithc, reveal your evil.. that’s it, show everyone how hateful you can be.. stop pretending you are nice and kind, be honest, cut the hypocrisy, reveal your true hateful face, hater

Darius
Darius
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Are you her advocate, dear? It’s my opinion, and as you can see I’m not the only one. Bye, now! Have a life

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Darius

And are you a fascist!? Your opinion might be to just hate and kill everyone,completely unsubstantiated.. and yes i will be here to stop that..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

@coryn: Now you’re being offensive. Shame on you.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

oh really ?! you failed to see the offensiveness previously and now you saw it in me. What do you think I was referring to, even before you !?!?!? THAT’S HYPOCRISY. When You offend, you call it a legitimate opinion, but when someone confronts your offense, and tells you it is wrong to do that, than he is the first offender and you are kind of a defender. Oh wow.. take of your glasses… and stop hating. JANA IS NOT YOUR PUNCHING BAG

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

What offense did I make? :S

Darius
Darius
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Coreen, you can never stop others opinions, face that!

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Darius

I just explained that. I have no problem with other’s opinion but with hatred. I will always fight against hatred. The problem is you call the hatred an opinion. Freedom of opinion is not a freedom of hating. You are hypocritical. Give opinion that will not be full of hatred and i will support that. You don’t have to like Jana, but you cannot hate anyone. And i will be here to stop you.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

I love Jana! I just felt the choreography lacked something, and her outfit was terrible. Please explain how that is hate?

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

check you first comment and you will see for yourself.. hopefully.. it is unbelievable how easy it is for you to offend and when someone tells you it is wrong, you tell him he offended you but reacting on you offense. Just wow! Does wiwibloggs decided whether jana can sing or not, finally? Or they will still be afraid to admit they were wrong. Apologize wiwi

Grete Paia
Grete Paia
7 years ago
Reply to  Darius

Celebrate Diversity

anonymous91
anonymous91
7 years ago

Macedonia really has a staging problem, i think

and her dancing alone looks a bit awkward

the same to City Lights, i do love the music video of Dance Alone but live performance is a bit off a shame

God-Emperor
God-Emperor
7 years ago

Macedonia doesn’t know how to work with the staging. Like Croatia last year, this song started full of hype and will end up being just a regular borderline qualifier.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  God-Emperor

support your comment, what is your source? did you see the whole performance or just a few seconds?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

This is fan blogging, not journalism. Not every comment here needs a source. You are spoiling the fun! 🙂

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

there it is, let’s hate.. oh my god isn’t it wonderful, what a fun, let’s freely hate.. and no one can stop us.. well yeah i guess i have spoiled that fun

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

If it is hate, then yes. You have a good point.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

I like HER, but the choreography is lacking… something. And the outfit is terrible. This needs tweaking, or it will flop. 🙁

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

if you check the cribs video on eurovision.tv of her she said the dress is only for rehearsal, so your comment is terrible and uninformed. Please, you hardly saw anything of her performance, yet by default you don’t like it, I wonder why. Maybe wiwiblogs mislead you.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Wiwibloggs is always here to encourage opinion based on what we see. It’s not meant to be informed or accurate; it’s just enjoyable. If there is a practical purpose, then it creates discussion and interest about the show. If you don’t appreciate that discussion, then perhaps Wiwibloggs is not the Eurovision website for you. There are plenty of others, so feel free to enjoy those. Thanks.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Actually it’s odd that the official rehearsal footage is restricted to a very short segment; that is perhaps a valid complaint. (However, in the past there used to be no rehearsal footage at all, and all commenters had to rely on was the website-based text-only descriptions.)

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

i am saying you (wiwi) give extreme, biased, unobjective comments (based on weak technology during pre party) without considering objective sources (live singing during interviews for example), that fans listen, stuck in their head and then build an image and repeat. When later you receive more information (singing during rehearsal) you reluctantly correct yourself somewhat, but not too much because you are afraid to run away from you previous comment (because it might appear the truth that you were wrong and biased), but the fans who listen to you are already with a mental construct. Look at your wiwi jury… Read more »

Leaf
Leaf
7 years ago

When someone says boring staging and all we have are 30 seconds shot from one angle…… It’s really silly to assume that It will look boring with all the actual camera shots, stage costume, hair and make-up etc.
This is looking better than most expected.
GO JANA

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Leaf

THANK YOU ! Exactly..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  Leaf

It could be better than we are seeing, indeed. Certainly the press box said on ESCKaz and other sites that Jana was “better than expected.”

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Purple Mask

APOLOGIZE TO JANA I SAID IN MY FIRST COMMENT! APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU ARE WRONG, IT IS A MATURE THING TO DO! And stop repeating the same mistake, that’s all what i am asking. Can you finally understand me!? You are trashing the girl with your biased comments, she doesn’t deserve that.

Henry
Henry
7 years ago

Terrible Choreography, it looks like she did not practice at all, it looks very amateuristic, I like Jana, but this not gonna qualify…

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Henry

Can you please tell me where did you see her performance in order to give that “terrible” comment. Source?

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Henry

Here is another hater

beccaboo1212
7 years ago
Reply to  Henry

Ok Henry, this is your LAST warning. Macedonia is MOST CERTAINLY qualifying, and that’s all there is to it! If you continue to hope Macedonia stays in their semi-final, I have no choice than to hope you’re banned from Wiwibloggs forever. Jana’s live vocals are NOT all that bad!

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  beccaboo1212

Thank you! I don’t even care if Jana get’s to the final, but for god sake stop trashing her. She is not terrible as you try to make her look, she might not be perfect, but your negative comments that to me are nothing but a plain hatred, are way over the top. And wiwi defends that… wow wow wow.. NOW I am leaving this comment section cause i hope people here will grow up.

Someone
Someone
7 years ago
Reply to  Henry

Last warning…You are hillarious. OPINIONS, hello?

Rodrigoo
Rodrigoo
7 years ago

Oops… Such a cacthy song but so boring staging.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Rodrigoo

Can you please tell me where did you see her performance in order to give that “terrible” comment. Source? Back your comment please. It is based on what?

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  Rodrigoo

Here is one hater..

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Reminder: Every opinion is valued.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago

Yes, you all can begin apologizing to Jana for trashing her so brutally in the last few weeks for her singing. Yes, she can sing and the problem in those you tube preparty phone cam videos was for technical reasons, not because of her skills. I don’t understand why so much hateful vibes come towards Jana/Macedonia this year, but I hope that despite everything, she will come out strong. I cannot see the complete performance for now as there is very limited video material, but i am a little bit worried about the choreography. The song is great, the singing… Read more »

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Repent, bish. She was very good, she just needs to change that outfit. I wonder what country her haters are from…

Macedonia will incinerate wigs.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

They can begin from stop making a distinction between the studio cut and the live as if the studio was awesome but the live isn’t. Change your article WIWIBLOGS. Jana’s live is great, the preparty sucked for most of them and it was not because of their skills, yet Jana came to you as a punching bag and you still cannot detach from that. You misguided fans with your comments and you still do, making it harder now for fans to correct their impression.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago
Reply to  coryn

Drag them. Nobody cares about the pre-parties anymore now that the rehearsals have started.

coryn
coryn
7 years ago

then why are they mentioning it in their jury comments.. there you are wrong again…

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Saint Jana ain’t gonna waste one of the best songs of the year with a messy dance.

Marko
Marko
7 years ago

Go Macedonia !!! <3 <3 Great song and performer !!!

Best wishes from Bulgaria 🙂

MWS
MWS
7 years ago

Every time Jana dances it reminds me of Elaine from Seinfeld! So bad! It’s like watching your Mother dancing at a wedding and cringing and hoping no one else is seeing what you’re seeing. It’s funny too cos she’s singing that she will dance alone. It’s a great song as studio version and great music video, but live with her dance moves it is terrible.

Arc
Arc
7 years ago
Reply to  MWS

YES. I love Jana and the studio version and I don’t even mind her live vocals, but my word those moves are cringeworthy. When you have a performer this awkward, make them sit on a box or walk on a treadmill. Just saying.

K
K
7 years ago

Next! NEXT!