Since 2008 North Macedonia — that’s the former Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia — has only managed to qualify for the grand final ONCE. It’s among the most abysmal records in the entire contest. But hopes were buoyed with the news that fan favourite and regional superstar Tamara Todevska would return to the contest. Can she finally get the country back to the Saturday night show?

That’s exactly what we wanted to know when we sat down to film our North Macedonia reaction video. Did Tamara’s classic melody tug on our heart strings? Did the power of her voice unleash a tsunami of sound that took our breath away? You’ll have to watch to find out.

What’s been the reaction to Tamara Todevska’s “Proud”?

Our readers had plenty to say about Tamara’s song on our original news post about her song reveal.

Writing in the comments section, esc stan was clearly vibing with her song.

“That’s how you do a classy ballad with a strong message, Jacques [Houdek] is quaking in his NQ jet,” he says. “I really love this, guys it gets better after each listen! Tamara and the whole Macedonian team should be very proud and I wish them good luck in May! <3”

Mirko suggested that the song has an authenticity that would make even bookies’ favourite Duncan Laurence quiver. “I really love it, is a beautiful modern ballad but with ethnic vibes. This is original and so unique; listening to it you understand where it came from. Compared to the Dutch one, I think that North Macedonia has a personal background which is a good point.”

How does “Proud” stack up against other songs about empowerment? KYLLITO weighs in. “This song has a lot of emotion and it feels very genuine. Of the two female empowerment songs, I much prefer North Macedonia’s than Germany’s. This will easily be in my personal top ten maybe even my top five.”

M_K doesn’t seem to think that it lives up to its initial promise. “The song starts off nicely but it gets quite dreary after a minute or so. The chorus seems over-dramatic. It’s supposed to be an empowering song (I guess) but I suppose it’s quite hard to empower people through agitated melancholia. It’s like ‘Toy’ on Xanax. Oh, and btw, I can already smell accusations of plagiarism in the air because the repeated line “Tell them” sounds vaguely like the hook line of the Streisand/Dion cheese fest ‘Tell Him’.”

Lourdes heard Barbara too. “That’s exactly what it reminded me of, and I spent the rest of the song playing ‘Tell him’ in my mind, when the chorus would start. I don’t know if it was an inspiration or they just didn’t notice it. It’s a huge let down for me when a song vividly reminds me of another one (the same with Estonia, where the start of the chorus is the same as ‘One Last Time’ from Ariana Grande).”

Did Eurovision need another song to give people strength? Ned is skeptical. “Ah, another cliché message as boring 90’s ballad. Still waiting for a song about left-handed people. No one talk about us. Such a discrimination.”

What was your first reaction to North Macedonia’s Eurovision song? Did it light your fire? Are you in tears? Let us know down below!

Total
4
Shares
51 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Martina
Martina
4 years ago

Until Eurovision starts calling my country by its proper name – Republic of Macedonia – I am not watching Eurovision. Good luck Iceland, North must be referring to you and greetings from the Republic of Macedonia, which is in southern Europe. Europe failed badly geography.

Reina
Reina
4 years ago

Should I feel empowered? I feel depressed and annoyed by that screaming. It has chance to be in final tho (with jury votes), nice classic melody at the begining of the song.

Philip
Philip
4 years ago

i am sure Greece will give 12 points to Cyprus this year, but 10 to North Macedonia. And they won’t be afraid to raise their voice and tell it.

FYI
FYI
4 years ago
Reply to  Philip

Both televotes regularly exchange some points when they happen to be in the same semi, like last year. It’s only a text message, not a foreign policy statement. There is no Armenia-Azerbaijan levels of hatred among the two countries, only among some circles (and individual jury members, if you dare to look closely). With the nomenclature now sorted these two will be able to communicate and come closer, so it’s important to stick with it. People in third countries should make an effort to support this instead of recklessly still saying ‘Macedonia’, William and Deban I’m talking about you too.… Read more »

Loin dici
4 years ago

There’s a several memorable number of downvoting in the comment section regarding positive comments (or even any random comments) made about North Macedonia’s entry. It looked like it’s unsolvable–shame, because I love Duska’s entry and this particular person(s) kept doing this for the Macedonian articles.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

It is not just against North Macedonian entries. Wiwibloggs has enemies, it seems.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

Good question.
ESC fan here. 🙂
Wiwibloggs follower since 2013. (Y’all)

Jenni Greene-Gardner
Jenni Greene-Gardner
4 years ago

Great video. Shame Will took the white male privilege route of refusing even to look at images of female empowerment.

Ksenija
Ksenija
4 years ago

I don’t know where you’re from but in eastern, southeastern and central europe only live white people. Our minorities are nationalities not skin colour, that’s why white privilege doesn’t exist here. Southeastern woman here. Chill

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Where are all the downvotes coming from? We’re calling it North Macedonia now, what else do you want?

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Adam Lambert? 😛
https://youtu.be/X1Fqn9du7xo

Komentator
Komentator
4 years ago

BRAVO TAMARA!!!

Loin dici
4 years ago

I see some jealous people downvoting.

Still have my hopes for NM this year, the stage direction was said to be ‘conceptual’, they had Alexander Noshpal for styling–so expect either a dramatic styling or interpretive dancers. They would also have two Swedish people to work out as staging director. I’m kind of unsure if it would work, but we’ll see.

Philip
Philip
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

actually the short sign is not NM but MK. Please remember only to the name is added North so it is North Macedonia, everything else is Macedonian as a language, person, song, singer. the codes are MKD, MK… If you are talking about North Macedonia but you want to use a sign, u use MK, example “Tamara Todevska – Proud – North Macedonia MK – Official Music Video – Eurovision 2019” as in the title of the official video

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Philip

Okay, Phillip, we get it.

Philip
Philip
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

considering you haven’t corrected your mistake, i wouldn’t agree you got it.. it’s more like i don’t give a f

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago
Reply to  Philip

No, actually, it’s more like: Why is this pedantic point worth downvotes? Seriously: Do you actually support Wiwibloggs and the Eurovision fandom, or did you come on here just to bring it all down?
Yes, people make mistakes. You can easily and politely correct them without questioning their motives, or downvoting them. So do it.

dutchie
dutchie
4 years ago

Purely musically speaking, this is probably the best song this year. It isn’t very original, and the lyrics are slightly cringey, but there’s a little classical, a bit of jazz, a little Broadway in there… I like it.

Talentina Monetta
Talentina Monetta
4 years ago

I think this will be the surprise qualifier of this year

Aleksandar Romanov
Aleksandar Romanov
4 years ago

Does anyone else thinks that this song has the same flow as Eurovision 2015 – Greece – One Last Breath! And before anyone even considers to make a comment on this “No this has nothing to do with Macedonia having a new name” and “me” somehow mentioning Greece! Just listen to both songs few times and then make your assessment!

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
4 years ago

I just watched the Wiwi reaction video to this one. The music is indeed very powerful, and I can see both sides of the argument on whether or not to “brand” the song with the empowerment message or alternatively just have Tamara sell it on her own. I am still getting a disconnect between the lamenting music and the uplifting lyrics. But, William might be right – with Tamara on her own, this could end up being the surprise top classical entry of the year. Realistically it shouldn’t outscore Russia in that genre, but I would be humbled if it… Read more »

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

Stunning song.
It would be getting a lot more attention if it didn’t have North Macedonia above it. 😉

Philip
Philip
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

so true, if it was a swedish entry, everyone would say it is a winner.. but since it is macedonian.. hmm.. maybe because in the past we were disappointed by North Macedonia even though our expectations were high, they didn’t deliver.. so now we are chilled.. thinking, at the end they probably wouldn’t achieve anyhow, so why even bother cheering

FYI
FYI
4 years ago
Reply to  Philip

Actually, this is a ‘North Macedonian’ entry. Anything that belongs, is funded, or represents the state of North Macedonia is ‘North Macedonian’. The adjective ‘Macedonian’ is still valid as a marker for nationality or language, so you can often play with words and get away with it, but alas the song is in English so there are no legal or cultural grounds for it to be called ‘Macedonian’.

Ksenija
Ksenija
4 years ago
Reply to  Philip

What are you talking about? Last year sweden was 4th to last in televote, people obviously didn’t like it. Stop using excuses that makes no sense

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Here’s a question: did the Eurovision site just release the semi running order? Checking the two semis, there isn’t any kind of specific order to the way the songs are listed besides noting which half they’re in, but they’re not sorted alphabetically or anything. If so, it looks like Slovenia is going to open semi one with Belgium closing, and Switzerland is going to open semi two with Azerbaijan closing (the fateful second spot for each, at the moment, is respectively Belarus and – gasp! – Sweden). Again, this could all be totally random, but I dunno.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

I highly doubt it, cause it seems just so… random. Why would you open a semi-final with a slow quiet song, and put an upbeat number in the second spot? What seems more interesting to me is the English title of Georgian song – are they doing the same thing as last year?

Loin dici
5 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Slovenia is ambient, but not slow. This would look like SF1-13 with Austria opening and Lithuania second.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Being in English would definitely make that song at least a hint more appealing to the folks at home. A little closer to Higher Ground, or something like that, but it’s not hooky enough.

Loin dici
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

With chances of these being true, SF1 is in favor of Serbia, Australia, Greece, and Czech Republic, while in danger are Hungary, Estonia, Portugal, and Belgium. I can’t find the SF2, it seems to be changed shortly, but it looked so random that I can’t really take it as true.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Loin dici

I have doubts that it’s the actual order – the final’s also shuffled pretty randomly, save for Israel of course – but you never know. It’s weird to not default to listing them in alphabetical order.

KYLLITO
KYLLITO
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

The app still has them in alphabetical order my semifinal.

voix
voix
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

There is no way Bjorkman would allow Sweden to perform second. You don’t want to make angry the boss lol

CasP3r
CasP3r
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

That’s not the running oder lmao

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

I can see NM as the Slovenia or Serbia of this year: the less-successful country in the semi full of powerhouses that leapfrogs over more obvious candidates (Ireland and Albania might also be able to pull it off, maybe Latvia if the juries like them enough).

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Oh, and of course Switzerland. The real question is who isn’t gonna make it through? Very strong songs in semi two this year.

Philip
Philip
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

actually the short sign is not NM but MK. Please remember only to the name is added North so it is North Macedonia, everything else is Macedonian as a language, person, song, singer. the codes are MKD, MK… If you are talking about North Macedonia but you want to use a sign, u use MK, example “Tamara Todevska – Proud – North Macedonia MK – Official Music Video – Eurovision 2019” as in the title of the official video

Jon Hola Sand
5 years ago

This is more suited to a serious tv campaign or documentary. I hate the video I’m afraid. Just zero entertainment factor.

Loin dici
4 years ago
Reply to  Jon Hola Sand

Is Salvador Sobral an ‘entertainer’? I doubt it.

Jenni Greene-Gardner
Jenni Greene-Gardner
4 years ago
Reply to  Jon Hola Sand

Not enough men in it for you?

Ksenija
Ksenija
4 years ago

What’s wrong with men?

Fatima
Fatima
5 years ago

I love love it! Such a great song, Tamara must qualify 🙂

Jon Hola Sand
5 years ago
Reply to  Fatima

It’s spelt Tamra

Ksenija
Ksenija
4 years ago
Reply to  Jon Hola Sand

Name tamra doesn’t exist in balkans. It’s tamara and you pronounce every a: tah-mah-rah (accent is on the first a). We aren’t english

esc stan
esc stan
5 years ago

I really hope they qualify this year!

ESCelebrate19
ESCelebrate19
5 years ago

Beautiful voice and great song. Well done North Macedonia!

Iejdhcr
Iejdhcr
5 years ago

It’s such agreat song, i really hope it qualifies to the final

Darren
Darren
5 years ago

Does Wiwi have a reaction video for Ireland yet? I was looking but I couldn’t find it.

Darren
Darren
5 years ago
Reply to  Darren

Why the downvoting?? I only asked a question geez

Vogzal Odessa
Vogzal Odessa
5 years ago

I really enjoy this year’s Macedonian entry. Musically very elegant, and Tamara can actually sing. She is a professionnaly trained musician (has a degree from State’s Music Academy just like her sister Tijana). They just have to get through this time. In my personal Top 10 this year.

Rom
Rom
5 years ago

I hope she qualifies! I love the song so much and North Macedonia deserves to qualify with this quality entry. You can feel the emotion and the power behind her voice!