On Thursday evening the world learned that Serbia had endured a second mass shooting in a week. Eight people died and 14 were injured in an attack in a village south of Belgrade when a man opened fire from his moving car. A day earlier a 13-year-old boy in the Serbian capital opened fire at a primary school and killed eight people and a security guard.

Luke Black learned about the first shooting just before taking the stage for his second rehearsal at Eurovision. 

“In my second rehearsal, I had to go up upon hearing the news. I remember there was so much sorrow and rage,” he says. “I went crazy. Really. I thought I was going to break the camera at one point.”

The tragedy has obviously impacted Luke and the rest of the Serbian delegation. It’s not a time to celebrate, so they’re staying low-key. Today, during his visit to the Wiwibloggs LUSH Lounge, Luke did not perform. Instead he spoke about the tragedy and spoke of his love of Serbia.

“We’re all shaken up as a team here. It’s not a time to enjoy. It shouldn’t be. It’s a serious topic….As an artist I would really like to use this platform to pinpoint something that’s problematic and use the platform in a good way.”

And he’s doing that with his song, which discusses the angst and anxiety so many people feel. He sees it as a call for change. 

“As much as I like to have fun and be funny, the song is pop and it has a bit of sarcasm in it. It has a really serious message in it.”

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Vjera Brdar
Vjera Brdar
10 months ago

Horrible events,. Unimaginable, really. My heart goes out to all of those who lost their loved ones…in both of these tragedies. Hope this is a wake up call to the entire nation of Serbia: a country where criminals including war crimimals talk freely on TV, sit in thier parliament and where mob culture is celebrated in good chunk of government controlled media. It’s disgusting. Not to mention they are like the world’s 3rd countty with bighest number of weapons per capita. I am reading their president’s speeches from the last few days. My goodness, literally blaming western culture for what… Read more »

Jghtl
10 months ago
Reply to  Vjera Brdar

I agree with you, and I’m Serbian

Jghtl
10 months ago

We love you Luke <3
These are scary times we live in, you can't even go outside without fearing for your life anymore

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
10 months ago
Reply to  Jghtl

Honestly? When could we? It’s not like the world was a safe place at any given time in history

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
10 months ago

I am so sorry for what happened in Serbia. As an American, I sympathize.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
10 months ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

As an Israeli, I can sympathize also.

It’s sad to say that I’m very used to these kinds of things happening so I’m not really affected by them anymore. But then again I’m not really affected by most horrific crimes. Just kinda grew to not be affected by them I guess.

Any Serbians on this site please feel free to talk about your thoughts, they are important.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
10 months ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

Yes, I agree with what you said. These type of shootings are so unfortunately common in the US that they don’t even make the front page news all the time. Every time a shooting happens, I get this emotion cocktail of sad numbness, and anger that nothing is being done. Of All the shootings have happened here, I took the tree of life synagogue shooting the most personally, not only because I’m Jewish but it was right in my father’s hometown. I’ve been to Pittsburgh and passed that synagogue whenever I visited my grandparents before they passed away in 2015.… Read more »

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
10 months ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

Can’t imagine how blood boiling that must have been for you. Sending you virtual huggies Woolf!!!

Milan
Milan
10 months ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

Thank you. This is indeed too shocking for words – the horror and the randomness of it. These acts of two deeply disturbed minds have shown us just how deep our society has sunk. 

Vjera Brdar
Vjera Brdar
10 months ago
Reply to  Milan

As long as there are those able to see the light, there is hope…
Pozdrav, Milane!