Montenegro has chosen! After weeks of behind-the-scenes deliberations RTCG today announced that Slavko Kalezic will represent the Balkan nation at Eurovision 2017 in Kyiv, Ukraine. He will sing the as yet to be released “Space”.
The track is written by Momcilo Zekovic, a member of the popular group Perper.
Who is Slavko Kalezic?
https://youtu.be/d5Amj1hZK_U
Like Highway last year, Slavko Kalezic is also a graduate of X Factor Adria. But Kalezic is more than just your average talent show wannabe.
The guy is talented! He graduated from the Montenegrin National Theatre, specialising in singing and dancing. He’s also dabbled in acting and TV presenting — he even hosted an episode of X Factor Adria.
He’s gone on to release several singles including “Culprit” and “Feel the Love”, and his debut album Dreams of Eternity dropped two years ago.
A quick perusal of the rising star’s Instagram feed suggests that the man is both extremely athletic and flamboyant — two qualities which never go amiss at Eurovision. As the evidence below shows, he’s most definitely not shy!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLIq-9iDkRT/?taken-by=slavkokalezic&hl=en
MONTENEGRO AT EUROVISION
Since their 2012 comeback, the smallest Balkan nation has always used internal selection, with mixed results at Eurovision. They’ve twice made the grand final, both times with emotional Balkan ballads that captured the hearts of their neighbours.
Montenegro’s most recent act was the X Factor boy band Highway. Their edgy rock song “The Real Thing” placed 13th in the first semi-final in Stockholm. While Montenegro only managed to pick up televote points from neighbouring Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, they had better luck with juries. Jury members in San Marino, Malta and Azerbaijan were especially impressed by Highway’s stoner rock sound.
Saved like a favourite, terrific web site!
So, ehm… How gay is he?
Lovely website, it loads very quick and appears very cool.
I fear for some gay kitsch overload. But hopefully not
Eurovision is above everything an entertainment show, meant for entertainment purposes. Don’t fool yourselves in thinking otherwise..
But just because it’s entertainment doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be serious. ESC, like entertainment in general, is at it’s best when it balances between serious and entertaining. When it manages to present both credible good songs and silly songs without ever going overboard, that’s the hit.
Only focusing on the fun spectacle aspect of it devalues ESC, as does only focusing on credible serious songs.
A mix is always the best way to go.
@MyName*: Charles’s argument was that “so many things were great back in the 50s and 60s,” not just the music! So yes, my comment was a necessary counter-argument to his opinion, and I stand by it for that purpose. As for the music-only arguments; of course music is the most important factor of the contest – that goes without saying. But, what makes a 1955 song better than a 2015 song? Here’s the other side: Some people honestly believe that songwriting has de-generated into four-chord only pop songs; and that choreography is nothing more than a fake mask to hide… Read more »
@ Purple mask – I find that a rather irrelevant and uneccsarry comment. It’s not about the 50s or a radio show. What we all try to tell, is the obvious thing. That music is what really counts in ESC
If you don’t get that simple point we have – let’s agree on disagreeing then.
For those who would prefer Eurovision to go back to being a radio show: If I had the ability to send you back in time to the 1950s, I would.
@Roelof Well – noone knows how he will perform the song yet. Maybe he will just go for an ordinary look on stage. I hope so. Last year Montenegro sent a kind of boyband. And I suppose most of us expected a boyband song. Which might be good too of course. But we got a great rock song. Early betting odds are (sorry) nothing to go by at this stage. The song is not avaible yet. I suppose the odds more reflect the attention he has got in this case. From what I have read at the net, people are… Read more »
Montenegro is now 8th with the bookies, I think they expect another Conchita
@Purple Mask: And so many things were actually truly great back in 50s and 60s as people had a much better listening skill … today we get way too distracted by what we see … and it’s not impossible to press on mute to avoid listening to the music while expecting the rubbish to show off on stage … Eurovision is still not anybody’s Instagram desperate need to scream for attention … not yet … you can keep those clothes on and get on with the singing. Thank you … Favourite Eurovision? … Well when music still mattered by all… Read more »
@an esc fan
Good, we agree then
@ Doorioo
I agree, I didn’t use ”clowns” as something positive.
@an esc fan
ESC doesn’t benefit from “clowns” and OTT stage acts though. But it benefits from having “serious” singers and bands taking part. With good MUSIC intentions. Having said that, I am all for musical variation. Be it etnho, metal, country, indie, pop, rock, jazz etc.
I’ve read an article about Oscar dresses, and the author was sad because now everything is very safe, while in the 90’s and early 2000’s, dresses were very daring, nonconformist, imaginative.
The conclusion was that now social media is very powerful, and actresses are afraid of being ridiculed by thousands of people.
Maybe is the same with ESC, and maybe is one of the reasons why artists don’t want to be clowns anymore.
@Purple Mask – of course ESC is about music, way more that about performance. Quite selfexplaining – I would say. If it was not, it would have not gained the international popularity it has for 60 long years. Music is something most people have an interest in – more or less.
@Charles: Yes. So, what’s your favourite ‘song,’ and why? 🙂
By the way, if the ESC was just about songs rather than performances, then it would be a radio show. Strangely enough, the Contest did actually start as a radio show in the 1950s. (Some people just can’t let go of the 50s…) 😀
@Charles – I agree 101 % with what you write here. Or 99 % 🙂 So I will quote you: “And I am sick and tired of how people here enjoy the bad side of Eurovision (lack of music quality, looking at Eurovision as a freak show, comedy, circus, LGBT-saturdaynightdragqueen-replacer) and don’t give a s**** about the needed music credibility it really should have. It’s a song contest, therefore there must be music involved …” **** However – I must say I don’t think / hope things are as bad as you put it. Firstly, many fans don’t give a… Read more »
As some people has said,any trace or resemblance of the 2000 decade by any of the acts won’t fly an-more. Especially with a jury, that’s why they were brought back in the first place: to lessen the kitsch factor. Despite the comments on here no one -apart from a few Brits- actually wants to return to the naughties period of excess, kitsch, camp and yes trash. It didn’t reflect the music of the time and nor does it reflect the music of today. Like I said there will be fun songs and I’m not against that. I’m against a whole… Read more »
@MyName*: With all due respect and considering I do agree with 98% of what you last said … I would truly and honestly recommend you taking a closer and more serious listening … repeat … listening … to the songs that came after 1999 televoting era and ask yourself if any of that was the mirror of the noughties music scene and instead we had Eurovision being poked fun and mocked to such a degree of desperation in the hopes it would regain the general public interest. In other words .. we had to turn it into a circus or… Read more »
@Purple Mask: I use the word song not performance cause the song is what matters to me … even if the final performance damages any chances of getting fair amount of votes .. it starts with the song and ends with the song for me. Everybody here goes a bit loony with the focus on performance … and when I think of performance I think of a Janet Jackson or a Britney Spears lip syncing while spending way too much time in choreography though they are supposed to be *cough cough* singers. And I am sick and tired of how… Read more »
A Conchita performance? Please spare us. No freak show I hope
Ignoring the fact that he is gay, I think that the song should do it here. It’s 99% sure he is going to put on a Cochita performance, but the song needs to be good, we are in 2017, music is gooooooood now. (Yes I know it’s still 2016) He has a weak voice, so I don’t expect a ballad. I really can’t predict how he is going to end up. BTW have you seen the bookmakers results so far, they are awfull: Montenegro, Portugal, France, Malta, Israel and Belgium are at the top (all at nr. 1), and Belarus… Read more »
@ Purple Mask – Hehe….well, I have seen it in use. At least for the decade 2000-09. Dunno if it was done by English natives though
@MyName*: “…the nillies”? Do you mean “the noughties?” I have never before seen ‘the nillies’ used in the English language; I think you just invented a new word! 🙂
@Charles: Thanks, that’s a very practical point of view. I wonder: What is your favourite Eurovision performance so far, and why?
When people start talking about Dana International or Conchita Wurst, it sometimes seems like that some people want to turn Eurovision Song Contest into Eurovision Gay Contest….No offence! I neither hope nor believe that is the actual intention. But sometimes it comes across that way. Having said that – I think “Diva” desverved to win. Because it was a good modern dance pop song, which reflected the music trends of the late 90s well. it also went on to be a huge hit around Europe. Showing it had a great appeal to the record buying audience. If that victory was… Read more »
@ninasublatti: I wonder if you’re enrolled in the Dana International/Conchita University taking courses on TV entertainment that require bad taste in music just for the fun of seeing people acting like trolls. I hope you finish it with flying rainbow colours! 🙂
@Purple Mask: I appreciate your answer and your perception of the Dana Int winning back in 1998 as I was also 17 at the time … but allow me to tell you one little detail … your faith and belief in the idea that the Dana Int victory symbolized is very pretty and commendable but … I don’t believe for a moment that it even represented any of that for Dana herself … the same way I don’t believe the meaning behind Conchita’s winning was shared by Conchita herself to be quite frankly … but that’s me and I don’t… Read more »
@Polegend Godgarina: Sorry but I rather hang out people my age and maturity … cause nobody wants to be Peter Pan, again! Good luck with that nonetheless … and enjoy all the music genres although … come on … we all know what genre you want the most here lol 🙂 Happy 2017!
@ Charles – You are of course right.
Music is what counts in ESC. It should (of course) have the decisive factor.
It’s not a glamour freak show.
If ESC was overly flashy in the 2000s, it’s now in danger of becoming too “respectable” – and dull. The jury/televote mix has clearly ended the overload of songs that were all spectacle and little content. There’s absolutely no chance that we’ll ever see more than a half dozen joke or flash songs in a year anymore, unless the scoring system changes again. Out of the 10 artists that have been revealed so far for 2017, all but Slavko come across as well-behaved, tasteful and – frankly – predictable. Eurovision is a song contest, sure – but it’s a POP… Read more »
He looks sleazy.
But I heard a song by him, which I liked. Seems like a musically innovative choice. Which I usually think is a good idea when it comes to ESC.
Still – after the great “The Real Thing”, it’s a though act to follow. Even if it didn’t qualify, the “experts” liked it, and wanted it in the final. In my top 10 of ESC 2016
Not a fan of his voice. To be honest this choice doesn’t seem too promising, but let’s wait for the song.
This boy totally cannot sing. And Balkan and Eastern European babes with smug face, flamboyant wings and leather are all out in Vienna, where they feel safe and free to express their attitude and arrogance. So the only difference he makes, is he is apparently is smug, safe and free in broke Black Mountain. I guess he works as an entertainer for tourists.
But he really can’t sing. His songs are totally awful.
As I stated in a previous comments thread, 2008 was the turning point for ESC. Spain’s entry that year was that awful comedy of dance moves gone wrong – that seemingly had nothing to do with being camp or flamboyant; just a case and point. For a while up until 2008, there was no jury used at all for much of the 2000s – televoting alone decided the outcome of the contest. When Russia won that year with that figure-skating based choreography, Sir Terry Wogan decided he had enough in the UK commentary. It was very big news. Changes were… Read more »
@ Denis
I understand what you are saying, but I think that sex orientation has nothing to do with that. Those ”fun acts” are usually trolls that are upset because previous years results, and I respect countries that stay classy and keep trying in the right way (like Germany).
Everything we dislike from 90’s and 2000’s is because music was like that back then, don’t think is any risk to have that trend again.
Spectacle is nice but you all realize that’s the reason ESC had a bad reputation during late 90’s and 2000s, right? Why it was seen as a laughing stock and why Italy refused to take part? And why U.K still sees it as a “fun” thing? It was all shallow, no real connection. It was about T and A. Sergey Lazarov was part of that too. Much to see, nothing to feel. It was an empty shallow act. I don’t know about you but for me ESC is at it’s best right now when it has become a true show… Read more »
i would like him to sing a funky pop song
he is amazing
He reminds me of Sankill Jobes from Austria’s selection last year only withba better voice. Kinda excited to see what he brings.
I will wait for the song but I do have to say I do not like the way he is presenting himself. It just looks ridiculous lol
Just me, or in the photos with this article is a bit of a hot Rylan Clark?
@ Charles – you’re being nonsensical. Eurovision should have all types of songs every year, and may the best one win. Yup, including trashy acts. You sound like you’re no fun to hang out with, henny.
If Slavko appears in a dull outfit and sings a dramatic and emotional ballad in May, then I will happily remind Charles of this comments board. 🙂 @Charles: Personally, flamboyance doesn’t offend me, and juries DO acknowledge choreographical content because it’s part of the live presentation of the song. Of course, where their tastes begin and end is another conversation entirely. Also just to correct Charles on a small point: Dana International winning in 1998 was an important victory for transgender visibility. But, is she gay? – I don’t know. Did the victory affect visibility of gay people as well?… Read more »
charles, gfy please!! if you want to listen to boring ballads and music with deep lyrical meaning then why are you trying to find it on eurovision??? eurovision IS about having FUN! and slavko is perfect for this competition, cause eurovision is ENTERTAINMENT and he is a good entertainer!!!!
@Denis: Finally someone who understands the true problem here … as far as I know this is still Eurovision SONG Contest … not Eurovision Performance-Show-Focus-On-Me Contest … Aren’t there any other TV shows where we can get that type of entertaiment without shaming and ridiculing everybody else who actually takes music seriously and seeks some credibility?
@Purple Mask: Eurovision came out of the closet since Dana Int won the whole thing because … well because … but anyway … there has always been a gay card that somehow needs to be played cause after all the majority of fans are LGBT … so they need something to relate to … sadly this is not the type of gay vibe I can relate to. It all sounds parody and joke to me. If this guy wants to go theatrics, he rather have more respect for the art of it and showcase some sense of honesty while interpreting… Read more »
@Polegend Godgarina: Eurovision is not about you or your desperate need for rubbish music … it is and hopefully it will remain about music that kind of music that 10 year old are way too young to fully understand and whose lyrics have actually a meaning … if you wanna have fun, you always have a disco near by where lyrics and meaning are useless but beats keep you busy for a few considerable amount of hours … besides other activities on the side 🙂 PS: Everybody here is so way out of the closet, way out enough to actually… Read more »
@ Denis – wasn’t last year’s televote winner Russia all about the show and not about the song at all as well? I would honestly rather have a solid and entertaining show than a collection of ballads. Of course, as long as the songs are good. I need more Shady Ladies and Secret Combinations. Sure, ballads are always fine if they’re as good as A Million Bibles or Sound of Talent, but if you’re going to bring something mediocre like Israel attempted to do in 2016 then you might as well stay home.
Y’all closet gays better stop it with this internalized homophobia. Slavko is at least going to be entertaining and different. Whew, he hasn’t even revealed a snippet of his song and he already has y’all pressed.
Pondering to the gay audience much? Is this an attempt to go back to the over the top camp period of the 2000,s where it was all about the spectacle and not the song? Where the one who wears the most skimpy outfits is the one who prevails?
I’m not going to judge but something tells me he won’t qualify Especially with a jury being there.
Anything can happen though..