Zeljko Joksimovic thanked for being chosen to represent Serbia and for the help he received in organizing his performance, stressing that he is convinced that he has met the of our viewers.

Mr. Tijanic congratulated him on a great song and an excellent performance, pointing out that good news for Serbia are very important, and that these naturally include a third place in the world's largest music competition. Hinting to the fact that the organizational costs of this year's "Eurovision" have reached 52 million Euros, the RTS general manager also jokingly noted:
"It should be known that as he was leaving I forbade him to win. I now believe that their the third place is a serious breach of their instructions!"

Mr. Tijanic recalled Zeljko Joksimovic's previous successes and the outstanding result by Maria Serifovic, underscoring that according to European pundits the Belgrade organization of "Eurosong" set production standards which remain unsurpassed.

Chatting with media representatives in the RTS lobby, the representative of Serbia thanked everyone who supported him and voted for the song "Synonim" - from his family members and the Serbian delegation in Baku, to the spectators him who gave him their votes.

"It was not easy. But given the fact that we got zero points from as many as 12 countries, our third place is a fantastic success" - Joksimovic said.

The "Ad Hoc Orchestra" accompanied Zeljko Joksimovic on the Crystal Hall stage in Baku. Its members are Ksenija Milosevic (violin and backing vocals), Olga Vujovic (violin and backing vocals), Milos Nikolic (clarinet, kaval and backing vocals), Dusan Alagic (instrumentalist and backing vocals) and Dragan Krstic (percussion and backing vocals). Zeljko, of course, did not miss the opportunity to thank them.

According to Joksimovic the team was excellent, and it meant a lot that some of the musicians were also with him the previous time he competed in the Eurovision Song Contest.

"Zeljko Joksimovic had the biggest responsibility for he had only three minutes to represent his country," said ESC executive director in Serbia Duska Vucinic-Lucic, adding that there were also some difficult moments for the Serbian delegation during their stay in Azerbaijan.

"The hosts thanked us for the fact that we have brought in one of the biggest Eurovision stars. My impression was that the competitors even feared Zeljko Joksimovic." - Ms. Duska Vucinic-Lucic said.

The competition for the "Eurovision Song Contest" has a 57 years-long history. However, the fact is that only a few of the winning songs have become evergreen. "Synonim" ("Ljubav nije stvar") surely will.

I congratulate the Swedish representative Loreen, but most of all I congratulate and thank "Ad Hoc orchestra" and the Serbian delegation that supported me and gave their best for the last several months, throughout the "Eurovision" story.

For me personally, already a runner-up at the event, the achieved result couldn't be what I wanted with all my heart. I believe everybody can understand that, but at this moment I'm well aware that the third place is a real success of my country at this prestigious festival. Eurovision voting is as it is - no one can change it and not much can be influenced.

Eurovision Song Contest is the event that brought 42 countries together, and they all voted at their discretion and opinion. In this context, beside the quality of the composition, there is a bias too. Others do say: "It is an image of numerous, complex relationships in Europe." So much about that.

This will be my last participation in the competition as a performer. Maybe I'll get a chance to make "beautiful songs" for others, just as I did several times before.
I thank Serbian embassy in this country for all its activities and RTS (Serbian Broadcasting Corporation) that supported me all the time.

Music is my life and my great love, so I believe there will be opportunities for some new and surely different Eurovision meetings.

I'm proud of the members of my orchestra and my team, the entire delegation. They all tried hard to present our country in the best possible manner, and we were unique in many ways: with the quality of the song, promotion, different versions of the song, video-clips, stage performance, styling... And there are more really wonderful stuff.

Ksenija, Olga, Miloš, Gagi, Dule - congratulations!

I believe that other members in my family know that I think the same about them and I don't have to mention their names. I thank my friends who found the time to come to beautiful Baku.

I do not regret a bit for what we were doing for the last six months or so. "Synonym"/ "Nije ljubav stvar" will be played on the radio-stations across the country and Europe for a long time, I`m sure. And other versions of this song- in Russian, Spanish, Azeri language and instrumental, symphonycs and brass version will have a long lifetime, too.

I'll be working in the studio on the songs that have waited for me. New surprises are awaiting.

Thank you for trusting in me during the past days,

Željko Joksimović

Over the next twenty days to Željko`s performance in magnificent Baku Crystal Hall, Eurovision fans and admirers of Zeljko Joksimovic have the opportunity to enjoy in the song "Nije ljubav stvar" in many ways : in four versions (in Serbian, English, Russian and Spanish language), also in the original instrumental version or in symphonic music (Željko`s team adding: "So far").

Here you can download audio of song "Su Amor Vencia Me" in WAV file.

This new video presentation of the song that will be representing our country at the prestigious music contest in May is not an ordinary presentation, it has another aspect to it.

Namely, in cooperation with Nenad Mahmutović- Joksimović will make it possible for hearing impaired persons to follow the words of the song "Nije ljubav stvar".

Mahmutović will translate the lyrics into sign language for all those who were not able to hear to the song throughout Europe. Mahmutović is the winner of the local "I've got talent" 2011 Show.

This type of communication that the Serbian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest is using is a unique example so far with regard to the preparations of European representatives for the Baku contest.

Serbian song "Nije ljubav stvar" will be the first entry at the second Eurovision semi-final on May 24 in the Baku Crystal Hall.

This version lasts 2:40 minutes and has different arrangement than the one we've all had the opportunity to hear earlier.

The specificity and uniqueness of this "summer, instrumental version" is that Željko plays or simulates the sound of 15 instruments!

Željko Joksimović - "Nije ljubav stvar" instrumental  

This version of song is available for download on Željko's applications for iPhone and Android, as well as on internet and social network.

Application for iPhone phones and Android is free to use. Users will be able to follow the latest news, photos and to listen to all versions of Serbian song for ESC 2012 "Nije ljubav stvar".

In Fan pit area, users of applications will be able to publish their impressions, interact with others and communicate directly with Zeljko Joksimovic.

Zeljko Joksimovic is the first ESC representative of Serbia and one of the first public figures in our region that have recognized advantages of the latest generation of modern technology in order to more successfully presented his work to the public..

The application for the Apple device has not by chance released today- the idea was to serve this particular multimedia gift to the audience exactly on birthday of Zeljko Joksimovic.

Željko is one of few musicians that can play more than 14 musical instruments.

Željko started his professional career in 1997 when he released an album produced by record label PGP-RTS (National Radio & TV Serbia). In the midd - nineties (1993, 1996, 1997) he had many accomplishments on the "Belgrade spring" festival as a composer.

His success on the "Song of Mediterranean" festival in Budva 1998, with the composition "The song of sirens" (interpretation award) gave him the possibility of participating on two prestigious international festivals in Belarus, in the cities Mahilyow and Vitsyebsk. In the year 1999 he won the Gran Prix on both festivals.

The last years in the nineties he spent composing music for the theater plays, like "Mandagora", "Ljubinko and Desanka", "The slave of love", "On foot", "I don't have money, I won't pay"...
The turning point of his work as a pop - soloist was releasing his album (for City records production) in 2000. Results of his work were more than obvious. His first album was proclaimed best-selling album.

In years to follow Željko will remain in the very top of Serbian music. Numerous awards following his first album proved his quality and persistence.

The turning point in his career is considered to be Željko' s winning the national contest for Serbia and Montenegro's representative on "Eurosong" 2004. with his song "Lane moje". After very long time, Serbia and Montenegro once again had their representative on this prestigious European contest. Winning 2nd place on the "Eurosong" contest in Istanbul and THE MARCEL BEZENCON Press award (Best Composer Award) made him way to the top of the European music scene.
This success changed the course of his career. This turning point gave a special tone to his musical opus and the songs he made after 2004.

Željko' s cooperation and duet with the Austrian singer Tamee Harrison "I live my life for you" made great success throughout Europe.

In December 2005 his last released album was a fantastic success and was sold in more than 800. 000 copies. This album represented a great quality improvement in Željko's work.

In that period Željko tried himself as a film music composer. In cooperation with "Cobra production" he composed music for the movie "Ivko' s slava" ("Ivkova slava").

His great accomplishment on "Eurosong" 2004 was repeated in Athens 2006, when his musical piece "LEJLA" , written for Bosnia and Herzegovina' s representative - "Hari Mata Hari" band, won not only 3 place on the contest, but also the prestigious best composer award (COMPOSER AWARD 2006), assigned to Željko by all composers who participated on the festival.

In 2007 in front of an audience of 18.000 Željko Joksimović performed all of his hits in the Belgrade Arena.

In 2008, Željko Joksimović composed a song that will once again be performed by Jelena Tomašević in the Serbian national final for Eurovision song selection, Beovizija 2008, which is called "Oro". The song, a ballad, represented Serbia in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade.

On March 24, 2008 it was announced by the 2008 Eurovision organisers RTS that together with Jovana Janković he will host the Eurovision Song Contest, giving him two roles in the contest.

Second Serbian entry, performed in Belgrade was written by past entrant for Serbia as part of Serbia and Montenegro and contest host Željko Joksimović. The song "Oro", an ethnic ballad, performed by Jelena Tomašević came 6th and received 160 points in the overall rankings.

Serbian broadcaster RTS (Radio- televison Serbia) has revealed that Željko Joksimović will once again represent his country on the 57thEurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan 2012.

Željko has been given complete control over the Serbian entry. He will both compose and perform the entry, which will be presented to the public for the first time in a show on Serbian television in early 2012.

This will be Željko's fourth attempt at winning the competition.

Ksenija Milošević,
violin and back vocal

Ksenija Milošević was born in 1982 in Belgrade, Serbia. She has been playing the violin since she was four years old. Ksenija graduated at the Belgrade University of Music and got her Master's degree in 2005.

She participated in a large number of international festivals and has won numerous awards and recognitions. As a solo violinist she has played with the most recognized Serbian orchestras. She has been a permanent member of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra since 1999. She has been a concertmaster for three years and is an active member of the chamber ensemble "Double sense" in Paris with whom she has recorded a CD for the European market and with whom she is performing all over Europe.

In 2006. she participated at the "Eurovision Song Contest" in Athens representing Bosnia and Hercegovina with Hari Mata Hari and won third place.

In 2007. she has participated with Marija Serifovic at the "Eurovision Song Contest" in Helsinki where she was back vocal in the song "Molitva" and was part of the winning team for Serbia.

Olga Vulović,
violin and back vocal

Olga Vulović was born in 1978 in Belgrade, Serbia. She has graduated from the Belgrade University of Music, specializing in violin.

Since she was three years old, she has been a member of the famous children's choir "Kolibri" and has won various singing competitions as well as performed on big pop music festivals. As the back vocal and a violinist, she has performed with a number of big singing stars from the territories of Serbia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia and Montenegro.

Miloš Nikolić,
clarinet, kaval and backing vocals

Miloš Nikolić graduated clarinet at the Belgrade University of Arts (Faculty of Music). He is a musician of wide interests.

As a clarinetist he won the highest national awards and has performed as soloist and orchestral musician. Special attention is given to chamber music. He is a member of the "Pokret" Trio ("Movement") that performs the works of contemporary Serbian composers.

More than two decades he is engaged in Byzantine music, its theory, practice and notation. He led the Byzantine Choir and they gave concerts throughout Europe and also released several compact discs.

For many years he has been studying Serbian, Balkan and Oriental music tradition. He plays bagpipes and kaval. He is also the first kaval professor in Serbia and teaches at the "Mokranjac" Music School in Belgrade.

Miloš collaborates with musicians and artists of various profiles. He sings and plays with Pavle Aksentijević and with "Ved" Trio. He records music for films and radio plays. In 2004 he participated in "Eurovision Song Contest" in Istanbul with Željko Joksimović with the song "Lane moje" which won second place.

Dušan Alagić,
back vocal and instrumentalist

Dušan Alagić was born in 1982 in Belgrade, Serbia. He is a composer, song writer, music arranger, producer and an instrumentalist performer. He studied at the Belgrade University of Music  with specialization in ethnomusicology.

Since his youngest days he begun displaying interest in the violin, that was his first instrument, as well as the guitar and keyboard. In the last years he has been intensively working as a studio and concert instrumentalist.

In the last five years, he has collaborated with many national and Balkan stars as the author and has won many first prizes. The songs that he created have achieved huge popularity on Serbia's pop scene. He is the owner of his own music studio.

Dušan Alagić also appears as the author in many documentaries, short films and children's music. He is the producer and arranger of the world's first movie in which children with autism are performing.

Dragan Krstić,
percussions and back vocal

Dragan Krstić was born in 1979 in Zajecar, Serbia. He was raised in a musical family and developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied the piano and drums at the same time and performed with his own rock band at the "Zajecar Guitar Fest" when he was 12 years old. "Zajecar Guitar Fest" was the biggest rock event in the country at the time. Two years later he won at that same festival and recorded his first album.

Since coming to Belgrade in 1996, Krstic has collaborated with many famous musicians and bands, performed with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra"and acquires vast experience as a studio musician. Since 2002 he has collaborated with Zeljko Joksimovic with whom he represented Serbia and Montenegro at the "Eurovision Song Contest"  in Istanbul ( 2004 ) with the song "Lane moje".

Marina Tucaković, songwriter

Marina Tucaković is one of the most famous songwriters of the most popular songs in the Balkan region. She has a successful 35 year career under her belt as a songwriter having written over 4000 songs that have been performed by the most famous artists in Serbia and in the ex-Yu territory. Over 15 million albums have been sold with her signature on them. The song "Love is not a thing" is only the second song in her career that she has written for the "Eurovision Song Contest".

Miloš Roganović, songwriter

Miloš Roganović was born in 1976 in Belgrade, Serbia. He graduated from the  Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Belgrade.

As a child, Roganovic played the accordion and later on - a guitar. He was a member of a few popular rock and pop bands. Even though he graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry and works as a dentist, his talent for writing songs and music has enabled him to establish a serious and long lasting collaboration with big Serbian stars as well as stars in the region. A very special moment in his career was the invitation from Zeljko Joksimovic to work together with Marina Tucakovic and write a song thereby creating an opportunity to participate in the "Eurovision Song Contest".

Along with Željko Joksimović, the Serbian team on the Eurovision stage in Baku will include members of the "Ad Hoc Orchestra":

Ksenija Milošević - violin and backing vocals, Olga Vulović - violin and backing vocals, Miloš Nikolić - kaval and backing vocals, Dušan Alagić - backing vocals and instrumentalist, and Dragan Krstić - percussions and backing vocals.

You can download Željko Joksimović's song here (mpg).

The postproduction and mastering of "Ljubav nije stvar" in Serbian, and of the "Synonim" version in English was done James Cruz, an award-winning audio-mastering engineer in his New York studio.

James Cruz has nine "Grammy" Awards under his belt. He has worked with many show-business greats: Beyonce, Puff Daddy, Mary Mary, Lil Wayne, Nina Simone, etc. In his career Cruz did the audio-mastering for more than 400 albums many of them winning either a gold or platinum certification. He also worked on the film "The Lord of the Rings".

Listen to the new versions of the song "Ljubav nije stvar" (wav).

Here you can also download promotional photos formatted for printed media.

Now that the score and the lyrics have been made public, Željko will turn to preparing his stage performance and rehearsals.

The representative of Serbia will have only three minutes to convince Europe to vote for him.

Yesterday evening Joksimović mingled with the media and friends in the RTS building lobby.

"Although I already participated in the ESC as a composer and host, I now face a different responsibility as a performer on stage. This year I will be handling a much "'hotter potato" than back in 2004, because I have written songs for other participants in the meantime"- Željko said.

"I've thought a lot whether to participate, since I'm already a veteran in this contest, but then I realized that this is what I do - I am a composer and singer and I am proud that I will be representing Serbia once again" - Joksimović noted.

In his opinion the stage performance is very important, and he wants it to be different than the one back in 2004.

"We need to prepare something new. We try to make it simple, different and emotional like the song, also keeping the cost down. Neither the stage performance, nor our promotion in Azerbaijan will be pretentious, because lately quality is being lost due to colorful choices" Joksimović said, adding that there will be no promotional tour either.

Traditionally in Serbian

Reiterating that in Baku he will perform "Nije ljubav stvar" in Serbian, Željko offered the following explanation: "I feel comfortable with both versions (in English and in Serbian). The presentation of the song in the RTS Košutnjak studio was attended by heads of delegation of the fifteen countries taking part in ESC and they voted for the version they preferred. The result was 50:50. Still, I will sing in Serbian, as this is our tradition, and Marija (Šerifović) won though singing in their mother tongue."

The composer noted that this year's competition will be "very challenging", because famous performers will be taking part along with first-timers and added that he has great respect for his competition, albeit he is convinced that Serbia has a top quality song.

"I could have made some sort of a surprise song, as I like to experiment, but in Azerbaijan I will not be representing my skills but the whole of Serbia and therefore I have greater responsibility. On the other hand my songs Lane moje, Oro, and Leila had success, so I did not want to change that."

Don't be surprised if we win!

"We'll be going all the way and I hope we'll have success. We might very easily win. This is not just a phrase, do not be surprised if that happens, I think we will all feel good about it. If not, fine again, and we'll make the best possible postcard in Azerbaijan" - the Serbian added.

"Never before have I received so many positive reviews. Perhaps it's due to the fact emotions of the song, of the lyrics, of the melody, and the arrangements have blended perfectly together with the sensibility of our people, that enjoy our music" - Joksimović said.

In just four days, the song Nije ljubav stvar has been viewed more than two million times on YouTube.

After Joksimović's song was premiered on March 10th, the commentator of the ESC official website wrote that Joksimović is ready to take "Eurosong" back to Belgrade, to the Belgrade Arena, where the competition was held in 2008. A British betting giant, has already listed the Serbian representative among the three most likely to triumph. 

Željko Joksimović - "Nije ljubav stvar" (wav file)

Song title in serbian laguage: "Nije ljubav stvar"
Lyrics: Marina Tucaković and Miloš Roganović
Composer : Željko Joksimović

Nije ljubav stvar 

Više sreće drugi put
Kažeš mi to tako lako
Vidim da nam ne ide
A još kako moglo je
I ako odeš ti, nešto tvoje, znaj,
tu će ostati.

Nije ljubav stvar,
da bih ti je vratio,
Gledaj to sam samo ja,
uvek sam te voleo
Nije ljubav stvar,
pa da ne znam šta ću s njom
Želim ti sve najbolje
ova ljubav samo moj je
brodolom.

Nije tvoja ljubav stvar,
da bih ti je vratio,
Gledaj, to sam samo ja,
uvek sam te voleo
Nije moja ljubav stvar,
pa da ne znam šta ću s njom
Želim ti sve najbolje,
to moj je brodolom

Idi, samo, samo, idi, tamo
leti, pevaj, srce drugome daj,
al' znaj, da zbogom nije kraj
Nije moja ljubav stvar,
pa da ne znam šta ću s njom
Želim ti sve najbolje
Ova ljubav samo moj je
brodolom.

Željko Joksimović - "Synonim" (wav file)

Song title in english laguage: "Synonim"
Lyrics: Ljilja Jorgovanović
Composer : Željko Joksimović

Synonym

Sunshine every single day,
sunny day for sunny sorrow,

I was happy yesterday,
easy come and easy go.

You, can you feel the rain,
beating of my heart, colour of my pain?

Leave the love and go,
I'll be silent, I will know
what a shame I love you line
now it sounds like a crime.
Late to ask you why,
how you knew to say goodbye,
but I know the life is dream,
every love and pain are only synonym.

Baby, leave the love and go,
take tomorrow, take it all,
what a shame I love you line,
now it sounds like a crime.
Have you ever seen a man,
begging you on bleeding knees?
If you want to break me down
so do it, do it please.

Second, baby give me second,
to remember every night I made you sad,
too bad,
too late to blow my head.

Baby, leave the love and go,
take tomorrow, take it all,
I must live, God knows why,
it is my turn to cry.

Too late to die.

In the glamorous TV Show in Belgrade RTS studio Joksimovic presented his most popular songs, some of them he performed solo and some of them together with several guests with strong Eurovision pedigree, all this accompanied by his own band and 40 musicians of the RTS Symphonic Orchestra.

It was an opportunity to hear once again all three Eurovision Songs composed by Joksimovic in last 8 years, such as Lane moje, the song with which Joksimovic took 2nd place in Istanbul in 2004 and won The Marcel Bezencon Press award for the Best Composer.

Also songs composed by him but performed by Jelena Tomasevic "Oro" during Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade 2008 and Jutro for ESC 2005 and of course very popular song Lejla written for Bosnia and Hercegovina's representative Hari Mata Hari band that was 3rd in Athens 2006.

Beside Jelena Tomasevic-Bosiljcic and Hari Varesanovic the guests in the program were Ivan Bosiljic, Serbian actor and singer who was singing Joksimovic songs "Idu dani" and Halid Beslic from BiH with one of the most popular Joskimovic's song in the region in last two years called "Miljacka". Jelena Tomasevic Bosiljcic was during the interpretation of the song "Oro" accompanied by Bora Dugic, Serbian piper well known in the world.

Joksimovic's big hits such as "Ljubavi", "Ono nase sto nekad bejase", "Devojka sa polja zelenih" "Zaboravljas" and "Ima nesto u tome sto me neces" were heard in new arrangements together with big RTS Orchestra.

During the show the audience also had an opportunity to see a documentary film about the making of the song, which showed how important this new Eurovision task was for Joksimovic and his team during the past months.

The show was hosted by young actress Tamara Aleksic and for the first time for Eurovision Song Contest it was made in HD quality.

The RTS viewers will enjoy the live broadcast from the Košutnjak studio on Channel 1, RTS Satellite, on the official RTS website, and on the official ESC website starting at 9 p.m.

The TV show "European song" will also be an opportunity to hear some of the greatest hits from Željko Joksimović's rich musical career as a song writer and movie score composer, but this time in a completely different arrangement. The songs we all love, will be premiered by Joksimović and his band joined by some 40 musicians of the RTS Symphonic Orchestra.

Special guests appearing in the TV special include renown musicians from our region and traditional associates of our Eurosong representative: Jelena Tomašević, Bora Dugić, Ivan Bosiljčić, Hari Varešanović and Halid Bešlić. Appearing in the studio in front of his and Eurosong fans on a particularly glamorous stage and in a rather unusual television format for this type of program, Željko Joksimović will treat the television audience to the "European Song".

The show will be hosted by the young, but already accomplished actress Tamara Aleksić. The "European Song" show broadcast for the first time in HD as well, will be produced by the RTS Eurovision team for Baku 2012.

Saturday, March 10th 9 p.m., RTS 1, SAT RTS, RTS website.

He emphasized that our embassy will provide all the necessary support to the Serbian delegation at the Eurovision Song Contest, as well as to the other citizens who would choose to attend the event. 

Forty three contestants will compete for this prestigious title of the best European song in 2012.

The RTS (Radio Television of Serbia) satellite program "Srbija na vezi" show (Serbia on line) covering the host city insignia exchange ceremony, the semi-finals draw results, and including the impressions of reporter Tanja Šikić about the city of Baku, the hospitality and the effort of the hosts to do their best in organizing the next Eurovision Song Contest, was broadcast almost in it's entirety.

The telephone interview of the Serbian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Zoran Vajović, was also retransmitted, illustrating the great enthusiasm of the city of Baku to do their best in being the host not only for the participants of the Eurovision Song Contest, but also for the fans from all over the world. The ambassador also talked about the Serbian community in Azerbaijan.

The official website of the Eurovision Song Contest -"Eurovision.az", is the first to praise RTS for its reporting. After the broadcast of the program "Srbija na vezi" (Serbia on line) also featuring the reports of the RTS news crew about the city of Baku and Azerbaijan, a video clip from the program, and their commendation was circulated the very same evening (last week) on the main page.

In late January, together with colleagues from ten other European broadcasters , the RTS crew was hosted by the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest organizers to cover the preparations for this prestigious European musical event.

The most popular musical contest and one of the longest-running television shows is scheduled to take place in the Azerbaijani capital Baku from May 22nd to May 26th 2012.

Several other reports filmed in Baku this January will soon be broadcast by Radio Television of Serbia.

Most of Europe is not familiar with the rich cultural heritage of Azerbaijan, the country of poets and writers. But for those who are in the know, a museum inspired by music makes prefect sense as the legacy of this ESC year. This nation from southern Caucasus respects poetry and music very much. In fact, its cultural heritage had been passed through generations by means of music and poetry. The best proof of that are the mausoleum, museum and research center dedicated to the most famous poet of Azerbaijan, Nizami Ganjavi. This complex covers area of several hectares in the vicinity of Azerbaijan's second largest city - Ganja.

The new museum in Baku will be the most reliable guardian of the modern artistic treasure of the people of Azerbaijan. Victory in 2011 ESC, after only four participations, was perceived as a matter of national importance, so Azerbaijanis are working extremely meticulously on organization of this year's contest. At the same time, opening of this museum will put this year's ESC in a broader European context. Tourists from other European countries will also have the opportunity to visit the museum after May of this year.

The upcoming opening of the ESC museum in Baku also serves as an inspiration for Euro song time machine, taking us back to the very beginning of this event and the idea of Marcel Bezençon. He proposed organizing a pan-European festival of pop music that would be a counterpart of the popular Italian music festival in San Remo.

The history of the ESC is rich and, above all, interesting. It all began on May 24^th 1956 with the contest held in Lugano, whit participation of only seven countries: Italy, Germany, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Belgium and the host - Switzerland.

It was the only time when each country was represented with two songs, and there had been no limitations concerning duration of compositions, the language of interpretation, or number of interpreters on the stage.

The tune which opened the festival in Lugano "De vogels van Holland" performed by "Jetty Pearl" entered history only because it was the first ESC number. It informed the audience that Dutch birds are the most musical birds in the world.

The first representative of former Yugoslavia at the ESC was Ljiljana Petrović. She took eighth place in 1961 in Cannes in France. The title of the song, with lyrics written by Miroslav Mika Antić, was „Neke davne zvezde".

Most certainly, a special place in the ESC museum will be reserved for the famous song "Waterloo", performed in 1974 by the most renowned ESC participants, the Swedish band "ABBA". Numerous ESC fans around the world consider it to be the best ESC song of all times. Although this legendary group has plans to open its own museum in Stockholm, its opening is being delayed for five years now.

"I enjoyed a great deal creating the music for this movie. I was particularly inspired by the story, as well as by the epoch. The movie brings back to life the time and the events of the 1880's. I believe that this film sends a positive message and it reminds us of a completelydifferent system of values, unfortunately almost completely forgotten nowadays", Željko Joksimović said for the RTS internet portal.

Sold out cinemas during the first week of screening already indicate that the latest movie about the amazing professor and his gifted students will acquire cult status.

"I was trying to follow the emotions of the professor and his interaction with the students. I tried to use my music to support the story that suggests who and what, back then inspired such brilliant students, that later became academicians and reputed experts to leave their mark in their time. Many of those famous names still inspire new generations".

The film is based on the cult novel by Milovan Vitezović, preceded by the TV- drama with the same name made by RTS in the 1970s (the TV-drama had also inspired unprecedented interest of the audience in its genre).

"So far I usually worked on movie projects which depicted a certain epoch", Željko Joksimović explained. "For that reason writing the music for this film was easy, and I felt confident. From an author's point of view, I chose a solid music theme which I developed as I worked on this movie".

In his career, Željko Joksimović has composed music for theatre plays ("Mandagra" (Mandagra), "Ljubinko and Desanka" (Ljubinko i Desanka), "Slave to love" (Rob ljubavi(, "By foot" (Pešice), "I don't want to pay, I don't want to pay" (Neću da platim, neću da platim), as well as for TV shows ("Love, habit, panic" (Ljubav, navika, panika), "What we used to have once" (Ono naše što nekad bejaše), "Wounded eagle" (Ranjeni orao), "Her mother's sin" (Greh njene majke), "Budva, on the sea foam" (Budva, na pjenu od mora), "Jet-set" (Dzet set)). He is also the author of the score for the legendary movie "Ivko's name day" (Ivkova slava), as well as the latest "The hat of professor Kosta Vujić" (Šešir profesora Koste Vujića).

In the main ceremony in the beautiful Bata palace in Baku, Dirk Elbers, mayor of Dusseldorf, the town that hosted the 2011 Eurosong, symbolically presented the keys of the contest to the mayor of Baku, Hajibalu Abutalibova.

The address to the Eurovision public by ESC executive producer "Jon Ola Sand, was the introduction to the draw that determined the participants of the first and second semi-final.

In the first semi-final of "2012 Eurovision Song Contest"on May 22nd the following countries will perform: Montenegro, Iceland, Romania, Albania, Belgium, Latvia, Switzerland, Finland, Greece, Moldova, Cyprus, Austria, Denmark, Russia, San Marino, Israel, Ireland, Hungary.

The participants representing countries that will perform in the second semi-final on May 24th are: Serbia, Holland, Portugal, FYR Macedonia, Belarus, Malta, Ukraine, Armenia, Bulgaria, Sweden, Georgia, Slovenia, Estonia, Turkey, Slovakia, Croatia, Norway, Litvania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The occasion has also been used to decided in which of the finals the professional jury and the public from Azerbaijan and the "Big Five" countries will have the right to vote.

Italy, Azerbaijan and Spain will be allowed to vote for the representatives appearing in the first semi-finals For the contestants in the second semi-finals the voting will be carried out by Great Britain, France and Germany. This right applies to the countries- EBU members which are considered founders of ESC and to the host country, whose representatives are not performing in the semi-finals but will be competing in the finals.

The order of performance of all 43 competing participants during the first and second semi-finals will also be determined by a draw on March 18th during the traditional meeting of the heads of delegations or all participating countries.

That's when we will find out the line-up for the the second semi-finals of the "2012 Eurovision Song Contest" on May 24th when Serbian representative Zeljko Joksimovic will perform his song.

The hosts have presented the new visual identity of the 57th "Baku 2012 Eurovision Song Contest ", as well as the slogan:" Light your fire!"

I wish that as many Eurovision fans as possible would watch the clip again. It think that by re-watching it, all will better understand how my great Eurovision experience, is both a benefit and an obligation for me.

Bearing in mind all my previous rankings (to use sports terminology) - a second, a third and a sixth place, I guess that with time even the most skeptical ones will understand why I strive for a better Eurovision result than the ones I previously achieved.

Athletes and those who have experienced competing in something will surely understand.

I decided to set aside the burden of previous experiences and to prepare the song for Baku by turning to a completely new way of thinking, without drawing any parallels between "then and now."

I'm proud of the melody, I got what I had planned to create - a powerful song that I will be able to defend with all my strength, and proudly present Serbia to the Eurovision music audience.

The text is a process in itself. It is very important that the early nomination has given me the time I need, so that everything is evolving in almost ideal circumstances. Whether the song will become the new anthem of couples, lovers, abandoned ones or something completely different, I still can't reveal.

My Twitter fans know what I have been doing and where I have been in recent weeks - three concerts in Germany and a series of single ones in Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro...

It has been wonderful and only now that I have a couple of days to rest do I feel the accumulated tiredness.

I'd like to thank everyone for the wonderful reception - from Munich, Pforzheim and Düsseldorf, to Karlovac, Zagreb, Obrenovac and Skopje, where thanks to the fantastic audience (supposedly there were thirteen thousand of you) two and a half hours passed like a moment!

Also thanks to Kaliopi, Hari and Boris for their outstanding companionship and above all - for being on the same wavelength with me as usual.

Those concerts have been a refreshment, an adrenaline dose for the months of preparations that lie ahead.

It seems to me that it is important to successfully complete the current year, this being an excellent prerequisite for starting next year with more enthusiasm...

And my "2012 photo-finish" was just what one could wish for - counting down the last seconds of the old year together with thousands of people in a crowded square in Novi Pazar, and then a rerun of the New Year's eve with the audience and friends in Petrovac...

Just a day earlier I received a special award - international ESC fans voted my song "Lane Moje" best in the history of the contest!

And the brand new year has already come expecting us to mark on the calendar all the important and significant things we expect, plan, and are about to face.

I wish you all a happy 2012 - filled with many days of joy, love, success and contentment.

Sincerely yours,
Željko Joksimović

ESCRadio.com with partner website 12points.tv, in collaboration with 7 other particpating Fan sites (Belgovision.com, Songfestivalweblog.nl, Eurovisionfanclub.gr, Ilkar.blogspot.com, Infe Network, OGAE.nl) has started the annual voting for the Eurovision Top 250 songs.

Fans had opportunity to vote for their ten favourite songs, giving them 1 to 12 points, as the official Eurovision voting system. Fans were able to vote only once.

The countdown of 250 favourite ESC songs was broadcast on ESC Radio show, on the last day of the year, December 31.

Interesting is, that fans gave a lot of their votes, besides "Lane moje", as well to other former Serbian ESC songs: "Ovo je Balkan" (Milan Stankovic), ranked 8th place this year and the winner song of ESC 2007 "Molitva" by Marija Serifovic was 12th.

Among first twenty of the Eurovision Top 250, fans voted for antother Zeljko`s composition "Lejla", by Hari Mata Hari which was Bosnia and Hercegovina`s entry for Eurovision song contest 2006.

The list of first twenty songs from the 2011 edition of the "Eurovision Top 250", as voted by the international Eurovision fans :

1. Željko Joksimovic & Ad Hoc Orchestra - Lane Moje (Serbia & Montenegro 2004)
2. Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (Norway 2009)
3. Elena Paparizou - My Number One (Greece 2005)
4. Lena - Satellite (Germany 2010)
5. Eric Saade - Popular (Sweden 2011)
6. Edyta Górniak - To Nie Ja! (Poland 1994)
7. Yohanna - Is It True? (Iceland 2009)
8. Milan Stankovic - Ovo Je Balkan (Serbia 2010)
9. Danijela - Neka Mi Ne Svane (Croatia 1998)
10. Sertab Erener - Everyway That I Can (Turkey 2003)
11. Anabel Conde - Vuelve Conmigo (Spain 1995)
12. Marija Šerifovic - Molitva (Serbia 2007)
13. Abba - Waterloo (Sweden 1974)
14. Charlotte Perrelli - Hero (Sweden 2008)
15. Dana International - Diva (Israel 1998)
16. Ani Lorak - Shady Lady (Ukraine 2008)
17. Secret Garden - Nocturne (Norway 1995)
18. Vânia Fernandes - Senhora Do Mar (Negras Águas) (Portugal 2008)
19. Hari Mata Hari - Lejla (Bosnia & Herzegovina 2006)
20. Anna Maria Jopek - Ale Jestem (Poland 1997)

ESCRadio.com have finished broadcast of the radio show, twenty minutes before midnight on 31th December, with a personal message from Željko:

"Dear friends,

Just heard fantastic news regarding results of your contest for the song "Lane moje".

In the year 2012 in which I will perform once again in Eurovision Song Contest as a interpreter and composer for Serbia, this Award that is coming directly from the fans from whole Europe is recognition of my work for eurovision family.

Its something that I appreciate much more then you can imagine. It gives me inspiration and positive energy so much needed in the time before Contest in Baku.

Thank you a lot, thank you in the name of my team and Serbian Broadcaster RTS.
Just never forget how much proud you made me once again.

It is the best newyears present and I hope that I will return with even better new song in Baku, soon.

I know that you are believing in me as I do believe in you!

Thank you and Happy New Year!"

The three have worked together and knew each other even before ESC, which only enhanced their mutual respect and friendship - they say.

Željko Joksimović gave a two and a half hour treat to more than 13,000 fans, at the concert held on December 24 December in Skopje.

One of his guests at the concert was Hari Varešanović, who reminded the audience of the song "Lejla" that he performed at the 2006 ESC in Athens winning third place in the finals. The song was composed by Željko Joksimović and the ranking it achieved was best ever in the history of BiH participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Right after the first few notes of the legendary song "Bato", the audience greeted with an enthusiastic applause the renowned singer Kaliopi Bukle - a great Macedonian pop star who had many fans throughout the ex-Yugoslav musical scene. As a full EBU member the Macedonian Radio and Television recently selected Kaliopi Bukle to be the Macedonian representative at the 2012 ESC in Azerbaijan.

The finale of the Željko Joksimović's concert in Skopje was marked by Macedonian songs that Eurosong contestants Kaliope, Hari and Željko performed together, delighting the audience.

Just two days earlier, the Serbian representative at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest made a guest appearance at the concert held by Boris Novković - the Croatian ESC representative in 2005.

The fans packing the "Cibona" arena in Zagreb were treated to two of the most popular hits of two renown artists - "Ljubavi" and "Elloise" that Boris and Željko sang together.

With the song "Vukovi umiru sami" (11th place in the finals) Boris Novković represented Croatia in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest held in Kiev on the 50th anniversary of the festival - and just a year after Željko's second place in Istanbul.

All of these encounters - both with numerous fans in the Balkan region, and with famous colleagues, were very inspiring for the Serbian representative in Baku next year, Radio-Television of Serbia reports.

More details about impressions from the concerts in Skopje, Karlovac, Zagreb and Düsseldorf and about latest issues related to the shaping of Serbia's song for ESC 2012, will soon be available in Željko Joksimović's blogs that he is writing exclusively for the RTS web portal.