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About Macedonia (FYR)...
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2004 Result
Points in Semi Final: 71
Position in Semi Final: 10th
Points in Final: 47
Position in Final: 14th
2005 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
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History (1956 to 2003)
Macedonia (FYR)'s previous appearances: 3 year(s) out of 48
Years participated: 1998; 2000; 2002
Best result: 15th (2000)
Macedonia has only appeared three times before, but has not had a very strong start to its Eurovision career. Indeed, its first attempt at Eurovision participation - 1996's 'Samo ti' by the splendidly monickered Kaliopi Gril - ended in failure when the song failed to get through the qualifying round for that year's Contest in Oslo. Finally getting a chance to appear at Eurovision proper in 1998, Macedonia finished 19th; with a subsequent 15th place in 2000 and 19th again in 2002, the country has managed to get relegated on every occasion. Needless to say, having missed the 2003 contest Macedonia must compete in 2004's Semi Final for a chance to improve its dismal record.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 15
Position in Final draw: 15
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Macedonia chose Tose Proeski as its performer some time ago, then set about selecting an appropriate song for him to sing. The result is 'Angel si ti', which has been translated into English for the contest with the title 'Life'. It is certainly Macedonia's strongest entry to date (though previous efforts have been particularly poor), with quite a catchy backing and a strong vocal performance from Tose. Will it be enough, however, to propel Macedonia into the Final?"
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 15th to 19th
My prediction for Final: Will not qualify
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"Unfortunately for Tose, the omens are not good. Slightly mournful songs performed by east European men have a terrible record at Eurovision, and none have ever come close to winning. Macedonia's entry this year has reasonable fan support, and also has the advantage of being performed in English, which possibly makes it more memorable than would otherwise be the case. However, coming after two strong entries by Albania and Cyprus, it's difficult to see 'Life' making much impression. Again, it is not a bad song by any means, but the high standard this years means that entries need something special if they are to gain a place in the Final. Though not a complete write-off in the same way as Lithuania, Portugal or Slovenia, I will be very surprised if this qualifies for the next stage. For the moment, 15th place in 2000 is likely to remain Macedonia's best achievement at Eurovision. This is probably a relief to the European Broadcasting Union, as the day that too many countries start awarding points to 'The Former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia' (in two languages), the time period for voting will surely need to be extended."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 36 ()
(Updated 15 May 2004; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, over 5,000 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll.
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What actually happened
Looking a little like a young Jeremy Beadle, Tose gave a commanding vocal and stage performance at the Semi Final, despite various eejits with a chair causing a distraction in the background. Indeed, I think he did the best he could with what I still consider a rather repetitive and unremarkable song. But what do I know... I had given Tose no chance of qualifying for the Final, so when he did, that was my prediction well and truly scuppered. In my defence, Macedonia did only sneak through to the Final in 10th place, thanks in part to hefty rewards from its Balkan neighbours (12 points from Serbia & Montenegro, 8 points from Albania).
Unfortunately the chair made a reappearance in the Final, where Tose's vocal was not quite as strong as in the Semi, but the geographical voting divide was even more apparent. Interestingly, while Macedonia accrued an acceptable 47 points, these came from just 9 of the 35 other countries, with all but 6 of those points from counties that have joined Eurovision in the last decade. Tose's eventual 14th place still ranks as Macedonia's best ever result, but the country must find a song that has Europe-wide appeal if it is to stand a chance of ever winning the Contest.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Macedonia (FYR) to win: | 15/05/04 (prior to Final) | 125-1 |
| | 13/05/04 (after Semi Final) | 66-1 |
| | 11/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 08/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 06/05/04 | 100-1 |
| | 04/05/04 | 50-1 |
| | 31/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 24/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 17/04/04 | 50-1 |
| | 07/04/04 | 33-1 |
| | 24/03/04 | 33-1 |
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Despite Tose's excellent performance in the Semi Final, with odds of 125-1 the bookies didn't give Macedonia much chance of doing well in the Final. Still, in finishing 14th Macedonia at least managed to beat its previous high by one place.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://www.toseproeski-music.com/
 http://www.eurosong.com.mk/
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (119)
From Kristina, Russia
Added 21:45:48 2006-03-18
i can't believe that Julia Sivicheeva take place better than Tose!!!!No i love my country,but this song was really really bad!!All my family wathed Tose performance with smile in their face,it was so great!!
TOSE YOU ARE THE BEST SINGE I'VE EVER HEARD!!!
AND RUSSIA LOVE YOU!!!!
From sandra, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 18:59:46 2004-5-16
trebno ni e da mu se pokazime na evropa tose e broj 1 i sekogas ke bidi!!!
From Elena, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 17:32:9 2004-5-16
turkey,cyprus(absolutely horrible!),sweden,albania,germany,bosnia,spain,russia,malta were terrible songs yet they placed higher,how can that be?! can you honestly tell me that those songs were better than LIFE?? i couldnt wait for some of those songs to end they really sucked,something is wrong when songs like russia's or cyprus' or even bosnia's get more points
nothing against their countries but their songs didnt deserve to be higher than tose
its all about neighbors and thats stupid
tose was amazing too bad everyone is missing out
life is too good of a song for this crap
go tose!
From Katerina, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 17:17:42 2004-5-16
What more could tose have done?? he sang his heart out and had the best performance,song and voice
to place 14th is ridiculous
eurovision is a JOKE!
Tose is the best!!!
From Filip, UNITED STATES
Added 17:7:41 2004-5-16
Tose bese super!!!!!!
BRAVO!!!
From ana, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 17:5:10 2004-5-16
Tose should've won!!!!!!!!!! you cant tell me ukraines song as better it was like watching the riverdance
From Albo, ALBANIA
Added 17:1:9 2004-5-16
BEKIM whatever...ease up a bit! calm down ok!
From Tamara, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 14:9:3 2004-5-16
There is nothing true about that Toska sang bad at Semi Final.
HE IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From Albo-best, ALBANIA
Added 12:53:51 2004-5-16
Well done neighbours for the song! I liked it and this is the song I voted for! It was a true song and not a "sha lala" like risto says!
Good luck next year!
From Well Done!, --
Added 12:42:11 2004-5-16
Well done for the song! Better luck next year for a higher place!
From Risto, GERMANY
Added 11:38:35 2004-5-16
Hi Fille, SWEDEN
Can we see a photo of yourself somewhere please?
Tose gave a great performance yesterday, however, unfortunately the song was not "sha-la-la" enough to reach the care-free spirit of western europeans. The heaviness of the signing reflects the burden of a nation trying to establish itself in the past 200 years or so...
Anyhow, the quality of the song contest was excelent and, Turkey was a great host. All of us can learn more from them.
From Fille, SWEDEN
Added 18:38:6 2004-5-15
It's a great song, bud doesn't he look like evil himself? ooh.... brrr..
From Mitat, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 18:35:15 2004-5-15
mos ka bo dicka deri tash shqipria per shqiptaret e maqedonis?nejse ndoshta edhe ke te drejt per fjalt e tua? vetem! edhe gabim je shum tung pra NIDA?
From Mitat, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 18:35:5 2004-5-15
mos ka bo dicka deri tash shqipria per shqiptaret e maqedonis?nejse ndoshta edhe ke te drejt per fjalt e tua? vetem! edhe gabim je shum tung pra NIDA?
From Nida, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 18:29:10 2004-5-15
I don't have one! Below you have said that Albanians in Macedonia will vote for Tose. We should know that you are not allowed to voe for your own country.
Shqiptaret votojne per Shqiperine! Mundesisht mos luaj shume me ate emer.
From mitat, JAPAN
Added 17:54:17 2004-5-15
Nida, i dont have to give rules, here i just said that i hope the best will win? whats ur problem!
From Nida, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 17:47:42 2004-5-15
Mitat are you sure? Unless you have invented a new rule that people can vote for themselves!
From Mitat, MACEDONIA, FYR
Added 17:36:58 2004-5-15
Well people dont be so pesimist,we just need to pick up the best,and give the vote to the best i hope the best will win ?:) Albanians in Maecedonia also will vote for Tose, good luck for all
From Roger, UNITED STATES
Added 17:3:12 2004-5-15
WHAT A WONDERFUL SONG AND EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE BY MR PROESKI!
BEST OF LUCK TO MACEDONIA IN THE EUROSONG CONTEST
From Vuk, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
Added 16:27:54 2004-5-15
Zeljko and Tose have the best songs on this Eurosong!!!!!!!
From Blagica i Sasho, CANADA
Added 16:18:8 2004-5-15
TOSE WAS AMAISING !!!! The song is incredible good, We wish you luck, GO TOSE, GO MACEDONIAAA !!!!
From Risto , AUSTRALIA
Added 15:19:29 2004-5-13
Tose,
Best wishes from Perth Western Australia and hope that the world will see that MACEDONIA is the leading country for Eurovision. Lena Trajkovska the Zabavna singer from Skopje and myself will keep our fingers crossed for you...
From andi, ALBANIA
Added 14:35:54 2004-5-13
Congratulations! Good luck to the final, was a great song.
From Yorgos, GREECE
Added 14:12:31 2004-5-13
Song LIFE is very beautifull, and Tose is great singer. Greece suports him and you got our votes. Lets stop this political war, this shoul be about eurovision '04 not about potics. Go Tose!
From Cece,Mima,Vale,Natasa, MACEDONIA, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC
Added 10:6:34 2004-5-13
Tose is the best,excellent preformance, great voices,let them show the world how to sing.
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