Croatia – Croatia made a very successful return to Eurovision last year after a two year break when Nina Kraljić qualified for the final. This was Croatia’s first time back into the final since 2009 but will Jacques Houdek be able to make the final in 2017?
Song: “My Friend”
Music By: Jacques Houdek, Ines Prajo, Arjana Kunštek & Fabrizio Laucella
Lyrics By: Jacques Houdek, Siniša Reljić & Tony Malm
About Jacques Houdek
Jacques Houdek was born in 1981 in Velika Gorica, Croatia (formerly SFR Yugloslavia). He is a big name in Croatia and is one of their biggest stars starting his career around 2001.
In 2002, he took part in the Croatian Selection show Dora with his song “Čarolija” which came 13th out of 20 finalists. Shortly after he was signed by Croatia Records.
Houdek also took part in the X Factor UK in 2011 but had to pull out due to not being able to retrieve a working visa in time to proceed but made it into the final 100.
He has released eight albums throughout his career.
Jacques Houdek was chosen internally by HRT and the song “My Friend” was co-written by Houdek with Ines Prajo, Arjana Kunštek and Fabrizio Laucella with composing by Siniša Reljić and Tony Malm. Croatia will be 11th to perform in the second semi final.
Lyrics:
(Taken from Eurovision.tv)
There’s a miracle my friend
And it happens every day.
Hold out your hand,
Don’t let it slip away!
Io so che esiste,
Guarda meglio su,
Ritorna ogni giorno,
Promettendo sempre più.
After the rain,
Nasce il sole!
I pray you’ll see the light and find your way.
La forza del destino che è in te.
Do your best, take a chance!
Dare to dream and make it real!
Segui la verità
Via della libertà!
My friend,
My friend.
Don’t let go,
Let it flow!
Credi nel miracolo!
For the miracle
That I’m talking of
Is the life that we’re given.
La vita vincerà!
Jacques Houdek on Social Media:
Website: http://www.jacqueshoudek.com/
Facebook: jacques.houdek
Twitter: @jacqueshoudek
Instagram: @jacques_houdek
The Eurovision Times 
Jacques hasn’t set himself an easy task when it comes to performing “My Friend” live and I really respect this because I like people who love a good challenge. When it comes to the song, I’ll just say that Anders has criticized some songs for sounding very cold. This one sounds too warm to me. :)
Marija Serifovic doesn’t agree with you, she will cast all her votes to Croatia in 2017! :D
She’s more than welcome to do so. Celebrate diversity. :)
How very neighbourly of her. The blocs are alive and kicking as usual.
He is very good friend of hers A LONG AGO! :) They know each other for long..
And believe me when it comes to Croatia , I’m glad actually when see smth like this, cause the situation between countries is not that well, as you know :(
I wonder if Jacques would look like Marija if he shaved himself?
It does sound warm, but as a whole I find the song way too kitsch. Especially the operatic singing and the citing of Einstein makes it totally over-the-top.
I used “warm” as a euphemism for “kitsch” in this context. Croatia is way down my list too. :)
Well Belarus sounds warm, but it is absolutely not kitsch.
I did not say that everything that sounds warm is kitsch … just like not everything that sounds cold is stale …
True. Radiohead’s Kid A album is pretty cold, but still fascinating :-)
Btw. People who can understand Danish should check Eurosong.dk’s review of the song. One of the guys hates it, while the other one loves it. It’s hillarious :-)
Here is a link. They are reviewing Norway first, and then Croatia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiWsza7Y9O0
OGAE DENMARK:
01 pt—-ICELAND
02 pts—FINLAND
03 pts—PORTUGAL
04 pts—BULGARIA
05 pts—AUSTRALIA
06 pts—FRANCE
07 pts—ESTONIA
08 pts—SWEDEN
10 pts—BELGIUM
12 pts—ITALY
Looks like most other OGAE votes. Guess it was my 12 to Portugal that came into effect here.
Lol.Could be.What surprised me is that only 37 people voted whereas there were 188 voters in Finland and 56 in Luxembourg.
It sounds strange.
He looks like John Snow’s bestfriend in the Game of Thrones 😊
His song is not that bad imo…
I’m not hating this like other people here do.It could be very effective live provided a strong performance.It’s not a song i’d buy or listen outside of esc but the live can work in this context.
I actually prefer this to Nina last year. It’s easier to listen to.
Pretentiousl and calculated in a borderline gross manner. Only Spain can beat this for the dead last place on my list.
Good luck.
1996, 1998, 1999 were Croatia’s high lights in the ESC, imho.
2000, 05, 06, 08, 09 were nice too. 2016 grew on me :)
I really like their 1994 entry. :)
Hmm not my thing really; on the other hand I forgot 2012 and 2013 they were ok too. You love them in 2012 too, if I remember correctly ;)
I like the song and Nina’s voice and love one of the dancers. *blush*
Horrible, every bit of it. I normally like Croatia’s songs (2016, 2012, 2010, 1999, and 1998 stick out to me), but this is absolutely hate-able, probably my least favorite song they’ve ever sent.
Worse than 1995???
Lmao I don’t think I’ve ever gotten that far back. I was only born in 2000 :P
Okay it obviously isn’t good, but I definitely still prefer this to 2017 lmao. Also, I like some of Magazin’s other songs so maybe I’m biased lol
Really shivers down my spine how much I hate that song. Danijela is probably my number one on the list of Eurovision artists whose efforts on a Eurovision stage I hate. There are more of course, but they at least had the decency to not return.
I’m with you on this one!
What’s your opinion of Croatia 93? I hate that song even more.
Same! I absolutely HATE it!
I really like her 1998 song even though it screams ESC for 3 minutes. :)
HRV93 was at least nicely dressed if we consider the fashion context of the early 90s. :)
No, hate those costumes too. And the goldy locks of the female singers.
wtf?! I just realised that Danijela from 1998 is in 1995 as well?! :o
It’s amazing how many things I get to learn regarding eurovision even after so many years :)
You probably don’t know that Hari Mata Hari – “Lejla” (B&H 2006) tried to represent Yugoslavia back in 1986!!! the same singer that was like in 2006 t the beginning of their/his career.. :)
I know that Hari Mata Hari are active in the music scene since mid 80’s, but didn’t know about them trying to do esc in 1986.
Btw YUG 1986 is my #1 for that year :)
Yugoslavia 86 is also my favorite from that (rather bad) year. I also like Spain, but that’s about it.
rather? it’s in the bottom 3 of all time for me and my winner, Switzerland, is definitely a winner by default (it’s followed by Turkey, Yugoslavia and Luxembourg).
The eighties were rather weak. And yes, I agree that 86 belongs to the worst years. But to be honest I don’t like any of the contests from 1980 till 1989. Maybe 1987 because of it’s stylishness, not because of the songs.
I genuinely hate 87 too, and most of all 82! I think my only “ok” one is 85!
She was indeed. :)
It’s not difficult to be worse than 1995. “Nostalgija” is my second favourite Croatian entry, after “Sveta ljubav”. It has a gorgeous composition, lovely vocals mixed together and some fine dresses on top of that. The Red Queen and The White Queen – what’s not to like? Unfortunately, Magazin couldn’t keep up with the awesomeness of “Nostalgija” in Dora, and went for much more bland materials in the future.
We’ll never agree on HRV95. :)
Not on Iceland 1989 either, I guess. :p
Wrong. I have always liked Iceland 89. In fact, it has been in my top 5 in every ranking I have made over the years. I even had it in 1st place at some point. :)
“Wrong. I have always liked Iceland 89”.
As I said, we’ll never agree on Iceland 1989.
Oh … you don’t like it. LOL
Just to say: I kinda like Iceland 89… but then I’m a freak on 89 I even prefer Luxembourg to Denmark!
I actually think “Nostalgija” has some charm :-)
*shudders* :)
Spanish esc fans mourn Mirela won’t be flying their flag in Kyiv:
I could live with the tune while washing the dishes f.i. :D
…but the video is… stomach neurosis-enducing… ugh! :D
voy a vomitar…contigo! and to think it was down to the wire between her and beach boy…what a shambles!!
And that’s what makes the Spanish preselection this year a total disaster, imho… *sigh*
the worst of the year for sure, even Spanish parliament debated it :-( ! hope you are having a nice day, I just got back from the beach “taking the vermouth” as we say..! :-)
Croatia also remains firmly in my bottom 5, I can’t warm to him or it at all
Thanks Paul! Enjoy your vermouth. I could use a sip of that myself :)
Btw, it’s windy and cold here these last 48 hrs :(
it’s typical to have a vermouth (or whatever you want) at the weekend in the morning with family/friends, usually on a Sunday , this morning by the sea with some friends to catch up with them, as tomorrow is St Jordi (St George’s Day), Catalan saint it means the city is crowded with roses and books to celebrate so we decided today was better!! :-)
I didn’t want to post it because it came from “trashy europop with Spanish flavour”, love or hate song but enjoyable at some parts, with a bad production and an ok singer to… that. Without the intention of putting another log on the fire (I don’t know if this expression is used in English)… if she would have been the winner, would have been this “revamped” version the Spanish entry this year? :/
I think the revamped version is even worse than the original but i don’t think it would be the one they’d bring to Kyiv since it’s too long.
Yes, it’s much worse. This version sounds like nothing, it’s a wrong step spending money in a video for this new version of a song that had some kind of success. I won’t even consider her team for taking care of a pet, or a paper…
the lyrics are terribly basic and cringy. The song is everywhere and nowhere at once and its just a plain hot mess overall. 1/10 I wouldn’t be surprised if it qualifies doh, but it doesn’t deserve to. People might in their naivety vote for this as surprisingly enaugh it brings emotion for people, that doesn’t understand what good music or lyrics are. I know it’s harsh to express myself like that, but I mean cmon this is a shitty song.
Never liked him back in Dora days, and this is hateful. My last.
He can sing, that is evident. Now, the song is just messy, pretentious and desperately seeking for attention, a big no, as far as I am concerned.
Pompous and one of my least favourites this year together with Slovenia.
However, this could qualify!!!
I really don’t like this crazy shit, but I love the fact that they so totally miscalculated their over the top calculation. That behind the scene tragedy makes this storywise absolute quality comedy entertainment this year. Can’t wait Croatian delegation hit Kiev. What the hell were they thinking about?