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Croatian pop singer Damir Kedzo has won the ticket to Rotterdam to represent his country at Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Active since 2003, Kedzo first garnered attention when he participated in Story Super Nova Music Talent Show and later went on to win several accolades in his decade long career including the Grand Prix of the Slavic Baazar Festival in Vitebsk, Belarus, and the New Wave Festival in Sochi, Russia. 

Kedzo is one of the most successful artists in Croatia today. Along with 15 other participants, the singer entered the national selection show “Dora 2020” which was broadcasted from the Marino Cvetkovi? Sports Hall. Below is the list of all the 16 participants and their songs:

• Marin Juric Civro – Naivno
• Edi Abazi – Coming home
• Mia Negovetic – When it Comes to You
• Colonia – Zidina
• Zdenka Kovacicek – Love, Love, Love
• Lorenzo feat Dino Puric & Reper Iz Sobe – Vrati Se Iz Irske
• Jure Brkljaca – Hajde nazovi me
• Damir Kedzo – Divlji vjetre (Tuga u bojama jeseni)
• Lorena Bucan – Drowning
• Alen Vitasovic & B. Matija Cerina – Da se ne zatare
• Aklea Neon – Zovi ju mama
• Indira – You Will Never Break My Heart
• Nikola Marjanovic – Let’s forgive
• Dana Smajo – One
• Bojan Jambrosic – Vise od rijeci
• Elis Lovric – Justo

The voting results were a mix of jury and public voting. As shared by Eurovision.tv, “HRT appointed 5 juries from all over Croatia that each consisted of three people; an HRT member, a Croatian Phonographic Association member and a Croatian Composers’ Society member.” 

Kedzo’s song Divlji Vjetre topped the results with a total of 31 points. Delivering a powerful performance, Kedzo’s stage was solely focused on his vocal showcase. With a dramatic backdrop complemented by the team of background vocalists, the singer managed to exhibit a concert-worthy performance.

Last year, we saw Duncan Laurence winning the contest with a minimalistic performance that gave precedence to storytelling via the song over the stage set up. Both the methods exist in contrast and every year, we see the winners experiment with either of them to build their victory tale. It remains to be seen, how will he be able to create the same magic on the magnanimous stage of Rotterdam. 

The Eurovision 2020 acts that have been announced so far are Blas Cantó for Spain, Hooverphonic for Belgium, VICTORIA for Bulgaria, Sandro for Cyprus, Vincent Bueno for Austria, Arilena Ara for Albania, Tornike Kipiani for Georgia, Jeangu Macrooy for the Netherlands, Vasil for North Macedonia, Tom Leeb for France, Benny Cristo for the Czech Republic, Eden Alene for Israel, Stefania for Greece, Montaigne for Australia, Samanta Tina for Latvia, Diodato for Italy, Destiny Chukunyere for Malta, Roxen for Romania, THE ROOP for Lithuania, Ulrikke Brandstorp for Norway, Athena Manoukian for Armenia, Alicja Szemplinska for Poland, James Newman for the UK, Samira Efendi for Azerbaijan, Ana Soklic for Slovenia, Ben Dolic for Germany, Uku Suviste for Estonia, Daði og Gagnamagnið for Iceland, Natalie Gordienko for Moldova, Ben & Tan for Denmark, Roxen for Romania, Gjon’s Tears for Switzerland, Go_A for Ukraine, The Mamas for Sweden, VAL for Belarus, and Senhit for San Marino. The remaining countries have already released their acts and songs.

The 65th edition of Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted at the Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands after Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song “Arcade”. The two Semi-Finals will take place on 12 May 2020 and 14 May 2020, with the Grand Final taking place on 16 May 2020. A total of 41 countries will compete in the contest.

Damir Kedzo will be performing his song in the second half of first semi-final on 12th May. Are you excited? Share your thoughts via tweet @CelebMix.

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