Author: Sándor Mádi
Sergej Cetkovic is going to represent Montenegro at Eurovision. Last year Who See an d Nina were close to qualify, but they just missed out. This time Sergej have the chance to bring his country to the final. I talked with him about his music carrier, plans and song.
–When did your singer career start?
Sergej: My career is over fifteen years long. So far I have released five albums and several Best of compilations. My first album was released in 2000 and it’s called „Kristina.” My fifth CD was released in 2010. It is called „2 minutes” like my promoting concerts for the past three years in the region. We recently returned from a concert tour from Australia. Currently, I am working on my sixth studio album. I’ve already released two songs („I still love you” and ’Because of us „) and announced a new CD which will hopefully be released next year.
-This year you were selected to represent Montenegro at Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen. What does it mean for you?
Sergej: I was pleased to accept the invitation from RTVCG and honored that I will represent Montenegro in the ESC in Denmark. Of course, I will do my best to present us the best possible way. I and my team of producers carefully monitored what is happening on the European music scene. I hope that we will enter into the final, which for me will be a good placement. The song will be available in more languages so it will be closer to, let say, Italian, French, English … In any case we will have a lot of work to do because we want a good placement in the Eurovision Song Contest. My job is to make a good song, because I think that that is what the festival missed last years. This is a practically a new page in my biography and another challenge in my career.
-How was your song (Moj svijet) created?
Sergej: It will be another love story, something I had already tried many times before. I hope that the audience will recognize my personal touch and find part of my personal story in the lyrics of the new song. I talked to my colleagues who have had the opportunity to be at the Eurovision Song Contest and their support and advice mean a lot to me. I am trying to use their experience and to get well prepared for what I can expect in Copenhagen. I’ve had a chance to watch ESC live in Baku in 2012, so that the experience already exists, but this time I will be on the stage, not in the audience.
-What’s the message of your song?
Sergej: My songs are love songs. Therefore the song My love also carries a strong emotion that each person gives to a person who is in love.
-Montenegro hasn’t qualified yet to the final at Eurovision. Are you under pressure because of this?
Sergej : We are all under pressure becaus of the placement . We have this need to be the first, or amongs the first . That’s what we all talk about. At this moment I feel relief. I believe in the composition and I know that I will express it in the right way. It is important for me to get into the final. I believe that you and your readers know, and I’ve already said, that Eurosong is not only music fistival . It is not just a song , but the performance as well and many other aspects that make success or failure. In this project, the entire teams of people work for almost a year. And to be honest, a great amount of funds is required. Less for the composition, but more for what is going on behind the scene. Unfortunatelly, lobbying is also present. I respect all my colleagues who have competed in previous years in the Eurovision Song Contest and that did not enter in the finals , although they did their best, but not all was in their hands.
-Do you follow Eurovision Song Contest? If yes, since when?
Sergej: I follow all music festivals, from Sanremo, the festival that I grew up with to
the Eurovision Song Contest for all these years. In 2012 I was able to be in the audience and I enjoyed watching the ESC in Baku. Organization of the festival and the stage effects really deserves appriciation. There is always a desire and hope for a better placement, but what is the most important is that the music lasts. Lots of good songs in recent years, were born in ESC. As I said before, any stage performance can not last longer than the song itself and I always vote for the good quality song with a strong message. For example, in 2012, Loreen, to me, was the greatest refreshment to the ESC. I would also mention choir „Who See” who performed with more modern story … This year, there are beautiful songs. I would not particularly give priority to any song, as I would like to give my impressions after the festival.
– Who are your favourite singers? (In the world, not only Eurovision singers.)
Sergej: Sting, Peter Gabriel, Joe Cocker, U2…
-What are your expectations, your main aims at Eurovision?
Sergej: This year I celebrate 15 years on the music scene and this will be another challenge for me and one more page in my biography. I want to introduce myself to audiences in Europe, to introduce my music, my country, to meet new people, to get to know some friends and to have fun. I expect, as I said, to qualify for the final night. Especially because last year, for the first time in twenty years, none of the countries of the former Yugoslavia did not qualify for the final night ESC. Thera are good composers and musicians in the former Yugolavia and I believe that the audience around Europe will recognise a good composition.
-What inspires you?
Sergej: I work as an author for sixteen years. The audience has identified my composition gift and supports me in this. There is no a recipe or a special inspiration in creating my compositions. It is about the everyday emotional experiences. Those my emotions I am able to tranfer into lyrics and liner notes. I feel good when I can transfer my emotions to my audience. I’m glad that they feel it.
-What are your plans after Eurovision? Will you relax?
Sergej: The business continues, I am working on my sixth album and by the end of the year we will have concerts planned across the region.
-What would you like to send to the Hungarian readers and fans of Sergej Ćetković?
Sergej: Greetings to your readers. I hope that I will be able to come and have a concert for all those who love my music in Hungary.
Thanks for Sergej for this interview, and special thanks to Sabrija Vulic.
We wish all the best for you in Copenhagen!
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