Barbara Popović

Popović was born in Skopje, North Macedonia, on 16 August 2000.

At the time she performed in the Junior Eurovision 2013 final, Popović was 13, but already an experienced artist, famous in her country.{{cite news|url=http://vistina.mk/2013/11/30/vecherva-detska-evrovizija-bodrete-ja-nashata-barbara/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131203222334/http://vistina.mk/2013/11/30/vecherva-detska-evrovizija-bodrete-ja-nashata-barbara/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-12-03 |title=Вечерва детска Евровизија, бодрете ја нашата Барбара! |publisher=Вистина |date=2013-11-30 |accessdate=2013-12-03 |language=Macedonian }}

She was especially noted for her participation in the Macedonian children's music festival Super Zvezda ("Super Star"). She performed at the festival for the first time at the age of six, and continued yearly until she was ten. She had collaborated with many famous Macedonian artists, who composed for her, including Kaliopi, Jovan Jovanov, Darko Dimitrov, and Elena Risteska.{{cite news|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/blog?id=meet_barbara_popovic_for_fyr_macedonia|title=Meet Barbara Popovic for FYR Macedonia News Junior Eurovision Song Contest - Kyiv 2013|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|accessdate=2013-12-05}} Kaliopi was the one who wrote one of the songs she was most known for, "Bongiorno" ("Бонџорно").{{cite web|url=http://superzvezda.org/linkovi/43-pesni-2007/151-bondzorno.html |title=Бонџорно - Барбара Поповиќ |publisher=Super Zvezda |accessdate=2013-12-03 |language=Macedonian }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Also, since the same age of six Popović had been studying piano in a music school, her piano teacher reportedly being "Macedonia’s most famous piano professor".{{cite web|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/participant-profile?song=30933|title=Barbara Popović - Ohrid i muzika (F.Y.R. Macedonia 2013) Participant Profile Junior Eurovision Song Contest - Kyiv 2013|work=Junior Eurovision Song Contest official site|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|date=2013-12-03}}

File:JESC 2013 (Macedonia) Barbara Popović at rehearsal 1.jpg]]

In 2013, Macedonian Radio Television (MRT) decided to return to the Junior Eurovision after a two-year gap. Barbara Popović was chosen by the organizer, i.e. MRT, at an internal audition, there was no public selection process.{{cite news|url=http://www.dnevnik.mk/default.asp?ItemID=2E795A18A6637C4891CAA6403B4FE8A2|title=Барбара во Kиев ќе пее за Охрид|newspaper=Dnevnik Online|date=2013|accessdate=2013-12-04|language=Macedonian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102202527/http://www.dnevnik.mk/default.asp?ItemID=2E795A18A6637C4891CAA6403B4FE8A2|archive-date=2014-11-02|url-status=dead}}

The song she performed at the Junior Eurovision contest was called "Ohrid i Muzika" ("Ohrid and Music"). It was written by Popović herself, with composer Kire Kostov helping with music and arrangement and Ognem Nedelkovski helping with lyrics. The song was inspired by an excursion trip to the ancient Macedonian town of Ohrid. As Popović revealed, the lyrics were dedicated to a boy from the Netherlands, and the song narrated the story of the "awakening of first love in her teenage heart".{{cite news|url=http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=11261375488&id=25&setIzdanie=23037 |title=Со песна за Охрид ќе ја освојува Европа |newspaper=Nova Makedonija |date=2013 |accessdate=2013-12-03 |language=Macedonian |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109171532/http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=11261375488&id=25&setIzdanie=23037 |archivedate=2014-11-09 }} The lyrics went like this: "I speak not a single word of Dutch, but your eyes are so warm... In my homeland everybody sings and dances. Don't be silly, join us. Give me your hand, you will love this music more than love!... With this song I'm crossing borders in an instant."{{cite web|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/event/lyrics?event=1913&song=30933|title=Original Lyrics Barbara Popović - Ohrid i muzika - F.Y.R. Macedonia 2013 Eurovision.TV}}{{cite web|url=http://www.junioreurovision.tv/event/lyrics?event=1913&song=30933&type=English|title=English Lyrics Barbara Popović - Ohrid i muzika - F.Y.R. Macedonia 2013 Eurovision.TV}}

On stage, Popović was accompanied by their dancers from the dance studio Eureka. One of them (the blond girl) was Sara Kastratović, 13-year-old daughter of Zoran and Indira Kastratović, coaches of the women's handball team Vardar SCBT,{{cite web|url=http://republika.mk/?p=157974|title=Ќерката на Кастратовиќ на Детската евровизија|publisher=Република Online|date=2013-11-19|accessdate=2013-12-04|language=Macedonian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192551/http://republika.mk/?p=157974|archive-date=2014-01-02|url-status=dead}} who didn't even think to follow up her parents' profession and pursues her passion for hip hop.{{cite news|url=http://republika.mk/?p=129877|title=Ќерката на Индира и Зоран Кастратовиќ Нема да бидам ракометарка (ВИДЕО)|publisher=Република Online|date=2013-09-25|accessdate=2013-12-04|language=Macedonian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192855/http://republika.mk/?p=129877|archive-date=2014-01-02|url-status=dead}}

According to Rede Spasovski, the chief of the Macedonian delegation, the initial reaction to Popović's rehearsals was positive.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnevnik.mk/default.asp?ItemID=8AF606EBE8501D468BA167EC76D01DC3|title=Детска Евровизија вечерва во Kиев, реакциите за Барбара позитивни|publisher=Dnevnik Online|date=November 2013|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Macedonian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201043712/http://www.dnevnik.mk/default.asp?ItemID=8AF606EBE8501D468BA167EC76D01DC3|archive-date=2013-12-01|url-status=dead}}

Despite the positive expectations, in the final Macedonia placed last out of the 12 countries, with 19 points{{cite news|url=http://vistina.mk/2013/11/30/makedonija-pak-posledna-na-detskata-evrovizija/|title=Македонија пак последна на детската Евровизија!|publisher=Вистина|date=2013-11-30|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Macedonian|archive-date=2013-12-03|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131203222311/http://vistina.mk/2013/11/30/makedonija-pak-posledna-na-detskata-evrovizija/|url-status=dead}} (12 of which are given to all participants at the start of the voting regardless of how well they did). Moldova, who took the penultimate place, received 41 points.{{cite news|url=http://www.kanal5.com.mk/vesti_detail.asp?ID=24235|title=ПОВТОРНО ДЕБАКЛ: Македонија последна на детскиот Евросонг|publisher=Kanal 5|date=2013-11-30|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Macedonian}}

The result was dubbed "catastrophic". It was reported that Macedonian Radio Television (MRT) was "seriously considering" to withdraw from the contest in the future.{{cite news|url=http://republika.mk/?p=165986|title=MРТ ќе се откаже од детската Евровизија|publisher=Република Online|date=2012-12-03|language=Macedonian|access-date=2013-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221105/http://republika.mk/?p=165986|archive-date=2016-03-03|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.redup.mk/site/out/1064969-mrt-razmisluva-za-povlekuvanje-od-detskiot-evrosong|title=МРТ размислува за повлекување од Детскиот евросонг (Dnevnik.mk via RedUP.mk)|newspaper=Dnevnik Online|accessdate=2013-12-03|language=Macedonian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225022624/http://www.redup.mk/site/out/1064969-mrt-razmisluva-za-povlekuvanje-od-detskiot-evrosong|archive-date=2013-12-25|url-status=dead}} The artistic director of the Macedonian Junior Eurovision team, Ljupcho Mirkovski, defended the internal decision to send Popović without holding a national selection, saying that Popović was musically talented, and attributed her bad performance to stage fright. "Internal selection may not be the best solution, but this year we 'joined the dance' a little bit too late, so there was no better solution that this. Barbara is a musical child and certainly could sing better, but stage fright has done its job. Not all children are immune to public performance," said he in an interview. He also stated that he didn't find it strange that the countries of the former Soviet Union didn't help Popović to place higher because in a song contest songs matter more than relationship between countries. As for the states of the former Yugoslavia, North Macedonia was the only former Yugoslav republic competing that year.

She returned to the stage at the 2018 Makfest festival, introducing a new song titled "Ne si ti kriv" ("It’s Not Your Fault").{{cite web|url=https://www.esccovers.com/barbara-makes-a-welcome-return-with-ne-si-ti-kriv-and-participates-in-2018-makfest/|title=Barbara makes a welcome return with 'Ne si ti kriv' ...and participates in 2018 Makfest|website=ESC Covers|date=2018-10-07|accessdate=2020-05-14}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7EOJR0LvnE|title=Barbara - Ne si ti kriv (Makfest 2018) - YouTube|website=YouTube |date=2018-10-10|accessdate=2020-05-14}}

In 2020, she released a new single titled "Mirisash", accompanied by a music video.{{Cite web|url=https://a1on.mk/magazin/video-barbara-popovikj-ja-pretstavi-svojata-najnova-pesna-mirisash/|title=ВИДЕО: Барбара Поповиќ ја претстави својата најнова песна "Мирисаш"|date=March 23, 2020}}

In early September 2023, controversy surrounded Popović's rendition of the Italian national anthem before a Euro 2024 qualifying match between North Macedonia and Italy. The Italian people were displeased with the quality of Popović's performance, with the anthem being performed a cappella, and with the Macedonian supporters booing it from start to finish; many expressed their displeasure on social networks. This, combined with a disappointing result for Italy (1:1), lead to the Italians dubbing the match as a "game best forgotten".{{refn|{{Cite web|url=https://sportmanija.mk/na-italijantsite-s-im-prechi-ne-im-se-dopadna-nitu-interpretatsijata-na-nivnata-himna-foto/|title=На италијанците сѐ им пречи, не им се допадна ниту интерпретацијата на нивната химна (Фото)|first=Павле|last=Симовски|date=September 10, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/foto/cover-girl/barbara-popovic-l-incantevole-cantante-che-si-e-esibita-prima-di-macedonia-italia_69670218-202302k.shtml|title=Barbara Popovic, l'incantevole cantante che si è esibita prima di Macedonia-Italia|website=Sportmediaset.it}}{{Cite web|url=https://corrieredellosport.it/foto/calcio/italia/2023/09/09-112889771/canta_linno_ditalia_e_spopola_sui_social_chi_barbara_popovic|title=Canta l'Inno d'Italia e spopola sui social: chi è Barbara Popovic|website=corrieredellosport.it}}{{Cite web|url=https://corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/italia/2023/09/09-112890709/bufera_per_l_inno_dell_italia_contro_la_macedonia_la_cantante_scatena_i_social|title=Bufera per l'Inno dell'Italia contro la Macedonia: la cantante scatena i social|date=September 9, 2023|website=corrieredellosport.it}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/sport/36851325/italia-macedonia-bufera-inno-mameli-frutta.html|title=Italia-Macedonia, bufera sull'inno di Mameli: "Siamo alla frutta"|website=www.liberoquotidiano.it}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.calciomercatotv.it/2023/09/11/macedonia-del-nord-italia-gaffe-sullinno-cose-successo/|title=Macedonia del Nord-Italia, gaffe sull'Inno: cos'è successo|first=Federico Di|last=Placido|date=September 11, 2023|website=Calciomercatotv.it}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.fanpage.it/sport/live/macedonia-italia-in-diretta-formazioni-ufficiali-e-risultato-politano-e-zaccagni-nel-tridente-con-immobile/|title=Macedonia-Italia 1-1, risultato finale alle Qualificazioni Europei: gol di Immobile e Bardhi|date=September 9, 2023|website=Sport Fanpage}}}} In late September — December 2023, Popović was a contestant on that year's season of a Balkan television music contest called IDJ Show, reaching the final and finishing second. According to the Macedonian media, she was to perform at the San Remo Festival in Italy.{{refn|{{Cite web|url=https://www.crnobelo.com/novosti/domasni/106095-bravo-barbara-popovikj-so-impresiven-nastap-vo-finaleto-na-idj-show-zavrshi-na-vtoroto-mesto-video|title=Браво! Барбара Поповиќ со импресивен настап во финалето на IDJ Show заврши на второто место (видео)|first=Andrijana|last=Jovanovska|website=CRNOBELO.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://zenskimagazin.mk/pred-ogledalo-so-barbara-popovikj-korektorot-e-mojot-najveren-prijatel|title=Пред огледало со Барбара Поповиќ: Коректорот е мојот најверен пријател|website=Женски Магазин}}{{Cite web|url=https://alfa.mk/makedonkata-barbara-popovik-koja-rasturi-so-impresivna-izvedba-na-zajdi-zajdi-vo-nedela-ekskluzivno-na-alfa-na-idj-shou/|title=Македонката Барбара Поповиќ која растури со импресивна изведба на "Зајди, зајди" во недела ексклузивно на Алфа на "ИДJ Шоу" -|date=December 1, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.femina.mk/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/%D1%88%D0%BE%D1%83-%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%9C-%D1%81%D0%BE-%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B1%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%98%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%98%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D1%98%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B5-%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D1%81%D1%80%D0%BF%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE-%D1%88%D0%BE%D1%83|title=ВИДЕО: Барбара Поповиќ со фантастична изведба на "Зајди, зајди, јасно сонце" во српско шоу|website=Femina.mk}}{{Cite web|url=https://trn.mk/makedonkata-barbara-popovik-ko%D1%98a-rasturi-so-izvedbata-na-za%D1%98di-za%D1%98di-kje-uchestvuva-na-sanremo/|title=Македонката Барбара Поповиќ која "растури" со изведбата на "Зајди, зајди" ќе учествува на "Санремо"|first=Редакција|last=Трн|date=December 2, 2023|website=Trn.mk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohridnews.com/barbara-popovi%D1%9C-so-izvonredna-izvedba-na-za%D1%98di-za%D1%98di-%D1%98asno-soncze/|title=Барбара Поповиќ со извонредна изведба на "Зајди, зајди, јасно сонце"|date=November 27, 2023|website=OhridNews}}{{Cite web|url=https://kanal5.com.mk/video-makedonkata-barbara-popovikj-so-izvedba-na-zajdi-zajdi-voodushevi-na-talent-shou/a613492|title=Видео: Македонката Барбара Поповиќ со изведба на "Зајди зајди" воодушеви на талент шоу|website=kanal5.com.mk}}{{Cite web|url=https://fokus.mk/koja-e-makedonkata-koja-ke-ja-osvojuva-stsenata-na-san-remo/|title=Која е Македонката која ќе ја освојува сцената на Сан Ремо?|date=November 29, 2023|website=Фокус}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/makedonkata-barbara-popovikj-koja-voodushevi-so-izvedbata-na-zajdi-zajdi-kje-ja-osvojuva-scenata-na-sanremo/|title=Македонката Барбара Поповиќ која воодушеви со изведбата на "Зајди, зајди" ќе ја освојува сцената на "Санремо"|first=Јована|last=Савевска|date=December 1, 2023|website=Слободен печат}}{{Cite web|url=https://republika.mk/scena/muzika/natasha-bekvalats-se-naezhi-pri-nastapot-na-nashata-barbara-popovik/|title=Наташа Беквалац се наежи при настапот на нашата Барбара Поповиќ|date=September 26, 2023|website=Република}}{{Cite web|url=https://hashtag.mk/moja-makedonijo-barbara-popovikj-povtorno-iznenadi-so--zajdi-zajdi-jasno-sonce-gi-nadmina-ochekuvanjata|title="Моја Македонијо": Барбара Поповиќ повторно изненади, со "Зајди, зајди јасно сонце" ги надмина очекувањата|website=Hashtag}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vecer.press/%d1%9c%d0%b5-%d0%b8-%d1%81%d0%b5-%d0%be%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b2%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b8-%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%98%d0%b3%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%b5%d0%bc%d0%b0%d1%82%d0%b0-%d0%bc%d1%83%d0%b7%d0%b8%d1%87%d0%ba%d0%b0-%d0%b6%d0%b5/|title=Ќе и се оствари најголемата музичка желба!"Сан Ремо" Фестивалот на италијанската канцона одушевено ја чека Македонката Барбара Поповиќ | Вечер ...1963 | Vecer MK|date=December 1, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://time.mk/c/1c329aee35/barbara-popovik-so-izvonredna-izvedba-na-zajdi-zajdi-jasno-sonce.html|title=Барбара Поповиќ со извонредна изведба на "Зајди, зајди, јасно сонце"|website=time.mk}}{{Cite web|url=https://javisejuzna.mk/video-barbara-popovik-so-zajdi-zajdi-go-voodushevi-regionot/|title=(Видео) Барбара Поповиќ со "Зајди, зајди" го воодушеви регионот|date=November 30, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://ohrid1.com/archives/88815|title=(ФОТО) Македонката, со охридско потекло – Барбара Поповиќ ги испеа двете химни на Македонија и Италија|date=September 10, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://iportal.mk/scena/video-ezhenje-solzi-zajdi-zajdi-jasno-sonce-vo-izvedba-na-barbara-popovikj/|title=(ВИДЕО) Ежење до солзи: "Зајди, зајди јасно сонце" во изведба на Барбара Поповиќ - IPortal}}{{Cite web|url=https://newspaper.mk/page/fdde0cee-8023-4a2c-bc93-bdf560f4a2fd|title=News Network : Македонката Барбара Поповиќ која воодушеви со изведбата на "Зајди, зајди" ќе ја освојува сцената на "Санремо"|first=Слободен|last=Печат|website=News Network}}{{Cite web|url=https://grid.mk/c/RX60FYwBXwOHaKjicMBO/|title=Барбара Поповиќ фасцинираше со својот настап во IDJ Show: Охриѓанката "ги зајде" од воодушевување и жирито и публиката (ВИДЕО)|first=Clip Media|last=Group|website=Вистина}}{{Cite web|url=https://infomax.mk/%d0%b2%d0%b8%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%be-%d0%b1%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b1%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b0-%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%b8%d1%9c-%d1%98%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%b7%d0%b3%d0%be%d1%80%d0%b8-%d1%81%d1%86%d0%b5%d0%bd/|title=(Видео) Барбара Поповиќ ја разгори сцената во финалето на српското IDJ Show и заврши на второто место!|date=December 26, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://tocka.com.mk/video/9779/barbara-popovik-so-emotivna-izvedba-na-zajdi-zajdi-go-rasplaka-darko-dimitrov|title=Барбара Поповиќ со емотивна изведба на "Зајди, зајди" го расплака Дарко Димитров|website=tocka.com.mk}}{{Cite web|url=https://gevgelijanet.com/2023/11/28/%d0%b2%d0%b8%d0%b4%d0%b5%d0%be-%d0%bc%d0%b0%d0%ba%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%ba%d0%b0%d1%82%d0%b0-%d0%b1%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b1%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%b0-%d1%81%d0%be-%d0%bf%d0%b5%d1%81%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%82%d0%b0/|title=Видео: Македонката Барбара со песната "Зајди зајди" воодушеви на тал|first=Jovanka|last=Dojranlieva|date=November 28, 2023}}}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.junioreurovision.tv/page/participant-profile?song=30933 Barbara Popović - Participant Profile] on the official website of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013
• Videos on the official channel of Junior Eurovision Song Contest on YouTube
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZGScMgzXk4 Barbara - Ohrid i muzika (FYR Macedonia)] (studio version)
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d1wiUBsILg Barbara - Ohrid i muzika (FYR Macedonia)] (live in the JESC 2013 final)

{{s-start}}

{{s-ach}}

{{succession box

| before=Dorijan Dlaka
with "Žimi ovoj frak"

| title=North Macedonia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest

| years=2013

| after=Ivana Petkovska and Magdalena Aleksovska
with "Pletenka - Braid of Love"

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2013}}

{{North Macedonia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Popovic, Barbara}}

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Skopje

Category:Junior Eurovision Song Contest entrants

Category:Macedonian child singers

Category:Macedonian pop singers

Category:Macedonian women pop singers

Category:21st-century Macedonian women singers

Category:Macedonian songwriters

Category:Women songwriters