Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

{{main|Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2015 contest, Macedonia had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest fourteen times since its first entry in {{Escyr|1998}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=27|title=F.Y.R. Macedonia Country Profile|publisher=EBU|access-date=11 August 2014}} The nation's best result in the contest to this point was twelfth, which it achieved in 2006 with the song "Ninanajna" performed by Elena Risteska. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the {{Escyr|2004|2004 contest}}, Macedonia had featured in only five finals.

The Macedonian national broadcaster, Macedonian Radio Television (MRT), broadcasts the event within Macedonia and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. Macedonia had previously selected their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest through both national finals and internal selections. In June 2014, MRT held a survey on their website asking for advice regarding Macedonia's future participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. The three votable options provided were: continuing with internal selections used since 2012 that resulted in a single qualification to the final during this period in {{Escyr|2012}}, re-introduce the national final Skopje Fest used between 2008 and 2011 that failed to bring the nation to the final on every occasion, or withdrawing from the contest.{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Pete |date=5 June 2014 |title=FYR Macedonia: Doubts over Eurovision Song Contest 2015 participation |url=http://esctoday.com/84365/fyr-macedonia-doubts-eurovision-song-contest-2015-participation/ |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=ESCToday}} Despite the option for withdrawal attracting the majority of the vote, MRT confirmed their intentions to participate at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest on 15 July 2014 and announced that Skopje Fest would return to select the Macedonian entry.{{cite web |last=Jiandani |first=Sanjay |date=15 July 2014 |title=FYR Macedonia: MRT confirms participation in Eurovision 2015 |url=http://esctoday.com/85431/xx-xx-confirms-participation-eurovision-2015-2/ |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=ESCToday}}

Skopje Fest 2014 was a song contest organised by MRT that served as Macedonia's national final to select their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. Twenty entries participated in the competition which took place on 12 November 2014 at the Metropolis Arena in Skopje, hosted by Vasil Zafircev and was broadcast on MRT 1, MRT Sat and online via the broadcaster's official website mrt.com.mk.{{cite web |last=Omelyanchuk |first=Olena |date=15 July 2014 |title=Save the date for the F.Y.R. Macedonian national selection! |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=save_the_date_for_the_macedonian_national_selection |access-date=11 August 2014 |publisher=Eurovision.tv}}{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Jessica |date=12 November 2014 |title=Watch now: Skopje Fest – FYR Macedonia select their entry |url=http://esctoday.com/89796/tonight-skopje-fest-fyr-macedonia-select-entry/ |website=Esctoday}}

A submission period was opened for interested artists and composers to submit their songs between 26 May 2014 and 31 July 2014.{{cite web |date=27 May 2014 |title=Конкурс за избор на музички композиции за фестивалот "Скопје 2014" |url=http://mrt.com.mk/node/9875 |access-date=11 August 2014 |work=MRT |language=mk}} MRT received over 180 submissions at the closing of the deadline.{{cite web |last=Juhász |first=Ervin |date=23 September 2014 |title=180 songs received for Skopje Fest! |url=http://escbubble.com/2014/09/180-songs-received-skopje-fest/ |access-date=23 September 2014 |publisher=escbubble.com}} Thirteen entries were selected from the open submissions, while an additional seven entries were submitted by well-known composers directly invited by MRT for the competition.{{Cite web |title=ESC 2015 - Daniel Kajmakoski (Macedonia) |url=https://esckaz.com/2015/mac.htm |access-date=30 October 2020 |website=ESCKAZ}}{{Cite web |date=27 May 2014 |title=Конкурс за избор на музички композиции за фестивалот "Скопје 2014" |url=https://mrt.com.mk/node/9875 |website=mrt.com.mk |language=mk}} The twenty competing artists and songs were announced on 26 September 2014 during the MRT 1 programme Stisni Plej.{{cite web |date=26 September 2014 |title=Кој ќе ја претставува Македонија на Евровизија 2015?! |url=http://vistina.mk/2014/09/26/koj-k-e-ja-pretstavuva-makedonija-na-evrovizija-2015/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127213620/http://vistina.mk/2014/09/26/koj-k-e-ja-pretstavuva-makedonija-na-evrovizija-2015/ |archive-date=27 November 2014 |access-date=26 September 2014 |publisher=Vistina.mk |language=mk}}{{cite web |date=26 September 2014 |title=Познати учесниците на Скопскиот фестивал |url=http://mrt.com.mk/node/14674 |access-date=26 September 2014 |work=MRT |language=mk}}

Among the competing artists were former Macedonian Eurovision Song Contest entrants: Tamara Todevska who represented Macedonia in 2008 and Vlatko Ilievski who represented Macedonia in 2011. Viktorija Loba represented Macedonia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2003. Among the competing composers were Grigor Koprov, Jovan Jovanov, Lazar Cvetkoski, Magdalena Cvetkoska, Vlado Janevski and Vladimir Dojčinovski who co-wrote several Eurovision entries. Vlado Janevski also represented Macedonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998.{{Cite web |date=2014-11-12 |title=Tonight: Who wins the Skopje Festival? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/tonight-who-wins-the-skopje-festival |access-date=2022-12-30 |website=eurovision.tv |language=en}} On 28 October 2014, MRT announced that Nina Janeva would replace Sašo Gigov-Giš as the performer of the song "Bluz za...".{{Cite web |title=Changes in the line up of Skopje Fest 2014 |url=https://escbubble.com/2014/10/changes-line-skopje-fest/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=ESCBubble|date=28 October 2014 }}

The final took place on 12 November 2014. The running order was announced on 31 October 2014.{{cite web |last=Juhász |first=Ervin |date=31 October 2014 |title=Running order, special guests, juries, and more information about Skopje Fest |url=http://escbubble.com/2014/10/running-order-special-guests-information-skopje-fest/ |access-date=31 October 2014 |publisher=escbubble.com}} All twenty competing entries were accompanied by the MRT orchestra, conducted by Ljupčo Mirkovski, and a 50/50 combination of public televoting and seven international jury groups selected "Lisja esenski" performed by Daniel Kajmakoski as the winner.{{cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=1 November 2014 |title=Macedonia: Skopje Fest 2015 Details Announced |url=http://eurovoix.com/2014/11/01/macedonia-skopje-fest-2015-details-announced/ |access-date=2 November 2014 |publisher=Eurovoix}}{{cite web|last=Ko|first=Anthony|date=12 November 2014|title=FYR Macedonia: Daniel Kajmakoski Is Off To Eurovision After Winning Skopje Fest 2014|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2014/11/12/fyr-macedonia-daniel-kajmakoski-wins-skopje-fest-2014/65811/|access-date=12 November 2014|publisher=wiwibloggs.com}}{{cite web|last=Granger|first=Anthony|date=12 November 2014|title=Macedonia: Danijel Kajmakoski Has Won|url=http://eurovoix.com/2014/11/12/macedonia-danijel-kajmakoski-has-won/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329082002/http://eurovoix.com/2014/11/12/macedonia-danijel-kajmakoski-has-won/|archive-date=29 March 2015|access-date=12 November 2014|publisher=Eurovoix}} Monetary prizes were also awarded to the top three songs: the winner received €20,000, the second place received €10,000 and the third place received €5,000. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, the competition featured guest performances by 2002 and 2007 Macedonian Eurovision representative Karolina Gočeva and 2012 Macedonian Eurovision representative Kaliopi.{{cite web|date=31 October 2014|title=Билетите за Скопски фестивал пуштени во продажба преку "Купи карти за се"|url=http://lider.mk/2014/10/31/biletite-za-skopski-festoval-pusteni-vo-prodazba-preku-kupi-karti-za-se/|access-date=31 October 2014|publisher=Ekonomski Lider|language=mk}}

It was revealed a day after Skopje Fest 2014 that over 2,500 phone cards were seized by the Macedonian police which were investigating a possible voting fraud where 14 people were identified to have been hired to use the previously distributed cards during the voting of the competition.{{Cite web |last=Muldoon |first=Padraig |date=2014-11-13 |title=Macedonia: Police Investigate Skopje Fest Voting Fraud Allegations |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2014/11/13/macedonia-police-investigate-skopje-fest-voting-fraud-allegations/66314/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=wiwibloggs |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Ова се осомничените за местење на Скопскиот фестивал |url=https://daily.mk/vesti/osomnichenite-mestenje-skopskiot-festival-1 |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Daily.MK |language=mk}} It was later claimed that composer of Viktorija Loba's song, Jovan Jovanov, was part of the four-member group responsible for the case.{{Cite web |title=Ова се осомничените за местење на Скопскиот фестивал |url=https://mkd-news.com/ova-se-osomnichenite-za-mestene-na-skopskiot-festival/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=mkd-news.com |language=mk}}

Following Skopje Fest 2014, Daniel Kajmakoski stated in an interview with ESCplus that he was highly considering to perform "Lisja esenski" in English at the Eurovision Song Contest.{{Cite web |title=Daniel Kajmakoski: "I'm thinking about singing in English more and more" (Macedonia 2015 - interview) |url=https://www.esc-plus.com/interview/daniel-kajmakoski-im-thinking-about-singing-in-english-more-and-more-macedonia-interview/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=ESCplus |date=28 January 2015 |language=en-GB}} It was later confirmed that the song would be performed in English as "Autumn Leaves" and that a new three-minute version was recorded in early 2015.{{Cite web |title=Daniel wins "The Best Guy" award |url=https://escbubble.com/2015/01/daniel-wins-best-guy-award/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=ESCBubble |date=3 January 2015 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=MKRTV will not broadcast "Eurovision's Greatest Hits" |url=https://escbubble.com/2015/02/mkrtv-will-not-broadcast-eurovisions-greatest-hits/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=ESCBubble |date=5 February 2015 |language=en-GB}} Kajmakovski worked with Macedonian producer Robert Bilbilov to create the final English version of the song, which was presented to the public through the release of the official music video via the official Eurovision Song Contest's YouTube channel.{{cite web |last1=Halpin |first1=Chris |date=16 March 2015 |title=FYR Macedonia: Daniel Kajmakoski presents video for "Autumn Leaves" |url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2015/03/16/fyr-macedonia-daniel-kajmakoski-presents-video-for-autumn-leaves/86591/ |access-date=23 December 2015 |website=wiwibloggs.com |publisher=Wiwibloggs}}

Daniel Kajmakoski made several appearances across Europe to specifically promote "Autumn Leaves" as the Macedonian Eurovision entry. On 1 February, Kajmakoski performed the Macedonian and Serbian versions of "Autumn Leaves" during the RTS1 programme Nedeljno popodne in Serbia. On 13 April, Kajmakoski took part in promotional activities in Tirana, Albania where he gave interviews for media outlets and appeared during talk show programmes to discuss his Eurovision participation.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-14 |title=Autumn Leaves Promotion in Tirana |url=https://danielkajmakoski.mk/2015/04/14/autumn-leaves-promotion-in-tirana/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |language=en-US}} On 15 April, Kajmakoski performed during a preview event which was organised by OGAE Serbia and held at the UŠĆE Shopping Centre in Belgrade, Serbia.{{Cite web |last=Granger |first=Anthony |date=10 April 2015 |title=Serbia: Eurovision Preview Event April 15 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2015/04/10/serbia-eurovision-preview-event-april-15/ |access-date=8 July 2022 |website=Eurovoix}} On 18 April, Kajmakoski performed during the Eurovision in Concert event which was held at the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam, Netherlands and hosted by Cornald Maas and Edsilia Rombley.{{Cite web |last=Petersen |first=Christian |date=9 April 2015 |title=Eurovision in Concert 2015 |url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision_in_concert_2015 |access-date=7 October 2021 |website=Eurovisionworld}} On 24 April, Kajmakoski performed during the Eurovision Pre-Party, which was held at the Place de Paris Korston Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia.{{Cite web |date=28 March 2015 |title=Russian Pre-Party on April 24th |url=https://eurovisiontimes.wordpress.com/2015/03/28/russian-pre-party-on-april-24th/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |website=The Eurovision Times}} A farewell event was held in Skopje on 9 May before Daniel Kajmakoski departed to Vienna for the contest.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-08 |title=ДАНИЕЛ КАЈМАКОСКИ ВЕ ПОКАНУВА НА ПРЕДЕВРОВИЗИСКО ДРУЖЕЊЕ ! |url=https://danielkajmakoski.mk/2015/05/08/%D0%94%D0%90%D0%9D%D0%98%D0%95%D0%9B-%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%88%D0%9C%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%9E%D0%A1%D0%9A%D0%98-%D0%92%D0%95-%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%9D%D0%A3%D0%92%D0%90-%D0%9D%D0%90-%D0%9F%D0%A0%D0%95%D0%94/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |language=en-US}}

File:20150511 ESC 2015 Daniel Kajmakoski 4571.jpg

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. In the 2015 contest, Australia also competed directly in the final as an invited guest nation.{{cite web|last1=Siim|first1=Jarmo|title=Australia to compete in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=australia_to_participate_in_the_2015_eurovision_song_contest|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=22 December 2015|date=10 February 2015}} The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into five different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.{{cite web|last1=Brey|first1=Marco|title=Tomorrow: The semi-final allocation draw|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=tomorrow_the_semi-final_allocation_draw|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=25 January 2015|date=25 January 2015}} On 26 January 2015, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in. Macedonia was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 19 May 2015, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show.{{cite web|last1=Escudero|first1=Victor M.|title=Allocation Draw results: Who's in which Semi-Final?|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=DJP_allocation_draw_results_whos_in_which_semi-final|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=26 January 2015|date=26 January 2015}}

Once all the competing songs for the 2015 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Macedonia was set to perform in position 8, following the entry from Estonia and before the entry from Serbia.{{cite web|first=Jarmo|last=Siim|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=running_order_of_semi-finals_revealed|title=Running order of Semi-Finals revealed|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=22 December 2015|date=23 March 2015}}

The two semi-finals and final were broadcast in Macedonia on MRT 1, MRT Sat and Radio Skopje with commentary by Karolina Petkovska. MRT also broadcast the three shows on MRT 2 and MRT 2 Sat with commentary in the Albanian language.{{cite web|url=http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=51115956549&id=49&prilog=0&setIzdanie=23464|title=Даниел ја носи Америка на "Евровизија 2015"|work=Nova Makedonija|language=mk|date=11 May 2015|access-date=12 May 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514171724/http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=51115956549&id=49&prilog=0&setIzdanie=23464|archive-date=14 May 2015}} The Macedonian spokesperson, who announced the Macedonian votes during the final, was Marko Mark.{{cite web|last1=Roxburgh|first1=Gordon|title="Good evening Vienna" - Voting order revealed|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=good_evening_vienna_-_voting_order_revealed|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=EBU|access-date=23 May 2015|date=23 May 2015}}

File:20150515 ESC 2015 Daniel Kajmakoski 7113.jpg

Daniel Kajmakoski took part in technical rehearsals on 11 and 15 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 18 and 19 May. This included the jury show on 11 May where the professional juries of each country watched and voted on the competing entries.{{cite web |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Gordon |date=18 May 2015 |title=Juries...start voting! |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=juriesstart_voting |access-date=22 December 2015 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

The Macedonian performance featured Daniel Kajmakoski performing choreographed movements in a trench coat together with three backing vocalists in black trench coats. The stage colours were gold, red and dark blue with the background LED screens displaying medieval ruins, flowing autumn leaves and a sky that transitioned from grey to yellow and red colours.{{cite web |last1=Omelyanchuk |first1=Olena |date=15 May 2015 |title=Daniel Kajmakoski: "We are still working on our choreography" |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=daniel_kajmakoski_we_are_still_working_on_our_choreography |access-date=22 December 2015 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}{{cite web |last1=Omelyanchuk |first1=Olena |date=11 May 2015 |title=Daniel from F.Y.R. Macedonia: I receive support from my idols |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=daniel_from_f.y.r._macedonia_i_got_a_support_from_my_idols |access-date=22 December 2015 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} The three backing vocalists that joined Daniel Kajmakoski on stage were members of the American R&B group Blackstreet (MERJ): Mark Middleton, Eric Williams and Jeremy Hanna.{{cite web |last1=Omelyanchuk |first1=Olena |date=6 May 2015 |title=Daniel Kajmakoski's stage performance - who is in? |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=daniel_kajmakoskis_stage_performance_-_who_is_in |access-date=22 December 2015 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

At the end of the show, Macedonia was not announced among the top 10 entries in the first semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final.{{cite web |last1=Roxburgh |first1=Gordon |date=19 May 2015 |title=We have our first ten finalists |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=87we_have_our_first_ten_finalists |access-date=22 December 2015 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} It was later revealed that Macedonia placed fifteenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 28 points.{{cite web |title=First Semi-Final of Vienna 2015 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/vienna-2015/first-semi-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328101729/https://eurovision.tv/event/vienna-2015/first-semi-final |archive-date=28 March 2021 |access-date=28 March 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

Voting during the three shows consisted of 50 percent public televoting and 50 percent from a jury deliberation. The jury consisted of five music industry professionals who were citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury was asked to judge each contestant based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury could be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member were released shortly after the grand final.{{cite web|last1=Bakker|first1=Sietse|title=Exclusive: Here are this year's national juries!|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=exclusive_here_are_this_years_national_juries|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=22 December 2015|date=1 May 2015}}

Following the release of the full split voting by the EBU after the conclusion of the competition, it was revealed that Macedonia had placed sixteenth (last) with the public televote and fifteenth with the jury vote in the first semi-final. In the public vote, Macedonia scored 22 points, while in the jury vote, Macedonia scored 42 points.{{cite web|last1=Adams|first1=Willy Lee|title=Semi final split results: Who the jury hurt at Eurovision 2015|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2015/05/25/semi-final-split-results-jury-eurovision-2015/96543/|website=wiwibloggs.com|publisher=Wiwibloggs|access-date=23 December 2015|date=25 May 2015}} In addition, the EBU announced that it had disqualified the Macedonian jury results in the final due to irregularities. The exclusion of the votes was decided upon in consultation with the contest's independent voting observer, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and based upon the decision of the Executive Supervisor and the Chairman of the Reference Group. Macedonia's votes in the final were produced solely by the public televote.{{cite web|last1=Galagher|first1=Robyn|title=Voting Scandal: Jury votes for FYR Macedonia and Montenegro Excluded|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2015/05/24/voting-scandal-jury-votes-for-fyr-macedonia-and-montenegro-excluded/96345/|website=wiwibloggs.com|publisher=Wiwibloggs|access-date=23 December 2015|date=24 May 2015}}

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Macedonia and awarded by Macedonia in the first semi-final and grand final of the contest, and the breakdown of the jury voting and televoting conducted during the two shows:

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The following members comprised the Macedonian jury:

• Antonio Dimitrievski (jury chairperson){{snd}}music producer
• Ana Kostadinovska{{snd}}music teacher, backing vocal
• {{ill|Aleksandar Belov|mk|Александар Белов (пејач)}}{{snd}}singer
• Sara Nikolovska{{snd}}professional musician
• Andrijana Jovanovska{{snd}}lyric writer, music journalist

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{North Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2015}}

2015

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015

Eurovision