Tajci, who represented Yugoslavia in the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest spoke to esctoday.com about her Eurovision Song Contest experience and her current activities. The singer, who was born in the Croatian part of Yugoslavia, represented the country with the song Hajde da ludujemo in Zagreb on homeground and finished 7th.

Can you tell us what you have been doing lately in your musical life? 

I have just released a new CD Need a break which is a compliation of original songs and a few spiritual classics.  Since I left Croatia in 1992, my music has reflected my life and all the ‘discoveries’ along the way. I have been working with amazing artists and musicians exploring different musical traditions, ethnic elements and narrative forms.  I have also been drawn to spiritual music because of the power it has to reach to the deepest parts of human soul. Every year I perform about 100 concerts touring with my husband/ manager Matthew Cameron, our three children Dante (8), Evan Amadeus (6) and Blais Ludwig (3), and a cast of top-class musicians. 

Now I would like you to go back to year 1990, and tell us how you decided you participate in this competition? Can you give us brief information about the arrival process of the song Hajde da ludujemo? 

It actually wasn’t my decision.  I needed money to pursue a contract offer by Virgin Records in London; in the process I got Zrinko Tutic, one of former Yugoslavia’s top producers, to produce a record for me. I thought I’d just sell a few copies and then I’d be off to London.  But my record company submitted me to the Yugovision, actually as someone who wouldn’t be a threat to the other singer they were hoping would win. I guess everyone, including me, was surprised when I won Yugovision. My participation at Eurovision conflicted with the offer from Virgin Records but I choose to participate after I experienced the whole nation (and that included all five former YU states) ‘going crazy’ over my song. I didn’t want to let them down.  

Do you have a special moment from Eurovision Song Contest 1990 to which you would like to share with us? 

After my performance, Toto Cotugno came over to my table, kissed me on the cheek and gave me a red rose with a invitation to come to Italy…  it was a business proposal – of course 

Did you keep following the Eurovision Song Contest after you participation? What does ESC mean to Tajci? You think it had a slight contribution to your career in those days? 

I couldn’t follow the Eurovision Song Contest when I first moved to the U.S. – it wasn’t on the Internet and I didn’t have Satelite TV. These days, I like to catch favorites on YouTube or at different Eurovision web sites. I used to make my own charts and my whole family would cast votes when I was a little girl growing up in Croatia…  we loved Eurovision.  My Italian grandmother would always coment on the wardrobe… There are songs that stuck with me from those days: Nicole’s Ein bisschen Frieden,  Sandra Kim’s J’aime la vie and Making your mind up by Bucks Fizz. ESC shaped my career – both my pop and current one – and it was much more than a slight contribution.  It propelled me to the top where I had experienced fame and status of a superstar. It showed me all the great, glamorous and fun sides of it, but also it was a crash course in loneliness, emptiness and injustice (why do rich and famous ‘matter’ more?  What makes them ‘better’ people, more ‘deserving’ of safety, freedom, comfort, medicine, food? – this really bothered me as the war broke out in Croatia…)  It made me question my personal goals and what it was I wanted to do with my musical talents… and my life.  I certainly didn’t want to end up a spent, tired pop star singing the same song over and over again, trying to preserve the youthful image (because, for most teenage-pop stars, it’s impossible to ‘grow’ – both musically, artistically and physically)  – people still write to me things like “You should still be singing ‘Hajde da ludujemo’”.  For my own sake I needed a greater purpose in life.  

After a 11 year televoting period, the authorities decided to change the system to 50% jury voting and 50% televoting. How do you regards this decision? 

I don’t know what’s best… I heard stories of votes being ‘bought’, of politics influencing the votes… perhaps there is no ‘perfect’ way to vote. On the other hand, what makes a song ‘the best’ anyway? Is it the music, the performance, the arrangement or the dancers/costumes/stage effects? And how do you compete singing in a language that’s not as musical as some others? It’s all very hard to pinpoint. What I liked about ESC (when I was growing up) was that we all felt good about whoever won officially – because the other songs still had a chance to became ‘favorites’ and hits – if the audiences liked them.  So, I guess, what I am trying to say is it really doesn’t matter. Let’s keep a healthy competition going, focusing of putting on an amazing show that brings so many different countries together. 

How would you rate Eurovision Song Contest in means of musical quality? 

It seems to change from year to year… I am also not clear on how much of it is still ‘tracks’ and how much is played ‘live’ these days… 

What are your favourite songs in Eurovision Song Contest history? 

Nicole’s Ein bisschen Frieden was one of my first stage pop songs. I sang it with my Dad’s band at Croatian Sea Resorts. I guess, that song has a special place in my heart. I also like Hari Varesanovic’s Lejla. 

We know that you live and work in USA. Do you think to return to Croatia again?               

Now that my boys are a bit bigger my team and I are working on putting on a special concert in Croatia.  I miss my home.  I want to bring my music to my friends and old fans and give us all a chance to remember some good old times. 

Would you like to represent Croatia in Eurovision next time? 

I never thought of that possibility again… sure!  Why not?!  

esctoday