A few minutes before 8 p.m. CET on March 8, the evening before the Heads of Delegation meeting, North Macedonia’s Eurovision entry was released on YouTube.
“YOU,” which is North Macedonia’s fourth consecutive English-language entry, is an engaging number, both musically and staging-wise within the video. You can sense the sexual tension between Vasil and Sara Cvetkoska, his dance partner, as he sings. The lyrics fit that tension, starting out, “Hand on my hand, fingers trembling.” Musically, it grabs your attention from the opening notes. It’s addictive. This is definitely a song that I could see myself having on repeat.
The message behind the song is that people should connect, dance and celebrate and how one unexpected moment, a connection with someone, can have such a profound impact on us, even if it’s just for that moment. “We may only have tonight, hold me tight, and let’s ignite.”
The music video was filmed at Skopje’s Churchill Pub, which is just 2-1/2 miles from where I am right now, typing this. Churchill Pub is also where the song was initially revealed to the press during a press conference that took place there earlier that day.
Vasil was born in Strumica, North Macedonia, on Nov, 2, 1984, and spent ages 10-17 in the United States. After subsequently living in Italy and Canada, Vasil returned to his home city a couple of years ago. In 2007, he attempted to represent Macedonia at Eurovision; his song, “Pomorgni mi,” placed 13th in that year’s national final. However, he did get his feet wet at Eurovision a year ago, performing as a backing vocalist for Tamara Todevska.
“YOU” will be performed on the Rotterdam Ahoy stage at some point in the first half of the first semifinal.