CROATIA – This morning Croatian national broadcaster confirmed that there will be a 2021 edition of DORA, through which the country will decide new representative for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest.
Automatically this means that HRT will not go through with Damir Kedลพo in Rotterdam but at the same time, this doesn’t mean that there will not be a spot offered to the signer.
The weird decision didn’t surprise us as there was a contract with the city of Opatija for a 2021 festival which HRT wanted to make ti worth with the Eurovision ticket award as the ultimate promotional tool for it.
Unfortunately, one of the superstars of Croatia with international appeal and one of the stars the Eurofans demanded for years cannot participate in the competition (unless he participates and wins again).
Croatian Head of Delegation Ms Ursula Toj will be in charge of DORA 2021 and there is a provisional date for February 27th (which hasn’t yet been confirmed by HRT).
DAMIR KEDZO STATEMENT
The whole DORA 2020 experience was a full circle. From happiness to sadness, from winning Dora to cancellation of Eurovision because of COVID 19 and at the end canceling me as a direct representative for Rotterdam 2021. Thank you everyone, my band, my girls who shared the stage with me in Opatija and a virtual one while we sang โDivlji vjetreโ online to people all over Europe and the world. Huge thank you to all the people from my team and all of those who gave their hearts and souls in these few months with the intention that our song and performance is seen and heard in the best possible light. We solely wanted to represent our music and country the best way we knew. Thank you all for your support and support in the last 24 hours since we know that HRT decided to have a new competition and that I will not directly represent Croatia in Rotterdam in 2021. This roller coaster of emotions and change is not easy to survive, so thank you all once again. I’m happily waiting to go with you through everything that the future will bring us. You can expect the best possible music and emotions that I will bring to you, and I believe you will be with me. I don’t need anything else. I love you, people.”
Kedลพo was born on 24 May 1987 in Omiลกalj, where he finished musical school and was singing in a church choir. When he was a child, besides singing, he wanted to be a gynaecologist, but he gave up on that idea when signed up for the Story Super Nova Music Talent Show. Damir had jaw surgery because he could not speak or eat normally, and he had problems with the pronunciation of words, which was important for the profession he chose. After the surgery, he could not speak for a month, and the complete recovery took him three months when he could chew normally again. He admitted that, after the surgery, he became a stronger person, and more confident in himself and his decisions.
On 23 December 2019, Kedลพo was announced as one of the 16 participants in Dora 2020, the national contest in Croatia to select the country’s Eurovision Song Contest 2020 entry, with the song “Divlji vjetre“. He won the competition with a total of 31 points and was supposed to represent Croatia in Rotterdam. However, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
