"Marija Sestic is the daughter of Dusan Sestic, the composer of the Bosnian national anthem".

The Spin

Marija Sestic was born in 1987, daughter of Dusan Sestic who is the composer of the Bosnian national anthem. She graduated from the Art Acadamy of Banja Luka in piano.

"St. George's Day Festival," in Banja Luka 1995 - third place, 1996 - first place
"Naša radost," in Podgorica, Montenegro 1998 - award for interpretation
"Zlatno zvonce," in Novi Sad, Serbia 1999 - first place for interpretation
"International Festival of Young Talents," in Zenica 2000-2002 - first place for interpretation
"Banja Luka pop music festiva," 2003 - award for best young vocal performer
"The Golden Star," in Bucharest, Romania 2004 - earned the FIDOF diploma.

At the age of 13, Marija was the first ex Yugoslavian solo singer to be invited to appear on MTV Berlin. She also participated in the Bosnian national Eurosong final in 2005, when she came 4th with the song In this world. The year 2000 was a very important year for the child star. Maria Sestic is only 19 years old but she is already one of the best voices in Balkans.In 2004 she participated at the international Golden Star festival in Bucharest (Romania) and won the first prize for performance and a FIDOF organization diploma. At the BH Eurosong 2005 contest she participated with the composition In This World and won a great fourth place. Marija graduated piano at the Music Academy in Banja Luka as the youngest student ever at the Art Academy in Banja Luka. She also achieved remarkable results at international contests for young pianists. Currently, she's working as a piano professor at the Music academy in Banja Luka and is working on her magisterial. The writers of Marija's song will be Aleksandra Milutinovic and Goran Kovacic. Aleksandra Milutinovic is the co-author of "Jutro", performed by Jelena Tomasevic at the Serbian final two years ago which was a great hit all over ex-Yugoslavian countries.

The Singer
 
In the annual battle of the ballards, in the Blue corner this year we have little Marija Sestic a featherweight of a chanteuse, whose lack of punching power is made up for by her promo video of volleyball on a tug boat. Up against her in the red corner will be the heavyweight Marija Serifovic of Serbia, and the question is who will come out on top. Big money is on the Serbian clam afficianado, but I'm not that sure. Ms Sestic's voice seems strong, and out of all the demographics at Eurosong, the young girl with the unprepossessing ditty always does well. No sign of a piano at this stage, but if she employs one, I expect big things.

The Past
 
A popular nation of the hardcore ESC fans, although I'm slightly confused as to why, since it's all well and good churning out weak ethno-fuelled pap rock every year, but just because it's not sung in English, does not mean that the songs are any good. To my mind 2003 was the best year for Bosnia, and yet my UK thought it was the worst song of the contest that year. Unfortunately at least to popular UK tastes, Balkan musical ethnicity equals excrement. Also spare a special thought for the campest performer for many a year in 2004.

The Song

"Rijeka Bez Imena" or "River with no Name" holds no surprises apart from maybe the french horn playing barbeque expert. Many feel this is a re-hash of last year's Bosnian effort, but I think this a definite step-up, not least for the horn playing barbequeist. Balkan ballards have a well proven success rate, and this ain't a bad example of their ilk. Did I mention the french horn playing man standing at the barbeque?...on the tug boat.

Overall

Marija holds her one note well and is a svelte young thing. She won't win but will no doubt knock one of the more favoured entries out of the top ten. It has to be said her chances will depend on whether Croatia,FYROM,& Slovenia make the final. If they don't, she's quids in. She's not afraid to throw her arms around either, and has an interesting ethnic wardrobe (that is,the clothes in it, rather than the wardrobe itself..I wouldn't know about that). Solid

In a Nutshell
"Can I have some mustard to go with that horn?"

the philosopher says

prescriptivism R. M. Hare's contention that the use of moral language conveys an implicit commitment to act accordingly. Thus, for example, saying that "Bosnia can only perform disco of ballad" not only entails acceptance of a universalizable truth that Bosnia can't do normal songs, but also leads to avoidance of Bosnia's songs. Recommended Reading: R. M. Hare, The Language of Morals (Clarendon, 1991)

Rijeka bez imena

Rijekom bez imena, kao val
Neka krene moja bol da te nade
Ružo svih vjetrova
Samo ja staze preko vode znam

Dan po dan i noc po noc
Ja zidam svoju bol
Kao most na rijeci za tobom
Ko još te voli k'o ja
Da te u dušu zna, tako baš kao ja?

Tugo nevjero, moja nevoljo
Kako da te vratim?
Da te zagrlim, k'o da je prvi put
Rijeke suza da ti pozlatim

Tugo nevjero, eh, da mogu to
Ja bih opet s tobom bilo gdje
Neka ide bol na moju dušu što za tobom umirem

Tugo nevjero, moja nevoljo
Kako da te vratim?
Da te zagrlim, k'o da je prvi put
Rijeke suza da ti pozlatim

Tugo nevjero
Ja bih opet s tobom bilo gdje
Neka ide bol na moju dušu što za tobom umirem
(Tugo nevjero, tugo nevjero)

Nameless river

Down a river without a name, like a wave
May my pain begin its journey to find you
Rose of all winds
Only I know the paths over water

Day by day and night by night
I build my pain
Like a bridge on a river, after you
Who still loves you like I do
Knows your soul, just the way I do?

Unfaithful sorrow, my pain
How do I return you?
To embrace you, like it's the first time
Cover with gold rivers of tears for you

Unfaithful sorrow, eh, if I only could
I would still go anywhere with you
May this pain bind to my soul for dying for you

Unfaithful sorrow, my pain
How do I return you?
To embrace you, like it's the first time
Cover with gold rivers of tears for you

Unfaithful sorrow
I would still go anywhere with you
May this pain bind to my soul for dying for you
(Unfaithful sorrow, unfaithful sorrow)
Prediction Semi Final -
Final 3rd