"In 1998 Elena took part in many competitions and won many local, national and international prizes in drawing"
Written by: Darko Dimitrov
Lyrics by: Rade Vrcakovski

Elena Risteska was born at 27th of April 1986 in Skopje. From the early ages of her life she was interested in music and drawing. Elena inherited the music talent from her mother. In 1994 Elena joined KUD "Kocho Racin" (club for folk dances and songs). Also, she sung a song at her school in the "Young Imitators" show. Besides singing, drawing and dancing, Elena was member of the drama club.

In 1996 for the first time she was at TV. That was at "Mak-Karaoke Show" at "A1 TV" with the song "Flamingo". The same year she started to take a course in English language, but also in French. Elena started to sing in the school chorus and went to Bulgaria at her first tour with the folk dances club.

In 1998 Elena took part in many competitions and won many local, national and international prizes in drawing. Elena proved her talent in poetry by one song of her, that won title the best and was published in children newspaper "Our World" in 1999.
In 2000 Elena had tours to Turkey, Czech Republic and Bulgaria with KUD "Kocho Racin". At this tours Elena took part in the folk dances club, but also in the chorus. That year Elena was at one art colony in Strumica, too.

At December 22nd 2002 Elena took part at talent search music competition "Play - Search For A Star". She sang the song "The Other Thing" and won this competition. Her song became big hit in Macedonia. This was first serious step in the world of music for Elena. Her popularity was rising day by day.
In July 2003 her debut album called "Day And Night" saw the daylight. It helped Risteska to become popular not only in her native Macedonia, but also in several Balkan countries.
In 2004 she took part in festival "Golden Stag" in Brashov, Romania, and in 2005 at festival "Sunchane Skale" where she performed "Ni na nebo, ni na zemja".

At 4th of March 2006 Republic of Macedonia selected its song for the "Eurovision Song Contest 2006". "Ninanajna" is pop song and contains elements of dance and orient music. She is currently recording her second album, and studying Italian and Literature at university.

Elena seems like a game bird. Barely dressed in various states of undress, Elena pouts through her video perched within a hanging bird cage. This is downright saucy stuff for Eurosong, which may be the one aspect that actually harms what is a very good chance. It's a rumbunctious euro-dance effort (or as the song says "turbofolk"), which has a lot going for it. It starts very strongly, it lends itself to a catchy dance routine, has a catchy refrain with nonsense lyrics, and the singer sports a strong cleavage. Could this be the year where Macedonia comes out from under the cloud of their more illustrious Balkn compatriots? If so, I will be toasting success in my FYROM Eurovisaion mug. Cheers!

Mavis Cruet

"I loved Willo the Wisp" says Elena (no she didn't) "I even had the book of the episode where Arthur orders mail-order wings. But my, how unbelievably strange it was. Out of all the characters, the portly, flightless fairy Mavis was the tops. Voiced by the impressively barbiturated-up Mr Kenneth Williams, I think you should watch and wonder at the subtle nuances! Either that, or just remind yourself what an odd voice he had", Elena categorically did not say.

Ninanajna

Te zapoznav ko fraer lud po hip-hop, r'n'b
Shto e dobra muzika ti me nauchi
Shto se sluchi, koj te smeni
Stvarno ne te razbiram
Glaven turbo-folker stana ti
A jas poluduvam

Pej si ti nana-ni-nananajna
Zapej mi nana-ni-nananajna
Zhiv dokaz toa e
Ti ne si za mene
Pej si ti nana-ni-nananajna
Zapej mi nana-ni-nananajna
Odi, ne vrakjaj se
Ti veke ne si za mene

Eminem go zameni so Planet Folkeri
Shakira i Madonna mene mi gi zabrani
Shto se sluchi, koj te smeni
Stvarno ne te razbiram
Glaven turbo-folker stana ti
A jas poluduvam

Pej si ti nana-ni-nananajna
Zapej mi nana-ni-nananajna
Zhiv dokaz toa e
Ti ne si za mene
Pej si ti nana-ni-nananajna
Zapej mi nana-ni-nananajna
Odi, ne vrakjaj se
Ti veke ne si za mene

Kaj se sega tie denovi koga jas i ti
Bevme najsrekjni?
Mozhesh pola grad da zapalish
No ne me vrakjash ti
Ti me izgubi

Pej si ti nana-ni-nananajna
Zapej mi nana-ni-nananajna
Zhiv dokaz toa e
Ti ne si za mene
Pej si ti nana-ni-nananajna
Zapej mi nana-ni-nananajna
Odi, ne vrakjaj se
Ti veke ne si za mene

Pej si ti nana-ni-nananajna

Ninanajna

I knew you as a crazy guy into hip-hop and r'n'b
You taught me what good music is
What happened, who's replaced you
I really don't understand you
You've become the biggest turbofolk fan
And I'm going crazy

Sing nana-ni-nananajna
Sing to me nana-ni-nananajna
That's proof that
You're not for me
Sing nana-ni-nananajna
Sing to me nana-ni-nananajna
Go, don't come back
You're no longer for me

You've replaced Eminem with Planet Folk
Shakira and Madonna you've forbidden me
What happened, who's replaced you
I really don't understand you
You've become the biggest turbofolk fan
And I'm going crazy

Sing nana-ni-nananajna
Sing to me nana-ni-nananajna
That's proof that
You're not for me
Sing nana-ni-nananajna
Sing to me nana-ni-nananajna
Go, don't come back
You're no longer for me

Where are those days now when
You and are were happy
You could set half the town on fire
But you won't get me back
You've lost me

Sing nana-ni-nananajna
Sing to me nana-ni-nananajna
That's proof that
You're not for me
Sing nana-ni-nananajna
Sing to me nana-ni-nananajna
Go, don't come back
You're no longer for me

Sing nana-ni-nananajna
Is she Claudio Cardinale, who set up shop in "Once upon a time in the West" selling oranges
or Elena Ristseka who probably won't get the chance to go to the West, oranges or no oranges.
“I’ve watched Eurovision ever since I was born,” she said. “And there are many songs that have stayed in my heart. From last year, I really liked the UK one – I thought that was one of the best".