Croatian daily "Vecernji list" February 4, 2000:

For "Dora" We Changed Our Name

Ever-smiling Jelena Rozga arrived to the interview from Zagreb's "Croatian National Theater" (HNK), where she was practicing with Almir Osmanovic. They are rapidly rehearsing the choreography for the song Hrvatska rapsodija (Croatian rhapsody), with which she will appear on Dora.

- What we are preparing is not something classic, which I did for twelve years, but something more modern. There will not be any hard moves, just simple ones everyone can manage.

Q: You are again on Dora, this time with an English-language song. Is that because Tonci Huljic is already counting on winning or becuase his allusion to expanding your audience beyond Croatia's borders?
A: Tonci is currently making an album for foreign market in London. With the Dora song we are heading toward a victory abroad. Given the impression the song will leave on people, as per its melody, performance, and image, I think that the song could do very well abroad.

Q: Then I hope that the musical style will be something new, not the usual Eastern style.
A: I do not know why we are always labeled as Eastern-oriented. Like the previous, this album will not have anything to do with East. The most important thins is that we do good with the audience.

Q: Originally, only you and Tonci wee supposed to perform the song. What happened to change to "Magazin" under the name of "Cronika"?
A: We are only "Cronika" for Dora, after that we will still be "Magazin." We only changed the name for the event, so there is no indications that the band is splitting.

Q: In recent weeks, you were the subject of various specualtions insinuating that "Tonica's" [Tonci Huljic's record company] singers are being played on Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) due to corruption, not popularity. Are you afraid of the possible alienation of new people at HRT?
A: I am not afraid, firstly because of our quality. If we are played on TV and radio is entirely up to their respective musical directors. I cna freely say that "Tonica's" singers have the most concert and they are the most attended. As "Magazin," we have sold more record since 1985 than anyone else in Croatian musical history. Therefore, what is good will always be listened to.

Croatian daily "Vecernji list" Feb 4:

"Dora" - The Scandalous Festival

Eighth "Dora" will be broadcast for the first time on a Saturday on February 19. Ksenija Urlicic, the director of HRT's entertainment program, is right when she says that the festival is not only a contest, but the biggest and most attractive HRT projective. Various polls over the years have shown that it is one of the most watched show programs on HRT. To artists, "Dora" is a chance to present a new name, a new song, or reintroduce a long-gone singer.

That is exactly why there are two weird things about it. First, the artists' (non)interest: on the one hand they would demand resignation of someone for not being included in the line-up; on the other the lucky ones act as if it is no big deal, so they do no even bother coming to the draw. Namely, the recent press conference was devoid of big names in Croatian music history, such as Severina, Vanna, "Magazin," Minea, Boris Novkovic, and only Renata Sabljak and "Joy" were present.

The other thing is that every year "Dora's" image gets more negative. But, it is not all useless. This year's "Dora" will presumably cos 100,000 DM, and some are saying that the glass stage itself will cost that much. The money to pay for "Dora" comes from commercials, but it only works if the event it scandalous and spectacular enough that is draws people in.

On other European TV stations, events like "Dora" are secondary or entertainment directors order or chose songs to represent them.

Here, mountains are moved and "Dora 2000" will look not unlike last year's. Instead of two, we will have on TV night, which will be retrospective in the beginning.

And let us add one more thing. HRT has the right to changethe singer or the title of the song. This year they changed the title Severina's song Mexico, because, they say, it is inappropriate for a song that could represent Croatia. They also partially changed the lyrics, as they included words like "tequila." Severina promised to intervene. We do not know what's going to happen with the lyrics, but the new title of the song, unlike the old Mexico, is very Croatian: Boom boom boom.