10 years ago today, one of the biggest stars in the Balkans, and the Macedonian Eurovision entrant from 2004, Tose Proeski, died in a car crash in Croatia.
Tose Proeski was an actor, singer and songwriter from Macedonia. He was the winner of the very first edition of Beovizija in 2003, which later became the festival in which Serbia was selecting their Eurovision entries. One year later, he was internally chosen by the Macedonian MRT to represent his country in Eurovision. He performed “Life” and finished in 14th place, which was at the time, the best Macedonian Eurovision result.
During his career, Tose Proeski recorded songs with all of the biggest names in the Ex-Yugoslav pop music scene, including Tony Cetinski, Karolina Goceva, Goca Trzan, Antonija Sola, Anja Rupel, but also sang with Luciano Pavarotti, Gianna Nannini, Esma Redzepova, Zeljko Joksimovic, Tijana Dapcevic, Leontina, and many others. Apart from performing countless sold-out concerts, he was involved in various humanitarian actions and charities.
He released his last album in 2007, titled “Igri bez granici” (Games Without Borders), and he worked on a new album with songs in English before he tragically died in a car crash in Croatia in 2007. This album, titled “The Hardest Thing” was released posthumously in 2009. Recording for the album took place in Ireland, Sweden, England and Jamaica. Video footage of the recording sessions were later assembled into a music video for “The Hardest Thing”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auKgPyc8Zqo
10 years after his death, his colleagues are still saying that time does not cure their wounds, and that Tose’s songs and tips will be remembered for the rest of their lives. Tijana Dapcevic, Macedonia’s Eurovision entrant in 2014, said that she mentions him and thinks of him every day, and whenever she hears one of his songs, she cries.
Every year I’m missing more and more. I lost a great friend, a wonderful colleague.
Tony Cetinski, who represented Croatia in Eurovision 1994 with “Nek ti ljubav bude sva”, and recorded “Lagala nas mala” together with Tose Proeski, said:
It’s been ten years since you’re gone, and we miss you more than ever. A great emptiness was left after you were gone, and no one will ever fill it. So, my friend, I do not accept that you are gone, because it’s probably easier for me this way. You should know that you are always close to me and that you are responsible for all my good work, my dear Tose. For stupidities and mistakes, I am solely responsible, as you know me well. I know that you’re here somewhere, and I want to thank you for everything you do. I love you, my brother.
