Vasil ”Here I Stand” | North Macedonia Eurovision 2021 Interview

Vasil will sing "Here I Stand" for North Macedonia at Eurovision 2021. From 16:40​ in our Zoom interview, he discusses the recent controversy in which some people petitioned for him to be removed as the country's singer owing to his music video, which featured a piece of art that allegedly resembled the flag of Bulgaria. "I was shocked," he says. "I couldn't believe it until I realised this was an organised attack — no matter what I would have done, people would have gone for it. So many things were taken out of context to create something that is not true. It created this avalanche of negativity, but it inspired me. I said, 'Holy smokes! I wrote a song where it says, 'they will try to break us, not knowing it's what makes us.' In a way it made me stronger not as a human being but as an artist." The cyber-bullying was the worst he has experienced, but "the reaction of the Eurovision fans was unbelievable." Now he's extending an invitation to all the fans: "I invite you to give me your love and energy up there on that stage. I will stand up there and give it all back. We will silence the hate with love, beautiful energy and amazing music." Vasil also discusses how the song came to him in a moment of despair following the cancelation of last year's contest. In the opening lyrics he sings to a child — encouraging him not to crack and to persevere. Vasil says that he is, on some level, singing to himself. He recounts leaving his homeland as a child (and when he was already his country's biggest star) and having to start over in the United States. We also discuss his emotional music video and working with the Chicago Children's Choir, whose voices will feature on the Eurovision stage; his live-on-tape performance and how he chose the final recording; and his amazing stage director.