On September 2nd, 2018, the Romanian music festival Cerbul de Aur (Golden Stag) was held for the first time in almost a decade. Winning the grand prize was Albanian singer and Festivali i Këngës 56 entrant Inis Neziri.
Neziri, young and sweet, only seventeen, performed two songs as part of her competition entry. One was “Piedestal,” her Festivali i Këngës entry that won over the hearts of many a Eurovision fan and ultimately placed third in the FiK final.
Her other song was a cover of “Dau Viaţa Mea Pentru o Iubire,” originally sung by former Golden Stag winner and Eurovision entrant Monica Anghel. Ironically enough, it was also the song that also gave Monica Anghel the win in 1996.
Held in Brasov this year to celebrate Romania’s centennial, the Golden Stag saw a slew of popular faces compete, including some from Eurovision. Irish representative Ryan O’Shaughnessy received the Brasov City Prize. Ovidiu Anton received the Festival Press Award, and Lidia Isac received the Public Radio and Television Societies Prize.
Dedicated Eurovision fans may have also recognized that the first and second runners-up are also involved within the Eurovision circle. First runner-up was The Voice Belgique finalist and 1in360 participant Olivier Kaye, and second runner-up was Antonia Gigovska of Macedonia, one of Eye Cue’s backing vocalists this year in Lisbon.
What do you think of Inis Neziri’s winning performances? Do you want her in FiK 57? Let us know in the comments!
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