Montenegro’s singer Krstinja Matanović expressed strong criticism towards Nina Žižić, the president of the jury at the recent Montesong competition. Matanović secured 4th place with her performance of “Oli oli,” earning a total of 12 points after the votes from both the audience and the jury were tallied.
Following the conclusion of Montesong, Matanović took to her Instagram account to voice her dissatisfaction with Žižić’s scoring. The jury president, who also represented Montenegro at the previous year’s Eurosong, awarded Matanović only four points, which she found unacceptable.
Matanović challenged Žižić’s criteria for judging, questioning the rationale behind her scoring decisions. “I would ask Ms. Žižić, last year’s representative and jury president: ‘What criteria did you use to give your votes?’ Considering you ‘shone’ at Eurosong, how can you not feel ashamed?” she wrote.
She further emphasized that “good singing can never be sabotaged” and noted that until that evening, she held deep respect for Žižić as a senior colleague. “I even overlooked your shortcomings at Eurosong, but you have shown how truly petty you are,” Matanović stated, making her feelings abundantly clear.
The Montesong competition concluded with Tamara Živković taking home the top prize, while Žižić awarded the maximum score of 12 points to the band Baryak. Matanović’s comments highlight the ongoing tensions within Montenegro’s music scene, particularly regarding the evaluation process in competitive settings.
As the fallout from this incident continues, it remains to be seen how both artists will navigate their professional relationships moving forward. The Montesong contest serves not only as a platform for showcasing talent but also as a reminder of the complexities and rivalries that can arise in the competitive music industry.
