A knock-out performance by Croatia’s Baby Lasagna has qualified the singer for the grand Eurovision final in Malmö this Saturday. Wearing a traditional waistcoat and lace to chime with his song’s theme of rural abandonment, the Umag-born artist gave a stirring rendition of his catchy number, Rim Tim Tagi Dim. Despite its absurd title, the tune has serious issues at heart, of how young people are leaving the countryside for a better life.
Although a late entry back in January, Rim Tim Tagi Dim won the public vote at Croatia’s national song contest, Dora, by a landslide. Cat-loving Baby Lasagna is now the hot favourite to win the whole event, which is taking place in Sweden exactly half a century after Abba famously won Eurovision.
Baby Lasagna is none other than Marko Purišić, who previously appeared at Dora 2019 as a member of the Balkan rock band Manntra. Going solo in 2023, Purišić changed his stage name for reasons unclear. He was one of ten acts selected from the first semi-final in Malmö, with ten more still to qualify.
Such is the excitement building around Baby Lasagna that Croatia’s first-ever public viewing party for Eurovision is being set up in Zagreb, at Trg Europe from 8pm this Saturday.