Elena showed an interest in music and drawing at an early age. Elena inherited her musical interest from her mother. In 1994, Elena joined the KUD "Kocho Racin", which was a club for folk dances and songs. Elena took part in school activities such as singing in the "Young Imitators" show and becoming a member of the drama club.
In 1996, Elena made her television debut during the “Mak-Karaoke Show” performing the song “Flamingo” on the commercial channel A1 TV. The same year she started to take a course in English language, but also in French. Elena started to sing in the school chorus and went to Bulgaria for her first tour with the folk dances club. In 1998, Elena took part in many competitions and won many local, national, and international awards in drawing. In 2000, Elena went on toured in Turkey, Czech Republic, and Bulgaria with the folk dances club.
Elena rose to popularity in Macedonia by competing and winning the music-based reality television show Play - Search For A Star in her home country. Her debut single, “Ona Drugoto” ("The Other Thing”)" (2002) became a hit there, resulting in her successful debut album Den i Nok (Ден и Ноќ).Risteska is also an occasional songwriter, writing for artists such as 4Play, Lambe Alabakoski, and Aleksandra Pileva.
Following the great success of her debut album, Elena began promoting herself outside of her home. In 2004, she performed at the Golden Stag Festival in Braşov, Romania and in 2005 she performed “Ni na nebo, ni na zemja” (“Neither heaven nor earth”) at the “Suncane Skale” festival in Herceg Novi, Montenegro. Elena’s video began rotating on MTV Adria and her popularity continued to grow.
On March 4, 2006, Elena Risteska won the Fyrom preselection contest for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Ninanajna”. The song was composed and produced by Darko Dimitrov, with lyrics by Rade Vrčakovski. The song is an uptempo, pop song which includes elements of R&B, disco and dance music. Risteska qualified for the final, and after spending most of the night on the edge of the top ten (which would guarantee automatic final qualification for the country in 2007), eventually finished 12th with 56 points, the best finish for any musician representing Republic of Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Elena is currently studying Italian language and literature, as well as preparing new material for her upcoming album. In July 2006, Elena performed “Ne Mogu” (“I Can’t”) (Darko Dimitrov,Kaliopi,Darko Dimitrov)at the Suncane Skale festival where she placed 10th overall. Elena traveled to Yerevan, Armenia in September to perform as a guest in Armenia’s Eurovision 2006 representative Andre’s concert. She was well received by the audience, which was expected since her Eurovision song “Ninanajna” was a summer hit and a popular ringtone in Armenia. In October, Elena released a new single called "Esen Vo Mene" ("Autumn In Me"). The song is composed by Darko Dimitrov.
Ninanajna
Elena Risteska Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
don’t be afraid boy
I’m gonna give it to you.
Tell me what-ya want babe
tell me what-ya need
tell me what-ya wishing for
I’ll make you feel so sweet.
I'll make your dreams come true
But if you wanna ninanaj with me
I’ll tell you what to do.
Dance with me nananinananajna
Sing with me nananinananajna
I wanna be with you
l wanna give it to you.
Dance with me nananinananajna
Sing with me nananinananajna
I wanna be with you
l wanna give my love to you.
I can make your wishes and your wildest dreams come true
l can make Beyonce and
Shakira dance for you.
I'm dangerously in love with you
I’m dying for your kiss
But if you wanna ninanaj with me
I’m gonna give it to you.
Dance with me nananinananajna
Sing with me nananinananajna
I wanna be with you
l wanna give it to you.
Dance with me nananinananajna
Sing with me nananinananajna
I wanna be with you
l wanna give my love to you.
You found a way to touch my heart and soul
you've opened up my mind
I'll never let you go.
You’re like another part of me
with out you I can't live
my life is incomplete.
Dance with me nananinananajna
Sing with me nananinananajna
I wanna be with you
l wanna give it to you.
Dance with me nananinananajna
Sing with me nananinananajna
I wanna be with you
l wanna give my love to you.
The lyrics of Elena Risteska's song "Ninanajna" are about a woman who is enamoured by a man and offers to fulfil his every desire. The repeated chorus of "dance with me nananinananajna, sing with me nananinananajna" feels like an invitation from the woman to her partner to come and join her in a dance or song. She is offering him a world of pleasures, promising to make his wishes come true and open up his fantasies. She believes that the two of them are like two halves of a whole and that she cannot live without him.
Throughout the song, Elena makes references to other celebrities like Beyonce and Shakira, as if to say that she can even make them dance for her partner if that is what he wishes. The concept of "Ninanajna" is never fully explained in the lyrics, but it seems to represent the idea of the two of them being together, dancing and singing as one. Overall, the lyrics of "Ninanajna" are playful, flirtatious and seductive, with a strong emphasis on the physical pleasures of being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on boy
I want you to take action and come towards me, don't hesitate or be afraid.
don’t be afraid boy
Don't let fear stop you from taking a chance on me and experiencing something new.
I’m gonna give it to you.
I am willing to give everything to you, to share my love and passion.
Tell me what-ya want babe
Share your desires and needs with me, be open and honest.
tell me what-ya need
Let me know what you require to feel fulfilled, to be happy and content in our relationship.
tell me what-ya wishing for
What are your dreams and aspirations? I want to encourage you and help make them a reality.
I’ll make you feel so sweet.
I will treat you with tenderness and affection, making you feel loved and cared for.
I'll open up your fantasies
Let me explore and share in your deepest, most intimate desires and thoughts.
I'll make your dreams come true
I want to fulfill your aspirations and make you happy, content, and satisfied.
But if you wanna ninanaj with me
If you want to dance and enjoy yourself with me, there are some rules to follow.
I’ll tell you what to do.
I will give you guidance and instruction on how to dance and enjoy this experience with me.
Dance with me nananinananajna
Join me in this fun dance and let's enjoy the moment together.
Sing with me nananinananajna
Let's sing and celebrate our happiness and love together.
I wanna be with you
I desire to spend time with you, to share in your life and experiences.
l wanna give it to you.
I want to lavish you with my love, attention and passion.
I can make your wishes and your wildest dreams come true
I am confident in my ability to satisfy you, to fulfill even your most daring and adventurous wishes and fantasies.
l can make Beyonce and
I can make even the most popular and talented performers appear for you,
Shakira dance for you.
to make you happy and help you realize your dreams.
I'm dangerously in love with you
I feel a deep, passionate love for you, one that may be risky and intense, but something I'm willing to share with you.
I’m dying for your kiss
Your kiss is something I crave, to experience your love and feel intimate with you.
You found a way to touch my heart and soul
You have affected me deeply, connecting with me on an emotional and spiritual level.
you've opened up my mind
You have expanded my thoughts and perspectives, helping me grow as a person.
I'll never let you go.
I am committed to our relationship, to keeping us together and maintaining our love and passion.
You’re like another part of me
You represent a part of myself that I have yet to discover or explore.
with out you I can't live
I am emotionally dependent on you, unable to imagine life without you.
my life is incomplete.
Your presence is necessary for me to feel whole and satisfied in life.
Contributed by Xavier T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@janarose3071
Elena vrhunski otpjevala, leprsavo, zanimljivo i jos uvjek se gleda u 2019.
@eldimelani2152
U must say in 2023 😊
@OOO-mq4vw
One of the best eurovision songs of all time!
@worldsasuri9430
Truly such a banger!
@vaskop946
I want to see her again at the Eurovision stage please!
@MagdaH97
2006 was a fun Eurovision year. Every act was pretty much the same, then suddenly BAM! Lordi in the house
@DBoss04
I think this is the best Macedonian entry of all.
@panoswoodbyrne732
Yes it's
@iamwatchingu5286
Yes it is
@Mysteriousgirl922
Kaliopi was better