We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Slovenia
Joker Out
Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO internally selected the band Joker Out to represent the country. Their song “Carpe diem” was written and composed by the band members themselves.
Joker Out excists of Bojan Cvjetićanin, Jure Maček, Kris Guštin, Jan Peteh and Nace Jordan. The band is from Ljubljana and was founded in 2016. A previous band, Apokalipsa, split up. Their first public performance was at the Festival Na Gaj in May 2016. The band released many singles, and their debut album “Umazane misli” was released in 2021. A second album, “Demoni”, was released a year later. Joker Out won prizes for Newcomer of the Year in 2020 and Artist of the year in 2021 and 2022. “Umazane misli” and “A sem ti povedal” were nominated for Song Of The Year.
EMA
Because of lack of success, Slovenia decided to select the band internally. Normally, the national final held in Slovenia is called EMA. It was already held since the first participation of Slovenia in 1993. Names as Regina and Darja Švajger were returning artists. On a few occasions, the results were controversial and the jury overruled the televoter. A song that surpassed the national finals in 2006 was Saša Lendero’s “Mandoline“. She became 2nd but the song is still famous among Eurovision fans. In more recent years it was the famous band BQL failing to represent Slovenia on several occasions.
Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest
When Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia, Slovenian entries reached the Eurovision stage four times. The most successfull one was Berta Ambrož, who became 7th with “Brez besed”. In 1993, Slovenia took part for the first time as an independent country. The country had to qualify through an Eastern European preselection. Slovenian band 1X Band managed to win this contest and took part in the international final. Best score for Slovenia was a 7th place twice: in 1995 Darja Švajger did the job with “Prisluhni mi”, in 2001 it was Nuša Derenda who took the spot with “Energy”. The last two years, Slovenia did not make it to the final.
Bookmakers
Slovenia currently is in 21st place in the betting odds. Also in the specific odds for the 2nd semifinal, Slovenia has a good place: 7th. That means Slovenia is likely to return to the final!
The song
And of course, this is the song:
