Road to Basel: Croatia
Road to Basel: Croatia! As the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Croatia.
photo: HRT/Maria Alađuz-Lomigora
Marko Bošnjak
Marko Bošnjak is a Bosnian Croat singer-songwriter born on January 8, 2003, in Prozor-Rama, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He gained national recognition in 2016 by winning the second season of “Pinkove Zvezdice,” a Serbian children’s singing competition. Following his victory, Marko continued to build his musical career, participating in various festivals and events across the region. In 2022, he competed in Dora, Croatia’s national selection for Eurovision, finishing as the runner-up. His soulful voice and emotive performances have established him as a prominent figure in the Balkan music scene.
“Poison Cake” (What does AI say?)
His Eurovision entry, “Poison Cake,” is a dark pop and EDM track co-written by Marko Bošnjak, Bas Wissink, Ben Pyne, Emma Gale, and Filip Majdak. The song draws inspiration from classic fairytales like “Snow White” and “Hansel and Gretel,” weaving a narrative of revenge and self-empowerment through the metaphor of a poisoned cake. Marko describes the song as energetic and multidimensional, allowing listeners to interpret its meaning in their own way. Upon its release on January 10, 2025, “Poison Cake” quickly gained attention for its unique blend of genres and compelling storytelling.
Dora 2025
Croatia selected its Eurovision 2025 representative through the national competition Dora 2025. The final took place on March 2, 2025, at the Marino Cvetković Sports Hall in Opatija, hosted by Duško Ćurlić and Barbara Kolar. Sixteen songs competed, with the winner determined by a combination of votes from a professional jury (50%) and the public (50%). Marko Bošnjak’s performance of “Poison Cake” captivated both the jury and the public, securing his victory and the opportunity to represent Croatia in Basel.
- Marko Bošnjak, “Poison Cake“
- Ogenj, “Daj, Daj“
- Magazin, “AaAaA“
- Lelek, “The Soul of My Soul“
- Luka Nižetić, “Južina“
- Marko Tolja, “Through the Dark“
- Nipplepeople, “Znak“
- EoT, “Bye Bye Bye“
- Fenkstra, “Extra“
- Ivxn, “Monopol“
- Matt Shaft, “Welcome to the Circus“
- Laurakojapjeva, “NPC“
- Marko Škugor, “Šta da Boga molim ja“
- Petar Brkljačić, “Kraj“
- Natalli, “Dom si srcu mom“
- Filomena, “Strong“
Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Croatia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1993, following its independence from Yugoslavia. The country’s best result came in 2024 when Baby Lasagna’s “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” achieved second place in the Grand Final. Over the years, Croatia has showcased a variety of musical styles, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and commitment to the competition.
A Random Croatian Entry
Reflecting on Croatia’s Eurovision history, random.org chose Maja Blagdan’s “Sveta ljubav”. Maja Blagdan was one of the favourites, and during the voting she took the first place for a while. In the end she was 4th, a record she only had to give in last year.
Betting Odds
As of now, Marko Bošnjak’s “Poison Cake” is not doing well in the odds. In the odds in order to win the Eurovision Song Contest, he is currently 35th. In the semifinal 1 odds he is even last. However, staging and singing in the contest itself will be the factors that decide about the score.
We eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel and look forward to witnessing Marko Bošnjak’s performance on the grand stage.
