Road to Basel: Slovenia
Road to Basel: Slovenia. As the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel approaches, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on Slovenia.
Klemen
Klemen Slakonja, known mononymously as Klemen, is a Slovenian actor, comedian, television host, and musician. Born on June 3, 1985, in Brežice, Slovenia, he has established himself as a multifaceted entertainer, renowned for his parodies and musical performances. Klemen’s versatility has made him a beloved figure in Slovenian entertainment, seamlessly blending humor with musical talent.
“How Much Time Do We Have Left” (What does AI say?)
His Eurovision entry, “How Much Time Do We Have Left,” is a poignant ballad that delves into the emotional journey of facing a loved one’s serious illness. The song draws inspiration from Klemen’s personal experience during his wife’s battle with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare form of cancer. Through heartfelt lyrics and a compelling melody, the track explores themes of love, resilience, and the preciousness of time. The song has resonated with many, quickly gaining popularity in Slovenia and beyond.
National Selection Process
Slovenia selected its Eurovision 2025 representative through the national competition EMA 2025. Held on February 1, 2025, at the RTVSLO Studio 1 in Ljubljana, the event featured twelve contestants vying for the opportunity to represent the nation. Klemen’s performance of “How Much Time Do We Have Left” captivated both the jury and the public, leading him to win the competition. The selection process involved two rounds: the first round determined by a jury, which shortlisted two entries for the superfinal, and the second round decided by public televote, where Klemen secured his victory.
- Klemen, “How Much Time Do We Have Left“
- July Jones, “New Religion“
- Astrid and the Scandals, “Touché“
- Kiki, “O-ou!“
- Zven, “Divja“
- Rai, “Frederick’s Dead“
- Jon Vitezič, “Vse ti dam“
- Eva Pavli, “Niti“
- Anna, “Čau“
- PolarAce, “Kind“
- Žan Videc, “Pusti da Gori“
Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Slovenia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1993. The country’s best results to date are seventh-place finishes, achieved in 1995 with Darja Švajger‘s “Prisluhni mi” and in 2001 with Nuša Derenda‘s “Energy.” Despite not having secured a win yet, Slovenia continues to showcase its diverse musical talent on the Eurovision stage. Recently, Joker Out was succesful in the contest. They reached the final in 2023 and gained international fame with their performance.
A Random Slovenian Entry
Reflecting on Slovenia’s Eurovision history, random.org chose to revisite Tanja Ribič‘s “Zbudi se” from 1997. This ballad achieved a commendable tenth place. “Wake up good prince, I would like to give you all my dreams and my youth. Break the spell of the fairy tale”, Tanja sang.
Betting Odds
As of now, Klemen’s “How Much Time Do We Have Left” is in 25th place to win the Eurovision Song Contest. In the odds the final, Slovenia is in 12th place. That means it’s gonna be a hard time for Klemen to reach the final. However, it is definitely not impossible. So let’s keep our fingers crossed!
We eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel and look forward to witnessing Klemen’s performance on the grand stage.
