Slovenia: RTVSLO receives record number of 191 songs for EMA 2021

Slovenia: RTVSLO receives record number of 191 songs for EMA 2021
Thursday, 01 October 2020

  • The Slovenian national broadcaster, RTVSlo has revealed that it has received the record number of 191 entries for the next national selection of EMA 2021. 

    Last May RTVSLO confirmed that the country will be contunuing with its ESC 2020 hopeful, Ana Soklič, at next year's Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. Acts, song-writers and composers that ambition to represent with their song Slovenia in the next competiton had a deadline till September 30 to send in their music proposals. 

    With the submission window closed RTVSLO announced that it has received 191 songs as potential ESC 2021 entries, which marks a new record number for EMA. Now a three member expert jury will assess the songs and select the ones that will compete in the national final. The final number of selected entries along with the process that will follow in order to determine the ESC 2021 entry will be announced on a future date. 

    By the end of the year all competing act will be released on the official RTVSLO website while the nationa final will take place next year not later then March 9. 

     

    Slovenia in Eurovision

    Slovenia participated at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993 with 1X Band and hasn’t won yet the competition. The country’s best results in the contest is a 7th placing, achieved  in 1995 (Darja Svajger) and 2001 (Nusa Derenda).

    Slovenia has competed 24 times in the contest since their debut in 1993, and has only missed out the contests of 1994 and 2000 when it had to stay out of the event due to the rules of the competition at that time. In 2018 Slovenia opted to select its Eurovision act and entry via its traditional national selection EMA. Lea Sirk flew to Lisbon with her entry Hvala, ne!, placing 22nd in the Grand Final.

    In 2019 the country was represented in Tel Aviv by the duo, Zala Kralj and Gašper Šantl and their entry “Sebi” which finished in 15th place in the Grand final, marking Slovenia’s fourth semi final qualification the last six years of participation.

    This year, Ana Soklič  won the national final with her entry ‘Voda’, EMA 2020, back in February and earned the right to represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam. Unfortunately the Slovenian act saw her Eurovision journey stay incomplete as the contest was cancelled due to the covid-19 outbreak. Ana however will have a second chance to complete her ESC journey next year with a new song.