As there is Scandipop there is Big Balcan Ballad in Eurovision. This year we have two prime examples of the latter, when Slovenia tries it for the first time and Serbia, the master of the game tries it once again. But while Slovenia sends a 16-year-old debutant, who despite making a good job might still get a bit lost with the song penned by the very man who wrote the only BBB winner, 2007's Molitva, Serbia sends the very man who wrote the mother of all BBB, 2004's Lane moje, also for Serbia. And while Serbia has been a real success story in Eurovision, Slovenia has been struggling with only three top-10 finishes since 1993. This is 4-6 for Serbia for me.
Slovenia - Eva Boto - Verjamem ****
The song echoes Molitva, that is clear. But despite being very beautiful and with a certain hook it misses the boombastic climax that made Molitva a winner. The song goes forward but never really gets going but that's not Eva's fault, she does her best. Apparently this was supposed to be sung by Hari Mata Hari for Bosnia & Herzegovina originally but ended up in the Slovene selection and is now here. As much as I like it, and support Slovenia I don't think they will make the final this year. And it's a shame.
Serbia - Zeljko Joksimovic - Nije ljubav stvar *****
Zeljko has a stunning record in Eurovision: runner up in 2004, third as composer in 2006, sixth as composer in 2008 plus the host of ESC and now he return with what he does best: a big Balcan ballad. He is here to win but will he? The song is fantastic and he sings it with great feeling. The recipe is the very same that has worked many times already but has it passed it's best before date? Many compare this to his 2004 runner up Lane moje - similar long intro, orchestration that grows and grows to a big ending with a touch of local flavor. I wouldn't mind him winning, I'm a big fan but I'm afraid he won't. Unless the things go very tricky in Baku and he emerges as a compromise winner when the jury and the televotes have been counted as I suppose they both will like him while they might divide with the other favorites like Russia and Sweden.
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