Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Croatia's national final for Eurovision song contest 2026 has also come to and end after two semi-finals where out of 251 submissions 24 selected songs competed for the 16 places in the final line up, among them last year's fan favorite Lelek. If I should pick up some names I would go for Alen Duras, Sergej, Lana Demarin, Stela Bade and Lana Mandaric. Read more here .  Lelek is a Croatian folk pop all female band. They are Inka Večerina Perušić, Judita Štorga, Korina Olivia Rogić, Lara Brtan and Marina Ramljak. They were formed in 2024 and already last year treied to get to Eurovision with fan favorite The sould of my soul placing 4th. A handful of singles released so far they are yet to release an album.  Final results (jury + tele): Ananda - Dora  (13 +7) 20  15th Sergej - Scream   (33 + 9) 42  10th Noelle - Uninterrupted   (27 + 11) 38  13th Alen Đuras - From Ashes to Flame   (41 + 15) 56  6th Irma - Ni traga   (32 + 11) 43...

Another goodie from Croatia. Marko Tolja offered a solid classic ballad, extremely well sung. A classic polished performance. Of course fandom doesn't get these songs but as an Eurovision old schooler I just loved it. One of the best songs of the season. Had it been in Croatian it would have been perfection!

When I first heard Monopol I thought this is 100% Croatian Eurovision as I would imagine it. A male Maria Magdalena some 25 years later. The semi-final performance was rather disastrous with its sound problems but he did well in the final and the 10th place finish was a big disappointment for me, and even somewhat surprising. Great stuff; Eurovision by numbers but not like all those songs written in various song writing camps even if this might be one with its Swedish co-writers. 

Last year Croatia's reserve song of Dora 2024 swept to victory and conquered Europe finishing second in Eurovision so HRT is facing YLE like pressure this year. YLE may have stumbled ( check out most streamed songs in Finland 2024 ) a bit in the end but Croatia is still riding high in hopes as a new record number of entries was submitted, 221, and these 24 made the cut - and four reserves, better keep eye on those, too, should someone withdraw or be disqualified or something! And indeed, two entries have been disqualified and two reserve entries enter the game, Swingers and Fenksta! Among the artists as usual some familiar names from Luka Nižetić to Marko Bošnjak and Eurovision 1995 veterans Magazin with 45 years of experience and career, but the lead singer has changed. And oui, there's a song i French in the mix.  There will be two semi-finals and the grand final on March 2, 2025.. Below is my usual first time hearing ranking. Nothing really bad here in my opinion and taste b...

  Croatia's HRT organized as usual the national final Dora and chose 24 entries for the semifinals. Then Zsa Zsa decided to withdraw first of four back up entries got a chance to compete. That was Baby Lasagna who became a fan favorite and went viral on social medias and then stormed to victory the same way Käärijä did in Finland in 2023: That is with a massive support and huge lead to the runner up. Similarities with Käärijä didn't stop here as many saw a lot in common with the staging. Even Käärijä commented the matter but graciously said if there's something it doesn't bother him at all and the song is great and wished Baby Lasagna good luck in Malmö! Baby Lasagna or Marko Purišić (28) is a Croatian singer-songwriter and producer. His musical career started in band Manntra as guitarist. With them he had his first Dora experience in 2019 when they finished 4th with In the Shadows . In 2022 he co-wrote several tracks on Mono Inc's album that reached number one in G...

Let 3 with Mama ŠČ has won the Croatian ticket to Eurovision song contest 2023 in Liverpool. Apparently the band itself was surprised they won. Persoanlly I thought and hoped the joke entries era was over but I was wrong apparently. This is nonsense. Results (jury + televote) 1. Let 3 - Mama ŠČ! (105 + 174) 279 2. Harmonija Disonance - Nevera (Lei lei) (67 + 88) 155 3. Detour - Master Blaster (73 + 41) 114 4. The Splitters - Lost and found (50 + 60) 110 5.  Damir Kedžo - Angels and demons (44 + 59) 103 6.  Eni Jurišić - Krani dalje (52 + 19) 71 7.  Krešo and Kisele Kiše - Kme kme (34 + 19) 53 8. Barbara Munjas - Putem snova (37 + 15) 52 9.  Meri Andraković - Bye bye blonde (22 + 22) 44 10.  Top of the Pops ft. Mario 5reković - Putovanje (13 + 20) 33 11.  Hana Mašić -  Nesreća (21 + 12) 33 12. Martha May - Distance (23 + 8) 31 13.  Đana - Free falling (7 + 14) 21 14.  Boris Štok - Grijeh (7 + 10) 17 15.  Maja Grgić - I still liv...

Croatia's national final for Eurovision song contest Dora 2023 on Super Saturday February 11 features 18 entries chosen among 196 submissions, among them the unlucky Damir Kedžo who won in 2020 only to see later the contest cancelled. Divlji vjetre was one of my favorites that year but this time he goes English with Angels and demons that makes you think about Dan Brown and Tom Hanks right away but is it any good? Let's have a review of the entries: Barbara Munjas - Putem snova ** A kind of way of singing and voice that you either love or hate, I suppose. Rather underwhelming effort in the end even if may have promised a bit more at first... Somehow this reminds me of those artistic entries in the good old Intervision song contest and similar in the East.  Boris Štok - Grijeh **** A very nice song, at the same time very Balcan but also very Finnish. This could be a Finnish radio hit some major artist, or become a cover version in the future. I also like his voice and the arra...

  Mia Dimšić (29) is another last Saturday's surprise winner. At least for some. The fandom was supporting other Mia. She sung last and showed she's better than the rest with Guilty pleasure . Mia started her career in 2014 when Džentlmeni band asked her to join them for their diaspora tour in Canada and USA. Soon after that went solo and has sold platinum with her country pop, collected six #1 singles and won several awards including Album of the year, Song of the year and Best vocal collaboration. Three albums to date, two of them #1s and the third one #2, and 15 Top-10 singles she's ready to make Croatia proud. Sadly in English as all her music has been Croatian so far it seems.... She won both jury and televotes. Dora 2022 results: 1. Mia  Dimšić - Guilty pleasure (jury 91 + televote 166) 257 2.  Marko Bošnjak - Moli za nas (71 + 108) 179 3.  Mia Negovetić - Forgive me (Oprosti) (81 + 60) 141 4. Bernarda - Here for love (64 + 47) 111 5.  Eric Vid...

Croatia's Dora 2022 will have one night only final with fourteen entries. The voting will be 50/50 with ten regional juries and televote. In case of a tie public's vote will win. To me this seems like quite an open field and live performances and staging will play a big role in the outcome, unless here are some big favorite artists with fan base to rule the televote I'm not aware of. So I'm not even trying to guess who wins but I do have my favorites, quite many of them actually. Mila Elegović - Ljubav ** The verses are quite interesting but it all falls flat on the chorus. When the strings enter it gets better but all in all rather underwhelming.  Mia Negovetić - Forgive Me (Oprosti) *** Why this sounds so familiar? Throwing in oprosti is nice and the highlight of the song.Otherwise there isn't much to tell. Pleasant. Nice.  Marko Bošnjak - Moli za nas **** I really like the backing track, that choir and thunder waiting to explode at any point. Nice atmosphere and...

Croatian national final Dora'21 took place tonight. Among the artists two Eurovision veterans, Nina Kraljić ( 23rd in 2016 ) and Tony Cetinski ( 16th in 1994 ). The voting was 50-50 televote-jury.  2. Alkonost of Balkan (Nina Kraljić) - Rijeka  (Jury 68 + televote 77 )  145 10. Eric Vidović - Reci mi  (29 + 16) 45 9. Ella Orešković - Come this way  (26 + 26) 52 7. Bernarda Brunović - Colors  (77 + 22) 99 14. Sandi Cenov - Kriv  (5 + 7) 12 6. ToMa - Ocean of love  (64 + 39) 103 5. Filip Ruda - Blind  (65 + 53) 118 12. Beta Sudar - Ma zamisli  (8 + 8) 16  4. Cambi - Zaljubljen  (47 + 71) 118 11. Ashley Colburn and Bojan Jambrošić - Share the love  (9 + 34) 43 13. Brigita Vuco - Noći pijane  (7 + 8) 15 3. Mia Negovetić - She's like a dream  (67 + 52) 119 1. Albina Grčić - Tick-tock  (78 + 120) 198 8. Tony Cetinski and Kiki Rahimovski - Zapjevaj, sloboda je!  (30 + 47) 77

Eurovision 2020 might be cancelled, but there's hope the artists get a rightful chance in 2021. Croatia's Damir Kedžo (32) is one of those who has apparently been already confirmed for next year, too. Damir has tried to get to Eurovision before ( 2005 , 2011 ) and finally got the ticket. He's been around since 2003 and has talent show, musical and boyband past. His final breakthrough came in 2016 when participating and winning the Croatian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar . Since then he has been delivering hit singles, Divlji vjetre being his 9th and 4th number one. Three of his songs in period 2018-2019 have also earned The Song of the Year nomination in Croatia. So a big star we hopefully get to see next year as he's one of this blogger's favorites this year.  STUDIO VERSION

Last Saturday also Croatia chose its entry for the Eurovision song contest 2020 in Rotterdam. The songs were not published beforehand so there were no pre-contest fan favorites or something like that to deal with. The top-3 reigned in both regional juries and televote with Indira Levak being third with both while Mia Negovetić won the jury vote and Damir Kedžo the televote ending up with a tie. But the televote ruled thankfully and Damir emerged as the winner with his Croatian language Divilji vjetre .  Third time lucky Damir (32) has already a long career behind him. He started with - you guessed it - talent shows and really made it after winning the Croatian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar . The young Damir wanted to become a gyneologist and has been through a jaw operation as he couldn't  speak or eat normally. A past in a boyband, some musicals, many festivals including winning Slavinski Bazaar (now that festivals pops up everywhere this year, doesn't it...

Croatia is having it's national selection for Eurovision song contest 2020 in Rotterdam tonight. There will be televote with ten regional juries choosing the winner. In a Sanremo manner the songs will be premiered only live so no idea what's in store for us.... Elis Lovrić – Jušto Bojan Jambrošić – Više od riječi Edi Abazi – Coming Home Zdenka Kovačiček – Love, Love, Love Alen Vitasović & Božidarka Marija Čerina – Da se ne zatare Đana – One Aklea Neon – Zovi ju mama Nikola Marjanović – Let’s Forgive Lorenzo feat. Dino Purić & Reper iz sobe – Vrati se iz Irske Marin Jurić Čivro – Naivno Lorena Bućan – Drowning Indira – You Will Never Break My Heart Jure Brkljača – Hajde nazovi me! Colonia – Zidina Mia Negovetić – When It Comes To You Damir Kedžo – Divlji vjetre

Roko Blažević is yet another male artist for Tel Aviv, have we ever had so many compared to female artists? His song is The Dream and it's written by Eurovision veterans Jacques Houdek and Charlie Mason who has co-written songs like Rise like a Phoenix, Here for you and Beauty never lies . Check out full results and performances videos here and the Croatian version below:

Croatia has chosen the 16 finalists out of 150 submissions. Some Eurovision veterans in the line up: Klapa s Mora's Marko Skugor is now fronting 4 Tenora, and Feminnem's Nena Parmac is now with Gelato Sisters. Then there's Luka Nižetić, a familiar face from the national finals. Among songwriters Tonji Huljić, Branimir Mihaljevic, Jacues Houdek and Charlie Mason, all previous entrants. The final takes place on February 16 and there will be 50/50 televote/jury Elis Lovrić - All I Really Want  (jury 8+ telvote 0) 8 Luka Nižetić - Amorero Brutalero (3+10) 13 Gelato Sisters - Back To The Swing  (1+0) 1 4 Tenora - Brod Bez Imena withdrawn* Beta Sudar - Don’t Give Up  (4+2) 6 Bernarda Bruno - I Believe In True Love  (6+3) 9 Domenica - Indigo  (0+0) 0 Manntra - In The Shadows  (5+7) 12 Jure Brkljača - Ne Postojim Kad Nisi Tu  (2+5) 7 Ema Gagro - Redemption  (7+4) 11 Lea Mijatović - Tebi Pripadam  (0+0) 0 Lidij...

Greece concludes the season with its multiartist national final as there are only song presentations left for the rest of the week. After the usual huge amount of gossips and chaos ERT got together four more or less unknown artists for the line up and rather mediocre group of songs.  1. Baby I’m yours – Dora ( Ilias Pantazopoulos – Franc, Nektarios Tyrakis) Not bad in general, just heard about a zillion times before and sounds like an Antique album track. But even Antique is no longer existing....  2. Killer bee – Cassiopeia ( Christos Dantis, Leonidas Chantzaras) A Greek girl band? A bit rockier sound that turns into a mediocre pop tune but better than the first one. A lot of posing on stage to be expected, probably added with shaky vocals. Sigh 3. No parking – Velvet Fire ( George Samuelson, Leonidas Chanztaras) Why this sounds so Finnish, in a good way? And is that why I like it? They have a memorable look, the song has a catchy chorus and this is ...