Slovenia: Ana Soklič to sing “Amen” at Eurovision 2021
The Slovenian Eurovision 2021 hopeful, Ana Soklič, will be singing in Rotterdam the entry “Amen” which was officially presented in this evening’s different EMA 2021 show.
One more Eurovision 2021 song added on the list of competing entry, as Slovenia unveiled today in a rather different than usual EMA 2021 , that internally selected Ana Soklič will perform “Amen” in Rotterdam next May. Show’s hosts were Lea Sirk (Slovenia Eurovision 2018) and Nejc Šmit.
Despite all initially plans were talking of holding a song selection between three candidate entries, the broadcaster decided with the covid-19 pandemic still around, to internally select the country’s Eurovision 2021 entry, marking the first time since 2013 the Eurovision song has been determined without a national final. Due to the ongoing covid-19 measures, RTV Slovenia had to adjust their plans on how to air EMA 2021 and reduced the number of participants in the show to a minimum.
This year’s show was dedicated to Ana Soklič’s preparations for Ema and the Eurovision Song Contest, and make a special tribute to the 60th anniversary of the former common state’s first appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest, which was also Slovenian, as the author of the song Neke davne zvezde was the legendary leader of RTV Ljubljana. Jože Privšek, and other Slovenian performances at this largest music competition in Europe.
The song selection process
Ana Soklič presented only one song today, titled “Amen” with which she will represent Slovenia at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Notable that this is the second competing song in this year’s edition which will have the title ‘Amen’ , with the Austrian entry performed by Vincent Bueno being the other one.
The song was chosen from 191 entries who arrived at the public invitation and at the invitation of the authors by this year’s Eurovision representative.
All submitted songs were assessed by two expert commissions. In the first round, the members of the commission were two-time Eurovision Song Contest participant, associate professor at the University of Ljubljana, Darja Švajger, author of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest winner (Prayer) Vladimir Graić and this year’s Eurovision representative Ana Soklič. .
In the second round, a commission consisting of Darja Švajger, head of ZKP RTV Slovenia Mojca Menart and musician, author of music, lyricist and singer Matevž Šalehar Hamo decided between three songs sung by Ana Soklič.
About ‘Amen’
The peopled behind the song’s music are Ana Soklič herself along with Žiga Pirnat and Bojan Simončič. Ana Soklič and Žiga Pirnat (who also worked on the arrangement) were joined by Charlie Mason, the American author of several hits, who co-wrote the lyrics. Mason has collaborated with many internationally acclaimed music stars,among which Miley Cyrus. He is also behind the 2014 Eurovision winning entry Rise Like a Phoenix performed by Conchite Wurst in Kopenhagen.
About Ana
Ana Soklič was born 10 April 1984) is a Slovenian singer. Ana Soklič started her music career early; as a young person, she studied with Alenka Dernač Bunta, a solo opera teacher, the acclaimed Slovenian musician Darja Švajger (two-time Slovenian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest) and singing coach Nataša Nahtigal.
In 2018, Ana undertook further vocal training with Dileesa Archer (a professional in soul, gospel, R&B) in the United States. At 18, she set foot on her path as a songwriter as well.
The Eurovision story so far
Slovenia debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993 with 1X Band . The country’s best results in the contest is a 7th placing, achieved in 1995 (Darja Svajger) and 2001 (Nusa Derenda) with the national haven’t
Since their debut in 1993, Slovenia has missed out pnly 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.
Ana Soklič won last year’s national final, EMA 2020, with her entry ‘Voda’. Unfortunately her ESC jounrney never reached Rotterdam as the contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
