Slovenia: New online contest EMA Freš kicks off on November 4
RTVSLO the Slovenian broadcaster introduces the new online selection format of EMA Freš, through which two acts will take two spots in the national final of EMA 2020.
The Slovenian broadcaster thus this year is introducing some changes to the way the country will be holding its national selection for Eurovision 2020. The representative will be determined through the traditional final of EMA , but two spot in the final will be filled by a seperate online competition that of EMA Freš.
RTVSLO aims is to bring into the national selection process some younger contestants. Acts under the age of 26 who haven’t released more than three songs will be able to claim two spots in the national final of EMA 2020. A total of 18 participants will compete in duels that will kick off on November 4. Six entries will reach the EMA Freš final plus four more that had lost in the selection before. Therefore the final will see 10 contestants , two of who will join the national final of EMA 2020 and battle for the golden ticket to Rotterdam.
The 18 candidates that will battle for the two spots in the national final are:
- Astrid in Avantgarden – Sing To Me
- Alfirev – Črno bela lika
- Klarity – Diham
- Lana Hrvatin – Dream
- Ljudmila Frelih – Vztrajaj, ker je vredno
- Marko Škof – Hočem da je vse kot prej
- Martina – Pleši
- Marmoris – Moj prista
- Nuša Pliberšek – Življenje je čarovnija
- Parvani Violet – Cupid
- Petra Ceglar – Srce naglas
- Pia Nina – Tukaj in zdaj
- Sara Petešič – Sanjaj / Dream
- Saška – Še kar lovim tvoj nasmeh
- Soulution – Bil bom s teboj
- Stella – Ne vem, če sem v redu
- Tilen Lotrič – Jaz in ti
- Younite – The Cure
The 18 EMA Freš participants were chosen by a panel of experts (Slovenian social media-stars Maja Pinteric and Rebeka Tomc, Eurovision-expert and journalist Denis Živcec, TV presenter Klemen Kopina and singer and songwriter Bojan Cvjetićanin).
The Eurovision story so far
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.
This year 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. Let rememer Zala and Gašper’s performance on Expo Tel Aviv’s stage in the grand final:
