Introduction

• Participant(s): Slavko Kalezić
• Song: "Space"
• Writer(s): Adis Eminić,Iva Boršić,Momcilo Zekovic Zeko
• Composer(s): Momčilo Zeković Zeko
• Broadcaster: RTCG
  
• Social media:
• Team review: 

There has been an internal selection of the Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG. The choice felt to the charismatic singer Slavko Kalezić. The song has been announced later and has caused a real wow effect, which was discussed in a very intense way in the social media. This kind of entry has probably not been expected from Montenegro. The Mediterranean country has always dared to send unconventional entries to the ESC.

The singer Slavko Kalezić was born in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica in 1985. He studied singing and dancing at the Academy of Performing Arts at Cetinje. Later he became a member of the Ensemble of the Montenegrin National Theatre. His first single “Muza” Slavko could release in 2011. He really got well known in the 2013 when he took part in the X Factor Adria, where he did not make it into the live shows. After that he released his debut album “The Dream Of Eternity”. The Montenegrin broadcaster RTCG has chosen Slavko, even if he was not the first choice by the broadcaster, the firstly selected performer denied, so Slavko could fulfil his dream to represent his country at the ESC.

“Space” is the Montenegrin song for the ESC 2017. This is an up-tempo dance song, which has been produced by a Swedish composer team (Stefan Örn – who composed the winning song “Running Sccared” for Azerbaijan 2012). The atmosphere of the video clip is electrifying, Slvako appears topless with a very long braid, which he uses to get the viewer’s attention. The whole arrangement has a very gay appearance and is about to find unknown seduction in faraway galaxies. Slavko describes himself as creative freak and art defines his identity. This entry will definitely get a lot of attention and will bring some good momentum into this year’s armada of ballads.

History

• Debut: 2007
• Participations: 9
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 2
• Top 10: 0
• Chances for Top 10: 0 %
• Chances for Final: 25 %

In the young history of Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest it’s only the ninth contribution this year in Kiev. Montenegro has also taken part two times as “Serbia & Montenegro” in 2004 and 2005. These entries have been very successful “Lane Moje” by Željko Joksimović in 2004 (2nd place) and “Zauvijek Moja” by the group No Name in 2005 (7th place).

Before Montenegro was a part of Yugoslavia, which had the debut in 1961 in Cannes with “Neke Davne Zvezde” by Ljiljana Petrovic (8th rank). There was one victory for Yugoslavia in 1989 with “Rock me” by Riva. Unfortunately, Montenegro has never made it into the Grand Final beside of 2014 and 2015. The 2016 entry “The Real Thing” by the group Highway could not pass the Semi Final in Stockholm. Even with a little help of the other ex-Yugoslav countries Montenegro did not reach the Grand Finals before. Thanks to Sergej Ćetković who could make a 19th place with the folkloristic ballad “Moj Svijet” in Copenhagen and Knez with another ethnic entry called “Adio”, he reached the 13th place in Vienna and hence it’s the best placing so far.

Even the German composer Ralph Siegel has tried to bring some success to the Mediterranean country with “Just get out of my life” by Andrea Demirovic in 2009 (11th in the Semi Final) but it was not successful either. The other songs have mainly been unglamorous rock songs like “Ajde Kroci” by Stevan Faddy in 2007 (22nd in the Semi Final) and “Zauvijek Volim Te” by Stefan Filipović in 2008 (14th in the Semi Final). Maybe the composers did have not the right hand matching the European taste at the ESC. One exception was the entry “Igranka” by the group Who See, which was a truly outstanding performance with astronaut costumes, unfortunately the song did not qualify for the Grand Final in Malmö.