Introduction

• Participant(s): Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
• Song: "Sebi"
• Writer(s): Zala Kralj, Gašper Šantl
• Composer(s): Zala Kralj, Gašper Šantl
• Broadcaster: RTVSLO
• Social media:        
  
• Team review: 

In the annual Slovenian national final Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA) there were ten participants. The jury determined two entries for the super final. At the end the Slovenian televoters voted for the most experimental entry “Sebi” by the duo Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl with 73%.

The duo consists of the two young and talented singer Zala and Gašper from Maribor, who met each other on Intagram, as Gašper was looking for female singer. With the debut single “Valovi” they received a lot attention in Slovenia and was also awarded as best song 2017 in the Zlata piščal, a committee for professional music. The following singles “Baloni” and “S teboi” also got a lot of attention. The music style of this duo can be described as a mix of minimal, low fidelity and indie-pop. Before they met both were focused on their individual careers in the Slovenian music scene. The duo has released an EP “Štiri” with all their four singles. For Zala and Gašper the most important thing is that their music is going to be heard by a huge audience.

This year’s Slovenian entry is called “Sebi” which means themselves. It’s a very calm and minimalistic song with a delicate melody. In contrast to all the other hectic and overloaded ESC songs this entry is a real relaxing moment. Due to their professionalism and reticence this song could get quite far, maybe one of the dark horses this year. It’s about being yourself, as there is no need to prove yourself:

“You don't have to prove yourself to anyone
We all share the same fears, the same tears”

History

• Debut: 1993
• Participations: 25
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 15 (5 since 2004)
• Top 10: 3
• Chances for Top 10: 12%
• Chances for Final: 31%

This year in Tel Aviv, Slovenia will have its 25th entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. In the year 1993 there has been the first only pre-ESC, which was held in Ljubljana. The participating countries in this pre-selection were Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Slovenia. Only three songs could qualify for the Millstreet ESC those were Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia. The debut song “Tih Dezeven Dan” by 1X Band only reached the 22nd place in Millstreet. Nevertheless the participation of Slovenia brought a huge public interest. Slovenia was among the top 3 countries, when the Eurovision Song Contest has opened to a wider scale of participating countries.

As one of the former ex-Yugoslav countries, Slovenia can look back to an additional 27-years-old history of Yugoslavian entries, where one victory with “Rock me” by Riva in 1989 could be celebrated. The Slovenes have participated since then with great enthusiasm and put every effort in well-chosen songs of high quality with an international standard. And the interest seems to increase from year to year.

Slovenia is the only country from the ex-Yugoslav countries which does not benefit from the “Balkan Block Voting” like Croatia, Serbia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Since the Semi Finals have been introduced in 2004, Slovenia could only qualify five times out of fiveteen. Last year the Slovenian entry “Hvala, Ne” by Lea Sirk reached the Grand Final of Lisbon and made the 22nd place.

Biggest successes

2x 7th place

• Darja Svajger - "Prisluhni Mi" (1995)
• Nusa Derenda - "Energy" (2001)

1x 10th place

• Tanja Ribic - "Zbudi Se" (1997)

Video Nostalgia

• “Zbudi Se” | Tanja Ribic , Rank 10, 1997, Dublin
  
• “For A Thousand Years” | Darja Svajger , Rank 11, 1999, Jerusalem
  
• “Cvet Z Juga” | Alenka Gotar , Rank 15, 2007, Helsinki