Introduction

• Participant(s): Ana Soklič
• Song: Voda
• Writer(s): Ana Soklič
• Composer(s): Ana Soklič, Bojan Simončič & Žiga Pirnat
• Broadcaster: RTVSLO
• Social media:     
  
• Team review: 

The national final in Slovenia is called EMA. Still inspired by last year’s success with Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl with the song “Sebi” the Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO has invented an additional show for young talents. In the super final, where the Slovenian public could vote, Ana Soklič could make the race with her own song “Voda” (water) co-composed with Bojan Simončič.

Ana Soklič was born in Bohinj North West of Ljubljana in 1984. She studied opera and jazz and also took part in the X Factor show. Ana also performed at Veneto Jazz Festival in Venice in a solo concert and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra. She is also singing in small ensembles. Three times she has already taken part in the national Slovenian EMA final.

Have a look at Ana’s music here:

• "If You" (EMA 2004)
  
• "Oče (Father)" (EMA 2007)
  
• "Naj Muzika Igra" (2013)
  
• "Temni Svet" (2019)
  
  

The Slovenian song “Voda” is a ballad, which should have been sung in that national language. It’s about leaving the place to something new and unexpected:

“Let's move on, into a new time,
Let's run away, far from here.
Let's not stop anywhere,
The night will be long”

The song is calm and beautiful, takes you away for three minutes. The great voice of Ana is inspiring and lovely to listen to. The chorus wakes you up, but the melody is not as easy and it takes time to get used to this song. Probably this song would have not been one of the big favourites in Rotterdam. But we will never know. It’s not declared if Ana will be able to start again in 2021.

History

• Debut: 1993
• Participations: 26
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 15 (6 since 2004)
• Top 10: 3
• Chances for Top 10: 12%
• Chances for Final: 35%

Slovenia would have taken part for the 26th time this year. In the year 1993 there has been the first international pre-decision for the ESC, which was held in Ljubljana. The participating countries in this show 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 for Slovenia was called “Tih Dezeven Dan” by 1X Band only reached the 22nd place in Millstreet. Nevertheless the participation of Slovenia brought a huge public interest.

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, which was actually a Croatian band. 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. The best placing was the 7th so far “Prisluhni Mi” by Darja Svaiger and “Energy” by Nusa Derenda.

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 six times out of fiveteen. Last year the special Slovenian entry “Sebi” performed by Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl reached the Grand Final of Tel Aviv made the 15th place.

Biggest successes

• 2x 7th place
  “Prisluhni Mi” |Darja Svajger (Dublin 1995)
  “Energy” |Nusa Derenda (Copenhagen 2001)
• 1x 10th place
  “Zbudi Se” | Tanja Ribic (Dublin 1997)

Video Nostalgia

• “Naj Bogovi Slišijo” | Vili Resnik
  Rank 18, Birmingham 1998
  
  
• “Mr. Nobody” | Anzej Dean
  Rank 16 (Semi Final), Athens 2006
  
  
• “No One” | Maja Keuc
  Rank 13, Düsseldorf 2011