Introduction

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

Ana Soklič has been selected last year in the national final called EMA to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest. All plans for 2020 have been destroyed by the corona pandemic and with the result that the entire ESC has been cancelled. Luckily, the Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO has directly nominated Ana for 2021.

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)
  
• “Suus” – Ana’s interpretation of the Albanian entry from 2012
  
  

The Slovenian entry for this year is called “Amen”. It has been presented in a special TV show, as there has been no competition in the EMA. “Amen” is another ballad, with a lot of depth and power, which is even better than last year’s song “Voda”. Ana dark voice is dominating and gives a special atmosphere to this song. There is also a choir included, which is possible to use from tape according to this year’s rules, due to the fact that smaller delegations will go to Rotterdam.

Amen is about to accept things in life, you have to face it, but there is hope:

When ya learn to heal,
When ya learn to rise again,
You can tell the sun amen.
Hallelujah, We're glorious! Hallelujah,

This strong ballad with gospel influences is one of the few of this year and will stand out. There is another funny coincidence that the Austrian entry of Vincent Bueno is also called “Amen”, but having the same song title happened before in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.

History

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

For Slovenia it is the 26th time at the Eurovision Song Contest 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 ESC in Millstreet, Irealnd, 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 fifteen. Last time the special Slovenian entry “Sebi” performed by Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl reached the Grand Final of Tel Aviv made the 15th place.

There is a funny parody of all Slovenian entries by the popular comedian Klemen Slakonja.

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

• “Tih Dezeven Dan” | 1X Band
  Rank 22, Millstreet 1993
• “Samo Ljubezen” | Sestre
  Rank 13, Tallinn 2002
• “Straight Into Love” | Hannah
  Rank 16, Malmö 2013