Slovenia in The Eurovision Song Contest

Slovenia In The Eurovision Song Contest

Slovenia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 18 times, debuting at the 1993 contest after coming first the qualification round "Kvalifikacija za Millstreet", which was actually hosted in Slovenia itself, and competing in every year since, with the exceptions of 1994 and 2000, after poor results prevented Slovenia from competing.

Slovenia's best position was 7th, when Darja Švajger sang "Prisluhni mi" at the Eurovision Song Contest 1995, and in 2001 when Nuša Derenda sang "Energy". Darja Švajger has represented the country twice, in 1995 and 1999.

However, since the introduction of semi-finals at Eurovision in 2004 Slovenia's record at Eurovision has been poor; for 5 years the Slovene entry was relegated to the semi-finals. However, in 2007, Alenka Gotar progressed Slovenia to the final for the first time with the song "Cvet z juga". At the final she came 15th. Slovenia qualified for the final again in 2011 with Maja Keuc's "No One". She eventually placed 13th, Slovenia's best ranking since 2002. However, her 96 points are the most points Slovenia has ever received in the final (Alenka Gotar in 2007 received more points in the semi-final than Maja Keuc, but she performed in a field of 28 countries, while Keuc performed in a field of 19 countries.)

Slovenia had previously been represented at the contest as Yugoslavia between 1961 and 1991. 4 of the 27 entries were from Slovene artists.

The Slovene national final to select their entry is EMA, broadcast, along with Eurovision, by Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV SLO).

During the voting at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, the Slovenian spokesperson Peter Poles jokingly requested a minutes silence, in order to commemorate the fact that Slovenia did not get to the final for two years running, however the silence on lasted 14 seconds.

In 2011 Slovenia reached the final again with Maja Keuc with the song No One which placed 13th in the final in Germany.