26/02/12 SLOVENIA

The Slovene Final was held at the RTVSLO TV Studios in Ljubljana on February 26th, hosted by Klemen Slakonja & Maja Keuc. Leading up to the final there were heats and a knockout completion (in an x-factor style way) to select the 2 acts in the final. Each act had 3 songs. In the first round, the favourite song for each participant was chosen by televoting (50%) and an "expert" jury (50%). In the second round the most popular song for each artist went through to the final which was wholly chosen by televoting.

The winner of EMA was Eva Boto with the song “Verjamem” meaning I believe. This is a Balkan style ballad currently in the local tongue. This is a very strong song and a really good performer. It has been heavily commented that the song shares a lot with a previous winner “Motliva” and shares a mood and style. It is not plagiarised but its similarity does make it quite familiar, which will gain it votes. The song builds really well from a quite start to a belting finish and is very much a complete song.

Eva is backed by four female singers who wear white dresses and funny white net things on their heads. Eva also wears a white dress, but fuller in the skirt. It also has leaves on the belt. They all move well around the set although this is not a song that needs a dance routine. This song and performance will definitely lend itself to a large stage. It will be very interesting to find if they keep the song in Slovene or translate it partially or fully into English.

Finally – a song which would be worthy of the title of winner !

SONG  -  Verjamem (I believe)

ARTIST – Eva Boto

COMPOSERS – Vladimir Graić, Igor Pirković

LANGUAGE – Slovene