Two years after Bosnia & Herzegovina walked away from the Eurovision bubble, BHRT has announced that it will be coming back for Eurovision 2015. We could not be happier!
As you’ll recall, Bosnia withdrew following Eurovision 2012 as a result of its ongoing financial crisis. Things didn’t look good this July, as summer floods exacted around $2.7 billion worth of damage, which is equivalent to 15% of Bosnia’s GDP. When you’re trying to help people rebuild their lives, rebuilding your Eurovision programme seems a bit excessive. The country’s tax regime doesn’t help the situation. Bosnia & Herzegovina has one of the lowest TV license fees in Europe—just four euros for the month. According to Teve.ba, the government does a rather poor job collecting it.
But even with all that, BHRT has found a way to make its Eurovision participation happen. Amen!
Bosnia & Herzegovina last participated in 2012 with the song Korake Ti Znam by Maya Sar. You can see her performance below.
Eurovision 2015: Confirmed Countries (as of 9 September)
Bosnia Herzegovina is the 24th country to RSVP for the party. Here is the list at the moment.
Montenegro
Belarus
Latvia
France
Greece
FYR Macedonia
Austria
Cyprus
Malta
Switzerland
Sweden
Iceland
Norway
Denmark
Ireland
Germany
Finland
The Netherlands
Lithuania
Belgium
Portugal
Estonia
Source or it didn’t happen…
I think Pokusaj was pretty funny. It’s actually a really interesting song too, at least for me.
I hope Bosnia Herzegovina do well but I don’t think we will be going to Sarajevo in 2016 for some reason. I don’t know why. I think we are going to an island (Malta, Ireland) or either Hungary or Netherlands in 2016. But then again, never say never.
Bosnia and Herzegovina-Hari Mata Hari-Lejla THIRD PLACE on Eurovision 2006
Spirk, I loved Pokusaj, it’s still one of my guilty pleasures!!
I thought The UK has confirmed participation?
Am I the only one who actually really likes ”Pokusaj”?
Yaaaaaaaaaayyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Bledar: I would really like to see Albania attempt to host the contest, given what you previously told me… 🙂
Deven – I agree with you that Bosnia’s entries are either hilarious, bad or heartfelt. Although with Bosnia winning soon – I think that before Bosnia wins we would probably have a second Serbian win. The chances of Balkan countries winning soon:
1: Serbia
2: Bosnia and Herzegovina
3: Slovenia
4: Croatia
5: Bulgaria
6: Macedonia
7: Montenegro
8: Albania (I’m not being unpatriotic to my home country by saying this it’s the truth, Albania is the least likely out of the Balkans to win!!)
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! So happy to have Bosnia Herzegovina rejoin the Eurovision Family. Their entries are so bad they are brilliant. They have made me laugh, they’ve made me cry (mostly the second) and most of all, they have entertained in some way or another. I love the fact that Bosnia Herzegovina stays true to their cultural roots year after year and generally, it works out well for them. But then again, that’s Balkan bloc voting, which I could nit pick about all day for all I care. But why bother? I am happy that Bosnia Herzegovina is back (hopefully to stay)… Read more »
Yessss! The country that brought us “Bistra voda” is back!!! 🙂
B & H usually send great songs to ESC. 2012’s “Love In Rewind” is a particular favourite. I am so happy they will be back in 2015.
Thanks for the news, Wiwi.
Any news about a National Final or an internal selection?
This is amazing. Bosnia is easily one of my favourite Eurovision countries and since 2008, all of their songs have been in my top 10 (except 2010). They were my winners in 2009 and 2011.
Yes yes yes yes yes! Really happy about that! Bosnia and Herzegovina is my favorite ex-Yugoslavia country and from 2000-2014 my 6th favorite based on average placing on my 15 tops, averaging a 13.5, and is the first I would wanted to come back. I actually like all their efforts from 2004 and on, with the best being their last till now. ”Korake Ti Znam” was my 2nd favorite in 2012, only losing to ”You and Me” by the Netherlands, so welcome back!!
@Calvin – For as long as you are not one of the performers, you can dress anything you want … lol We’ve had our share of nonsense at Eurovision, but I can deal with it as far as the fans and public attending the show is concern …
Charles – you just gave me my outfit for Eurovision.
So the good old Yugoslavia is making a comeback already wearing a bosnian hat, a macedonian jacket and some montenegrin shoes … now … will it bring some serbian tshirt and a slovene skirt too? What about some croatian underpanties? LOL Sarcasm aside: I can’t see Bosnia staying away from their very own ethnic ballad sound because it mirrors their musical identity … and as far as I can say it has echoed success not only for them but also for Serbia and more recently for Montenegro so … why change a formula that actually works? Anything they do outside… Read more »
It is indeed a good news, but please send a good song this time! I never liked any of their songs, they were very generic and so outdated. And their 2008 song was a joke (Top 10? Really?). This year, some of the countries brought their A Game and I hope Bosnia and Herzegovina will also follow those efforts. Good luck!
Can´t wait for their amazing entry for next year! From 2004 on, I loved all their entries 😀
Welcome back Bosnia & Herzegovina. And why is France 2 times on this list.
I think they will go internal choice, but it is great news that Bosnia is coming back 😀
Yeah! When I heard the news it made my day! And I even drank Fernandes that is packed in yellow and blue paper. I am really happy.
I really hope they can make it this year.
That 2008 Bosnian entry was horrific …
YESSS Bosnia and Herzegovina is back. I hope that all Balkan countries will be back in eurovision 2015:-P
Tv tax in Bosnia isn’t 4 euros for a year, but for one month.