The EMA 2017 semi-finals are almost upon us. And earlier today broadcaster RTVSLO revealed 30-second snippets of all 16 semi-finalists competing in Slovenia’s national selection for Eurovision.
The songs cross genres, ranging from ballads to pop to EDM. If you’re ready to turn up the volume and take it all in, here’s what’s going down…
EMA 2017 30-second snippets semi-final one
1. KING FOO – “WILD RIDE”
Composer: Rok Golob
Lyrics: Rok Golob and Cherie Lucas
Arrangement: Rok Golob
2. NIKA ZORJAN – “FSE”
Composer: Maraaya
Lyrics: Nika Zorjan
Arrangement: Raay
3. TOSCA BEAT – “FREE WORLD”
Composers: Andraž Kržic and Tosca Beat
Lyrics: Andraž Kržic and Peter Penko
Arrangement: Peter Penko and Jamirko
4. LEA SIRK – “FREEDOM”
Composers: Lea Sirk and Gaber Radojevic
Lyrics: Lea Sirk
Arrangement: Lea Sirk, Gaber Radojevic, Miha Gorše and Tomy DeClerque
5. SELL OUT – “NI PANIKE”
Composers: Miha Gorše and Uroš Obranovic
Lyrics: Tina Muc
Arrangement: Miha Gorše
6. ZALA – “LALALATINO”
Composer: Zala
Lyrics: Zala
Arrangement: Krešimir Tomec and Luka Ipavec
7. ALYA – “HALO”
Composer: Raay
Lyrics: Rok Lunacek and Tina Pirš
Arrangement: Raay
8. OMAR NABER – “ON MY WAY”
Composer: Omar Naber
Lyrics: Omar Naber
Arrangement: Omar Naber and Žiga Pirnat
EMA 2017 30-second snippets semi-final two
1. CLEMENS – “TOK TI SEDE”
Composer: Klemen Mramor
Lyrics: Klemen Mramor
Arrangement: Klemen Mramor
2. RAIVEN – “ZAŽARIM”
Composers: Jernej Kržic, Tadej Košir and Sara Briški Cirman
Lyrics: Sara Briški Cirman
Arrangement: Jernej Kržic and Tadej Košir
3. KATAYA & DUNCAN KAMAKANA – “ARE YOU THERE”
Composer: Tim Žibrat
Lyrics: Tim Žibrat, Duncan Kamakana, Kataya
Arrangement: Tim Žibrat, Blaž Vrecko, Klemen Orter and Samo Jezovšek
4. BQL – “HEART OF GOLD”
Composer: Maraaya
Lyrics: Anej Piletic
Arrangement: Raay
5. INA SHAI – “COLOUR ME”
Composer: Martina Šraj
Lyrics: Martina Šraj
Arrangement: Hans Kristjan Aljas, Vincenzo Capodivento and Niccolo Rebecchi
6. UNITED PANDAZ & ARSELLO FEAT. ALEX VOLASKO – “HEART TO HEART”
Composers: Gorazd Hižak (aka Arsello) and Alex Volasko
Lyrics: Alex Volasko
Arrangement: Gorazd Hižak (aka Arsello)
7. TIM KORES – “OPEN FIRE”
Composers: Jeff Lewis and Drew Lawrence
Lyrics: Jeff Lewis and Drew Lawrence
Arrangement: Jeff Lewis and Drew Lawrence
8. NUŠKA DRAŠCEK – “FLOWER IN THE SNOW”
Composers: Pele Loriano and Lina Button
Lyrics: Lina Button and Brendan Wade
Arrangement: Pele Loriano
EMA 2017
Naturally, the snippets have left us wanting EMA 2017 to start right now.
But we’ll have to wait until Friday, when the first semi-final gets underway. The second semi-final follows on Saturday.
Tina Gorenjak, Maja Martina Merljak and Tanja Kocman will co-host both semis, with Mario Galunic joining the trio for the final.
Four qualifiers advance to the February 24 final from each semi-final, and the winner will be determined by a combination of televoting and six regional juries.
The super-final has been scrapped and a combination of the televoting public and regional juries will decide who represents Slovenia in Kyiv.
What do you think of the snippets? Do you have any early favourites? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: RTV Slovenija
In semi 1, Seel Out seems to have the best, most interesting and original song. Omar Naber’s song sounds like the most boring one
Semi 2: Clemens sound bvest, Raiven least good
I expcted more rock actually…..given the opre contest talk.Many good songs and different music styles. But should be more rock music!
Many good ones! Some cool rock and indie. ALWAYS very welcome! And some great rnb etc…not so many ESC-cliches. Well done!
For me, the best — United Pandaz & ARSELLO feat. Alex Volasko – Heart to Heart 🙂
I need Omar to win!
– bql go for a gold!
– nika zorjan – waiting for her to go to ESC maybe now is the time
its gonna be between nika and bql maybe juries could notice raiven as well but it is a little bit meh
It’s hard to tell based on 30 seconds but looks like it’s gonna ve a battle between BQL and NIKA ZORJAN.Maybe also ALYA and TIM KORES could surprise with their performance.
My favorites are Nika Zorjan, Omar Naber, BQL, Tim Kores, and Nuska. But we have to see their live performance.
I really like Flower in the Snow
ONE OF THE BEST YEARS FOR SLOVENIA. 12 BQL (VERY CURRENT AND CATCHY) 10 NIKA ZORJAN (CAN’T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE SINGS BUT THE SONG IS MAJESTIC) 8 KING FOO (THIS SINGER IS OMG) 7 ALYA (BEAT SOUNDS LIKE SIA AND I LOVE IT) 6 TOSCA BEAT (IT WOULD STAND OUT) 5 RAIVEN (I LIKED BETTER CRNO BEL BUT THIS IS ALSO GOOD ENTRY) 4 INA SHAI (VERY PROMISING BALLAD) 3 ZALA DJ (DON’T KNOW WHY I LOVE IT IT JUST STAYS WITH YOU ONCE YOU HEAR IT) 2 TIM KORES (MODERN AND GREAT VOCAL) 1 OMAR NABER (IT’S A… Read more »
My favorite of all the is “FREE WORLD” – TOSCA BEAT. It different and I like all the concept.
For me Raiven or United Pandaz & Arsello.
love most of these
my standouts:
1) tok ti sede
2) zazarim
3) flower in the snow
4) colour me (sounds really promising towards the end)
5) wild ride
6) fse
7) open fire
8) freedom
Raiven has to win!
The two best songs in this years EMA is definitely Heart Of Gold and Heart To Heart! xD don’t mess this upp?p Slovenia!
I dont understand how some people think this is a good selection, there are probably only 3 songs that are over average.. They are Raiven (obviously) Nika Zorjan and maybe BQL.. what am i missing?
So many songs right there!
Finally a really interesting selection from Slovenia!
You can’t tell from 30 sec of course but I’m looking forward to the full songs!
Good job Slovenia!
I like the variety, it’s a good selection. Nika Zorjan and Omar Naber have the best songs for me. I don’t get the hype for Raiven, her snippet is unimpressive.
Beautifully done
Raiven is brill! Finally, a GOOD NATIONAL FINAL! Many songs I’d be happy with :).
Raiven is obviously the best.
Shame***
Raiven and her Zazarim are the best! Still a shams they chose ManuElla over her last year, don’t make that mistake again Slovenia.
TOP 4 for me in I semi 1.OMAR NABER – “ON MY WAY” 2.KING FOO – “WILD RIDE” 3.LEA SIRK – “FREEDOM” 4.TOSCA BEAT – “FREE WORLD” TOP 4 for me in II semi 1.UNITED PANDAZ & ARSELLO FEAT. ALEX VOLASKO – “HEART TO HEART” 2.NUŠKA DRAŠCEK – “FLOWER IN THE SNOW” 3.RAIVEN – “ZAŽARIM” 4.BQL – “HEART OF GOLD” TOP 3 for me 1.OMAR NABER – “ON MY WAY 2.UNITED PANDAZ & ARSELLO FEAT. ALEX VOLASKO – “HEART TO HEART”. 3..NUŠKA DRAŠCEK – “FLOWER IN THE SNOW” But I think fight for win wili be between BQL and Raiven… Read more »
Raiven is the stand out! It’s eretheral and haunting pop with killer vocals and an amazing artist, for that is what Raiven is; not a singer but an artist!
My semi final 1 top 4 are
1. KING FOO – “WILD RIDE”
2. NIKA ZORJAN – “FSE”
3. ALYA – “HALO”
4. OMAR NABER – “ON MY WAY”
My semi final 2 top 4 are
1. CLEMENS – “TOK TI SEDE”
2. BQL – “HEART OF GOLD”
3. UNITED PANDAZ & ARSELLO FEAT. ALEX VOLASKO – “HEART TO HEART”
4. TIM KORES – “OPEN FIRE”
Well done to Slovenia! I am impressed with the selection of songs.
BQL all the way!
But this is a good selection overall, with a stronger second semi.
Love Raiven just like last year
BQL is my favorite
Man this is awesome, even many of them are better than some confirmed national entry.
Gonna choose FSE, or even that Lalalalatino song. Heart of Gold is good, but it’s kind of same vibe with Spain’s entry
Nika and BQL are my favourites!
HALO HALO HALO HONEEEEEY!
Nika Zorjan’s song sounds so good!
As expected Raiven is the stand out act, again. Hope she won’t get robbed this year as well.
The standouts for me are “FSE” and “HALO”…bonus points for being in Slovenian…the rest are average to generic, and some sound so uninspired.
Don’t send some boring ballad, Slovenia! We’ve enough of those this year! 🙂
So obvious what songs are produced by Maraaya. Love Nika Zorian love BQL but I also like Inna Shai a lot tho
WOW!!! One of the best national selection! I’m so impressed, I love almost everyone!
Still too early tosay which are the best, the most these snippets can do for now is leave us to want to hear more. Raiven and BQL are really the onky two that do that, but some really good songs here. A little disappointed though by Tosca Beat, hope the whole song is much better
United Pandaz, Raiven, Nika, or Alya!
Im Slovenian and I REEAALLY want Tosca Beat or Nika Zorjan to win this.
I choose M. KORES – “OPEN FIRE”
i love the variety in slovenia’ s national selection for eurovision this year
p. s i have 4 favs but i am keeping it a secret and hoping for best for slovenia
Great songs Slovenia.However bql stand out overall.
Raiven is the Queen of EMA again.
Please go her to Kiev
Raiven is overrated. She’s just another Aminata but without the songwriting talent.
BQL, Oman Naber, United Pandaz, Clements, Tim Kores, Tosca Beat and King Foo are my favorites.
Raiven slays again! But I have to say that at least 10 songs here are very good and would be in my top 3 right now.