Slovenia began the search for their Eurovision 2017 representative in Kyiv with tonight’s first semi-final of their revamped national selection process EMA 2017, co-hosted by the all-female trio of Tina Gorenjak, Maja Martina Merljak and Tanja Kocman.

Eight acts performed their entries live for the very first time. Tonight’s lineup included Slovenia’s 2005 Eurovision representative Omar Naber and Zala Duric Ribic — simply best known as Zala, daughter of Slovenia’s 1997 Eurovision representative Tanja Ribic.

After all of tonight’s performances, it was then up to the televoting public and juries to make their decisions. KiNG FOO, Nika Zorjan, Sell Out and Omar Naber advanced to next week’s EMA 2017 final on 24 February. The journey came to an end for the remaining four acts and were sent home.

We were also treated to guest performances from two of Slovenia’s former Eurovision representatives. 2012 representative Eva Boto performed her rendition of “Love Shine a Light” from Katrina and the Waves. Last year’s representative ManuElla returned to EMA to perform her Eurovision entry “Blue and Red”.

EMA 2017 — First semi-final running order

KiNG FOO — “Wild Ride”

Nika Zorjan — “Fse”

Tosca Beat — “Free World”

Lea Sirk — “Freedom”

Sell Out — “Ni panike”

Zala — “Lalalatino”

Alya — “Halo”

Omar Naber — “On My Way”

EMA 2017 — First semi-final qualifiers

KiNG FOO — “Wild Ride”
Nika Zorjan — “Fse”
Sell Out — “Ni panike”
Omar Naber — “On My Way”

EMA 2017 — First semi-final eliminated acts

Tosca Beat — “Free World”
Lea Sirk — “Freedom”
Zala — “Lalalatino”
Alya — “Halo”

You won’t have to wait for long until the second semi-final, as that gets underway on 18 February — so that’s tomorrow night at the same time of 20:00 CET.

Are you happy with tonight’s results? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Follow all of our Slovenia Eurovision news here

Photo: Petra Hlebš

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Charli Cheer Up
Charli Cheer Up
7 years ago

Omar is always present at the London Eurovision Party every year. Has anyone noticed this?

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

Nika Zorjan = “Treat you better” by Sean Mendes. LOL

MTD
MTD
7 years ago

From having no money for entering ESC (few years back) to Melodifestivalen/big ESC type of show. LOL

skarock
skarock
7 years ago

We still dont have any rock/metal/ska/punk song. Hope Slovenia and Hungary will choose it. Nobody cares about fans opinions here, they want female solo pop in every national final. But we are still waiting for guitarrrrs!!!! Good choice Slovenia!

kris
kris
7 years ago

Also ManuElla gave such a sassy performance…….though she lip-synced……but if could sing with sass she would have made last year’s final.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

No Tosca Beat? 🙁

blondboybc
blondboybc
7 years ago

Nika Zorjan and Omar Naber were my favs of the night. Nika’s bringing me Poli Genova vibes, and though Omar’s song is another ballad, I love his voice! They’re my top 2 for now. Quality staging and performances from EMA. Good job!

Music is the key
Music is the key
7 years ago

SO HAPPY Sellout is in! Great indie / ska song. original and great! VEry happy they made it 🙂 Vry good one I also think it was good the first song (rock) and song. 2 made it (run). Well deserved. Omar Naber….sorry, but BORING in my ears. His songs have gone downhill from 2005. I really liked “stop”. But this is a ery unoriginal ballad. only bad song of the bunch. And…well Ayla is as sexy as always 😉 The babe of EMA 🙂 talking about sexy women (something which is needed here…voice of the straight fans 🙂 ), I… Read more »

Leaf
Leaf
7 years ago

It’s funny how everyone hypes Lea
I found that song really boring, repetitive and without a personality.

Nika was the best, followed by Tosca Beat (sad face) and Omar.

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago

The staging, production and artists presentation give me Melodifestivalen vibes! A country with limited resources like Slovenia doing it better than Spain… 🙁

My favs are King FOO “Wildride” and Nika Zorjan “Fse”, lets see what Raiven brings I have high hopes on her… ‘Crno Bel’ was magical.

cheesecake
cheesecake
7 years ago

“Fse” is clearly the standout in this semi, nothing comes close.

SLOjuriesSUCKS
SLOjuriesSUCKS
7 years ago

@logixc because of juries -,- no one in Slovenia liked Sell out and KING FOO. We all wanted lea, Tosca and Alya but no, juries chose Sell out and KING FOO…

Aaran
Aaran
7 years ago

Nika definitely slayed this semi final!

Rich
Rich
7 years ago

My favourite performances were

NIKA….strong performance.
SELL OUT…….surprisinlgy enjoyed it live.
OMAR….good vocals

Dissappointed…….. with AYLA didn’t live up to the hype.

&

KING FOO……. although this qualified and i really liked their audio originally i found her live vocals annoying.

Thomas
Thomas
7 years ago

I watched the entire show tonight and well I am surprised entirely. KiNG FOO Boring. Has a great opening that leads to THAT chorus. Just boring… Nika Zorjan Holy Crap this is great and wonderful. I Think this with a bit better staging will be top ten in Kyiv. Tosca Beat Well. They are all beautiful and great vocalists though can see why they didn’t go through. Lea I thought she was going to go direct to the final and be a winner. I was wrong. Should have been. Sell Out Get Out How bout that? Zala Had a great… Read more »

AngieP
AngieP
7 years ago

Of the song qualified I really like “On My Way”
I expected better from Nika, I wasn’t impressed by the song, but her performance was really good.
I hope the 2nd semi will be better.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
7 years ago

Fantastic, my faves (Omar and Nika) are both in!

logixc
logixc
7 years ago

If Omar wins that would be because old fame and not present song, sorry guys but be equal to everyone and not just Omar.

Maria
Maria
7 years ago

YES, OMAR! <3 come on guys, he's great! It'd be great to have him back in Kyiv

Chirpy
Chirpy
7 years ago

@ The Challenger MESC starts at 9pm and this is the live stream: http://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/live/

MarioMario
7 years ago

Omar was so bad.

The Challenger
The Challenger
7 years ago

Can someone please tell me what time mesc is at tomorrow? And is there a livestream

logixc
logixc
7 years ago

Why Slovenia , whyyy you didnt choose Tosca beat to final…Omar wasnt so good..
but anyway NIKA was the best of tonight and if she doesnt win, there is some problem with jury or public votes..

Juuseven
Juuseven
7 years ago

Nika Zorjan was she one of the back vocalists for Tinkara Kova?’s Spet in 2014?

Martin
Martin
7 years ago

Nika is good
Sell Out are not made for the ESC Stage! They will get lost
Omar is just cheesy and feels all like he is acting
King Foo is so boring
Tosca Beat and Lea were amazing this is sad;(
Alya had a great song but a terrible performace and Zala is just funny

nn
nn
7 years ago

Tosca beat is interesting like Rozmarinke in 2004.

nn
nn
7 years ago

Tosca wili be interesting choice for Slovenia, and maybe they wili get many votes like Latvia 2015.

Erasmus
Erasmus
7 years ago

Really glad for Nika … but I think Lea should come to the final as well.. Omar was good and I think he can do even better with bigger stage. Sell out and King Foo I dislike both of them not my style.. I think semi final 2 is way stronger Raiven will slay tommorow! Loved the stage!

Marios
Marios
7 years ago

Typical Slovenia. They had only one really distinct entry, Tosca Beat, and they ended up with 4 generic mediocrities. No final for Slovenia till now, I’m afraid.

kris
kris
7 years ago

Alya with halo was also good and Tosca beat too……king foo and sell out were horrible.

PP
PP
7 years ago

My favorite was tonight
1.Lea
2.Omar
3.Tosca
4.Nika

Daniel_2017
Daniel_2017
7 years ago

Tosca Beat were amazing!

Pretty strange result…

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
7 years ago

Tosca Beat didn’t make it?!!
Bad Slovenia! Why Slovenia? 🙁

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

Nika slayed! I’m glad she qualified.

Kashiikit
Kashiikit
7 years ago

Nika Zorjan was the best by far – such a catchy melody <3