This coming Sunday, Serbia will select their entrant for the 65th Eurovision Song Contest held in the Netherlands using their illustrious national final, Beovizija, for the third time in a row. Twenty-four entries will battle it out over three spectacular nights for the right to represent the Balkan nation this May. But first, the Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — is here to give its take on the songs.

Antony

1.  Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”

These ljepotice are ready to tear up the stage in Rotterdam! “Hasta La Vista” presents a saucy and high-impact song with a tinge of Balkan sound. The title of the song flows quite well throughout and allows for it to be catchy, especially for non-Serbian speakers who can also engage with the lyrics. Nowadays at Eurovision where it is crucial to stand out, this act — if it was to win Beovizija — would provide the country with a good chance of doing well in the competition.

2. Thea Devy – “Sudnji dan”
3. Andrija Jo – “Oči Meduze”
4. Sanja Bogosavljević – “Ne puštam”
5. Marko Marković – “Kolači”

Antranig

1. Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”

I want to say that this is a two-horse race just to make it interesting but that’s a bit of a stretch. Hurricane stands a galaxy or two clear of the opposition and this national final is done and dusted. “Hasta la vista” is exactly the song we need from Serbia at Eurovision — high-quality modern pop infused with traditional elements. This could do quite well in Rotterdam. A shout out to Thea Devy for having the best ballad of Beovizija 2020.

2. Thea Devy – “Sudnji dan”
3. Andrija Jo – “Oči Meduze”
4. Marko Marković – “Kolači”
5. Ivan Kurtić & Mistik Cello – “Sabajle”

Barnabas

1. Bora Dugić & Balkubano – “Svadba velika”

Damn, Serbia gave me an unexpectedly hard time to actually pick one of my three favourites, but finally, I chose this legit turbo-folk madness over the rock/drum ‘n’ bass crossover and the ska banger (sorry, LIFT and Marko Markovic!). And the reason why is simple: this song is simply infectious, gets your feet moving, and you don’t need to get the lyrics at all to join the party. With a lineup so far pretty overwhelmed with ballads and overly serious songs, “Svadba velika” can be a truly refreshing party-starter that will make the Ahoy arena bounce.

2. LIFT – “Samo mi kaži”
3. Marko Marković – “Kolači”
4. Branislav Mojićević – “Cvet sa Prokletija”
5. Andrija Jo – “Oči Meduze”

Florian

1. Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”

The trio delivers a very energetic track that could work really well on stage in Rotterdam. While the composition is modern and uptempo, it still sounds like a typical regional track. It’ll come down to the staging to decide whether this could represent Serbia at Eurovision. Otherwise, the track is ready to hit the clubs in Europe — “Hasta la vista” might hit the floor in many places all over the continent.

2. Naiva – “Baš baš”
3. Andrija Jo – “Oči Meduze”
4. Neda Ukraden – “Bomba”
5. Igor Simić – “Ples za rastanak”

Luis

1. Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”

Serbia, I’ve been waiting for a turbo-folk banger FOR AGES. The time is now. “Hasta la vista” is an instant earworm carried by three powerful women who can sing. It is slightly cheap and bit trashy, but that’s perfectly okay. It’s exactly what it’s expected from this kind of music: this is for the dancefloor, not for the academy.

2. Naiva – “Baš baš”
3. Bora Dugić & Balkubano – “Svadba velika”
4. Marko Marković – “Kolači”
5. Neda Ukraden – “Bomba”

Lukas

1. Andrija Jo – “Oči Meduze”

This year Serbia is serving a lot of strong and modern songs, however there is by far one that stands out the most and it is Andrija Jo with “Oči Meduze“. It is very similar to something Alan Walker would do but it still has a Serbian flavour. The chorus of this song is very catchy and the whole song just goes by so fast which is great. It is time for Serbia to send something new and fresh and not just a Balkan ballad.

2. Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”
3. Lazar Živanovic – “Puklo je nebo”
4. Neda Ukraden – “Bomba”
5. Ivana Jordan “Vila”

Oliver

1. Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”

In my eyes, one act stands far above the rest — Hurricane. The past previous two editions produced a somewhat traditional array of songs, but this year, the competition has definitely taken a turn towards a more modern direction with Hurricane’s “Hasta la vista” leading the way. Boasting an infectious beat coupled with punchy quick-paced lyrics, the all-female trio are bringing something brand new to Serbia’s national final which will hopefully pave the way for others to follow in their footsteps next year.

2. Neda Ukraden – “Bomba”
3. Thea Devy – “Sudnji Dan”
4. Marko Marković – “Kolači”
5. Ivana Jordan – “Vila”

Robyn

1. Milan Bujaković & Olivera Popović – “Niti”

I love the quiet chill of “Niti”. The minimalist production serves the song well and emphasises the moments of vocal power amid the quietness. I’m intrigued how this will work live, as Olivera only shows up in the last minute of the song. There’s room for high drama.

2. Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”
3. Thea Devy – “Sudnji dan”
4. Igor Simić – “Ples za rastanak”
5. Bojana Mašković – “Kao muzika”

Tom

1. Marko Marković – “Kolači”

Now, this is good. The speed, the instruments, the fun! This song completely whisks me away to my dance floor. I am a Polish folk dancer so I am used to Polish versions of this type of music. Freestyle dancing with a partner, smashing out some fast moves to this song. Of course, this won’t win Eurovision. But for sheer nostalgia alone, this ticks all of my boxes!

2. Hurricane – “Hasta la vista”
3. Andrija Jo – “Oči Meduze”
4. Neda Ukraden – “Bomba”
5. Karizma – Ona me zna

Which juror’s opinion do you most agree with? Who do you think should win Beovizija and represent Serbia at Eurovision this year? Let us know in the comment section down below!

Read more Serbia Eurovision news here

17 Comments
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Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
4 years ago

hurricane seems to be the collective favorite, i’ll be very surprised if they don’t win

BebeRo
BebeRo
4 years ago

This year, Beovizija is serving a lot of amazing songs. Hurricane is fan leader!

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

I agree with Robyn and Tibor – Niti is the best song in this selection. It has an interesting progression, refined instrumental and their voices blend really well. The lyrics are very good and partially metaphorical.
Kao muzika and Kiša would come right after on my list.
A few of the songs have, so to say, dodgy lyrics, so it leaves me wondering how many reviewers translated them.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

It would definitely be a change of pace. The song is interesting, well produced and universal. I wouldn’t call Beauty Never Lies cheap. I would call it ”meh” back when it was in Serbian, because the lyrics were all over the place. Once it was in English, everything was quite good, which is a unique example of translation actually working for the better. I *really loved* Sanja’s 2016 song. It would be interesting if she’s the performer of both my favorite and least favorite Serbian song in last 10 years.

Teddi
Teddi
4 years ago

Kola?i! It’s fun, catchy, dancy, unique. I love it haha.

Polliu
Polliu
4 years ago

I can already sense that Hurricane will be one of the fan favorites throughout this season. This is the typical “QUEENNNN” gay and women fans would love. But not for me.

Tom
Tom
4 years ago
Reply to  Polliu

Same heree

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Bora Dugic as anyone’s number one after the lyric controversy is a nuclear-hot take, but to each their own. Hurricane is my favorite.

Micha? P
Micha? P
4 years ago

Or “Veruj u sebe”. Outstanding song in this horribly bad selection.

Philip
Philip
4 years ago

whichever they select it will not reach final, mark my words

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago

Many promising entries but no clear stand-outs, I’m especially curious to see the live performances of “Bas Bas”, “Niti”, “Samo mi kazi” and “Sudnji dan”.

Catriona Colville
Catriona Colville
4 years ago

Hurricane are “serving” the kind of music I feel is not appropriate for Eurovision.

Kosey
Kosey
4 years ago

Oci Meduze all the way. I don’t get the hype for Hurricane, I’m not feeling it.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago

The songs are actually too good to rank fully before the contest. I need to see them live to separate them!
Having said that, Bomba and Sudnji Dan are in far too many top fives here. There are MUCH better songs in the selection.

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

nah nah nah, sudnji dan is among the best. bomba and hasta la vista however, are both very bad.

Eurofan
Eurofan
4 years ago

Hurricaine, of course. I couldn’t imagine anyone else winning Beovizija.

Milan
Milan
4 years ago
Reply to  Eurofan

Me neither, although I won’t be cheering for them.