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Back in November, we were delighted to find out that after a three year absence, Bosnia and Herzegovina would be returning to Eurovision 2016. Just a short time later, we learned that the Balkan powerhouse would be represented by Dalal & Deen (he of Eurovision 2004 fame), alongside Croatian cellist Ana Rucner and Bosnian rapper Jala. But it’s only now that we know their song. During a special ceremony in Sarajevo City Hall, the quartet unveiled “Ljubav je” (Love is).

Dalal & Deen feat. Ana Rucner and Jala “Ljubav je”

Before the song was announced, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. All four artists come from different genres and backgrounds. However, “Ljubav je” does channel their shared Balkan heritage, as it’s performed entirely in Bosnian.

The song is full of drama, with atmospheric drums, traditional instruments and Ana’s cello bringing a strong introduction, before bursting into a more traditional pop chorus. Bearded rapper Jala then brings the song into the modern era with his bold burst of rapping.

The reveal show was a lengthy affair, with performances from many local stars, including Marija Serifovic, who reprised her Eurovision winner “Molitva”. This year’s Eurovision stars also performed individually, showcasing the talents they’ll be bringing to Stockholm.

Bosnia and Herzegovina have never failed to reach the Eurovision final. Can “Ljubav je” maintain that tradition? Better yet, could it match or beat the country’s best ever result, when Hari Mata Hari finished third with 229 points in 2006? Let us know below.

“Ljubav je” reveal: our reaction

Bosnia & Herzegovina comback: Our first reaction

Follow all our Bosnia & Herzegovina Eurovision 2016 news.

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ESCaddict
ESCaddict
8 years ago

Oh. B&H have submitted some of my fav ESC songs. I don’t think I will be including this one in that category. The rap seems like desperation. After they completed the song they realised it lacked punch so they threw in a rapper? Or is he just there to fill in the 3 minutes? Whatever the case, I think he is the final nail in the coffin for this song. If B&H wanted a rap song, I say go for it 100%. Sure they don’t get many votes but I have liked previous rap songs from Austria, Latvia & Montenegro.… Read more »

Ronnie
Ronnie
8 years ago

Knez’s Adio was much much better than this….given how that did I’d say if this qualifies it will finish near the bottom of the scoreboard – although we still don’t know how competitive this year will be and this is not Montenegro it’s Bosnia they always get balkan plus azeri votes

Leaf
Leaf
8 years ago

It is nothing we haven’t heard so far, It is not a bad song but coming from the Balkans I would say that this type of song wouldn’t even chart anywhere or be played on the radio. Fun how people call it unique when It is just Lane Moje feat. Lejla feat. Adio feat. A Rap Artist.

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

Rap … never has never will be a genre I personally appreciate …. much less expressed in other languages but English ….
Apart from that stunning melody, great vocal performance … and thank Good Deen finally grew up from a pathetic gay-look-at-me-you-queers from 2004 to someone who finally understood what being a musician and performer really means … However the cello is also not lighting my fire .. and that is only because I grew tired of the Balkan ballad style .. just bores me at this stage. Sorry.

DenizNL
DenizNL
8 years ago

Well, I don’t really mind, it sounds very likeable and I don’t care for the rap-part. It actually sounds very fitting in the song. And I love how they filmed the video.

Skandar
Skandar
8 years ago

The wait is worth it. As a person who misses folk nuance at Eurovision, this one is epic. The cello part is haunting, the rap part unexpectedly comes but it fits well. But I think Dalal and Deen are lack of chemistry despite of their crystal clear voices. Not as strong as Lejla or Bistra Voda but it’s good.

LeoTheNicaGuy
LeoTheNicaGuy
8 years ago

Am I crazy to say that I actually like this?
Yes, I could live without the rap part, however, I feel it actually elevates the song. The cello… OMG, I’m in love with it!
I was expecting a circus or something REALLY crazy but I think all the parts actually blend well together.
Not a winner, not my fav, but definetelly not a bottom 5 song.

ct_greece
ct_greece
8 years ago

Well, I would love a balkan ballad with people singing in their own language like Montenegro’s “Adio” from last year. But this is not it. It ‘s not even a ballad but a balkan pop song, their voices don’t work well together, they come out as aggressive instead of wistful (and that’s even before the rap part). The production of the song also feels quite clumsy and amateurish. Sorry Bosnia, this doesn’t cut it. My top-11 so far (I don’t include Italy because it’s not confirmed yet) #1 Austria #2 Switzerland #3 Spain #4 Malta #5 Denmark #6 Bosnia Herzegovina… Read more »

AndersP
AndersP
8 years ago

I’m not a fan of this. The cello hook sounds like a cheap imitation of some of the great Balkan songs from the mid-2000s but without the raw emotion and intimate connection of Lane Moje and Lejla. The fist-pumps, air-grabs and finger pointing are very tv-talent-show-cabaret. And the incongruous rap… where do I begin. This is a song that is trying too hard to please everyone and falling down on most counts. I just can’t imagine this in the final, but given some of the dross announced already, this might just float high enough to get a 10th place SF… Read more »

dutchie
dutchie
8 years ago

I think they introduced the rap part to appeal to a younger audience, since these people are geriatric, in pop music terms. The cello part is nice and gives it the Balkan twist they’re looking for, the rest is not that good… but hey, they’ll get through anyway in the new voting system so it doesn’t really matter 🙂

raulescfan
raulescfan
8 years ago

What the hell has Deen done on his lips?

Racal
Racal
8 years ago

First of all, Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country I don’t like (in the ESC context I mean). Overuse if neighboring vote, bad songs, … Never liked them. This song has a lot of ingredients I don’t like, especially their scenic expression: the finger-point to the camera makes it look OLD (and not in a good way), the rap part is ridiculous, etc. And yet, I kinda liked it at my first listen. It’s not great, but the vocals are good and the song is overall pleasant. And… It’s in their national language, and it’s not schlagger! Thank you Bosnia! It’s in… Read more »

blondboybc
blondboybc
8 years ago

I actually liked the song on the first listen, so that’s a good sign. They actually all work well together, despite misgivings about that rap part. I’ve a feeling B-H will qualify to the final with this, given decent staging. Overall, a good comeback for them. It’s about mid-range on my top, so far. 7/10.

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
8 years ago

I like it and i think it might qualify. The rap is a litlle bitt out of place, butt the violin is amazing!!! 🙂 My top 12:

1. Austria
2. Italy
3. Spain
4. Bosnia&Herzegovina
5. Switzerland
6. Malta
7. Denmark
8. Albania
9. Belarus
10. Belgium
11. Ireland
12. Georgia

Jacques
Jacques
8 years ago

I hope they will be failed to qualify for the first time ever.

Worst song announced yet. Even worse than Ireland’s.

MarioMario
8 years ago

I like it. The rapping part doesn’t bother me. The staging will either make or break this.

Hmayak
8 years ago

Welcome back Bosnia and Herzegovina! A very very BEAUTIFUL return . This is just amazing . I want to listen to it again and again . Please improve your song so that it can quarell even for the first place . I believe you . Greetings and regards from Armenia !!

Amiciness
8 years ago

I really liked the Balkan ballad sound it had in the first verse. And then when the chorus started, it became a power ballad? And then it became a rap song during the bridge? I’m super confused. I kinda like it though? LOL. The cello is the best part of this song!

Ranting Ruby
Ranting Ruby
8 years ago

Love it! Thanks for the translation, Colin!

Ian
Ian
8 years ago

This definitely sounds like a Eurovision song. I kind of like it. I’m glad to see that this year is stepping away from all the bland europop we’ve come to know Eurovision for in recent years.

John Christian
John Christian
8 years ago

Why do you send more hate? BIH’s perfect qualification is at stake!

Steven
Steven
8 years ago

Lmao @ the rap hate! It really brings the song up a notch when it needs to or otherwise it might’ve been a little flat. I really like the whole ensemble and this will sail into the final

Angel
8 years ago

I like it, it sounds strong and powerful. I love songs which include organic sounds like violins or another orchestral sounds such as Molitva or Edurne the last year but this one sounds a little bit old for 2016 or maybe unperfected. In my personal opinion it needs so much more.

Rocky
Rocky
8 years ago

I actually really like this. It works out well.

This is my second favourite after Latvian entry Justs.

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

I like it, but the bass and the drums in the background need to be revised to be a bit more interesting. It sounds too much like a demo to me because of those instruments. But the vocals and the cello are great, and it’s cool to see a rap bit.

Griffin
Griffin
8 years ago

Omg i love it, the rap part is nice tho what is the problem? Much better than a detergent ads song by Austria

silvester
silvester
8 years ago

quote:
Mario = Legend
FEBRUARY 19, 2016 @ 9:15 PM

Love is… Anything but this. 🙁

Mario, you’re a legend! 😉

Denis
Denis
8 years ago

Guys, just because it’s sung in national language and have a Balkan ballad touch to it doesn’t mean it’s a masterpiece. It’s not by any means. It’s a solid O.K Balkan pop song that sounds like pretty much every other pop song from the region. Unfortunately the song gets ruined by unnecessary rap part. That alone destroys an otherwise decent song, and the song would have worked much better without it. Of course it will qualify, massive Bosnian diaspora who vote like crazy, but won’t get anywhere near top 10. But if it somehow wouldn’t qualify I actually wouldn’t mind… Read more »

Nikos
Nikos
8 years ago

The rap kills it for me too. I love the Balkan elements, but overall the song goes nowhere for me. BiH put too many artists into one song and it feels heavy and clumsy.

PP
PP
8 years ago

Bosnia and Herzegovina have never failed to reach the Eurovison final, but in period when we had 100 % televote and period of voting system from 2008 to 2012. They never be on Eurovison in moment of new voting system from 2013 to 2015. This new system of voting , gave Bosnia stronger chance for final then voting system from 2013 to 2015.

PP
PP
8 years ago

1.Spain
2.Belgium
3.Denmark
4.Belarus
5.Georgia
6.Switzerland
7.Bosnia Herzegovina
8.Austria
9.Albania
10.Italy
11.Malta
12.Ireland

Malta and many countries wili maybe change their song tili may.

Laburnum
Laburnum
8 years ago

OMG I LOVE IT

balkanllama
balkanllama
8 years ago

i love balkan music the more the merrier for me thats why im so happy that all the balkans are back the rap part is kind of annoying and also the crescendo ending is bad

SpirK
SpirK
8 years ago

Welcome back Bosnia and Herzegovina! So, referring to the song, I really enjoy the ana and Jala parts, they make the song unique, and the verses dalal sings blend great. That said, the chorus seems a bit dated, I think it’s lacking dynamism ; The verses Deen sings are heard from me to be a bit not fitting well with the song, nothing of his fault ofcourse. So all in all the unique parts save the day and the verses – chorus are at times enjoyable. I think it’s a overall good enough song, probably a 6.5/10 at this moment… Read more »

anonymouse
anonymouse
8 years ago

The song is alright but the rap is pointless.

mad-professor
mad-professor
8 years ago

@GariKasparov
There’s nothing wrong with rap, but this attempt at rapping is bad. Really bad.

Hugh
Hugh
8 years ago

Way better than I was expecting, sorry for doubting you BoHz

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

@jr esc nl

At least they separated us from Serbia and Slovenia. 🙂 Thankfully not whole ex-Yugoslavia is in the same semi.

Transmermaid
Transmermaid
8 years ago

So is Deen Masc4Masc now?

jr esc nl
jr esc nl
8 years ago

Yeah it is what it is 🙂

Escfan
Escfan
8 years ago

For me it is a cheap Balkan song, I expected more from Bosnia & Herzegovina. If they introduce a chorus, the song would be more acceptable. I think that they will qualify due to the diaspora and the Balkan block. My favourites so far are Denmark, Spain and Italy

Mar
Mar
8 years ago

I really like it! All the elemnts blend quite well, even the rap, although I could do without it. I think they will have no trouble qualifying.
It’s in my top 5 for sure:
1) Spain
2) Switzerland
3) Bosnia
4) Austria
5) Belgium

Warrior
Warrior
8 years ago

People need to settle down about the tiny little bit rap which actually gives this song that extra punch! Its ok to not be a solo female singer with the typical pop/dance that people still think is modern.
Bosnia is straight to my number 1!!!

Thiefo
Thiefo
8 years ago

Overall the song is nice, if just we could get the rap part out 😛

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

@jr esc nl

Yeah, you are right. I am fooling myself 🙂 Of course at least 8 points are guaranteed from us. But not from my help, though. I would vote Zoe and I am hoping Mikael Saari too. But that’s just me. Our public/judges will be influenced by the neighboring feelings. It is what it is.

Cratis
Cratis
8 years ago

It’s a nice enough song and- considering how bad it could have been is actually quite good. The balkans and the diaspora will love it, no one else will.
I don’t think it will get through the semifinal.

GariKasparov
GariKasparov
8 years ago

Jesus Christ, people would expect from eurovision fans to be open minded. But no, you guy’s keep cheering for just one particular song type for almost a decade. Because of people like you, who are booing for every different music sound that somehow manages to get on eurovision, other people who are not eurovision fans have bad opinion on competition in general.

Yes for the rap ! It’s a music as any other, and it deserves to be presented here.

Gav
Gav
8 years ago

I’m sure I have heard this before? Like every year at some point?

Why is the rapper being so mean to the chello player. I would stick her bow right up his @@@@ if he spoke to me with that attitude!

Actually why are they all being so mean and shouty at each other. Why don’t they all go away and let the chello player continue her song she started.

Ps.
Where is the disco ball?

jr esc nl
jr esc nl
8 years ago

@colin
Well, i believe that but just like you said in a earlier comment you guys basicly speak the same language with some minor differences, So croatians who don’t speak english very well will be tempted to like this more and vote for it 🙂 also there might be a bit of neighbour sympathy with the regular voters. We also have that with belgium.

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
8 years ago

I kind of like it although I wish there was a better studio version

1| Italy
2| Belgium
3| Austria
4| Bosnia
5| Spain (again, slowly getting ruined by over-aggressive fans)
—small gap—
6| Switzerland
7| Albania
8| Denmark
9| Georgia (gradually moving down in the ranks)
—huge gap—
10| Malta
11| Ireland (both this and belarus’ makes my ears bleed still)
12| Belarus