For the past two years, Slovenia has missed out on making the grand final of Eurovision. But now they could be on their way to making a comeback. Broadcaster RTVSLO today announced the 16 acts competing in EMA (Evrovizijska Melodija). And there are some familiar names in the mix.

Last month, RTVSLO revealed they’d received 108 entries for the 2018 edition of its national final. It’s an increase on the 90 entries the broadcaster received for the 2017 edition and the 61 entries for 2016. However, it is still down on the 145 entries received for EMA 2015.

And from that 108, only 16 have made it to the live shows. RTVSLO revealed the lineup today on social media.

The lineup includes many returning acts. Slovenia’s 2016 act ManuElla returns, after placing 16th in her semi-final in Stockholm with “Blue and Red”. And veteran performer Tanja Ribic, who represented Slovenia at Eurovision 1997 with “Zbudi se”, is back for the 21st anniversary of her first appearance.

There are also returning artists from the EMA grand final of 2017. Runner-up and televote winner BQL is back, as is light rock band KiNG FOO, and pink-haired songstress Nika Zorjan, soulful singer Nuska Drascek, as well as semi-finalist Lea Sirk.

The line-up also includes PopRock Festival 2017 winner Anabel, Melodije Morja in Sonca Festival 2017 contestant Gregor Ravnik, and Slovenia’s Got Talent act Marina Martensson.

Slovenia’s EMA 2018 – competing acts

  • Anabel – “Pozitiva”
  • BQL – “Ptica”
  • Gregor Ravnik – “Zdaj je ?as”
  • INA SHAI – “V nebo”
  • Indigo – “Vesna”
  • KiNG FOO – “Žive sanje”
  • Lara Kadis – “Zdaj sem tu”
  • Lea Sirk – “Cirque”
  • ManuElla – “Dan potem”
  • Marina Martensson – “Blizu”
  • MILA – “Svoboda”
  • Nika Zorjan – “Uspavanka”
  • Nuška Draš?ek – “Ne zapusti me zdaj”
  • ORTER – “Tiso? let”
  • Proper – “Ukraden cvet”
  • Tanja Ribic – “Ljudje”

RTVSLO has also confirmed the voting system for EMA. It will be a 50/50 televote and jury vote split. The jury vote is getting an overhaul, perhaps taking inspiration from the mixed jury groups of Finland’s UMK in 2015 and 2016 or the different music-related juries of Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival.

Gone are the six regional Slovenian juries. In their place will be six juries representing the radio industry, the television industry, singers, composers, OGAE Slovenia and an international panel.

The overhauled jury system follows the 2017 jury, who were overwhelmingly in favour of Omar Naber with “On My Way” and much less enthusiastic for the televote winner BQL with “Heart of Gold”. The jury’s instinct proved flawed — Naber placed second to last in his semi-final, ensuring Slovenia would again miss the grand final at Eurovision.

What do you think of the line-up of EMA 2018? Who do you think will win? Who should represent Slovenia at Eurovision 2018? Share your thoughts below!

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phillip beech
6 years ago

im fat and ugly also stupid lol

Danny
Danny
6 years ago

Maraaya wrote songs for BQL, Nika and Tanja Ribi?.

VALE
VALE
6 years ago

What if BQL can’t give us better song than Heart of gold?

Tony
Tony
6 years ago

BQL please! They deserved to go this year and not Omar!

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

Manuella again…. why??

JuiceQ
JuiceQ
6 years ago

excuse me off topic breaking news!!! ~ New images of next year’s #Eurovision stage and greenroom.
http://www.lrt.lt/userfiles/images/esc_004%20(1).jpg

JuiceQ
JuiceQ
6 years ago
Reply to  JuiceQ

New images of next year’s #Eurovision stage and greenroom.
http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/eurovizija/31/196128

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

So excited about BQL!
They should definitely go to Eurovision. Maybe now it’s the time. Hope for a good song.

brennan
brennan
6 years ago

That list of song titles in Slovene oh man that’s so cool

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

Excited to see BQL back, hoope the had a song as good as last year. ‘Fse’ was cool too, so I’m happy she’s in. I’m missing Raiven here, but maybe she’s taking a break this year.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago

Fingers crossed for BQL!! They so deserved to win last year…like miles ahead of ‘On my way’

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago

Yass’s! Nika Zorjan is back! Slay queen! So pleased to see this. Too bad no Raiven. 🙁

Denis
Denis
6 years ago

But is the language rule only for national final or does it apply for Eurovision as well? Cause Slovenia usually does better when the song is in English or 50/50. Providing the songs were good of course..

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Evidence? The last two songs they had in English were a disaster. At least the 2015 song made it to the final (it was bilingual).

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  blondboybc

2015 was in English, 2014 was bilingual (Tinkara).

cheesecake
cheesecake
6 years ago

ManuElla had one of the dullest songs ever in 2016, so I’m not too excited about her, but let’s see.
As for BQL… they were robbed big time, so I have high hopes. Also looking forward to hearing what Nika Zorjan has to offer this time.

beccaboo1212
6 years ago

ManuElla’s back! SQUEEEEEE! 😀

SomeOne
SomeOne
6 years ago

About Raiven: She said in many interviews she will come back one year, but she won’t force herself to write a song just for EMA, both Crno Bel and Zazarim were created not for EMA but for her album. So yeah don’t worry Raiven fans.

Juuseven
Juuseven
6 years ago

Ok I miss Raiven now!

SomeOne
SomeOne
6 years ago

Translation of the songs: Anabel: Positivity BQL: A Bird Gregor Ravnik: Now is the Time Ina Shai: To the Sky Indigo: Fairy King Foo: Live Dreams Lara Kardis: Now I’m here Lea Sirk: Cirque Manuella: The Day After Marina Martensson: Close MILA: Freedom Nika Zorjan: Lullaby Nuska Drascek: Don’t leave me now ORTER: Thousand Years Proper: Stolen Flower Tanja Ribic: People As a Slovene I have to say this is a great selection, there are some names that I don’t know like MILA, Indigo and Lara Kardis, but they seem promising. I have to say the artists I don’t expect… Read more »

Christian
Christian
6 years ago
Reply to  SomeOne

I don’t speak Slovenian but do you know if Nika‘s song (or maybe another one) is in Prekmurje dialect again, like in the 2017 EMA?

Erasmus
Erasmus
6 years ago
Reply to  Christian

Well maybe, but based on the titels I don’t think so… But a lullaby as “uspavanka” is used in “normal” Slovene as in dialects so maybe, it’s hard to know based on the titels. But “ Fse”means “everything” in Slovene, in “normal” Slovene you would say “vse”. Prekmurje dialect is like a mix of Slovene, Hungarian, and a of bit German sounds.

Christian
Christian
6 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Thanks a lot!

Harry Potter
Harry Potter
6 years ago

Hope BQL have a good song

Vanessa
Vanessa
6 years ago

BQL deserves to win, they were completely robbed from their win this year. The amount of televotes they got was just embarrassing to the others I still literally have no idea how the juries managed to overshadow the overwhelming votes that went for BQL but hey they’ve got this! ?

KYLLITO
KYLLITO
6 years ago
Reply to  Vanessa

I agree that BQL should have one last year (I was one of the few that like Omar Naber’s song), but BQL only deserves to go to ESC 2018 if they have a good song and they sing it great live in from of an audience.

eurovision6
eurovision6
6 years ago

BQL should have won last year and I really liked the song of ManuElla in 2016, very promising.

eurovision6
eurovision6
6 years ago
Reply to  eurovision6

Also loved Nika Zorjan last year.

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago

I think they definitely get a headstart, although their song is still a factor and it looks like they have strong contenders.
BTW, I think Anja deserved it last year reggardless of her previous miss-out.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  Gobio

Nah!! Anja was bad…. Ida should have won

Gobio
Gobio
6 years ago

I think that a lot of them would rather preffer singing in English, and plan to change their song after winning like in fik. I am quite disappointed that Raiven is absent as I thought that slovene singing competition is like her backyard.

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago
Reply to  Gobio

Maybe, but as a native English speaker, I prefer they keep their songs in the native language…this idea that English language songs do better is not born out, especially in ESC 2017. My favs from 2017 EMA were both in Slovene language/dialects!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

I say BQL will win regardless the song.

kenna
kenna
6 years ago

If Tanja’s entry is nearly as good as ‘Zbudi se’, which I personally believe is the best Slovene entry to date, then Slovenia will maybe qualify back to the final.

Tinana
Tinana
6 years ago

Can theyrumours change language to Eurovision?

ImFromRomania
ImFromRomania
6 years ago

all songs will be in slovenian ? or the winner will sing in english at Eurovision?

Christian
Christian
6 years ago

I heard Slovenes are not very satisfied that Tanja is coming back. But anyhow, I think it’s a really strong line-up. Of course we gotta wait for the songs but there are many interesting names on this list.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Kween Tanja Ribic omg, I listened to Zbudi se last night. Glad to see Nika Zorjan again, her song was a bop last year.

Geo
Geo
6 years ago

Manuella again????? She was awful in 2016, she should never compete again. She won’t have any chance, anyway. Rooting for BQL… Maybe 2018 will be their year! In every country’s national finals the televoting should have 70% or 75% the decision, while the corrupted and oldfashioned juries only 30% or 25% (I would apply this to Eurovision Song Contest, too)

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

How about we use no juries at all lmao that’d be easier

Phil Beech
Phil Beech
6 years ago
Reply to  Geo

I’m rooting for ManuElla. I loved her song in 2016 and her vocals were on point. She is also the most successful Slovenian singer of all time (based on streams and views). Her most recent single has been listened to thousands of times (and it wasn’t even in ESC). Eotherway, the win will go to either ManuElla or BQL. I’m hoping for ManuElla though, I love her style of music.

Monia
Monia
6 years ago
Reply to  Phil Beech

Slovenia loves her? Well, keep her for you and send an act Europe will love, that if you want to pass the semifinal. She clearly was not loved in 2016, who voted for her if she stuck in the semifinal? I believe BQL will secure enough votes…

Phil Beech
Phil Beech
6 years ago
Reply to  Monia

Kaliopi is ADORED by all ESC fans. She did not proceed to the final, so the point you are trying to make is invalid.

Alex
Alex
6 years ago

No Raiven???