It’s one of at least five countries who have returned to a national final to select their act for Eurovision 2018. And Montenegro‘s broadcaster RTCG is wasting no time in getting on to selecting the acts that will compete in the revamped Montevizija 2018.

The Montenegrin selection panel, hard at work.

RTCG has confirmed that a total of 31 entries have been received for the new national final. The last time we checked in with them, in mid-December, RTCG director Vladan Micunovic revealed that ‘more than 20’ entries had been received. He said they were expecting at least 30 by final count.

And they did indeed reach that number. The selection panel now has the task of listening to the 31 songs and deciding which five acts will make it to the Montevizija final.

The process is anonymous. The selection panel will only know who is behind each entry after they have listened to the songs.

Last month, RTCG’s radio editor Vladimir Maras explained the selection process in more detail. He said the five-member selection jury was looking for the quality of the composition, as well as the production potential. Three of the selection jury were from Montenegro, while the other two were recognised the regional music industry.

Maras also noted that for Montenegro, having a song that makes it to the Eurovision grand final would be considered an “extraordinary success”.

Montevizija will be held on 17 February at the Hilton Podgorica hotel.

RETURN TO MONTEVIZIJA

Having used internal selection since 2012, Montenegro is now returning to their national final Montevizija. Montenegro last used a national final in their first two years at Eurovision, 2007 and 2008.

This time Montenegro — one of the smallest countries in Europe — has cast the net wide. When entries opened on 1 November, the contest was open to songwriters from any country. However, some form of local cooperation was still needed — the rules also required that songs be written in the official language of Montenegro. That means lyrics will either have to be written in or translated to Montenegrin. It’s not clear if this also includes the other officially used languages, Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian or Croatian.

Montenegro has qualified for the Eurovision grand final twice, both times with Balkan ballads. In 2014, Sergej Cetkovic placed 19th with “Moj svijet”, while the following year Knez placed 13th with “Adio”.

FOLLOW ALL OF OUR MONTENEGRO EUROVISION NEWS

13 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago

Can we just send Knez again?

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

oh Igranka…just to remember me how stupid the juries are…and they also tried to kill Adio in the semi-final in order to save Malta’s Warrior. Knez’s performance was mesmerizing.

KESC
KESC
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

Amber’s Warrior was one of the best entries that year. It should have definitely qualified. Knez deserved the final as well, but Amber should have been in the final instead of John Karayiannis and his lullaby.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  KESC

Amber lost the Battle of the Warriors 2 days before they heard her version. The sooner they heard Nina Sublatti’s ferocious version (singing last in the Tuesday session), Amber’s goose was cooked.

AzeriChico
AzeriChico
6 years ago

Hopefully they will send something as beautiful as “Adio”. My top 9 for Montenegrin entries in ESC:
1. 2015 – 9/10
2. 2013 – 8/10
3. 2014 – 7/10
4. 2009 – 7/10
5. 2008 – 6/10
6. 2007 – 5/10
7. 2016 – 5/10
8. 2017 – 4/10
9. 2012 – 1/10

kenna
kenna
6 years ago
Reply to  AzeriChico

My ranking of all Montenegrin entries:

1. 2012
2. 2014
3. 2016
4. 2013
5. 2015
6. 2009
7. 2007
8. 2008
9. 2017

M_K
M_K
6 years ago

Montenegro is always hard to predict. 2018 will be their 10th participation… this is my top9 from Montenegro so far: #9 – 2012: I really tried to find the humour in it, but after all, I just don’t see it as a song. Sorry. #8 – 2015: Even though it’s a decent (but not the best) Joksimovic composition, I never really warmed up to the way Knez performed it. I just didn’t “feel” it. #7 – 2017: I did kind of like it at the beginning, but I grew tired of it quickly. It was obviously quite trashy, which is… Read more »

Andrea
Andrea
6 years ago
Reply to  M_K

Yeah, but that instrumental interlude in the song is one of the most beautiful things I’ve heard in the years I’ve been watching Eurovision. Call me cheesy, but I’d like Sergej to go back to Eurovision. Or Knez. OR BOTH!

M_K
M_K
6 years ago
Reply to  Andrea

Yeah, I didn’t finish my sentence on my number one. “I know it’s a old-fashioned, cheesy balkan ballad BUT I JUST LOVED IT”.

Kaz
Kaz
6 years ago

I appreciate the effort Montenegro is putting in as it is one of the smallest European countries. It shows that they want it bad. I also like that they’ll have to sing in Montenegrin. Anything from last year is an improvement imo. I’m rooting for them!

Pablo
Pablo
6 years ago

I got the bad feeling Vasilije is involved somehow…

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
6 years ago
Reply to  Pablo

It’s not like he has any chance of winning anyway.

Stephanie
6 years ago
Reply to  Pablo

Even if he did make the live show (which I highly doubt he will), it will just prove what we already know: that he can’t sing and has no star quality on stage. He would make a public fool of himself in front of his country and any ESC fans watching