Update at 20:40 GMT: Following the publication of our article earlier today, the previously confirmed artist Goran Karan withdrew from the competition. You may recognise him from Eurovision 2000, when he competed with the song “Ostani” and placed ninth. He had performed an earlier version of his competing entry “My Legacy Is Love” at a festival. He said that version was substantially different to his entry. However, to avoid any controversy, he thought it best to pull out of the contest. He has been replaced by Elis Lovrić and the song “Jušto”. Our article below has been amended to reflect this development.

Last week, Croatian broadcaster HRT closed the song submission period for their national selection, Dora. The broadcaster and a specially chosen jury spent the week listening to all of the songs. And on Monday, after all that buildup, the broadcaster finally revealed the songs that will compete in the national final. Sixteen songs will feature in the national selection with three reserved songs.

Dora 2020: The participating acts in Croatia

  • Marin Jurić Čivro – “Naivno”
  • Elis Lovrić – “Jušto”
  • Edi Abazi – “Coming home”
  • Mia Negovetić – “When it Comes to You”
  • Colonia – “Zidina”
  • Zdenka Kovačićek – “Love, Love, Love”
  • Lorenzo feat Dino Purić & Reper iz sobe – Vrati se iz Irske
  • Jure Brkljača – “Hajde nazovi me!”
  • Damir Kedžo – “Divlji vjetre”
  • Lorena Bućan – “Drowning”
  • Alen Vitasović & B. Matija Čerina – “Da se ne zatare”
  • Aklea Neon -” Zovi ju mama”
  • Indira – “You Will Never Break My Heart”
  • Nikola Marjanović – “Let’s forgive”
  • Đana – “One”
  • Bojan Jambrošić – “Više od riječi”

The three back-up songs are:

  • Marcela Orosi – “Let me Break your Heart”
  • Dino Petrić – “Što si meni Ti”
  • Singrlice – “Zavičaj”

Like last year, we probably won’t hear the songs until the broadcast of the national selection. But there is still plenty to assess and speculate about as we do know the artists and the titles of their entries. A more detailed list can be found on HRT’s official website.

Some Familiar Names

Looking at this list a little closer, there are some notable songwriters and artists that have taken part in either Dora or Eurovision.

There are also some familiar contestants who competed in the most recent edition of Dora. Bojan Jambrosic who sang in a duet with Danijela Pintaric coming ninth with “Vrijeme Predaje” and Jure Brkljaca who came eighth with “Ne Postojim Kad Nisi Tu”. The runner-up from this year’s edition of Dora, Lorena Bucan who sang “Tower of Babylon”, will try her luck again too.

Many of the acts in the line up have been on the wishlist of Eurovision fans to represent Croatia, including Damir Kedzo and Indira. Damir has been a prominent and multi-award-winning singer in the Croatian music scene for a number of years. Known for his powerful love ballads, he was also selected for Croatia in last year’s Wiwi Wishlist.

Indira is a seasoned singer who is best known for previously being the lead singer in the dance music group, Colonia — who will also be taking part in Dora next year! Known for her bold and strong voice, Indira would certainly make an impact for Croatia at Eurovision.

What do you think of the artists that have been announced? Are you excited by the line-up and familiar faces? Be sure to leave a comment down below!

Read more Croatia Eurovision news here

50 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo
4 years ago

There will be a lot of women in Eurovision 2020

123
123
4 years ago

Around 200 songs applied for Dora

beccaboo1212
4 years ago

Mia Negoveti? PLEASE 😀

ESCFanGA
ESCFanGA
4 years ago

Given Croatia’s recent track record at Eurovision I have very low expectations for this selection and I’m not expecting there to be some absolutely amazing song.

ESCalator
ESCalator
4 years ago

inb4 Croatian people will most likely vote for some cringy rap song “Vrati se iz Irske” that will bore ESC audience to death.

Rose
Rose
4 years ago

No way to go but up considering what was sent last year.

Carlos
Carlos
4 years ago

Lorena or Kedžo for me…if their songs are strong.
Lorena has fantastic potential and should have the Eurovision stage…. she was robbed last yeah
Damir… he’s my Boo and could sing his way out of a cage!

Denis
Denis
4 years ago

Colonia was best and at it’s prime with Indira. New Colonia is not so exciting and it seems audience agree since they haven’t had hits since Indira left.
Still I can’t wait to see them and think they could win..

1TruSeer
1TruSeer
4 years ago

So glad Lorena is getting a 2nd chance. Last year both her and Roko deserved the ticket to Tel Aviv

123
123
4 years ago

I want Colonia with an amazing bop like “Que sera”

WIWIFAN
WIWIFAN
4 years ago

MAKE VIDEO ABOUT IT!

Sabi
Sabi
4 years ago

According to the line up, all is already fixed for Colonia or Indira victory on Dora 2020, mostly cause both are actually are one of the biggest music names in the Croatian music and ex-Yugoslavia 🙂 too bad that they slipt few years ago.

Both took part in Dora 1998 wih the song ”U ritmu ljubavi” and end up in 4h place.
https://youtu.be/it-LdXi1saM

Euterpa
Euterpa
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabi

Why do you think that? The times when Colonia and Indira were huge are now a thing of the past. Their most recent hits (which aren’t that recent at all) are no pair to their hits in the 90’s and early 2000’s. Besides, Roko won last year as a completely new artist with his first song ever, although there were artists with longer careers. The runner-up was also a new performer with a debut song.

123
123
4 years ago
Reply to  Euterpa

I disagree with the first part… Colonia has amazing new songs with Ivana

Sabi
Sabi
4 years ago
Reply to  Euterpa

People in croatia and ex- Yugoslavia still remember them and their songs are often played, But Will be interesting to ser the battle between New and old music school of music in the Balkans. If Dora 2020 winner Will be chossen by televoting or 50/50 then both India and Colonia had in the bag.

Imya
Imya
4 years ago

OMG Bojan Jambrosic!! :O

Matthew
Matthew
4 years ago

Lorena Bucan is back omg ? hopefully another bop

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Goran is out. Shame, too: if he made the cut, he’d have joined the rare “twenty years later” club.

TheDr Mistery
TheDr Mistery
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

Anna Vissi, Carola, Marie Bergman, Eirikur Hauksson, Jean-Claude Pascal, Hanne Krogh and – if you count 1996 preselection – Kaliopi. Quite a list! 😀

Esc1234
Esc1234
4 years ago

What a great line up, yaas new God serving it

btw
btw
4 years ago

I want Mia, Lorena or Marcela.

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago

Rooting for Mia, she has a song by Linnea Deb and another writer who wrote “Cool Me Down” by Margaret! It’s gonna be soo good I feel it.

Campbell Grace
Campbell Grace
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Linnea has wrote some flops too…

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  Campbell Grace

true, but tbh it has to be better than anything that was in Dora last year, we shall see this year though!

Yasi
Yasi
4 years ago

Goran was disqualified because the song was performed two years ago.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

Fantastic line-up indeed. I only hope the songs are matching to the talent. There are several really good singers here, from many generations and styles. Once again, I like Dora’s diversity in language, age and style. – Zrinka Kovacicek is, for example, a grand diva of our music. I expect a classy entry, even if ESC fans will probably think it’s dated. – Indira is incredibly energetic, so at least a good party time is guaranteed. – Goran Karan, an ESC veteran, makes is comeback. I am looking forward to this. – Jure and Lorena were my top 2 from… Read more »

Mufasa
Mufasa
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Karan withdraw

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Anything indie in this lineup, Colin? I wish Lorena had won last year, “Tower of Babylon” was so much fun.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

None of the artists (as far as I know) is primarily in the indie genre, but I have no idea how close of far of the usual style they’ll go for Dora. I rooted for Tower of Babylon too. It had a genuine shot at qualifying. Or at least not being a punchline.

Sabrina
Sabrina
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

The silver lining is that things can only get better this time, I suppose.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

That’s what I am hoping for. Maybe last year was a “test year”, the first one after the return of Dora. Maybe they needed time to find their ground. This year better be a step up.

Someonelikeyou
Someonelikeyou
4 years ago

Well..Goran Karan just gave up hahah

ESC winner
ESC winner
4 years ago

hope Mia Negovetic wins

beccaboo1212
4 years ago
Reply to  ESC winner

Me too! 😀

Mufasa
Mufasa
4 years ago

Omg kedzooooo ?? Love his voice so much

Nikko
Nikko
4 years ago

OMG Colonia!!!!
But does it mean we have two songs with Indira? One with her band Colonia and one solo???

123
123
4 years ago
Reply to  Nikko

Nope, they separated few years ago…Colonia has a new singer Ivana now 🙂

Nikko
Nikko
4 years ago
Reply to  123

Oh I didn’t know that she left the band. But it would be strange for her to compete with her former band.

Jo.
Jo.
4 years ago

Strong bunch, I can’t wait to hear the songs…

Mr Vanilla Bean
Mr Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

Judging from the English song titles, I’m probably going to root for the Croatian language bunch. 🙂 Hope, hope, hope is alive, though.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

Many songs have classic titles, but turn out unique and lovely (Grande amore, anyone?). Never judge a song by it’s title (unless it’s called Shine and it’s written with ESC in mind. lol) As for Croatian titles, here you go: Naivno = Naive Zidina = The wall (as in fortress’ tall wall) Vrati se iz Irske = Come back from Ireland! Hajde nazovi me = Come on and call me! Divlji vjetre = (oh) Wild wind! Da se ne zatare= For it not to be forgotten Zovi ju mama = Call her – mom One = Them Vise od rijeci… Read more »

Mr Vanilla Bean
Mr Vanilla Bean
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Thank you for the translation service, angel of god. 🙂 Keep it up, please.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

You are welcome 🙂
(I hope your comment was not ironic. It’s hard to tell behind a keyboard.)

Mr Vanilla Bean
Mr Vanilla Bean
4 years ago

No, it was serious. I really appreciate it when someone translates stuff for me. 🙂

Colin
Colin
4 years ago

🙂 NP, glad to help.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

Come back from Ireland?
That. Is. Brilliant.

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Yeah. The title is really funny, especially if you know the current situation of Croatian immigration. It’s almost certainly a satire.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago
Reply to  Colin

I mean, it COULD be Ktheju tokës-levels of seriousness, too. 😉

Colin
Colin
4 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Technically… but I don’t think so. A title with an explicit statement with an exclamation and a rapper involved. I still expect a satire. Of course, we’ll find out only when songs get released, which I hope will happen before the festival this year.

Sale
Sale
4 years ago

Omg, Colonia is one of the biggest names in the Balkan music industry, hope she has a killer song!