Power to the (fresh) people! After five weeks of selecting the finalists for EMA FREŠ, the two newcomer acts who will go ahead and compete in Slovenia’s Eurovision 2020 national final have now been chosen. Parvani Violet and Saška made it, and will join the ten established acts in the EMA 2020 final.
Even if the EMA FREŠ final tonight can be seen as a wildcard round, it definitely felt like the main competition. Social media stars Maja Pinterič and Bojan Cvjetićanin, who is a singer-songwriter himself, hosted the show and presented ten acts on stage in the RTVSLO-studios. For the first time ever we could hear the full revamped versions of the competing songs. And the ten newcomers gave it all!
After the ten competing songs had been performed it was up to the public to decide which two acts get a real shot at representing Slovenia in Rotterdam. In the end, Parvani Violet and Saška have been chosen to join the established acts that will also try to get the ticket to Eurovision.
EMA FREŠ Winners
Parvani Violet
What Beyonce is to Destiny‘s Child, Veronika Steiner is to Parvani Violet! She is 21 years old, she‘s the face of the band and was a finalist of Slovenia‘s Got Talent last year. So the public is already familiar with her. The international style and sound of Veronika’s band Parvani Violet probably helped her getting one of the EMA Freš final tickets. Veronika currently lives in Stockholm where she gets her inspiration for new music. She also covers songs on YouTube and has already taken part in various music competitions with her band. Parvani Violet are one of the hot favourites in the competition so far. Together with her band, Veronika is singing the song “Cupid”.
Saška
Although the competition is for newcomers, Saška isn’t that inexperienced. She’s been involved with music since she was a child and loves to sing and play the violin. Maybe she could combine the two for Eurovision? Speaking of Eurovision: Saška previously worked with one Slovenia’s most successful representative: Nuša Derenda — seventh place at Eurovision 2001. Recently, she played support for local popstar Alya. But now she wants to go one step further and be the star herself. Saška says she hopes to use EMA Freš to present herself and for many people get to know her and her music. Eurovision would be a great opportunity for that. She competes with a current sounding ballad in Slovenian.
EMA FREŠ also included a triple interval act. Fed Horses, Lumberjack and RAIVEN – all of whom competed in EMA 2019 last year – performed their new songs with the ever-lasting runner up RAIVEN once again serving a new hair colour (this time going blonde). She performed her song “Ti”.
Following on from the numerous online voting rounds – the first one took place back in November – and the final of EMA FREŠ, we finally know who will join the ten already pre-qualified acts on 22 February at EMA 2020. In fact, a total of 12 acts will battle it out and try to get the ticket to The Netherlands and Eurovision.
EMA 2020: Full Line-Up
1. Ana Soklič – “Voda”
2. Božidar Wolfand Wolf – “Maybe Someday”
3. Gaja Prestor – “Verjamem vase”
4. Imset – “Femme Fatale”
5. Inmate – “The Salt”
6. Klara Jazbec – “Stop the World”
7. Lina Kuduzović – “Man Like U”
8. Manca Berlec – “Večnost”
9. Simon Vadnjal – “Nisi sam”
10. Tinkara Kovač – “Forever”
11. Parvani Violet – “Cupid”
12. Saška – “Še kar lovim tvoj”
In 2014 and 2015, Germany proved that it’s not always guaranteed for established acts to get the crown. Both years, the wildcard option of the national final won the right to represent the country at Eurovision.
In 2013, for the first time ever, an Andra Chansen winner of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen went on to win the grand final and Robin Stjernberg represented the country on home soil. So maybe even one of the winners of tonight’s show will also make it to Eurovision for Slovenia.
What do you think? Did your favourites make it to the EMA 2020 final? Who do you want to see representing Slovenia in Rotterdam?
Not sure that was ok , feel like Astrid could have been a dark horse. I get why Raiven wouldn’t vote for her – she doesn’t want competition in that music genre and Astrid does have kinda the same vibe.. Maybe next time increase the number of professional jurors, and try to not include those who are sour from not winning themselves (again, looking at Raiven, who I really liked all three times she was competing, but she is not a gracious loser). Parvani violet is fine, i like the song but doubt it would do anything on the actual… Read more »
I think Tinkara is coming to slay, she won 2 big festivals in the last years. She is a very big star and only competes when she´s absolutely sure to win. The only real threat are Lina Kuduzovic and maybe Gaja Prestor, but those two will only appeal to teens, while Tinkara will appeal to the older folks, who are the ones who actually vote.
At least we know Slovenia will not pass the semifinal so.. good for the rest..
There’s still 10 songs in the final we haven’t heard yet.
these 2 won’t stand a chance as much as Astrid would’ve against the big artists
i hope Tinkara has a good entry, i liked round and round from her in 2014
Gaja Prestor also is a good singer i guess, and we’ll see who else of EMA will surprise us
Oh Slovenia, you made a huge mistake. How is it possible Astrid in Avantgarden didn’t even advance?! No wonder you’re always underrated ?
What does a bad choice have to do with Slovenia being underrated? You know the meaning of the word, right? It’s when a GOOD performance does not get the credit it deserves.
Ema Fres is a great concept, but the execution was just underwhelming, the show lacked diversity and it seemed like very little thought was put into the staging of each act. But you know, the first pancake is always spoiled, I’d love RTV to continue this format cause it’s got a lot of potential. Anyways, congratulations to the qualifiers and good luck in the final!
Parvenu Violet No. Saska Yes! And put more of the drums sound in the foreground.
I didn’t see this ! Was astrid vocally off ?
I know she was pregnant and hence didn’t move around
For some reason, they picked two of the blandest options. Anyway, good look to the girls. We tend to focus on what can or not do well in Eurovision, but I think we should look at EMA Fres with other eyes. This thing probably gave these young artists one of the first (if not the very first) opportunity to sing to a national audience. Maybe we’ll see one of them in Eurovision a few years from now (my eyes are especially on you, Astrid and Younite). (PS: the first comment was filtered, something similar will pop up here later)
For some reason, they picked two of the blandest options. Anyway, good luck to the girls. I like the fact EMA Fres probably gave these artists one of the first (if not the very first) opportunities to sing to a national audience. We tend to focus on the future (what can or not do well in Eurovision), but I see this pre-selection as a warm-up to the actual EMA and a way to incentive newcomers. Maybe one of those (my eyes are especially on you, Astrid and Younite) can be Slovenian representatives in ESC someday.
Invite Astrid to the Wiwi Jam anyway so we can pretend she is representing Slovenia…?
Frankly, all of the ten songs sounded quite amateurish live so they could have actually just chosen the two qualifiers by drawing lots and I would have been equally “happy” with any of the 45 possible options. Still, Slovenia tends to come up with a nice surprise when you least expect it–so I’m really hoping for some strong automatic qualifiers.
Astrid??????!!!!!!!
She out lol