Last Saturday, Slovenia selected its act for Eurovision at the grand final of EMA 2020. But Ana Soklič’s victory wasn’t the only thing being talked about. Show host Klemen Slakonja paid tribute to Slovenia’s 25 years at Eurovision by performing impressions of all 25 acts.
Slovenia first debuted at Eurovision 1993 and has competed 25 times in total, missing only 1994 and 2000 due to relegation. And Klemen paid tribute to all 25 acts, going to great lengths to capture the hair, wardrobe and spirit of Slovenia’s stars.
The performance began with Slovenia’s debut act, 1X Band. Rocking the mullet hairdo and colourful jacket of lead singer Cole Moretti, Klemen got the tribute off to a good start.
He made his way through the ’90s and into the 2000s, including Nuša Derenda‘s yellow bodice and straightened hair for “Energy”, the fabulous drag trio of Sestre with “Samo ljubezen” and Omar Naber‘s first performance of “Stop”.
Into the 2011 decade, he worked it as Maja Keuc, whose song “No One” is the best placed Slovenian entry of the past decade. Klemen brought out a flute to pay tribute to Eurovision 2014 act (and EMA 2020 contestant) Tinkara Kovač and served a different side of Omar Naber on his 2017 return.
For more recent years, Klemen included Lea Sirk‘s sassy “Hvala nej” performance, complete with her pink side braid. Zalagasper didn’t miss out, with Klemen capturing their loved-up performance.
Opening “Arcade” performance goes horribly wrong (or does it?)
The Slovenia Eurovision tribute wasn’t the only thing Klemen had to offer the EMA 2020 audience. He opened the show with a performance of Duncan Laurence’s Eurovision 2019-winning song “Arcade”. It was a faithful recreation of the Tel Aviv performance… up to a point.
Things were going well until the globe descended from the flies. It came loose from its support and crashed onto the piano, causing it to collapse, knocking Klemen on the ground. He emerged from the wreckage bleeding from his head.
A disastrous performance. Or was it?
The video ends with a rehearsal clip with an orange standing in for the moon lamp. It’s shown that the keyboard was designed to collapse, all part of the performance.
This isn’t the first time Klemen Slakonja has brought his unique comedy stylings to EMA. In 2016 he performed his song “Putin, Put Out” — a parody of the Russian president — as the EMA interval act.
The song went on to be a viral hit, amassing more than 29.5 million YouTube views. Many say the performance eclipsed EMA 2016 winner ManuElla, who went on to finish 14th in her Stockholm semi-final.
Klemens previously hosted EMA 2011, 2016 and 2016, as well as an unforgettable stint as Slovenia’s points spokesperson in 2011.
What do you think? Would Klemen Slakonja make a good Eurovision host? Tell us your thoughts below.
I want to see Tinkara Kova?’s face when Klemen performed her song.
If only Raiven sang in Eurovision. I like to see how Klemen would look as her.
As spokeperson in 2011 he was sooo coool (Anke – Danke :D)
Did they give him the actual outfits of the artists? Because they look insanely original. Amazing medley btw!
Waw ! This medley is excellent. Congratulations for this stunning moment !
Jon-Ola Sand says ‘humour doesn’t travel’… well, this piece says ‘in your face’… sooo hillarious! Well done, Klemen! Also: I just realised how many great treats we’ve had from Slovenia over the years.
That’s haawwt.
Putin putout was great but Ruf Mich Angela is even greater
I just love him. My favourite is his parody of Angela Merkel, Ruf mich Angela
Brilliant!!!
For some reason he always reminds me of Xander from Buffy 🙂
Hopefully he will grace the ESC stage at some point. Either as performer or host. Imagine him, Petra Mede and Filomena together, what a treat!
Send HIM to eurovision please!
Yes, please! I’m rooting now for Slovenia to win in coming years, so he can host the whole thing
Imagine him doing the same thing with every Eurovision winner!
Haha, nicely done!
This was the highlight of Slovenian selection. Such talented and charismatic host!
Haha, Klemen did it again, he is an great comedian and impersonator! 🙂
He already impersonated famous singers, singing about how Slovenia should win Eurovision, you should check it out 🙂 (“Klemen Slakonja as One Man Band – Slovenia Will Win”).
Fyi, in Slovenian, the word “arkada” means part of the head/skull, therefore you can now see the connection to Duncan’s song “Arcade” and how Klemen’s head “injury”fits the theme 🙂
I found his Arcade ‘mishap’ really unfunny. I spent 5 minutes behind shocked and worried. I must not understand Slovenian humor! 🙂
Lighten up boomer
I’m not a boomer. It was really consufing if you watched it live! 🙂
Ugh who says “boomer” .. dreadful phrase
They need to send him to eurovision, he is incredibly talented
He was hilarious. I seriously thought he was injured at the beginning, but luckily not
Woah, very nice! Great job 🙂
He’s good!
He also looks kind of great as a woman.
Looks like someone conjured the spirits of 25 Slovenian entries and palce them unto himself. ahihihi
He would make an excellent Eurovision host tbh .. first seen him in 2011 on the Slovenian selection and he’s a great entertainer
How did he change costumes that fast
And how did he manage to multiply himself on stage?
Magic, definitely.
It can be prerecorded not live maybe
They are the Slovenian artists what do you mean
I watched this and thought it was Lindgren-tastic!
Excellent work on the costumes.