She scored Slovenia it’s best result of the 2010s. And now the country has voted Maja Keuc’s Eurovision 2011 entry “No One” as it’s favourite Slovenian entry of all time.
The results were revealed during the broadcaster’s alternative Eurovision special Pesem Evrovizije: Najboljših 25 (Eurovision Song Contest: The Best 25).
Maja Keuc’s “No One” is Slovenia’s favourite Eurovision entry
Maja — now known as Amaya — took Slovenia to 13th position on the scoreboard, scoring 96 points. “No One” did even better in the semi-finals, when it came third. The entry also broke a three year non-qualifiying streak for the country.
On her win, Amaya says:
“We all know that it was a party and not a serious competition. Anyway, thank you for all your votes, it means a lot to me, especially at this time. Thanks also to my team that stood for me and with whom we created this song. I love you and thank you again for a brighter day. “
In second place is the 2002 act Sestre with “Samo ljubezen”. They also placed 13th in the final.
While the drag trio have gone down in history as one of Slovenia’s most iconic entries, their initial selection proved to be very controversial.
A BBC report from the time details homophobic protests and parliamentary debates both at home and in Europe.
Thankfully, attitudes appear to have changed for the better in the intervening 18 years.
In third place, is another recent act — 2015’s Maraaya with “Here For You”. The husband-wife duo opened the grand final in Vienna and ultimately came 14th.
They’ve remained close to the Eurovision scene in Slovenia, working with both the Junior Eurovision 2014 and 2015 acts and national finalists such as BQL.
Slovenia’s Top 25 Eurovision Entries
The full rankings are listed below. They are based on an online vote held between 27 April and 2 May. A total of 30,793 votes were cast.
It was not possible to vote for Ana Soklič’s 2020 entry “Voda”
- Maja Keuc – No One – 2011
- Sestre – Samo ljubezen – 2002
- Maraaya – Here For You – 2015
- Nuša Derenda – Energy – 2001
- Zala Kralj in Gašper Šantl – Sebi – 2019
- Lea Sirk – Hvala, ne! – 2018
- Eva Boto – Verjamem – 2012
- Tinkara Kovač – Round and Round/Spet – 2014
- Darja Švajger – Prisluhni mi – 1995
- Alenka Gotar – Cvet z juga – 2007
- Omar Naber – Stop – 2005
- Tanja Ribič – Zbudi se – 1997
- Rebeka Dremelj – Vrag naj vzame – 2008
- 1X Band – Tih deževen dan – 1993
- Manuella – Blue and Red – 2016
- Darja Švajger – For A Thousand Year – 1999
- Regina – Dan najlepših sanj – 1996
- Omar Naber – On My Way – 2017
- Anžej Dežan – Mr Nobody – 2006
- Karmen Stavec – NaNaNa – 2003
- Quartissimo feat. Martina – Love Symphony – 2009
- Vili Resnik – Naj bogovi slišijo – 1998
- Hannah – Staight Into Love – 2013
- Ansambel Žlindra in Kalamari – Narodnozabavni rock – 2010
- Platin – Stay Forever – 2004
Do you agree with the rankings? What songs were underrated? Who was overrated? Let us know in the comments.
For me TOP 5
1. 2001
2. 1995
3. 2011
4. 1997
5. 2012
TOP 5 without 2020. 2020 on 3 rd place for me
I would have gone for 1995 for sure. I’m guessing the voters were on the younger side…
Amazing Slovenia hasn’t had a top 5 finish really.
No One | Here for You and Havla Ne! are my favorites from Slovenia
One of my favorite entries from Slovenia, indeed 🙂 The strong way she stands there in a gorgeous dress belting it out!
I am glad that people appreciate No One. As I said, I started to do my lists of previous years again and got to 2011. While it certainly contains far more bad and average songs than your usual ESC year, it did have several gems too. Maja’s song might be my favorite 2011 entry. It’s full of energy, builds-up nicely and has an epic third minute climax. Really, there is no one like her. Sebi, Spet and Cvet z juga are also excellent! My Slovene winner would likely be among these four. From the rest, I liked Here For You,… Read more »
Your music reviews are always a pleasure to read, Colin! 😀
And I’m ranking 2015 at the moment xD
Thank you so much, ESCFan 2009! 🙂 I really appreciate your kind words.
2015 was quite interesting. I have many fond memories from then.
Keep hoping to bump into Omer whilst busking on London Underground. Will have to wait a little longer now.
I’d love to find out which Eurovision is actually your favourite based on average rating!
I can count that once I’ve rated them. I will probably do another look at 2017-20 as well, as some details might have changed. Also, note that there are several different factors I could use as determining which is my favorite, notably:
1. Highest average rating of all songs combined
2. Highest number of 8+ songs on my playlist
3. Highest number of 10/10 songs (9.5s might count too)
I’m ranking 2011 again for the moment and it’s really difficult. I don’t think there were bad songs but a lot of bad vocals…
My top 3: 1) Germany (I prefer Lena’s 2011 song than the one from 2010).
2) Italy
3) Slovenia
This top didn’t look this way back in 2011 when I was 14 yo. I feel like I was tasteless :’)
Good taste! Your top 3 are all in my top 5. Going through it again, I still think that there were some good songs in there. I did, however, rate 15 songs as under average, with eight of them probably worse than my last place this year. Some decent songs were botched by bad vocals, but I can hardly put all the blame there. A few are inexcusably bad by any standard. My last place is my only 0/10 rating of 2010s.
I love Maja Keuc, but Zala and Gašper, sweeties…
Also, I always thought Love Symphony would be an ideal piece of music for a magician!
Never really liked it, too shouty
No One has long been a favourite of mine, and I’m happy to see it get recognised. I’ve always enjoyed the ‘James Bond’-esque feel to it and would like to see it performed with an orchestra. Always found it unusual that David Arnold (known for his involvement with James Bond) was on the UK jury that year, but didn’t give it any points
Duo Platin in well deserved last place. Oh God, what a dreadful song that was (and even their cheesy gimmick of getting married in Istanbul with Sertab Erener as their bridesmaid didn’t help them much…I wonder how much Sertab was paid to show up at that event?!). Alya should have won EMA that year with “Fluid”.
And “Sebi” is my favorite one. “Here for You” and”Energy” were great too but they messed up the stagings with those too.
For me Rozmarinke with Klise deserved ESC 2004
Might be minority here but Energy might be the best Slovenian entry ever. It was really ahead of it’s time. The beat, the chorus, the piano riff at the middle. everything is perfect. The fact that it only got 7th in such a weak year is staggering
Agree 100% Denis, outstanding track
And I recall it was tipped to do quite well. There was no reason why it languished in 7th.
I also recall (having grown up near Millstreet) that there was a lot of buzz about their debut entry in ‘93. And they did really poorly.
Hello fellow Corkonian!
Hello to you!
Here are my top 5 entries from Slovenia:
1. Cvet z juga – should have made top 5 in 2007
2. Voda – so purely beautiful but underrated
3. Sebi
4. No One
5. Here for you
She deserved and I want her to see her back so badly. Slovenia would be so well represented! She was my ultimately favorite of 2011 (and of my favorites of all contests) and I was so sad when she ended up in 13th… She rocked the stage. Amaya had an amazing voice, a killer song, only the performance could be a little more elevated, but it wasn’t bad by any means. And this is one of those songs that proofs that juries are needed – this would have been 22nd if it wasn’t them (and you can dislike the song,… Read more »
My top 3: Maja Keuc, Alenka Gotar, Maraaya.
Also loved last year duet and Eva Boto in 2012.
One word on Slovenia’s results: underrated.
2007 is my favorite Slovenian ESC entry if I’m honest. I thought it was pure class.
But hey I was only 14.
Still listen to it sometimes though.
Can’t argue with the winner or most of the order but definitely feel like Alenka Gotar and Anžej Dežan were underrated.
Yeah, Maja is amazing! I also really love Cvet z juga. Very underrated song. While I don’t find Mr. Nobody particularly amazing, 2006 was an exceptionally bad year, so it actually is ranked pretty okay on my list.
My top 5 from Germany
1.2019
2.2011
3.2015
4.2001
5.2012
I’m a little confused 😛 Is this your Geman top five, or a Slovenian top five that you are giving from Germany?
I don’t think Germany 2019 would be someone’s favourite German entry ever.
No one!
Maybe the boys from Hooverphonic, after Love Shine A Light of course ?
it is my top 5 slovenian entries … from Germany xD
They’ve put 2019 in first place, and that would be Sisters, so it can’t be German entries… ?
Honestly, narodnozabavni rock should be second with Sestre first.
Narodnozabavni Rock is one of the worst entries Slovenia has ever sent. Vampir Je Moj Poet was completely robbed in that year’s EMA.
The Slovenian version of no one was miles better in my taste
My top 3 from Slovenia:
1. 1993
2. 2002
3. 2017
I voted for Zalagasper!
They so deserved the first place