Earlier in the year, Croatia‘s broadcaster HRT confirmed that the national final Dora would again be used to select the country’s act for Eurovision. Now HRT has revealed more details about Dora 2021. The grand final will take place on February 13, and the broadcaster is planning four different scenarios for possible Covid responses.
After much press speculation, the broadcaster has finally confirmed the timeline. The grand final of Dora 2021 will take place on February 13 2021.
The contest will be held in the Croatian seaside resort town of Opatija. However, like a lot of things in this current climate, that’s all dependent on the coronavirus.
HRT says that, like the producers of Eurovision 2021, the Dora team will plan four different scenarios for how the national final could be held, depending on the state of the Covid-19 pandemic. While HRT has not given details of the scenarios, it seems it will resemble the Eurovision plans. Eurovision 2021 has scenarios ranging from a “business as usual” show to versions with different levels of social distancing.
But regardless of how the Croatian national final is staged, Dora producer Uršula Tolj is determined the show must go on. She said, “Just as the Eurovision Song Contest will not be cancelled, neither will Dora. Croatia is participating in the competition and continues the resumed tradition of choosing its representative in the national competition.”
Director-General of HRT Kazimir Bačić also had support for the competition. He said, “Dora is a festival that only further confirms that HRT knows how to make a top spectacle and produce an extremely demanding project. It has people and equipment up to world standards, but also promotes local popular music and continues to support Croatian musicians in these difficult global times of the corona crisis.”
Entries for Dora 2021 will open in just over a week, on Monday 26 October and will close on 10 December.
Will Damir Kedžo compete in Dora 2021?
While some Eurovision 2020 artists have already been given a return ticket to Rotterdam, Damir Kedžo’s path back is less certain.
The Dora 2020 winner was not internally selected by HRT, however, the broadcaster has confirmed that Damir is still welcome to enter Dora 2021.
Damir has not confirmed whether or not he will enter Dora. However, he has commented on the disappointment he felt at not being internally selected, but he remains philosophical. He said, “As difficult as all this may be, I believe it is my school of life. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and I want to make my dreams come true more than ever.”
And Damir appears to remain focused on his Eurovision dream, saying “Dreams are not given up, and I will never give up on going to Eurovision.”
What do you think? Who would you like to see at Dora 2021? Who should represent Croatia in Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below.
Croatia has the most interesting music scene of all former Yugoslav countries. To bad then that Dora is such a bore and doesnt reflect the industry at all. Most of the entries are bland middle of the road ballads, eurodance entries or generic forgettable soul pop. Nothing that will set the stage on fire. But at least they compete and see the value of it, unlike Montenegro…
It is worth mentioning that Urszula as the head of the delegation finally introduces changes to Dora and I have been waiting for her for so many years, the right person on HRT TV who takes Eurovision seriously and I want to get involved in Eurovision. To improve the reputation of Eurovision in Croatia, I hope a good artist will submit his piece to Eurovision and the Croatian music market is very good. I know many good artists from this country
one of my least favorite nfs tbh. But Croatia has lots of talent – Vlaho and Filip Rudan come to my mind (and I think they both want to do esc).. also Nina Kraljic also confirmed that she will probably apply to Dora!
wow nina!!
I hope HRT release the songs before the night itself. Revealing them during the show only works in a multi stage format like Melfest, not in a one night final.
Klapa Sufit pls to enter Dora