Croatian broadcaster HRT has announced the 14 acts that will compete in the national final Dora 2021. Among the names is Croatia‘s Eurovision 2016 act Nina Kraljić who previously represented Croatia at Eurovision 2016.
The 14 finalists were selected by a jury made up of Croatian broadcasting experts Andrej Babić, Hrvoje Prskalo, Matija Cvek, Monika Lelas and Uršula Tolj. They listened to 140 songs from 135 applicants and whittled the list down to 14 grand finalists.
This year there is also a reserve list of four acts who will step in if any of the other finalists are suddenly unable to compete at the grand final in February.
Among the competing acts is Croatia’s Eurovision 2016 star Nina Kraljić. Four years ago she was internally selected to represent Croatia in Stockholm, but this time Nina will face the pressures of a national final. She will compete with the song “Rijeka”, which she has co-written.
Croatian pop legend Tony Cetinski will also compete. He previously represented Croatia at Eurovision 1994, where he sang “Nek’ ti bude ljubav sva”. This time he’ll be performing with Kiki Rahimovski, singing “Zapjevaj, Sloboda Je!”.
The lineup will also feature Dora 2019 act Bernarda Brunović, who was also one of the songwriters behind Destiny’s “All of My Love”. She had even entered an early version of the song to Dora 2020 but didn’t make the cut. But 2021 is Bernarda’s time to shine. She will compete with “Colors”, co-written with Eurovision hitmakers Borislav Milanov.
The reserves list also includes a track written by Eurovision 2017 singer Jacques Houdek. The song “Megaloman” will be performed by ENDI — who also was one of Roko’s angels at Eurovision 2019.
Dora 2021: Competing acts
- Albina – “Tick-Tock” (B. Mihaljević – M. Cinnamon / T. Buklijaš Bakić)
- Ashley Colburn & Bojan Jambrošić – “Share The Love” (I. Šjunca – A. Colburn / I. Škunca)
- Bernarda – “Colors” (B. Georgiev Milanov / B. Brunović)
- Beta Sudar – “Ma Zamisli” (P. Martinjak)
- Brigita Vuco – “Noći Pijane” (B. Vuco)
- Cambi – “Zaljubljen” (M. Mirković)
- Ella Orešković – “Come This Way” (S. Reljić Simba – E. Orešković)
- Eric – “Reci Mi” (E. Vidović)
- Filip Rudan – “Blind” (F. Rudan / A. Franić / H. Domazet – F. Rudan / A. Franić)
- Mia Negovetić – “She’s Like a Dream” (M. Negovetić / L. Deb / D. Jamm / D. Kertes)
- Nina Kraljić – “Rijeka” (H. Librenjak – Miki Solus / N. Kraljić)
- Sandi Cenov – “Kriv” (S. Reljić Simba – Fayo)
- Toma – “Ocean Of Love” (A. Pupavac / A. Bjorkman / K. Persson / T. Marić – A. Pupavac)
- Tony Cetinski & Kiki Rahimovski – “Zapjevaj, Sloboda Je!” (K. Rahimovski)
Dora 2021 reserve acts
- Elis Lovrić – “Brodolom” (E. Lovrić)
- Endi (Feat. Lora) – “Megaloman” (A. Čubrić / J. Houdek – A. Čubrić)
- Pjerino Ružević – “Soldier” (P. Ružević / A. Bjorkman / A. Pupavac / J. Alin – P. Ružević / A. O’Connor)
- Z/11 – “Only Love” (B. Čakić / I. Ivić / R. Babić – B. Čakić / N. Špralja)
Not returning for another attempt is Dora 2020 winner Damir Kedžo. He earlier revealed he had not entered the contest as he felt he did not have a suitable song this year.
Broadcaster HRT has not confirmed when the songs will be released, but like last year, we probably won’t hear the songs until the broadcast of the Dora grand final.
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.
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!
This Nina K. person recently spat on the entire Croatian music scene in national newspapers. Guess this is another attempt to sell herself to Europe. But who spits on their own country won’t respect any other.
I’m so hyped about Nina, Albina, Filip and Mia. Can’t wait to hear their songs
Oh, Nina. Nice to see you again!
In Europe it’s usually spelled “Colours” with a letter “u” in it
Both spellings are correct..
Is M.Cinnamon, one of the composers of Albina ‘s song is the same Max Cinnmon which was candidates in 2018 in France’s Destination Eurovision ???
Yes, that’s him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-PT8qmFl_0
Watch this, Albina ft. Filip…almost 30 million views.
ENDI!!!
(Sorry, I’m not sure what happened there.) 😀
aw so is bernarda’s ‘colours’ the same boris factory track that’s had poli genova and michela’s demos leaked for a few years or
Mr. Milanov pushing same demos from artist to another until someone just says “Sigh, well I’ll sing it”
rijeka 2022
Excited about Nina (“Lighthouse” was my by far my favorite studio version that year) and Mia (I was rooting for her to win last year, I believe she can do even better this time with a stronger song). Seeing that Colin is excited with the lineup as a whole, I guess we’ll have a much more interesting Dora this time.
I find the inclusion of the four reserve acts very curious. I’m pretty sure they were included because of coronavirus but I’m not sure about the quality of them. Surely if there was an amazing song among them then it would have been included among the main lineup.
Hopefully the top 14 are so amazing that even the four great reserve acts couldn’t make it in? That’s the optimist in me….
Isn’t Filip Rudan the winner of last season of The Voice Croatia? If Albina is also from The Voice, it will be interesting to see them competing against each other again. I love their version of Lovely, I really recommend watching it, it’s amazing
Filip was second, Albina third
vinko cemeras winner a the voice of croatia while Filip Rudan was only second, and Albina only took third place
Isn’t Colors already leaked? I remember the rumour when was published that Michela’s song is called Colors and that Poli recorded a demo for that song in 2016.
I was thinking the same
M.Cinnamon, B.Milanov, A.Bjorkman: I really like these collaborations between a local and external composer. This is such a strong field, please do not choose another over-theatrical Houdek song Croatia! I really miss Croatia in the 90s, give us a “Sveta Ljubav” or “Marija Magdalena”.
Who is A. Bjorkman though? Which song has he written so far?
Some random Swede, I assumed 🙂
He wrote Redemption from Dora 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_pk5hHanJM
I really feel like Croatia is the one county in Eurovision that hasn’t produced a legendary Eurovision song or an icon. I don’t think it’s going to happen any time soon.
Marija Magdalena says hello.
North Macedonia, Slovenia and Czechia too.
What about Mikolas Josef, and possibly Tamara Todevska? I would say Georgia, even though they switch up, and, with no disrespect to Shirusho and Aram, thought the same about Armenia until this year, when they sent the song to be remembered by in my honest opinion.
Whilst Slovenia have had several fan faves and good songs, they are a hard nation to remember by.
“Proud” was and ordinary ballad. It wasn’t very memorable and the only thing people remember about Mikolas Josef is his back injury or whatever problems he had before Eurovision semi final.
Proud was simple and a bit of a Conchita meets Salvador meets Barbra Streisand ballad, but it won the jury section.
Lie To Me was a contemporary and energetic song which was good TV. Not a realistic winner, but was enjoyable and something to remember Czech by.
I agree. I defo think that Gabriela reduced stigma surrounding ESC in the Czech Republic (a country I have been to once) and than, after going for the same approach didn’t work with the public in Kiev, the Czechs knew that they just needed to have a process to get fans invested more. It worked.
All 3 have had great songs many times so i dont see your point.
Dance Alone, Sebi, and Friend of a Friend say hello
hahahaha SO FALSE: Neka mi ne svane and Marija Magdalena and they are just 2 of many
I hace a hunch that Rotterdam 2021 will be a very competitive edition. We’ll have a lot of ESC 2020 stars plus the winners of this season’s national selections. I can assure you we’ll have a really interesting and one-off outcome of all this. Don’t miss out on it next May!
Nina’s song will supposedly be an epic ethno ballad with Lado members as backing vocals. The same group that accompanied Boris Novkovic in 2005. https://youtu.be/0pfaElEFo28
But that’s just based on her instagram posts with them.
If that’s true, take my money now.
she’s a 5G truthing nutter she can get in the bin
Is Tick-Tock’s songwriting “M. Cinnamon” THE Max Cinnamon from Destination Eurovision fame? If it is, I liked him!
Yes, he is 🙂
Max + Albina = This certainly feels promising. 🙂
Ailleurs was my favorite DE entry that year!
Ah, sweet Max Cinnamon. Good to see he is doing well.
Wasn’t Tony Cetinski anti-lockdown and a COVID denier? Beyond that, solid lineup!
Sadly, I think he is. He definitely sung in the big rally opposing wearing masks (”Marches for freedom”). And the title of his song is: ”Sing, the Freedom Has Arrived!” I hope I’m wrong, but I sense that he might be re-affirming a similar stance in this song.
Rallies opposing wearing masks during a pandemic… we’re living in weird weird times. I really hope the song is not about that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it is about that considering it’s like all the nfs this year has one controversial song (Eesti Laul has Alabama Watchdog, FiK has Jo)
Please don’t tell me “Jo” has lyrics of that level of stupidity, because without knowing them and judging just by the sound, it’s my favorite entry in FiK. By the way, I should look for the lyrics, I guess now I already can find translations.
Unfortunately, Jo is anti-abortion. It’s sad since I really liked the song before finding this out.
Ufff…. I just went to the lyrics section. I was reading the lyrics as much as I could when making my list, but about half of them were unavailable at the time. I really like Jo’s lovely instrumental, but now that I know the meaning, I don’t think it will remain in my top 10. 🙁 I mean, I know it’s a controversial topic and I personally much prefer sharing awareness of preventive protection, but I also believe that every woman should make her own choices of her own body. Sorry, Erik, this just isn’t for me.
We’re on the same page, Colin. I’m always avoiding picking favorites without knowing the lyrics first, but usually I just fear they’re bad, not that they can clash with what I think it’s right or sensitive. I searched for the lyrics of the fandom’s favorites and my personal favorites on FiK and sadly I couldn’t find even the lyrics in Albanian for some of them like Wendi’s or Sardi’s (are you reading, Tibor, was that the one you asked me to pay attention to?). I hope I don’t have further disappointment with that. On the other hand, Inis’, Mirud’s and… Read more »
Fortunately, a kind person offered to translate some of the lyrics under “Who should win FiK” poll and Tibor and I asked for Klinti, Xhesika and Sardi. Personally, I really liked all 3 songs’ lyrical content. I also looked up those available, so Inis, Mirud, Anxhela, Era, Rosela and some others are covered too. I believe all of these songs have either lovely or at least standard and harmless lyrics. Out of my favorites, I couldn’t find Wendy’s lyrics anywhere, but judging by the title and some of the words I managed to phonetically pick up, it’s about being in… Read more »
“usually I just fear they’re bad, not that they can clash with what I think it’s right or sensitive” Yeah, you very well pointed out the difference between “message” and “expression”, when it comes to lyrics. 🙂 Between an idea behind the song and delivering it in a pretty and poetic way . For example, I believe that Jo actually has artistically well delivered words, which makes it’s problematic message even more manipulative. Because in this song , I don’t feel like the artists are just clumsy, lazy or misunderstood. I felt every word like a lead. And felt so… Read more »
I’ve checked EscStuff’s translations. I even commented on the post (and the funny thing is that I listed 3 entries as my favorites and now I have a completely different top 3), but never went back there. I’m glad that Estonia, Iceland and maybe other countries I’m not remembering now offer the lyrics when they release the songs. It helps a lot. Even for those who speak the language, I would say. It’s always good to read them calmly. The people involved with “Jo” are clearly talented. Maybe in the near future I’ll support one of their songs. But the… Read more »
Yeah, Erik and both of his writers are obviously very talented and I am ready to hear some songs I’ll love from them in the future. I think that Jo is objectively a quality-made song – for those who can embrace or ignore it’s message. Unfortunately, I really cannot support it anymore and now I just can’t reward it with a high place on my list. However, I know this is highly subjective. 🙂
And yeah, Gigliola’s song is really well written. All in all, vast majority of FiK writers are still showing above average skills. 🙂
I’m mortified about it. Such a cool and modern sound, but the lyrics go in the opposite direction. Thank you and RedX for warning me about that.
Ikr. I had Jo in my top 5. Now I’m not so sure…
Same here. Well, at least I’m really feeling Gigliola’s entry right now. It became my new favorite.
nina has some of the most interesting vocals i’ve ever heard, i’m more than excited for her comeback + i’m glad it’s a song in croatian! i also loved mia last year, i’m hyped for her.
Considering the sentiment of our people, I would not be surprised if we sent another klapa entry – this time a melodious and an audible one, and not an annoying cacophony, with an overly and unnecessarily complicated arrangement/ performance, tacky styling or non-attractive staging… Anyway, whatever we optb for, keep it simple, melodious and appealing, regardless of whether we send an entry with a catchy tune or a power ballad – keep it simple and make us feel proud after a long while! Vrime je, jbt! Posaljimo NAPOKON nesto uhu ugodno, a oku privlacno, a ne uvijek nekakve naporne eksperimente… Read more »
Translations of the titles:
Beta Sudan: Ma zamisli – Just imagine
Brigita Vuco: Noci pijane – Drunken nights
Cambi: Zaljubljen – In Love
Eric: Reci mi – Tell me
Nina Kraljic: Rijeka – It can either refer to the river or to her (and my) hometown of Rijeka. Possibly both.
Sandi Cenov: Kriv – Guilty
Tony & Kiki: Zapjevaj, sloboda je! – Sing, the freedom is (likely implying – Sing, the freedom has arrived!)
Elis Lovric: Brodolom – Shipwreck
Endi feat. Lora: Megaloman – Megalomaniac
OMG… It just hit me… Tony will likely sing *about Covid restrictions*… facepalm. 🙁
As if Alabama Watchdog and La La Love aren’t enough…
What is wrong with La La Love? I think I missed that…
La La Love is far more benign than Alabama Watchdog, as I believe it’s silly lyrics are a product of clumsy writing, rather then being provocative or disrespectful. But the chorus goes: ”Cause love is my disease, I don’t need no medication, I want it to infect my generation” It was most likely meant as a cheerful celebration of (hoped for at the time) ending of lockdown and partying as sign of revival. However, the clumsily it’s been put, it feels like it’s dismissive towards the issue. I actually find it hilarious. A lyrical gem, but probably not for the… Read more »
Is it true that your broadcaster (if you are from Croatia as it seems) have already presented short snippets of the songs on their channel? I think I read that somewhere but I can’t remember…
Yes, I am from Croatia. Unfortunately, no, I cannot find them. Not on HRT page, not on YT, not on Facebook or Instagram. If there are some, I cannot see a hint of their release. Where did you get that from? It would be good if it were true…
And do you know when they will release the songs? I am dying to listen a few of them…
Well I don’t remember it. Surrely it was on a Wiwi comment or under a Youtube video. But I remember that the person was talking about he saw snippets on his TV, and said that Nina’s song was good! (Yeah he apparently already knew Nina was competing so I don’t know what were his sources but actually he was right). By the way I have another question, one of the songwriter behind Albina’s song is reportedly named “M.Cinnamon”. Do we know so far his full name and is he a popular Croatian songwriter/artist because as a French it immediately connected… Read more »
It’s the french Max – she follows him and he follows her.
Oh really, then wow. That’s totally unexpected. I can’t wait to see what will follow! I knew Max was part-French and part-English but I didn’t knew he had Croatian roots. Maybe he doesn’t have it too and just brought his talent and expertise in this European collaboration. Back in DE2018, he composed his track on his own and we all saw the result. That was awesome. It makes me even more impatient now!!
Names means nothing for me if there are no songs available..
HRT should release them at some point in order to produce some hype.
Have you watched Dora before? If they released the “songs” in advance it would be like dropping a nuke on their viewer share.
Ok, this is a very cool line-up. With younger audiences, obvious four names with a buzz will be Nina, Mia, Filip and Albina. Now, all four of them have 10/10 vocals, but the impact will depend on the songs. Nina is already a seasoned singer with her defined style, so I expect something interesting from her. Mia deserves an even more immediate song than the one she had last year. Filip and Albina are both relatively new, so I hope they won’t succumb to accepting generic pop songs with no substance. Give these two something with rhythm and meaning behind… Read more »
Filip is fantastic! I think he may go to final with a half-decent song! 🙂
YES! This sounds promising it will probably be the best Dora since it came back. Filip, Mia, Albina, Nina and Bernarda all sound promising!
As for the candidates, I am very happy that Nina Kraljic is back, this time in Croatian it is worth mentioning Albina new face, her song is high on the charts and Mia Negovetic why the Swedes helped again, and now it’s time for the disadvantages Filip Rudan is a ballad after English and the question is what is Tony doing here, the one who is against restriction and vaccination and the pandemic itself.
Linnea Deb wrote a song? That’s interesting..
Omg Filip and Albina ???
Bernarda, Beta, Nina, Mia and Albina hype
Bernarda’s aiming high, isn’t Colors one of Poli Genova’s unfinished songs from Bulgaria’s internal selection final?
Im most excited for Mia, Albina and Filip.
I’m over HRT not releasing the songs til the day of the final. It’s so genuinely annoying, and I can’t understand any possible reason why they do it.
Furthermore worth noting Andrej Babic as one of the jurors. Composer of many esc songs from Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Portugal. He should know how to pick out a good song for Dora!
He really should, as his ESC songs are really, really good. However, I have to note that, unlike many other NFs, the last two years Dora had five regional juries, with five jurors each. Meaning, while it objectively can be argued as more fair, it can also mean that a single juror with a good taste cannot do much on his own. I can only hope that most of them will do a good job.
He let in Tony Cetinski, note for his anti-vaccine statements. That means he has no music taste.
Just to clarify, Tony said that the song is about the freedom that we are impatiently waiting for and about all of us coming together after corona ends. So all of this anti-vaccine stuff in the song is just gossip, because those are his general opinions and people assumed the song is about that as well.
The protest against Covid restrictions was called Festival Slobode, which really leaves little space for it to be interpreted as just a gossip lol
My TOP 5
you haven’t heard the songs yet… what are you even ranking?
no Tomi Bralic, shame on you HRT 🙁