Ana Soklic Voda Slovenia Eurovision 2020

From 191 songs there is now only one. Slovenian broadcaster RTV SLO has confirmed that Ana Soklič‘s song for Eurovision 2021 has been selected. The song will be presented at EMA 2021, which will otherwise be a celebration of Slovenia’s 60 years at Eurovision.

RTV SLO confirmed the news today. It follows their announcement in December that from 191 song entries, a shortlist of three had been selected for Ana. And from those three, one song had emerged on stop.

After the 191 songs were assessed by an expert jury, a shortlist of three songs were assessed by a smaller expert jury. The jury selected their favourite, with one member proclaiming, “The song selected is Ana!”

While there had been earlier plans to use EMA 2021 as a national final to select Ana’s song from a small shortlist, due to the pandemic the broadcaster had to keep the number of people involved in EMA 2021 to a minimum.

The show will now be used to premiere Ana Soklič’s song for Rotterdam. As well, it will cover Ana’s preparations for both EMA and Eurovision.

The show will also commemorate Slovenia’s 60th anniversary of its first appearance at Eurovision. Slovenia debut at Eurovision 1961, then as part of Yugoslavia. The very first Yugoslavian entry — Ljiljana Petrović’s “Neke davne zvezde” — was composed by the legendary Slovene musician Jože Privšek.

Ana Soklič’s song for Eurovision 2021

Not much is known about Ana’s song for Rotterdam, but one thing is clear — it won’t be like her 2020 entry “Voda”.

Speaking about her new song, Ana revealed it takes advantage of the new rules allowing pre-recorded backing vocals — and unlike “Voda”, it is not a ballad.

“I am very happy with the chosen song, I hope you will all be too. We also made good use of the unique opportunity with recorded backing vocals, which is allowed by this year’s Eurovision rules due to all the measures. I can’t wait to be able to share the song with you. And, no, it’s not a ballad. “

This follows Ana’s request back in July for songwriters to not limit themselves to just ballads. She urged composers to harness their creative energy and “go as far as is possible” with their songwriting.

The broadcaster has also confirmed that Ana’s song lyrics will be in English.

And there’s a big name behind the song, described as someone who has won Eurovision in the past decade and has previously worked with Miley Cyrus. This could point to the American lyricist Charlie Mason, who co-wrote Conchita Wurst’s 2014 Eurovision-winning song “Rise Like a Phoenix”. He also has a Slovenian connection, having co-written Maraaya’s 2015 song “Here For You”. Most recently be penned Roko’s “The Dream” in 2019.

EMA 2021 will be hosted by comedian Nejc Šmit and “Hvala ne” singer Lea Sirk. The show will take place on Saturday February 27 at 20:00 CET.

What do you think? What kind of song would you like to hear Ana sing in Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below!

Read more Slovenia Eurovision news here

23 Comments
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Loin dici
3 years ago

It’s obviously not a ballad, but I don’t know to what extent is something considered a ballad on Slovenia’s selection. If ballads are the songs with no beats and slow tempos, they could’ve possibly looked at midtempo selections with big vocals, too.Imagine something like Emeli Sande’s songs or Sissi Benton’s ‘Time’.

Since Charlie Mason’s name is already on the mix, I found that interestingly he had worked with Maraaya several times, which could point out we could possibly get a Maraaya song sung by Ana Soklic.

#Parmille
#Parmille
3 years ago

I’m not feeling her as a non-ballad performer. She is a strong vocalist, but she is “niche” which I don’t think will do well with any song she performs. Pass.. :/

Ben
Ben
3 years ago

She’s really switching things up from last year. Good for Ana! I hope it’s a bop 🙂

Jofty
Jofty
3 years ago
Reply to  Ben

As long as it’s not “Ah Yeah Ah Yeah Ah Yeah – Waa-ter!”

Dawid
Dawid
3 years ago

Death metal. Mark my words

Jofty
Jofty
3 years ago
Reply to  Dawid

Maybe rap or reggae? At least she is not dishing up a copy of last year, good as that was. I think this could be one to watch, 100/1 with bookies if of interest!

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
3 years ago

I am curious to hear Ana ‘s new song, but I am also a little dissapointed that the song won ‘t be in Slovene, and I hoped for a great ballad like “Voda”.

Sniper K-Wolf
Sniper K-Wolf
3 years ago

Such a sadness. Last year she will be sure to qualify with “Voda” but now…

Dawid
Dawid
3 years ago
Reply to  Sniper K-Wolf

Sorry but hell no. She has amazing voice but voda is as basic as it can be. Ana od crazy lucky to get proper song

ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
3 years ago

No ballad and in English? Now I’m… actually looking forward to it! 😀

Ben
Ben
3 years ago
Reply to  ESCFan2009

Why all the downvotes? I totally agree with you!

James
James
3 years ago

I was hoping for a a fourth consecutive year of Slovene making an appearance in the contest. 🙁

Ashton Schier
Ashton Schier
3 years ago

Was rly hoping for Slovene, but ok I guess

Lil Krumpy
3 years ago

I really hope they know what they’re doing, since foreign songwriters and english weren’t really what I was hoping for. Nevertheless it could be amazing, and at least we won’t pick the wrong song.

Robbert Landegent
Robbert Landegent
3 years ago

Pre-recorded backing vocals? How can you profit from that. I don’t like karaoke, so no votes for Slovenia by me.

Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago

That is a rule this year, you can do that in 2021. Guessing you won’t be voting for anyone then.

Ben
Ben
3 years ago

The only country who doesn’t deserve votes this year is Belgium (Hooverphonic replaced their lead singer and didn’t tell her until they made the announcement that their old lead singer would be returning for Eurovision AND THEY DIDN’T SING LOVE SHINE A LIGHT WITH ALL OF THE OTHER 40 PARTICIPANTS FROM 2020)!

Last edited 3 years ago by Ben
Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
3 years ago

taylor swift looks amazing in the header photo !

Jo.
Jo.
3 years ago

wouldn’t mind if it was…

Kalla
Kalla
3 years ago

I’m looking forward to hearing. I think I was one of the few that really liked voda, will be interesting to see her doing something non-ballad

Nata
Nata
3 years ago

A bit disappointed it won’t be in Slovene. It can still be a good song, sure, but I was hoping for a good song in Slovene, like Voda

sam
sam
3 years ago

ana is one of the best vocalists this year, i hope the song captures her personality and isn’t bland like “the dream” was

Sale
Sale
3 years ago

I hoped for a ballad because Voda was criminally underrated last year and it was in my top 5, but I still hope she delievers!