The wait is over! With only one week to go until the Dora 2021 final beams out live from Opatija, Croatian broadcaster HRT has published one-minute snippets of all 14 competing songs. Only one will get to represent Croatia at Eurovision 2021.
Dora 2021 snippets
This year the broadcaster has decided to shake things up a little and reveal the snippets one-week early. In the past, HRT would typically reveal the snippets a mere 24 hours before the big night, with the full versions debuting during the live broadcast.
And the latter rule is to stay. We won’t hear the songs in full until the final. That’s next Saturday, 13 February 13 from 20.10 CET!
You can listen to the 1-minute snippets in a playlist below.
Dora 2021 running order
- Nina Kraljić – “Rijeka” (H. Librenjak – Miki Solus / N. Kraljić)
- Eric – “Reci Mi” (E. Vidović)
- Ella Orešković – “Come This Way” (S. Reljić Simba – E. Orešković)
- Bernarda – “Colors” (B. Georgiev Milanov / B. Brunović)
- Sandi Cenov – “Kriv” (S. Reljić Simba – Fayo)
- Toma – “Ocean Of Love” (A. Pupavac / A. Bjorkman / K. Persson / T. Marić – A. Pupavac)
- Filip Rudan – “Blind” (F. Rudan / A. Franić / H. Domazet – F. Rudan / A. Franić)
- Beta Sudar – “Ma Zamisli” (P. Martinjak)
- Cambi – “Zaljubljen” (M. Mirković)
- Ashley Colburn & Bojan Jambrošić – “Share The Love” (I. Šjunca – A. Colburn / I. Škunca)
- Brigita Vuco – “Noći Pijane” (B. Vuco)
- Mia Negovetić – “She’s Like a Dream” (M. Negovetić / L. Deb / D. Jamm / D. Kertes)
- Albina – “Tick-Tock” (B. Mihaljević – M. Cinnamon / T. Buklijaš Bakić)
- Tony Cetinski & Kiki Rahimovski – “Zapjevaj, Sloboda Je!” (K. Rahimovski)
Dora 2021: Everything you need to know
After much discussion, it has been decided that Dora 2021 will be held in its usual surroundings of the Marino Cvetković Hall in the coastal town of Opatija – just as in the past two editions.
Except this time, to ensure that epidemiological measures are satisfied, there will be no live audience or press. Every single Dora participant will also have to bring a negative COVID-19 test to Opatija.
Four ladies will host the contest. These are barbara Kolar, Daniel Trbović, Jelena Lešić and Doris Pinčić.
The Croatian national final also sees a change to Melodifestivalen style voting system this year in order to ensure there are no ties again. The regional jury will give their set of scores, with the public’s share to be split into percentages based on the total points the jury has. In case a tie occurs, the public vote will prevail.
What do you make of the snippets? Can Croatia reach the Eurovision final this year? Let us know in the comments!
Photo credit: Eurosong HRT Facebook
Ella Oreškovi?!! Already amazing based on that snippet.
Albina definitely!
I’m team Blind all the way. I just love that kind of ballad. Plus we need a male voice in the second half of the first semi final. I would be delighted if Filip won. I also quite like Bernarda and Mia’s songs. I don’t get the hype with Nina Kraljic personally. Sorry.
Congratulations to selectors of the Dpra 2021 for the content. Its great to hear steong NF competition and that stand out this editon from previous ones. My Top 14 / it will change moat probably after the live performances 1. Nina Kraljic: powerful, masmereaised and I belive she will soundy fantastic vocally on stage. Apparently, the staging will be dark, present human connection with nature 2. Albina: Almost share first position with Nina, but have to wait for the final night to hear how it will bring it live! Coreography will be outstanding, no doubt. 3. Mia : well done… Read more »
…you raise valid points and I can mostly agree with you, but cannot escape the feeling that Cambi’s Zaljubljen is the entry we should select. That is the only song that has remained in my memory and I gladly listen to it.
BERNARDA!
It will be a ESC 2016 reunion. Sanja Vu?i?, Jüri Pootsman and Nina Kralji?
Nina clearly has the best song.
It’s by far the best lineup since Dora returned. Nina stands out to me, I’m her fan since “Lighthouse” and she hasn’t disappointed. From the more conventional options, I believe Albina and Mia are the ones to look for. I have mixed feelings about Filip’s song. His voice immediately dragged me in, but when the melody changes, it’s like the track expired all of a sudden. Maybe it will work better when we hear the rest of it.
Ugh just release the songs. Enough of the secretively. Let us enjoy the songs.
Nina and Cambi the best from the snippets by a long shot.
my girl NINA, i knew she wouldn’t disappoint us…
This is one of best this year!
Surprisingly ok selection. Nina and Albina are the best imho with Mia to follow. Bernarda is a bit underwhelming.
This year pre-recorded vocals are allowed on Eurovision without limit on how many there can be. Also, 3 people in the picture are dancers, 2 pole dancers and 1 aerial dancer ( I think?).
Bernarda is soooo good, best choice.
Also Albina and Mia are okay.
Albina, Bernarda or Nina for the win!
I kind of like “Blind” but the chorus is far stronger than the verses. About the others, there’re a couple of standouts and some fillers. They could just sticked with the standouts tbh, quality over quantity.
At first listen I would go for Nina, Mia, Bernarda o Filip.
Nina Kralji?!!!
According to the snippets, Nina and Cambi are the best ones. No swedish songs or Milanov, please !
The Nina’s song makes me think of Albania, it’s a power ballad with ethnic elements like for Albania this year and like Albania is used to send.
Fortunately they are not in the same semifinal.
Well, there are quite a number of current sexy and sassy songs…quite unexpected from Croatia.
Good luck.
Most likely outcome is that Tony is going to win and the ESC fandom is going to be upset.
My very first impressions (likely to change after hearing full versions and performances): Best ones: Rijeka (River) – I got goosebumps! Nina brought quality and this is likely the one to watch on the night. I just hope that the opening spot and international juries don’t nip it’s chances in a bud. Preliminary has my vote! 🙂 Tick-Tock – Albina promised a banger and a banger she delivered. I can see this being very captivating on stage. I get that it feels like a Scandinavian song, but I think it’s cool. She’s Like a Dream – It’s a nice song.… Read more »
There will no be International jury!
I had the most expectations from Mia, but it’s such a let down. There’s some really good songs! Well done Croatia! This is looking interesting! Don’t fu*k it up Croatia! You have really good chances this year!
12 points – Albina – Tick Tock
10 points – Bernarda – Colors
8 points – Nina – Rijeka
The selection of this year it’s better than last year at least, No winner song here but it’s a pretty decent selection.
I like: 3, 4, 7, 8, 12
so true, Mia’s song is about 1000 times better than her song from 2020.
Nina and Eric seem the only ones to stand out here, but Nina’s song could be really great. I have high expectations
Honestly, this could be the year Croatia places the best it has ever been.
Well I made the mistake of going through YouTube tops instead of the actual snippets first . The part of Rijeka that the tops show made me feel , this is ok , not the greatest. But I realised the ‘aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa’ before the chorus which all the YouTube tops included is the only part of the snippet that I’m not fond of. It sounds a bit flat. I would urge Nina to change the ‘aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa’ structure to make it more dynamic. Other than that the song is exceptional and will certainly make Croatia qualify and do better than Nina did… Read more »
I listen to the snippets and for now “Rijeka” is the most interesting song. I like also:
Song nr. 5,7,9,14. But for me is Nina Kralji? – “Rijeka” my winner
Almost all of these songs seem super dated, altho some manage to make this work. I believe Nina is the best option, at least it stands out. I am not against Colors either and Cambi’s song would be my #1 guilty pleasure but god knows how that would do. Il Volo meets No Name.
Too many of the songs sounds like they could just be in any other NF and that’s not what I really want the likes of Croatia to bring to the contest. Thank goodness for Nina and what seems to be a brilliant piece of ethno-pop. It could be great.
Croatian music is more than ethno.pop, unfortunately it seems that ethno-pop is the only thing people wants to hear from Croatia. Which is kind of sad. Croatia has a very vibrant music scene and this is the first time I think Dora reflects that.I think Nina will win too simply because it’s the type of thing Croatia sends but it would be fun if they send something else.
Nina kraljic is really the outstanding entry here! Traditional in a good way, the vocals remind me of Russia 2009.
My 2nd place is ToMA. A light hearted uplifting song that could scrap it to the final.
Zaljubljen is like a better version of mižerja
Didn’t know Croatia could have such a good selection! I should follow Dora more closely because I really liked these songs.
There’s a lot of filler, but some songs are nice.
My favourites are the first two: Rijeka (Nina) and Reci mi (Eric). Ella’s Come This Way (I really like the 80s vibe) and Albina’s Tick-Tock are fine too. Colors, in the other hand, sounds like a very generic English pop song that pretends to sound ‘current’, I don’t get the fuss about it. The rest is a bit bland and forgettable… (Cambi and Filip make me fall asleep).
This is a really good selection! I only didn’t like 2 songs. There are some that are a little weaker and feel a little empty but still are enjoyable. The only one that really stood out for me tho was Rijeka. Had me hooked from start to end and can’t wait for the whole song to come out.
Wow, everything is looking good for Croatia this year. From Dora changes to now this! Very diverse section and there is few songs that can do very well at Eurovision! Nina’s song is the most authentic to me, and my favorite, followed by Albina and Bernanda. Let’s do this!!
Not gonna lie: This is the most vibrant modern edition of Dora since it¨s return. They usually only have soul pop and ballads, this was really good! No song was really bad.
I think Mia stands out the most and has a great song but I think Nina will win since it¨s the type of song Croatia usually sends!
Rijeka is amazing. Can’t believe she has no chance of winning (she is the first to sing and the croatian delegation don’t like her much, I think).
Why wouldn’t they like her?! Ulla is the head of the delegation and has been among the panel members that, among others, selected Nina as well. If she does well on the stage, she’s in for a victory. The competition is pretty tough this year, so I hope the best one will eventually win.
these songs meet my expectation from Croatia
my favourites from the one-minute snippets are:
Kriv, Ocean Of Love, Ma Zamisli, Zaljubljen, She’s Like a Dream and Zapjevaj, Sloboda Je.
The rest are OK overall except 3 (Rijeka, Come This Way and No?i Pijane).
Colors and Rijeka definitely the strongest. Not a big fan of Cambi’s song tbh. It’d be great for Croatia to spice it up a bit with a bop like Colors. I think Nina’s song is my favourite tho. If it won Dora it would definitely be in my top
Listening to them again- love “joci pijane” and “she’s like a dream” Very strong selection this year, Croatia are showing up *claps*
Colors is very nice. Kinda reminds me of Chameleon by Michela. Rijeka is just stunning, wow. And Tick Tock is a bop. Dora raised their quality this year
Nina all the way, that song has pipes
William and Deban, please make a reaction video!
cambi!
Liking the selection! Looking forward to see the live performances.
Albina is out of tune on her track…which doesn’t make me feel confident in her live vocal abilities (but I’m just judging of this clip so could be wrong)! Im really surprised at how many strong tracks there are! Go Croatia
Trust me, Albina has outstanding vocal abilities (Search for her The Voice performances on You Tube). Still, as she is used to singing ballads, I hope that she doesn’t overdo the dancing to the point of appearing breathy.
I am surprised by the amount 80s-inspired pop, but it’s still quite a diverse selection. Rijeka, She’s like a dream and Zaljubljen stood out the most to me. In the end, I would choose Rijeka. I really like the arrangement of voices and sounds.
Nina is good too but my favourite was “Blind” by Filip Rudan. Some would say it is boring and old-fashioned, but I think it has a very enjoyable Hozier-like vibe. There are always a lot of ballads ar ESC, but not like this.
Colors is amazing! I’ve fallen in love with it since a demo by Michela (Malta 2019) was leaked, hoping it would find a way to the Eurovision stage
Pffffff, it’s a really generic song. That’s why it fits Michela or any other singer in Croatia or Uzbekistan. No personality, just commercial, radio-friendly pop song in English.