Following the cancellation of Eurovision last year, the majority of the class of 2020 received the comeback ticket to sing again at Eurovision 2021. A total of 26 artists will return to represent their countries at this year’s contest, but this time with new songs.
Comparisons to their previous entries are natural. So, we want to hear from our readers — do you prefer the returning artists’ 2020 or 2021 songs?
Today, we’re taking a look at Slovenia. In 2020, Ana Soklič was set to take “Voda” to Rotterdam. This year, she’ll be singing “Amen” at Eurovision 2021. But which song is your favourite? Vote in our poll now!
Scroll down to vote in our poll.
“Voda” (Slovenia 2020)
Ana Soklič was chosen as Slovenia’s Eurovision 2020 entrant through the national final EMA 2020. Her song “Voda” was a power ballad sung in her native Slovenian language. The lyrics use water as a universal parable – a multifaceted element of nature characterized by energy, which can suddenly gush out and without which we cannot live.
The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — awarded “Voda” a score of 4.88/10. In his review of the song, wiwiblogger Ron commented:
““Voda” is a beautiful, mysterious, dramatic song matched with the powerful vocals of Ana Soklič. The only disadvantage in its original version was the extremely slow build-up and the verses that were perhaps too long. But the revamp has smoothed out those flaws and polished it into the best version.”
“Amen” (Slovenia 2021)
Slovenian broadcaster RTVSLO internally selected Ana to return to Eurovision in 2021. Her new song is “Amen” (one of two with that song title in this year’s contest).
It’s another ballad, but one that this time draws on gospel influences. Lyrically, “Amen” is about learning to persevere in spite of adversity.
Poll battle — Slovenia: Which Ana Soklic Eurovision entry do you prefer?
In this poll, you can only vote for one song — so be decisive. And as always, you can only vote once. Let the battle commence!
[crowdsignal poll=10776139]
Which of Ana Soklic’s Eurovision songs did you vote for? Are you Team “Voda” or Team “Amen”? Share all your thoughts in the comments down below!
I love Ana’s voice but both songs are unfortunately awful. And it is, after all, a song contest and not a singing contest.
I think she’s the best female vocalist this year, with Destiny & Eden Alene a very close joint second place. Ana’s voice is absolutely amazing & exceptionally deep for a woman. It’s just a shame the songs aren’t better. Put her with a song like Je Me Casse & she’d walk it.
had a hard time picking between… went with the more classy Voda
Voda had a moment that I loved.
Overall , I guess Amen is more competitive though .
I absolutely love Ana’s voice! I appreciate that she gets some attention (she deserves so much more though) this year with “Amen”, but “Voda” hits different (so underrated ugh)
“Amen” is my current 16th place, “Voda” was my 34th.
Amen (the Slovenian one, of course) is horribly underrated.
“Amen” is not bad but I like “Voda” much more
Ana’s voice is stunning. I hope she has staging and production as glorious as her vocals will be. Her ‘home concert’ performance of Voda last year was stunning.
If it was Eurovision: The Voice, I’m sure Slovenia would qualify from SF1.
This. Voice is unique and powerful, but songs are bland as heck. I feel like she could be singing shopping list and they’re would be no difference.
Shopping List (in the style of Amen)
Written (not) by James Newman
Sung (not) by Ana Soklic
Eggs-sss, bacon-nnn
bread for a butty-yyy!
Hallelujah-ah-ah, will taste so goooood
Tea, milk and cookieeees,
Place bets on the bookieeees,
Hallelujah-ah-ah, gamble safely-eeee!
No difference for me really.
Amen by far. I love Balkan ballads but Voda didn’t cut it for me. Amen is my 4th this year. It showcases her beautiful voice, the verses are great and the chorus is empowering and catchy. The only part I’m not very fond of is the long pompous bridge but the rest of the song makes up for it.
Voda was really good after the revamp, I hugely dislike Amen
Voda was my 2nd place last year and I was SO mad why the Eurofans and bookmakers were underrating it so much! The performance on the ESC Youtube isn’t even the revamp or the music video which elevates the song even more, and the lyrics are super. Still get chills. Amen is a bit different; it showcases her amazing voice, it might be missing something here and there but overall she has opportunity to improve like last year. Go Slovenia!
100% agree, my 2nd as well
2020 was one of most underrated song in ESC 2020 by esc fans, bookmakers…
Slovenia 2021 is very underrated at the moment and could be a dark horse of this year. It gives me Conchita Wurst vibes!
Juries will eat this song up!
I hope Slovenia will withdraw in 2022. If Slovenia withdraws, I will be sad and upset.
….what
Well, yeah :/
Make it make sense.
Umm.. yeah.
Do you mean that you think Slovenia will withdraw? Because based on your comment, you’re hoping for something that you say will make you sad and upset
And we thought Semi Final 2’s running order is confusing… 😐
Lol
What? Why are you hoping for something that will upset you ?
Voda was one of my biggest guilty pleasures of 2020 and I’m really proud to say that. Amen was just a disappointment for me but imo neither of the songs deserved to qualify tbh…
Her voice is epic nonetheless
“Voda” by a long mile.
Voda was absolutely epic. It’s ironic, but Amen lacks just a little bit of soul.
I like “Voda” a lot.
“Amen” is alright but it doesn’t wow me as much.
Neither. A big waste of a good voice
Gave my vote to Amen but both songs are just not good enough.
Ana is one of the best singer in this years edition but it wont help her.
Amen is epic. Hallelujah…
I don’t really like either of them, but I think “Amen” is slightly better
Definitely “Voda”. I even had it in my top 3 last year. “Amen” is alright, but for me it doesn’t have “something special”, that would make it remarkable
Voda gets my vote, especially after the revamp where the strings elevated the emotional presence.
Amen is classy as well. I just wish there was a little less of the religious undertones.
Yeah, I can see why people criticise Amen as a quasi-religious entry, but the song does strike me more as leaning on Christian hymn language to sing about perseverance through adversity, rather than a religious battle cry. Either way, it obviously strikes a chord with a lot of people here. We seem to get songs with religious undertones every few years, whether competing in NFs or as selected entries, and they never seem to trouble the leaderboard anyway. Besides, if Elena can sing about El Diablo, I don’t see why Ana can’t have a few Hallelujahs.