With the withdrawal of Montenegro and North Macedonia from Eurovision this year, only three countries from former Yugoslavia will compete at the 2023 contest in Liverpool.
While the region has been known for sending memorable ballads to the contest over the years, they also like to keep things fresh. Their entries from this year will definitely get your attention, get you on your feet, and maybe even get you dancing.
Croatia will be represented by the five-piece rock band Let 3 with their track “Mama ŠČ!“, a gleefully chaotic song with an anti-war theme. Let 3 have already established their popularity and reputation in Croatia by pushing boundaries through their provocative, absurd brand of music over the last two decades. If the band’s national final performance is any indication, fans will be in for a wild ride in May.
Serbia this year brings a dose of the avant-garde with Luke Black’s “Samo Mi Se Spava”, a techno-pop track about feelings of isolation. Luke’s musical talent has made him a rising star in Serbia and abroad, and has earned him the nickname of “Serbian pop alchemist”.
Slovenia’s five-man indie rock band Joker Out will perform “Carpe Diem”, an upbeat song about enjoying life to the fullest. The five band members have known each other since childhood, and became the most streamed band in Slovenia in 2022. With their unique brand of “shagadelic rock ‘n’ roll”, they are ready to bring the party to Liverpool.
We want to know which of these three entries your favourite is. Which country of former Yugoslavia has the best chance of climbing to the top of the scoreboard in Liverpool?
If you need a refresher on the three songs before you cast your votes then scroll down below.
Once you’re ready, you can vote for any number of countries. But remember that you can only vote once.
Poll: What’s the best former Yugoslav entry at Eurovision 2023?
Listen to the former Yugoslavia Eurovision 2023 songs
Croatia: Let 3 with “Mama ŠČ!”
Serbia: Luke Black with “Samo mi se spava”
Slovenia: Joker Out with “Carpe Diem”
Which of the three entries did you vote for? Who do you think will make it to grand final? Let us know in the comments below.
1. Slovenia
2. Serbia
3. Croatia
Slovenia 10,5/12
Serbia 9/12
Croatia 4/12
Actually none but if I were to chose I would chose Serbia. Slovenia is way overrated and is actually a run of the mill song, produced by the dozen. No comment about Croatia.
Yugoslavia was a country torn apart by war more than 30 years ago – is it right that we’re still asking this questions?
Wouldn’t it be more appropriate and more forward thinking to ask, “Which of the Balkan countries has the best entry?”
I mean, you’re not asking “Which of the former USSR countries is your favourite entry?”
As someone from that region, it is right to ask this question rather than Balkan-wide one, since ex-yugo area is also pretty much speaking same/very similar languages. So I think it makes us a separate group
Easy, Serbia. Slovenia is meh. And Croatia hurts my ears.
Serbia is a very easy NQ, we are tired of these pretentious anti-war messages, last place in semi material more
Serbia is an all-time favorite and my joint winner of the year (along with Spain), Croatia probably my 5th place and Slovenia also somewhere in the lower top 10, very good year for the region even with only 3 countries remaining.
Why not which Austro-Hungarian country has the best song? Or which former Ottoman Empire song do you like the most? How is this relevant to anybody anywhere? Yugoslavia does not exist.
My favorite is Serbia, factually the best one is Slovenia, Croatia is my guilty pleasure. Yeah, Former Yugoslavia is very strong this year in my opinion.
With ‘favorite’ I meant favorite among the Yugoslavian entries. All of these 3 are in my top 10 of Eurovision though.
Slovenia factually the best one when it’s by far the safest out of the 3? I don’t really think so…
Safe =/= bad.
Easy choice for me. Slovenia all the way! Serbia’s not my cup of tea, and Croatia’s dumpster fire is my dead last. I don’t see that changing
Croatia is the most interesting here. It really is a grower. For me it is 8/10. Behind all the craziness and madness there is creativity and playful-ness. It is so uncompromising and rough and they go their own way.
Reminds me of Bosnia¨s 2008 entry, it shares the same crazy energy and creativity.
Actually Slovenia but Serbia is also in my top five. o.O
The fact that we only have 3 out of 6/7 former Yugoslavia states is… Worrying.
Many of the states withdrew due to economic reasons, add on top of that increased price of participation… I wouldnt be surprised if Serbia withdrew too in the near future as well.
I would love for Bosnia and Herzegovina to come back. They have sent quality entries in the past and the interest is still there but their broadcaster’s debt is colossal and the political situation there is kinda worrying.
North Macedonia will probably come back in 2024 though.
Serbia will not withdraw. They invested a lot in their national selection and the interest is big for Eurovision. Also, with relatively good results (almost) every year Serbia won’t go out anytime soon.
Slovenia, by a distance
Slovenia is my 4th
Serbia is my 11th
Croatia…currently travelling on the London Tube…
Well, here I have a ckear favorite this time and that is Serbia, my #6, hehe.
Slovenia ????
“????” displayed instead of emojis. Oops <333
Slovenia.
Slovenia, by an absolute mile. It’s currently my 2nd place overall, whereas Serbia and Croatia are in my bottom five. I’d like to think Slovenia are a safe qualifier from SF2. I know a lot of people really don’t like Croatia, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the public sent it through. Whereas with Serbia, I don’t mind the song (there’s only one that I really ‘dislike’ this year), but when I keep thinking of SF1, I keep forgetting that it’s there, and it just doesn’t do much for me, and could (potentially) be a non qualifier. I think Luke’s… Read more »
The fact there are only 3 ex-Yugo countries participating when there should be 6/7 is quite disappointing.
Slovenia re my favorite here though.
Croatia without a doubt.
I don’t particularly like any of these, I’m just here to watch the most weirdly intense fandoms of the year fight it out.
1 Serbia
2 Croatia
3 Slovenia
It is sad only 3 countries from ex Yugoslavia are participating this year. Also, the Balkans is generally underrepresented this year (Bulgaria is out) so I have limited expectations from any of the songs here to do well.
I’m pretty sure that North Macedonia will be back next year. Maybe Montenegro too if they overcome the financial difficulties. The Bosnian broadcaster is unfortunately pretty much bankrupt and the Bulgarian one doesn’t seem to be interested atm. Kosovo will probably debut sooner or later. I expect Balkan representation to increase again in the near future.
There is an ongoing Serbia-Kosovo normalisation process and Serbia still participates in sporting events where Kosovo also takes place. Same with Spain that indeed doesn’t recognise Kosovo (Greece doesn’t either btw)- they played against Kosovo for the football WC qualifying phase. Of course Serbians won’t be pleased initially but then this hasn’t stopped Armenia and Azerbaijan before, or Greece, Turkey and Cyprus further back. North Macedonia’s absence seems to be an one-off occasion and they are even airing this year’s contest so I’m confident they will be back next year. Montenegrin broadcaster has real financial struggles but they’ve proven how… Read more »
I guess you’re right – BNT had a very arrogant approach to the contest for many years now but I never thought they would withdraw pretending they never cared – I found it very disrespectful. At least the Moldovan broadcaster is putting some effort in producing a national final, even if the quality is low.
The Sammarinese broadcaster as well btw.
I really liked Croatia when I heard it – but when I saw it, it all went to pieces. Just too agressive for me, sorry. Of these three, I’d go for Slovenia.
Could be the first time in years where all participating ex-Yugo countries qualify (if that has ever happened). And moreover I see all three of them getting a left-hand side result on the scoreboard if the televoting backs them enough. Can’t choose between Serbia and Slovenia.
We’re missing 3 of them unfortunately this year but you’re still right and I do expect all of them qualifying and I’m pretty sure that this would be the first time with all participating ex-Yugo countries making it to the final.
For me, it’s clearly Croatia unless Luke Black learns to sing his song.
Luke does sing very nice though, very emotional, the right kind of emotion through his voice which fit the mood of the song perfectly i also like it more when there isn’t too much screaming going on, to provide a nice contrast from the rough dark electro instrumentals, i also love how it starts off a bit ”ballad-ish” that you have a nice build-up in the performance in terms of stage presence, he is as much of a popstar as the for my liking overhyped Loreen i also like the voguing alike dance move after the ”hello, game over” bit… Read more »
I don’t need him screaming, but to me it sounds like he barely hits a note. To be fair, Let 3’s vocals aren’t brilliant either, but for their song it doesn’t even matter.
I’m obsessed with Luke Black’s performance. Laid back and almost oblivious. Just like his vocals, that are of course intentional but still on point. Everything feels like in a dream-state and that conveys the message of the song perfectly for me. I was so thrilled when I first watched it and he will remain in my Top 10 for the year and probably in my all time ESC playlist. The only reason I didn’t vote for him above, is that Slovenia is sending the most charming and joyful band song they could ever do, so I have to give it… Read more »
That’s why I never listen to studio versions haha. I directly watch the videos of the performances. I had no idea what to expect when I clicked to watch “Samo mi se spava” and I was left staring at my screen with my jaw dropped while dancing to the beat. I kinda expect that many viewers will feel the same way in May. This is sailing through to the final imho.
That’s why I don’t like internal selections lol. I can easily skip studio versions prior to national finals (I don’t even follow most of them actually), but I can’t wait until May to listen to the songs being performed live for the first time. Avoiding studio versions btw has saved me a lot of disappointment watching my favourites going down live in their national selections, which has happened many times before. What I usually do now is watch semi-final performances in the countries that have such in their national selections or I just watch the final live and when I… Read more »
Which country of the former Austria-Hungary has the best entry at Eurovision 2023?
Which formerly nazi-Germany occupied country has the best song?
Wouldn’t that be, like, all of Europe, except for UK, Spain and Iceland?
Czech Republic, Austria
Damn, pretty close poll. For me I have Slovenia pretty high in my ranking, I quite like the song and hope it does well. Serbia, im still waiting to see if this clicks with me in Liverpool, so far I just think its a bit too much for me and unfortunately the vocals arent necessarily my cuppa tea but I do like the concept. Croatia: The less I say the better. Im still curious to see if it’d qualify because even if its geared towards a televote and they’re the only ones voting in the semis, theres like 8-9 televote… Read more »
Slovenia!
I have all three as my qualifiers. At first I was a bit wary towards Mama ŠC, but it’s undeniably a one-of-a-kind entry, and it’s bold enough to stand out. I hope it pays out. Carpe diem is such a fun and cute entry. Samo mi se spava is in my top 5 for sure. My winner from PZE, and I a fantastic piece of music! Good luck to all 3.
Can I just say all three of them? They’re all in my top 15.
Slovenia, by far.
King Luke <3
Serbia is the best for me by far. Avant-garde, original, theatrical dream pop with something to say. I am always interested in alternative entries and this one is successful at what it does.
Slovenia is a fun and pleasant song that will certainly qualify. I enjoy it a lot when it’s on even if it’s not among my top ones.
And Croatia is my last place this year so there’s that.
For me Slovenia and Serbia are the best. I don’t like Croatia
The best among these 3 acts? It’s hard they are so different, they have all something, Croatia is the most fun and out of box, Slovenia is the most feel good, catchy, and crowd friendly, Serbia is the most modern and experimental.
Objectively with Eurovision in mind I can’t rank them, so I voted for all of them, subjectively the song I prefer is Slovenia, cause out of the three it’s the song I can listen daily in all conditions cause it’s a song that doesn’t need visuals to be really appreciated.
Slovenia what is this?!? I really love it, the more I listen it, the more I like the song. What a great bop! Top 10
Welcome to the club. In Slovenia we are exposed to the “Joker Out magic” for the last few years. Europe, enjoy!
My favourite is Serbia, but Slovenia is also in my top 10
Slovenia, what a great job?!? The more I listen to it, I like it even more. Great bop!
I like all three of them. Here’s my ranking.
1. Croatia
2. Serbia
3. Slovenia
I love Serbia but this one has to go to Slovenia. They’re both in my Top 10 anyway. Croatia is fine too, although it’s obviously ‘a love it or hate it’ one. Not a bad year for the ex-Yugo ones.
Slovenija 12, Serbia 10. Reason is because I do not like war presentation I like peace and everyone should tend to think about peace and happiness for all.