Get ready to enter in a mystical world! Raiven — the pop sensation who will represent Slovenia at Eurovision 2024 — has released her song for Malmö, “Veronika.”
“Veronika” is a dark alternative pop song, rich with mystery, leaving listeners longing for more. The entire song creates an enchanting atmosphere that feels like a spell cast by Raiven.
Ahead of the song reveal, Raiven told Wiwibloggs that her song was inspired by a real-life historical figure named Veronika, who was the first woman in her country accused of being a witch. It is, she says, a statement on how women have been and remain targets of persecution.
The lyrics are in Slovene, marking the third consecutive year Slovenia has submitted a track in their native language. Interestingly, Joker Out frontman and Eurovision 2023 alum Bojan Cvjetićanin is credited with both the music and lyrics, along with Raiven.
Slovenia at Eurovision 2024: Raiven — “Veronika”
Raiven was selected to represent Slovenia in Malmö through an internal selection by Radiotelevizija Slovenia. The song was revealed in the televised show Misija Malmö.
“Veronika” is a woman of power, a magical figure. With her powerful new track, Raiven is prepared to represent Slovenia. The song possesses a mystical allure, and its potency grows as the composition unfolds, showcasing Raiven’s formidable vocal abilities. The song reaches its climax with Raiven declaring, “I am, you are, Veronika,” conveying that the power of her character, Veronika, can be found within each of us.
The music video is artistic, sensual, and filled with magic. Raiven appears as a true goddess, a nymph imbued with power. She is intricately connected with various natural elements such as water, fire, and air. Impressively, not only by Raiven’s appearance but also by the contemporary dancers featured in the music video.
Who is Raiven?
Raiven is a complex artist known for performing both pop and opera, distinct genres that speak to her versatility. But there’s more. The mezzo-soprano is also a songwriter and harpist, giving her even more musical traditions to draw from as she forges a path distinctly her own. Her pop album “Magenta,” released in 2017, was a hit domestically, helping contribute to her growing fan base.
She’s is a well-known figure among Eurovision fans both at home and abroad thanks to her three previous attempts in Slovenia’s national selection EMA. In 2016, she participated with “Črno bel,” which place second; she returned in 2017 with “Zažarim” and placed third; and then she placed second again two years later with “Kaos”.
What do you think about Slovenia’s entry? Let us know in the comments below!
Good luck to her, but it is not a song I would vote for sorry, too much drama, I’m not a fan of this kind of ballads, I prefer the more quite and less screamy ones
listened to it again, hmm its ethnic, could work in her favor though with the televoters
not really my cup of tea (i tend to prefer male balkan ballads, although Ne Pustam was an exception in Beovizija, same as Moja Bol)
last years i appreciated, happy to see Bojan back this time as composer, and 2022 was in my top 3, yes LPS deserved more than what they got, i liked Disko, preferred it over Dadi Freyr’s entries even from 2020/2021
I Like It Its Actualy Good And Etnic For Slowenja Not Sending This Generik Songs Like Last 2 Years
It feels like a regular pop song. A good one but still.
Songs like this are quite common and she might come off as generic. But I think it’s safe enough to appeal to masses
You Dident Listen To The Song Oviously .
I did. I ecpected more ethno sound
But somehow Melodifestivalen never comes off as generic..
You’re embarrassing ourself yet again.
Common? Generic? Safe? Mass appeal?
We are clearly not in the same dimension.
Having thought about this a little more… I think it’s really really good. It draws you in immediately, it has shock value, it’s produced really well and it’s great vocally (we know Raiven will deliver). I think what will make or break this is the stage performance. This NEEDS a really memorable show, it needs a visual moment. Possibly pyro at the end. I think Raiven is totally capable to do a great show, I just fear if the broadcaster will invest enough money into the performance. Slovenia doesn’t usually do that…
I love how some trolls here use this song as an excuse to spread their venom on the other 3 songs… good job guys.
Yes, it’s a very unlovely situation.
Its Not Ewen A English Word Unlovly Its No One Understands This Nonsence
The Others Songs Are Crap Its Not An Esuze Just A Fact
The fact is that except for Slovenia and France, the level is rather poor for the moment. And let’s be honest, “Veronika” and “Je t’aime” are nice songs but they’re not impressive either. I mean, knowing Slimane is a good performer I can see Je t’aime in the top 10 and maybe near the top 5 if he performs really well but the song itself is a bit meh (still in my opinion of course). On the other hand I like Veronika that feels more interesting to me but I fear it’s a really hard song to perform and there… Read more »
This is not typical ESC song thats why many cant ”swallow” it. Its art. Its different. It brings a message. I hope they will make as good live performance as the video is and that this will surprise everyone in may.
Good luck Slovenia, good luck Raiven, we believe in you.
Even art can be bad, mediocre or good. It’s all subjective.
You Arnt A Fillosofikal Thinker For Saying This You Know .
Neither is screaming “this is art” at everything people don’t dig immediatly.
I doubt international radio stations will play this song,
It is not bad but it is not very immediate. That will be problem in May. I am afraid this year will be either about witch-woman or Kaarja-like entries.
Slovenia best result in esc in coming… their best entry
Slovenia are peaking in a lot of things recently
in the uefa euro’s with their own haaland – Benny Sesko
Primoz Roglic, Tadej Pogacar slaying in the cycling
and a nice upwards form at eurovision, last year a fan favourite pre-contest, now fandom queen Raiven
What an *amazing* Slovenian entry. It’s completely out of all boxes in terms of story, epicness and sentiment behind it. The dramatic, cinematic, multilayered voice and orchestra-like music arrangement are bound to have a profound impact when this will be performed on the big stage. The use of onomatopeia is very effective as well, unexpected and sharp. I understand very few words like “voda” and “ja sam, ti si, Veronika” but I still find it mesmerizing and impressive. Having read Raiven’s bio and some interviews I also find this entry as being “intellectually profound” for lack of a better word.… Read more »
I appreciate the stance “on how women have been and remain targets of persecution” as per this article.
In my opinion h e i n ous c r i me s have been occurring against women of all ages, including in very recent contemporary history, that have been either ignored and/or beli ttled and the su r vi vors and their kin ga slig hted.
Slovenia 10/12
France 9/12
Czechia 4/12
Austria 3/12
Albania 2/12
A few listens later, I like it and play it. The issues might be lack of immediacy and lack of melody, but this will probably be helped with a memorable staging. I hope it does well, out of the 4 known entries, this is by far the best, it’s not even a competition.
I really love the video presentation. Very well done.
Its beautifull. If Raiven and her team know how to translate this to the ESC stage, this could do very well.
Congrats, Slovenia and All the best.
This is a 1000% qualifying to the grand final. I think this will be a top 10 for Slovenia (finally), the song is really good with lots of live potential!
depends on who her competition is in the semi of course
shaping up to be one tough year i think
Yeah literally every country who goes internal this year brings their A-game: France with Slimane, Netherlands with Joost, UK with Olly, Slovenia with Raiven, Greece with Marina, Georgia with Nutsa. It’s gonna be amazing and I’m here for it!
Well from the nfs latvia might have strong entry again with Dons, some gems over in Portugal too like Leo middea or Maria joao, lithuania if luktelk bop
Lets be honest. Slovenia already ahead of France in the Scoreboard app ranking… what can I say? people are terribly in the culture of the moment. Veronika is an average song. Not bad but mid
It’s also possible that people actually prefer Raiven’s song.
If anything is average it’s probably France. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good song and Slimane performs it well, but both the tune and the lyrics are quite average. A lot of people probably think that Slovenia’s act is more intriguing and stands out a bit more.
Great composition with a lot of potential in live. We feel the Raiven’s artistry here meanwhile I think Veronika is more accessible than a song like Kaos for casual viewer.
This is 100% qualifying as Raiven will sell it on stage, and the juries will buy it in the final. Two serves in row from Slovenia, they are country to watch in the future. Good luck from France !
Thank you Raiven for showing to us how could ESC winner song in Slovene sound like 🙂
The song’s overall composition is so unique and interesting and Raiven is such a vocal powerhouse in ESC 2024. She’s a safe qualifier for now, hoping her live performance is going to look amazing.
comparing veronika to echo is kinda offensive actually. veronika is a well composed and written song, while echo is just a bunch of gibberish and vocal masturbation. I’d compare it to elodie’s andromeda
This song is way better than Echo, that was just noise.
Based of what I understand, people were only comparing the style of Veronika and Echo (that is also a bit of a stretch, but I can see where they’re coming from). The points you have on both songs’ quality is accurate though.
WTF this sounds really annoying :/
Juries will love this, but the televoters…no. It’s not mass accessible, it does not have mass appeal so it won’t get many votes. NQ prediction
no english language, so won’t bother listening to it again
another non-existent filler entry, no competition for Israel whatsoever
This is not bad, rather good. The issue is I listened to it three times now and I can’t even remember a single line.
The live performance will make it or break it
It intrigued me which is what a good song at Eurovision does- it captivated me- I want to see it through to the end and it stays with me in a positive way.
We just need Ireland to choose Bambie Thug and ESC 24 will be a witchfest!
This is pretty good but I am not loving it
Interesting song, beautiful video! So far, the best entry!
I like it and, it is what I expected from Raiven. However, it is a risk in terms of qualification. I don’t think it is the most accessible. Might be hurt by the lack of juries tbh.
Yeah, that’s my worry
Serbian fans were initially saying how Muskarcina was too alternative and risky for Eurovision and that there is not something instantly catchy and memorable in the song itself and then it became the main favourite to win.
then don’t send jurybait songs to a 100% televote semi, just send uptempo’s
If everyone else sends fun dancy uptempo songs, slower song can make you stand out
well this is more proof how Norway and Sweden rule eurovision currently, if any other country and especially the balkans are stuck in the stone ages when it comes to music
This is a risky entry, and that can be either a good or bad thing, depending on how things go. This will either award Slovenia with one of their best positions ever, or it could crash out. It’s a tight rope, and that’s what makes it exciting
It took a few listens for me, but I’m getting into this. Good job, Slovenia!
I did have a hunch – dare I say was even a little afraid – she may do something very artsy and unconventional with a non-traditional, challenging structure. This is not exactly an earworm. This being said, I think it’s really good, produced well and if she can translate it into a convincing and creative performance, it may do quite well. It could also not work. And given this is Slovenia, I am slightly worried for it. If a Eurovision powerhouse country sent this, it may have been a surer qualifier.
Great song with wonderful lyrics !
Hvala, Raiven !
Slovenia 10/12
I can see two situations happening:
1. Raiven is able to translate this piece of art well live and ends up in the top 10 (or barely misses the top 10 by placing 11th/12th).
2. Raiven is not able to translate it well live, people will not understand the art of the song and get bored. Result is NQ in this case.
No in between.
Exactly what i was thinking. Very well put.
Yeah, this will either go big or go home, no in between.
Bravo Raiven, and welcome Slovenia to ESC 2024 🙂
I love this dramatic song, and I love that Bojan helped compose the song too. This might be Slovenia’s best entry to date. Exciting times.
she won’t be at ESC2024 since she won’t qualify for the final, and the final is all what matters in this contest
I always liked the Slovenian entries in recent years, no matter if they were qualifying or not. But this one here is not for me.
Epic. Drama. Slay. I love everything about it <3
From the production to her vocals to the stunning beauty that is Raiven!
So excited for Slovenia, you got my vote 🙂
Good song and an excellent production value. Jury only semi algorithm too nascent to tell how it will fare. ??
If the performance will be similar to what we see in the music video, this is definitely a contender. I kind of miss the song tho…
This is like trying too hard for me… Bear in mind there are no juries in semis. Too avant-garde, there’s no hook in the melody or lyrics. This may flop heavily. :c
Well said! No hook and too avant grade. Might miss the final. It’s a good song though.
We have to learn to distinguish between a good song (generally) and how any song performs at Eurovision.
A song may flop in the contest not because it’s not good, but because of other reasons (like poor staging or performance, shaky vocals, trying too hard, high competition).
I wish Slovenia good luck and may they send beautiful entries like this in the future!
Mesmerizing!
Dramatic..I don’t know.
Kinda NQ…
Enjoyed this one, it is dramatic and powerful, it stirs emotions and is engaging.
Kinda underwhelming…
It’s very good, very artistic and different. Is it enough in a televote only semi final? I’m not sure
Seems like Bojan is also a good composer and lyricist with songs which are not rock
This is artistic and beautifully written but it feels very rushed, almost as if she wrote this as a 3:45 song and had to squeeze as much of it into Eurovision length as possible. This is still the best act so far and still stands out compared to all of the NF songs we have so far. Raiven will look and sound amazing in Malmö and will hopefully place high on the scoreboard
The more you listen to it the more you realise this is special. It’s artistic, different and unique. If she sings the opera bit live at the end instead of veronika then it wins.
The opera piece will put the icing on top of a perfect build up
It reminds me a bit of Georgia 2015 maybe?
I hope she won’t scru the performance because this is very interesting!
georgia 2015 was in english so nothing similar, Nina was also thousand times better than this overhyped wannabe artist
The negativity on this blog is killing me so I’m gonna come with a big smile and a bit of positivity.
I like this song, it’s even my favorite for the moment. I don’t know what it will do at Eurovision but I would be so happy for Slovenia if they finally have a top 10.
is it negativity just because you don’t like a song?
The negativity is ok for certain countries but not ok for others…the eurofans double standard…
No it’s never okay but I feel like I had to say it now.
no, it’s probably because people are calling this NQ and a disappointment.
I mean for me it was a disappointment, but maybe because people hyped it up so much
it’s very true to raiven’s style and probably her best song so far, so if you know her and her songs, you can’t say “disappointment”, she’s pretty much lived up to the hype
for me it was a disappointment, but that is also okay
It’s not a question of liking a song or not, it’s more the way some person say it. There are a lot of drama queens here for which each song they hear is either a really good song and or the worst song they’ve ever heard. And I feel like I haven’t read a lot of nice comments in the past days, not only with Slovenia here.
yea I understand what you are saying and it’s totally valid. at first it just sounded like that you can’t dislike a song, but thanks for explaining
Eurovision fans say for every song that they are disappointed lol