Slovenia’s Raiven is ready to cast a spell on Eurovision 2024.
Back in December, Raiven, whose real name is Sara Briški Cirman, was announced as Slovenia’s Eurovision representative by RTV Sloveniija, the country’s national broadcaster. RTV Slovenija decided against holding a national selection in 2024 and opted instead for an internal selection. Raiven was asked to send in several songs for consideration, and in January she revealed her song “Veronika”. Eagle-eyed fans did not miss the fact that Bojan Cvjetićanin, who represented Slovenia in 2023 as the frontman of Joker Out, was credited as a fellow songwriter.
“Veronika” is a genre-melding, electro-opera track that soars to mystical heights. As Raiven described the song in her interview with Wiwibloggs the day after her song reveal, the song brings a “powerful, dramatic, but feminine energy.”
Scroll down to read the “Veronika” lyrics
Slovenia at Eurovision 2024: Raiven with “Veronika”
Raiven is no stranger to the Eurovision community, and her persistence to represent her country has finally paid off. She competed in EMA, Slovenia’s national selection, three times previously: in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Each time she landed among the top three contestants. However, this year Slovenia chose to bypass a selection and handed its Eurovision banner over to Raiven.
Raiven is already well-known in her home country as an opera singer (a mezzo-soprano, to be precise), a songwriter, and a harpist. She made her first foray into electro-pop in 2014, and in 2021 she won the Popevka music festival in her home country with her song “Volkovi”.
Raiven is always busy with new projects too. She released an EP in February and is getting ready to play the lead role of María in a production of the tango opera María de Buenos Aires, which will be performed at the Ljubljana Opera House this summer after Eurovision ends. Talk about a packed schedule!
What do the “Veronika” lyrics mean?
“Veronika” speaks about the unfair judgment and pressure placed on women — and the strength women exude despite these pressures. It is a strongly feminist song that works on multiple levels, as it references both concrete and abstract ideas.
But to fully understand all the nuances of this song, we must first ask: “Who is Veronika?”
Well the Veronika in question refers to an actual historical figure: Veronika of Desenice. She was the first person to be put on trial for witchcraft in Slovenia back in 1425 and is part of a well-known legend. Veronika, a poor peasant woman, had caught the eye of a young nobleman. He fell in love with her and together they ran away so that they could be married. However, the nobleman’s father was displeased by this news and ordered them both arrested. While the nobleman was imprisoned and tortured, Veronika suffered an even worse fate. She was accused by the nobleman’s father for casting a spell on his son and put on trial, even though the judges were unable to bring forth any evidence marking her as guilty. (Obviously.) Even so, the father ordered for Veronika to be drowned and then buried her corpse within his castle’s walls. Legend has it that you can hear Veronika’s cries even now from the castle.
This tragic love story sets the foundation for Raiven’s song, in which Raiven puts herself in Veronika’s position. She begins the song in a vulnerable place: “I hid in the river/And went into the silent night/With loud steps/Voiceless cries for help.” Here, Raiven references Veronika’s death by drowning and describes a victim who has no agency.
Even though the victim’s death is unjust, at the very least her death frees her from the pain imposed upon her by the world. Raiven thus sings: “Now that I am just water/In the waves, I seek peace.”
The song then reaches a turning point when Raiven sings of a transformation and rebirth: “I drown in myself/I surrender to the light.” With death comes a new beginning, and she is taking back her power.
As the song progresses, Raiven’s power grows. She no longer hides in the shadows but steps into the light and boldly beckons: “Find me, wound me, protect me/ Lift me up, let me go, love me.” She now stands her ground and dares you to take her on. “Who are you afraid of/ when you deny your desires?”
Yet at the same time, Raiven describes herself absorbing the emotions and flaws of those around her, taking on these added burdens even though they are not her own: “You look me in the eyes/The image of you shines in them/I am a frameless mirror/Just a reflection of your fears.”
By the end of the song, Raiven finds strength in numbers. She declares, “I am/you are/Veronika/Only she knows your truth.” Veronika becomes a representation of a universal feminine collective that transcends any single individual, as Raiven sings about the shared experience of being a woman in a world that so often tries to prevent them from sharing their stories.
“Veronika” lyrics and translation — Raiven (Slovenia Eurovision 2024)
Music: Bojan Cvjetićanin / Danilo Kapel / Martin Bezjak / Peter Khoo / Raiven
Lyrics: Bojan Cvjetićanin / Klavdija Kopina / Raiven
Skrila sem se v reko
in odšla v tiho noč
Z glasnimi koraki
nemi klici na pomoč
Zdaj, ko sem le voda
v valovih iščem mir
Utopim se v sebi
se svetlobi prepustim
Najdi me, rani me, brani me
Koga loviš, ko me zapustiš?
Dvigni me, pusti me, ljubi me
Kdo te lovi, ko se me bojiš?
Koga se bojiš
ko svoje želje zatajiš?
Gledaš me v oči
podoba tebe v njih žari
Ogledalo sem brez robov
Le odsev tvojih sem strahov
Najdi me, rani me, brani me
Koga loviš, ko me zapustiš?
Dvigni me, pusti me, ljubi me
Kdo te lovi, ko se me bojiš?
Jaz sem
Ti si
Veronika
Tvojo resnico le ona ve
I hid in the river
And went into the silent night
With loud steps
Voiceless cries for help
Now that I am just water
In the waves, I seek peace
I drown in myself
I surrender to the light
Find me, wound me, protect me
Who do you chase when you leave me?
Lift me up, let me go, love me
Who hunts you when you fear me?
Who are you afraid of
when you deny your desires?
You look me in the eyes
The image of you shines in them
I am a frameless mirror
Just a reflection of your fears
Find me, wound me, protect me
Who do you chase when you leave me?
Lift me up, let me go, love me
Who hunts you when you fear me?
I am
You are
Veronika
Only she knows your truth
She is such a great singer, why waste such voice on a boring song? and the lyrics in both Slovenian and English are 2003. I hope Slovenia brings something similar to 2019.
Love her, she is unique. Grettings from Croatia!
Ciao Marta Ciao, Rim Tim Tagi Dim
The Luxembourg’s revamp is so useless
Soooooo we’re not talking about the ten artists simultaneously giving out the same statement today?
You just did 🙂
irrelevant news though? those artists should remain silent
They’re calling for ceasefire. Nothing more though. They don’t feel comfortable remaining silent about this.
I cant wait to hear her live! Shes gonna sly!
She is my second place. Arguably one of the best lyrics of the contest. Slovenia absolutely deserves to beat their seventh-place record this year. Hvala Raiven <3
Beautiful and artistic. This entry is severely underrated so far, in my opinion. It’s easily my favourite entry from Slovenia so far.
In my top 5
This should easily qualify but I’m afraid it’s gonna be barely or not at all. Fingers crossed for a good surprise.
She Has To Expose Us To Nudeity Because If You Remove It , No Person Is Interstated In Her Crying And Screaming . She Just Wants Fame , Its A Classik Sign Of Sin Of Greed , Pride And I Am Not Shocked That You Peoples Supoort This Things Just Like Ireland Entrent
Those grand witches are leading the path!!
very good entry of Slovenia.
Raiven is a great artist.
Raiven is a phenomenal vocalist regardless of outfit choice or choice of act, i think i’m 80% confident she can pull off this song live
hope it is staged right though
you are a bad fan for Blanka with your constant negativity towards other artists, i’m glad i am nothing like this, i respect all artists in this years line up and am hoping for 3 wonderful shows regardless of results
Wonderful analysis!
Sad that there are still so many Veronikas in this cruel, cruel world.
Its A Common Name Of Course There Are Weronika In The World ???
amazing song
Absolutely and so far my favourite this year.
second best balkan ballad of the year, behind Albania’s TiTan masterpiece
This one is looking more and more like a non qualifier by the day.
Unique lyrics and an awesome song! My personal winner this year… but unfortunately not instantly catchy enough to succeed in a televoting-only semifinal.
Queen, so underrated
rising day by day a little, she’s beyond the moment….