Eleven years ago she, along with Who See, placed fourth with the public in her Eurovision semi-final.
And now, after being chosen to replace NeonoeN at Eurovision 2025, Montenegro’s Nina Zizic hopes to climb even higher — and make the grand final in Basel.
In our exclusive English-language interview, Nina explains how her song “Dobrodošli” is built on the idea of perseverance.
“It’s about how a single woman can be strong at those times of challenge,” she says. “Whether it’s some family situation, a sickness, and how she manages to go out from all of that…It’s about her death and her rebirth.”
Nina Zizic: The “Dobrodošli” revamp will have only Montenegrin lyrics
Among other things, we discuss…
- How songwriter Violeta Mihajlovska Milić had to convince Nina to enter Montesong 2024.
- Nina’s experience finishing as runner-up at Montesong behind NeonoeN.
- The emotional impact of stepping in after NeonoeN’s withdrawal.
- Her plans to revamp “Dobrodošli” — adding more power and backing vocals, while keeping the lyrics in Montenegrin.
- Her memories of Eurovision 2013 and Who See.
You can watch the full interview on the Wiwibloggs YouTube channel from 12:00 London time on Friday 27 December.
Neoneon decided withdraw. Pity. Ninas song is typical Balkan ballad. What about to connect these artists and make something original. Neoneon feat. Nina Zizic, rock with Balkan ballad. Make something high like in 2013 Who See feat. Nina Zizic. Eurovision is about these cooperations. Montenegro can connect these two amazing artists and show something unforgotable. And this country needs it.
Welcome back Montenegro! We missed you But this song will not go far. I am sorry. It’s decent though and ver Balkan drama style. Not sure how it will score among the audiences.
it’s a good song and montenegro can totally qualify next year. people writing this off already are just the same lame and boring eurofans we see every year.
Not to add english lyrics is the right decision, hvala.
We need more and more entries in native languages.
If you can’t win your own national final what hope have you got in the semis.
Not to mention she came 4th in the Montenegro televote and the semis are televote only.
She came 4th because she was 4 times better then everyone else all together. If one can’t use his or her head to see irrelevance of Montesong broken voting system, then he or she ends up writing something stupid…like this “Azuro” did.
Christmas was 2 days ago now, time to put down the Sherry
Let’s keep it for the semifinals
I remember Germany came 3rd in 1999 with their runner up. And Ukraine won in 2022 with their runner up, so….. everything can happen.
And Croatia 2024 came 2nd with a song that wasn’t even deemed good enough for the national final.
sisters crushed the german selection just to get 0 at esc…
these results are irrelevant
Down with English!
And yet we are all speaking it.
I really like the song a lot, it’s already my favorite Montenegrin entry in the contest’s history so far. Can’t wait to see what Nina brings for the revamp!
And let’s hope the extra backing vocals are not a pre-recording (of her own voice)
I mean i usually like ballads but i dont enjoy this one for me something is missing i want to like it so i am hoping the revamp will be good
Personally I don’t believe in revamps, a song is either good or bad, but we shall see what they have in store for us, surprises are always possible
The umpteen revamps of Israel 2021 transformed a weak song into a competitive qualifier
Revamps are very hit and miss. Sometimes they actually do make a song better, but other times they make things worse. Let’s hope Montenegro falls in the former category.
Yes, true… but in order to win Eurovision a song needs to be exceptional, let’s see what they have got in store for us, after the revamp.
Revamps tend to be worse then the original The reason is that they try to fit the song to Eurovision or to what people (but who?) say or recommend about the song.
It needs a LOT of work! Clickbait was so much better
Clickbait is just noice. Not a good song at all.
15th in semifinal 2
Yaaas queeen!!! F**k English at Eurovision!
If you truly like diversity of languages, you should be content with English as well. Hating English sounds like a “Just making sure I don’t fit in..” meme moment.
English only for UK, Ireland and Australia
Ireland have another language besides English
As do Australia and UK!
Malta?
It’s not their native language. It’s just one of the two official languages there.
Irish for Ireland
And yet we are all speaking it.
Das stimmt nicht.
Genau