The Wiwi Jury — our in-house team of music unprofessionals — is reviewing and rating the 37 competing songs in Eurovision 2025. Next we review Montenegro, who have chosen Nina Žižić with “Dobrodošli”.
Are we excited for Nina’s return? Read on to find out!
Nina Žižić – “Dobrodošli” (Montenegro Eurovision 2025)
Review: Nina Žižić – “Dobrodošli”
Simon: Great to have Montenegro, and not least Nina, back on the Eurovision stage. Powerful Balkan vibes served with a nice raspy vocal, but it feels like something we have heard before without being able to precisely pin point it. And that is probably the biggest issue with this entry, that it feels authentic but not memorable. The death slot in the semi doesn’t help it either and, although the 12 points from Serbia are probably inevitable, it will be tough for Montenegro to qualify in a tough semi-final.
Score: 4.5
Jonathan: This is my sort of ballad. Grand orchestral melodies accompanied by impassioned vocals that gradually build and build to a resounding climax – “Dobrodošli” leaves goosebumps on the skin as Nina puts her whole heart into the song. The choice of a minor key helps set the atmosphere by giving it a brooding darkness, with Nina acting as a light in the centre of it all through her choice of white dress. Although I appreciate it might be an outside chance, I’d personally love to see Montenegro in the grand final.
Score: 7.5
Lucy: Balkan ballads are a crucial part of Eurovision history, and when they’re done well, they are an instant classic. Sadly, “Dobrodošli” is not in that league. Nina sings it beautifully, but the emotion just isn’t hitting when I listen. It’s also a bit forgettable, the worst thing you can be at Eurovision. I couldn’t tell you what the verses sound like, and I literally listened to it before I wrote my review here. Nina is marvellous, and I wish she could qualify on her second try, but I don’t know if this song can take her to the grand final.
Score: 3
Pablo: A Balkan ballad is never unwelcome in Eurovision. “Dobrodošli” offers a modern take on a classic genre, with Nina exuding control and refinement across the entire number. It’s not the most memorable take Montenegro has done of this — there are instrumental choices that could be done to contrast the highlights and calm moments better, and the ending sort of fizzles out. However, the cinematic atmosphere it builds to is fantastic, and Nina has it in her to elevate this song properly.
Score: 6
Montenegro Eurovision 2025 ranking
In the Eurovision 2025 Wiwi Jury, we have 17 jurors but only have room for four reviews. The remaining scores are below:
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Andreas: 4.5 Antranig: 5.5 Bernardo: 4 Burak: 4.5 Cinan: 5.5 Deban: 5 Jordi: 6 |
Ruxandra: 6.5 Scarlett: 5 Suzanne: 7 Tom: 5 Tomas: 3.5 William: 5 |
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a high of 7.5 and a low of 3.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 5.17/10
What do you think of Montenegro’s Eurovision 2025 entry? Share your own score and review for Nina Žižić’s “Dobrodošli” below!
Happy to have them but I find this kind of ballads extremely boring.
It’s 100% out of the final.
I’d like Montenegro to allocate its money in an internal selection. Though it’s true this is what the probably go for again…
MONTENEGRO – I am happy to welcome my southeastern neighbors back to the contest, and I’m equally happy to see Nina Žiži? returning after 12 years. Her new entry is a dramatic and heartfelt ballad that might just be of a much higher quality than it is competitive. Dobrodošli is a sophisticated song which starts unassuming, with a long instrumental intro, and then slowly builds-up to a soft, but powerful chorus. It explores inner struggles of someone who is faced with anxiety and doubts which they need to overcome and play along to fit in the world around them. The… Read more »
I think this is the best entry of the ex-Yugoslav countries in 2025. “Dobrodošli” is firmly in the dramatic D minor key throughout, and it has an instrumental introduction to establish this. The song is very directly structured, and I appreciate the three-note motifs used throughout the song to enhance the drama of the lyrics. In the Chorus, I particularly like how the melody stretches out lyrics of “I bid you welcome… to the play about love”. The stand-out part of this entry for me is Nina’s vocalisation during the Bridge. Her expressive, flowing arms are a well-practised extension of… Read more »
The revamp really gave this a whole new drive which is exactly what the song needed. I’m finally feeling the urgency, the drama, the inner turmoil this song wants to convey and it’s beautiful. Now, it’s top 5 worthy. It’s so typical of the powers that be to give such an entry a bad running order but hopefully Nina’s powerful voice will defy the odds. The revamp made this one of the best this year, it absolutely has to qualify.
In 2013 she didn’t need the jury and this year she really needs them. I feel sorry for her.
Montenegro – I feel so bad for Montenegro because they’ve just come back, and they’ve sent something that’s absolutely going to get lost among the other songs, and being in the “death slot” doesn’t help. The revamp improved it a little for me, but I don’t think it will be enough to qualify. I love Nina’s stage presence, though. Best of luck to her. 5/10
I actually really like this song! Not sure if I like the revamped version as much as I liked the one from the national selection, but I still think it’s great. 7/10
This is sucha chore. The lyrics are jarring, the whole tone aggresive and the arm-choreography is way, waay too much.
I realized this wants to be all the things Severina’s megahits such as Grad bez ljudi, Alcatraz, Dobrodosao u klub (!) – to name a few – are…but fails on all accounts.
I am in the minority that really likes the song
29th place: Montenegro: I am a big fan of Balkan Ballads, but this one falls fully flat for me. Nina is a great vocalist, but the song itself seems really bland and uninteresting. The revamp enhanced its production but didn’t make me like the song more. I personally think that Montenegro will NQ.
expecting a low score, but still disappointed
Sounds like this “panel” are all under 18
Montenegro 5/12
Why do we always say Balkan ballads? We never say Iberian ballads or Baltic ballads or Benelux ballads or Caucasian ballads or Alpine ballads or Adriatic ballads or Nordic ballads. Even though all those parts of Europe produce also produce slow and sentimental songs.
Well, I’d say that these are possibly exaggerated, maybe OTT and extremely emotional ballads that in terms of production do not shy away from all the musical/cultural influences from the Mediterranean and the Orient, all of which makes them somewhat exotic to the (Central) European audiences.
33. North Macedonia – Dobresdril 4/10 – I’m not the audience for this type of track and it does nothing to convince me otherwise. The piano arrangement doesn’t seem special and the melodic elements feel a little harsh and repetitive. There is a rasping aggression in the vocal delivery which fails to generate any passion in me and emotionally I don’t feel like the song goes anywhere. For sure there is craft in the entry, unfortunately I find myself drifting off to think about other things.
North Macedonia? You mean Montenegro? 🙂
Ooops, maybe it was wishful thinking to have them back – I’ve looked at my list about a thousand times and didn’t spot it!