Ten acts sang it out tonight during Slovenia’s national final Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA) 2019. There were two rounds of voting, which resulted in the country selecting Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl as their Eurovision 2019 representative with their entry “Sebi”.
EMA 2019 running order
Kim – “Rhythm Back to You”
Renata Mohorič – “Three Bridges”
René – “Ne poveš”
Fed Horses – “Ti ne poznaš konjev”
Ula Ložar – “Fridays”
Lumberjack – “Lepote dna”
Okustični – “Metulji plešejo”
INMATE – “Atma”
Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl – “Sebi”
Raiven – “Kaos”
Jury evaluation
The finalists all performed their entries under the confirmed running order, before the jury panel made their decision. They all evaluated the performances of the 10 finalists and decided that Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl and Raiven would advance to the EMA superfinal.
Superfinal
The two superfinalists, Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl and Raiven, performed their entries again and the televoting public had the final say. In the end, Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl came out on top with a total of 72.89% and will be flying the flag for Slovenia in Tel Aviv! They will perform in the first half of the first semi-final.
Are you happy with Slovenia’s decision? Who do you think should have won? Let us know below! You can watch the show again here.
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Photo: Sandi Fišer
Totally love it! Wish you guys had paid more attention to the meaning of the lyrics, they are really beautiful and understated … best of all is the line “Not everything needs meaning”, which is ESC in a nutshell.
I watched EMA and this song was the only one I remember. Simple and beautiful. I don’t know the lyrics but it draws you in immediately. Clever staging too. I like this one!
To be honest, “Sebi” reminded me more of Nelly Furtado’s “Say It Right.” The music tracks are both ethereal.
First impression was positive, and since then I can’t stop listening to Sebi as well as Zala & Gašper’s whole back catalogue and EP. Wonderful stuff. Not sure how this will score in the context of a loud and flashy contest, but it’s a gorgeous, hypnotising song and i’ll enjoy seeing it on stage in Tel Aviv very much, regardless of how many points it might earn. Hvala, Slovenija!
Magic to my ears… They wrote and composed the song themself, I like artists that bring their own product. Also lyrically beautiful, very metaphorical. May get my vote in May.
Greetings from Belgium
I’m disappointed even I always love Slovenia and slovene language; I don’t know if is gonna be enough
Budget Madam Monsieur. Thank you, next!
My toilet break time in May.
My 20 votes goes for them :*
I am super glad that Slovenians have chosen this great song so that your sofa won’t get dirty. Take your time and thanks for sharing your deep thoughts on this song with all of us.
You cna buy yourself an adult diaper so you won’t have to go potty at the comfort room.
Please, sign the petition for TOWER OF BABYLON TO GO TO ESC! THANK YOU
https://www.peticija24.com/lorena_buan_na_eurosong_umjesto_roka?a=2
I always have a soft spot for Slovenia, and I wanted to like this, but I don’t. I don’t hate it or anything, but it isn’t sparking joy, so to speak.
Good song, just need some lines on English and this can win it all.
Agree
jesus. can’t stop listening to this tune! definitely some qualifying material, reminds me of the Ukrainian singer Luna.
one of those songs I love Eurovision for
This has really surprised me, and in a good way. I love the intensity of the song and the presentation, that they don’t smile at all and look at each other and hold hands. The song is quite mesmerising and understated, quite unique this year. Very happy with this.
It’s cool, I like it
Lea Sirk did a fantastic job last year and I could understand her disappointment. On a side note Ljubljana is one of the most beautiful and underrated cities in Europe and it would be amazing for Eurovision to be hosted there.
Yess, and RTVSLO said they have the money + we have a brand new arena for 17k people.
I think it’s finally time for smooth amd expensive eurovision again.
Very interesting, Robyn. This reminds us about two things concerning Björkman: the first one is that he really knows his craft, those are insightful observations; and the second is that he sometimes gets too attached to his own playbook. It’s true that’s difficult for a duet to connect with the audience without neglecting their partner and vice versa. But there’s something about the way we consume content these days that make me thinks that a voyeuristic approach can also work. Still to be proved, of course.
good luck from tel aviv
Slovenia made the right choice.
Well Salvador didn’t look directly at the camera even once, and still won. I think it call can all be fixed by some camera work – more close-ups, details, 360 degrees turns etc.
This is the music of today! No gimmicks no copycat of old successful Eurovision entries! Those kids are going to mesmerized Eurovision! Best Slovenian entry ever
I’m dreaming
(Look the voting percent)
A really good point Yan. They will stand out, partly because there are so many soloists this year.
Just amazing.
if the song is intimate enough, being a voyeur can be connecting too, in the sense of witnessing something special and becoming secretly part of their story and their story without them knowing part of yours…
important is that the performance ist kept as simple as possible I think…
I find it super monotone.
This is not so much comparable to Calm after the storm, but rather to O jardim….
It reminded me of ‘O Jardim’ too. But that was better in my opinion, this one simply doesn’t get any attention, ‘O Jardim’ had some charm.
No way. “O jardim” had a generic ambient music track that felt old. “Sabi’s” music is more on trend with a chillwave feel.
Whaaaaaaat is thiiiiissssssss?????
Straight to my number 1!
Ljubljana 2020?????
I disagree. I think the staging needs to stay exactly the same, just on a grander scale.
The more I listen to it, the more I find the song mesmerizing. One of my favorites so far. But I agree with previous comments about the staging. And I can’t stop thinking all the time about the fact that they have kinda ‘copied’ Madame Monsieur’s style : Minimalistic, monochromatic outfits (in this case all white, instead of black), turtleneck, snickers and he even has a guitar, even though there’s no use for it. I would prefer them to have a more original appearance, just like their song.
I really doubt they’re intentionally copying Madame Monsieur (a mid-table act who isn’t relevant internationally outside of Eurovision). Most people aren’t big ESC fans and wouldn’t notice stuff like this. The styling is just modern and in style, which is why there’s a similarity.
Maybe I’m wrong or I’m not really familiar with the fashion trends, but that was just my impression.
Kind of hard to copy another futuristic look, though. ZalaGasper’s outfit looked like MM’s but more casual rather than chic like what MM used to do.
I felt Zala and Gaspar’s staging worked very well. They conveyed a dynamic tension facing each other, reflecting both physical closeness and emotional distance at the same time.
I find similarity with the Horse with no name. Superhit in 70-80ties. Put the acustic guitar on it and here we are. I think this will be superhit of 2019
This is an interesting choice, not striking but definitely interesting. I am not sure if the Eurovision audience will response to this, probably they will get ignored. on the other hand, Raiven wasn’t better, too noisy.
But seriously, though, does anybody expect ZalaGasper to cut through the superfinal and beat Raiven by a landslide?
P. S : we now have three electro-indie sounds in Tel Aviv : Lake Malawi, Pænda, and ZalaGasper.
Boring. Last year’s Slovenia was much better.
I am totally into this track, to say the least!! I would even go as far as saying that this is the best ever contribution from Slovenia and quite possibly one of the best in this year”s ESC edition. Very smooth, refined, intimate, relatable, contemporary but not in an intrusive or unorganic manner. Love, love, love it!!! As for Raiven, she is a gifted and indeed a memorable performer but I think rhythm cannot and should not replace the melody! Besides, even if I applaud her striving for the new and avant-garde, this time her song just sounded unfinished and… Read more »
I don’t see where you get this. It’s a slow track that goes nowhere with no personality. Last year Lea Sirk was fantastic. This is nothing close to that.
For me, the song doesn’t need to build into a huge chorus, it is just beautiful. I hope people watching for the first time on the night don’t forget this, it doesn’t really have a recap moment.
that guitar bothers me too. they should ditch the guitar and have Gašper handle the fake keyboard intstead of Zala.
Y’all, this is a dirge and it’s not qualifying. The song is boring and goes nowhere, and I just don’t see the appeal. I kept waiting on the song to break out and elevate to another level, and it’s just very one-note to me. If it broke out the way Calm After the Storm did, or if it created a moment the way Amar Pelos Dois did, I’d understand, but this song goes nowhere, the performers look awkward together on stage, and I don’t get it.
I think their onstage awkwardness is a big part of their appeal, like with Blanche two years ago.
I think there’s a fine line between cute awkward and looks like an unprepared mess and, at least on my first watch, they fall on the wrong side of that line. I do think it won’t be too hard to fix though so here’s to hoping it looks a little better prepared for Tel Aviv because even though it doesn’t go anywhere there is something really appealing to it (although it starts to lose me at the end but not much) and I hope it does well!
I’m not seeing what you’re all seeing in this, sorry. They are cute tho.
The way he looked at her during the performance was a major reason why I loved it, and is probably why the Slovenes did too. That’s either real emotion, or it’s award-winning acting. With something as emotional as that on stage, less of everything else is more.
It reminds me about the moments Jean-Karl shared with Émilie during “Mercy” performances.
Cute song, booooooooring performance.
Borderline qualifier! I don’t mind it. It’s a nice cute quiet little song and the beat is good but it’s to quiet, to cute. Like Spain and Portugal last year! They have to work really hard to grab people’s attention for more than a minute..
Well… it reminds me of O Jardim… that’s not good. I think it will have a similar fate if not worse. Definitely better options would’ve been KIM or even Ula Lozar. But well… good luck Slovenia!
People writing in the Latvian article about The Common Linnets potential, well, THIS has the potential to do a Common Linnets. Its hypnotizing. It does needs better camerawork but the song is really good. Easy qualifier imho. I hope they sing in their own language. Please dont change it to English.
I want to agree with you, but performing in the first half of their semi is already not good for them. I love the intimacy of the staging they have now, but it wouldn’t be enough for Eurovision…just look at O Jardim
a good song will qualify from any spot, the melody is strong, the mood is amazing, it has all the ingredients for me to do very well. i like their minimalistic approach
Calm After the Storm is my fave ESC song ever and Sebi doesn’t remind me of it in any way.
It’s nice, grabs your attention for a while but unless well staged could flop at ESC.
I don’t know about that song but have you seen that intro? Like, imagine a dancing robot right before any song during Eurovision. I need this weirdness
Lyrics, found on YT – as a native speaker, I can assure you that they are actually very well translated. Enjoy! To yourself When your mind is full of thoughts you can hear how my heart beats When your burden is heavy you can take refuge in me Ask what keeps me going forward achievements and distances Like a leaf goes with the wind and resists it I go with the flow and resist it REFRAIN: You can’t always see the stars stay true to yourself don’t tell me you’re sorry (2x) There are tears in your eyes let them… Read more »
Thank you!
Wow.
Thank you so much, Prijeten fant! I love it even more now that I know the lyrics.
I like it
I need lyrics translation ASAP.
I looked and I could not find any lyrics. None at all. Please help. Thank you.
Lyrics translation has now been posted a few comments above this one, so please disregard.
What are the lyrics about? Love the melody.
No …. this is not art …this is TERRIBLE !
Sorry, this has no big potential for finale
good luck
Don’t mind this quite a cute song although was just waiting for it to go somewhere, bit one note for me, however head and shoulders above other 3 songs picked tonight
Climbed into my top 3 pretty easily and I hope it stays there. Amazing choice. It sounds common and nothing unusual but the fact it’s simple simply adds to ita beauty. Sometimes less is more. Good luck Slovenia
Well my two favourites were in the super final, so I cant complain^^
Dont know how this would do at Eurovision, depending on the staging amd the mood it creates, this could either be magical or a pee break