The final of EMA 2010, the Slovenian pre-selection to determine the country's representative at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, is about to be held. 14 acts will compete for the honour of representing Slovenia in Oslo.
How to watch ?
A webcastwill be made available here. (you will need Octoshape installed to watch the stream).
Participants
Composer/Lyrcist in brackets.
- Marko Vozelj – Moj si zrak
(Marko Vozelj) - Nuša Derenda – Sanjajva
(Neisha) - Langa – Roko mi daj
(Miha Hercog, Mišo Kontrec/Saša Lendero) - Tangels – Kaj in kam
(Raay/Raay, P.Charles) - Brigita Šuler – Para me
(Miha Hercog/Saša Lendero) - Anastazija Juvan – Nežna
(Miran Juvan/Anastazija Juvan) - Manca Špik – Tukaj sem doma
(Andrej BabiÄ�/Feri LainšÄ�ek) - Hamo & Gal – Ä�rni konji Ä�ez nebo
(Gal Gjurin) - Martina Šraj – Dovolj ljubezni
(Simon Skalar/Martina Šraj) - Stereotipi – Daj mi en znak
(Zvone Tomac/Janez Rupnik, Vatroslav Tomac) - Nina Pušlar – Dež
(Martin Štibernik, Dejan RadiÄ�eviÄ�) - Vlado Pilja – Tudi fantje joÄ�ejo
(Marino Legovic/Igor PirkoviÄ�) - Ansambel Roka Žlindre & Kalamari – Narodnozabavni rock
(Marino LegoviÄ�/Leon Oblak) - Lea Sirk – Vampir je moj poet
(Patrik Greblo/Juliette Justine)
LIVE
The show will start at 20:00 CET.
The show kicks off with 2005 Slovenian Eurovision Song Contest representative Omar Naber, performing his own, rockier version of the last Eurovision winning song from Italy, Insieme.
After Omar is finished, the host couple enters the stage explaining tonight's procedure to the audience.
1. Marko Vozelj – Moj si zrak
Current esctoday.com poll result: =10th (1.4%)
It's time to start with the main part of tonight's show. Marko Vozelj is the first of tonight's 14 hopefuls. His song Moj si zrak is rather low-key and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. The performance features three big bubbles with people in them, but in the end, that gimmick probably won't help him to gain enough votes either.
2. Nuša Derenda – Sanjajva
Current esctoday.com poll result: 2nd (21.8%)
She is back. Slovenian diva Nusa Derenda, who already represented Slovenia in the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving 7th place back then with Energy, which still remains the country's best placing so far. After 2003 and 2005, Nusa is giving it another try at EMA with Sanjajva, a song by Neisha. Nusa has turned blond again and is standing on some kind of podium to appear bigger. Her vocals certainly don't have to be any bigger, as expeceted, she nails the performance, proving once again that she is one of country's best vocalists. She is a wearing a beautiful apricot dres and invites her listeners to dream with her. An interesting song, however, it takes a bit long to evolve and probably doesn't have the instant appeal to gain enough televotes to win tonight. But a singer like Nusa should never be counted out, so she may well get to represent Slovenia for the second time this year.
3. Langa – Roko mi daj
Current esctoday.com poll result: 4th (6.3%)
Langa are giving EMA another try as well, after a second place in 2008 and a fifth place in 2009. The group has been quite vocal about last year's disappointment, when they won televoting by a landslide, duetting with Manca Spik who will perform later on, but were completely ignored by the jury. Chances are that they won't be too happy after tonight's show either, since Roko mi daj definitely is their weakest attempt so far. Strong vocals, supported by four female backing singers dressed in black and purple. Even though they had better songs in the last two years, they still could do very well tonight considering the fact that they are going to get all the votes from a certain minority group.
4. Tangels – Kaj in kam
Current esctoday.com poll result: =10th (1.4%)
The show continues with the quartet Tangels and their ballad Kaj in kram. Optically appealing but the song itself probably stays too anonymous to make a bigger impact on tonight's results.
5. Brigita Šuler – Para me
Current esctoday.com poll result: 3rd (13.4%)
Brigita Suler is dressed in a long, blue evening gown, maybe a bit untypical for Para me, the turbo-folk song she singing. However, she looks very beautiful and the dress does suit her very well. But not only the dress, the whole stating comes across very well and in the end, the good old wind machine has its moment too. It's a very rhythmic song, suitable for Brigita, whose vocals are solid. After last year's disappointment Druga liga, Brigita seems to be much more comfortable on stage again and it's very likely that she will achieve a much better placing than last year. Para me is this year's second song written by Hercog and Lendero and certainly is better within its genre. A possible contender for victory?
6. Anastazija Juvan – Nežna
Current esctoday.com poll result: 14th (0%)
It's time for slower tunea and Anastazija proves that age doesn't matter when it comes to making a good impression on stage. She looks lovely in her dress and sings well, her song is very old-fashioned though. Some people might like that but she definitely is at risk of being overlooked and very unlikely to be among the televoter's favourites.
7. Manca Špik – Tukaj sem doma
Current esctoday.com poll result: 1st (35.2%)
A stunning Manca Spik, tonight's favourite, takes over the stage. The performance is creating a dreamy atmosphere and Manca delivers a well-rehearsed performance of her anthemic song Tukaj sem doma, written by two times EMA winner Andrej Babic. Manca's blue dress matches the stage and at the end of the song, her trail is being lifted, turning into three colours, white, blue and red, symbolizing the Slovenian flag and relating to the song's patriotic lyrics. Everything seems perfect for Manca to win tonight but could this be a disadvantage? With so many people expecting her to win, it could backfire and EMA has proven to be full of surprises. Nevertheless, Manca seems to be Slovenia's best shot for a good placing this year and she delivered on stage, Besides Brigita and Langa, Manca is also trying to win EMA for the third consecutive time and she has by far the best chances of tonight being her third time lucky.
8. Hamo & Gal – Ä�rni konji Ä�ez nebo
Current esctoday.com poll result: =5th (4.9%)
Another ballad, this time with a quite minimalistic staging, concentrating on the singer and the piano player. It's a rather mediocre song and could be overlooked in tonight's colourful show.
9. Martina Šraj – Dovolj ljubezni
Current esctoday.com poll result: =10th (1.4%)
Martina is a debutant at EMA and performs in a glittery silver Perelli/Lorak dress. Her R'n'B song has a good beat and her vocals are great. Still, one has the feeling that she can't quite reach her full potential with Dovolj ljubezni. But it is a good start in making her more well-known. A good young singer, who can rightfully aspire to represent Slovenia in a future Eurovision Song Contest, if she has the right song.
10. Stereotipi – Daj mi en znak
Current esctoday.com poll result: 13th (0.7%)
Another change of style. Stereotipi are giving a solid performance of their alternative/rock song Daj mi en znak. The song itself is not that good and definitely not among tonight's favourites.
11. Nina Pušlar – Dež
Current esctoday.com poll result: =5th (4.9%)
Nina's sound is quite reminiscent of Kelly Clarkson and she definitely has the right voice for this pop/rock sound. Quite a contemporary song but all in all, probably too weak to have a say in the fight for victory.
12. Vlado Pilja – Tudi fantje joÄ�ejo
Current esctoday.com poll result: 9th (2.1%)
A rock ballad that doesn't really get going. It doesn't stand much of a chance. The vocals are strong but that holds true for the majority of tonight's performers.
13. Ansambel Roka Žlindre & Kalamari – Narodnozabavni rock
Current esctoday.com poll result: 7th (3.5%)
A quite interesting mix of traditional folk music, typical of the alpine countries like Slovenia as well as Austria, and rock elements. The members of the folk group are wearing traditional costumes, making their act authentic. The staging comes across very well and the two groups are giving another strong vocal performance? Probably a dark horse for tonight. Or maybe not that dark a horse after all, considering the fact that this genre is very popular in parts of Slovenia.
14. Lea Sirk – Vampir je moj poet
Current esctoday.com poll result: 8th (2.8%)
Lea Sirk is the last of tonight's choices and definitely a good act to close. Her song is very catchy and could be considered as an underdog. Two dancers and three backing vocalists are supporting her on stage and Lea certainly knows how to flirt with the camera. The whole act works very well on stage.
Now, a recap is being shown for the televoters to make up their minds.
Our poll will close in five minutes.
Our poll is closed now. You can find the updated results above.
The series of interval acts kicks off with last year's Slovenian Eurovision Song COntest representatives Quartissimo, who performing their brand new song, as well as their Eurovision entry, Love symphony.
Sasa Lendero will then make her her come back after giving birth last year with a new song. The stage act features a catchy dancing routine and the song sounds very Spanish. She is also performing Mandoline, the song that got her second place at EMA 2006 and won the public voting.
Another EMA runner-up flashback will follow: Tinkara Kovac is performing Zakaj, EMA runner-up of 1999.
To end the interval phase, last year's Eurovision Song Contest representative Alexander Rybak will also grace Slovenia with his winning song Fairytale, as well as his new single Europe's Skies.
The results are coming in.
Roka Žlindre & Kalamari have won the national final and will represent Slovenia in Oslo.
