The semi final of Dora 2009, the Croatian national selection for the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, is about to be held. 14 acts will compete for six tickets to the national final tomorrow.

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Participants

1. Sandra Bagaric – Kao jedno
2. Maja Vucic – Tebe imam ja
3. Ricardo Luque & Maja Vasilj – Ljubav ima tvoje lice
4. Alen Vitasovic & Lela Kaplowitz – Tamo gdje ljubav pocinje
5. Sane – Decko
6. Tomislav Bralic & Klapa Intrade – Ne damo te pismo naša
7. Drazen Zanko – Samo ti
8. Marta Kuliš – Makni se
9. Jelena Radan – Voljet cu te sutra
10. Mario Battifiaca – Ma gdje bila
11. Cager Zoc & Papak Dance Company – Ritam da se ritam
12. Marko Tolja – Stranci
13. Ivo Gamulin Gianni – Daj mi jedan razlog
14. Feminnem – Trebam te

LIVE

Live report by Laura Gudim.

The show has started and it is opened by the Lado Dance Ensemble, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary. The presenters are introdcued: Nevena Rendeli and Dusko Curlic. We are now in the green room and of course, everybody is nervous.

1. Sandra Bagaric – Kao jedno

Current poll result: 7.9% (3rd)

Sandra Bagaric is an opera singer (soprano) and she performs a song with patriotic lyrics. The voice is strongunlike the chorus of the entry.

2.Maja Vucic – Tebe imam ja

Current poll result: 2.0% (=6th)

Maja Vucic was a member of Divas and a chat show host. The song she performs is quite catchy.

3. Ricardo Luque & Maja Vasilj – Ljubav ima tvoje lice

Current poll result: 2.0% (=6th)

Ricardo is Venezuelan born and he took part in DORA 2005. The song has a Spanish ryhthm and the lyrics also include some words in Spanish. Ricardo has a strong accent. This obviously not a winner.

4. Alen Vitasovic & Lela Kaplowitz – Tamo gdje ljubav pocinje

Current poll result: 0% (=12th)

The duo performs a ballad with a strong chorus. For once, Alen is singing in standard Croatian and not in the Istrian dialect.

We are back in the green room. Sandra Bagaric says that her song is a patriotic ballad.

5. Sane – Decko

Current poll result: 1.0% (=9th)

They used to sing in English but have changed to Croatian. The entry sounds very young, the lyrics are banal and the singers are slightly off-key. Probably not catchy enough to win.

6. Tomislav Bralic & Klapa Intrade – Ne damo te pismo naša

Current poll result: 0% (=12th)

This is a ballad in the Dalmatian dialect. The chorus is not very strong but generally the song has a nice tune.

7. Drazen Zanko – Samo ti

Current poll result: 3.0% (5th)

Samo ti is a dramatic ballad with a good chorus. The voice is very strong.

8. Marta Kuliš – Makni se

Current poll result: 2.0% (=6th)

An entry in a jazzy style. This is perhaps not the best choice for the Eurovision Song Contest, although Marta has a good voice which suits the song.

The members of Sane have revealed that their song is unofficially the first gay song at Dora.

9. Jelena Radan – Voljet cu te sutra

Current pll result: 1.0% (=9th)

One of the weaker songs tonight. It is not very catchy and the singer is slightly off-key. She obviously has not the range for the song.

10. Mario Battifiaca – Ma gdje bila

Current poll result: 0% (=12th)

The songs starts off very well and the voice is excellent. Generally one of the best songs and performances tonight. Mario is from Opatija, where the show is held.

11. Cager Zoc & Papak Dance Company – Ritam da se ritam

Current poll result: 4.0% (4th)

Whistles and tam-tam drums! This is a very catchy entry and the abdn sings about their street.

12. Marko Tolja – Stranci

Current poll result: 1.0% (=9th)

The audience was told to prepare its tissues for the next song. The entry is catchy but the chorus is not as strong as it might be expected from Marko.

13. Ivo Gamulin Gianni – Daj mi jedan razlog

Current poll result: 13.9% (2nd)

Probably the strongest entry so far. The opera-standard voice is great and the overall song as well as the chorus (especially the final one)are very strong.

14. Feminnem – Poljupci u boji

Current poll result: 62.4% (1st)

This is one of the favourites tonight. However, the chorus is not very strong and the group is slightly off-key and can't hit the high notes properly.

Short clips of all songs are shown now along with a warning not to vote more than ten times.

The voting has started. The Brotherhood of Man, winners of the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom, are now performing in their original line-up. They present a medley of their best-known hits. They start with Figaro and continue with Angelo. Come on and kiss your baby is up next and followed by United we stand, their first hit. The next song is their 1976 winning song Save your kisses for me.

The results are coming now.

The following songs are eliminated: 8, 2, 9, 4, 5, 12

The following songs have qualified for the final: 11, 7, 14, 10, 13, 6