All songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 have been selected. During the weeks between the national final season and the actual Eurovision Song Contest, we will introduce all 43 entries in random order. Part four of the series is dedicated to the Slovak entry.

Basic information

Performers:	TWiiNS
Song:	I'm still alive
Language:	English
Music:	Bryan Todd, Sandra Nordstrom, Branislav Jancich
Lyrics:	Bryan Todd, Sandra Nordstrom, Branislav Jancich
Draw:	5th in the second semi final

The song

I'm still alive is a mid-tempo R&B style ballad. The lyrics tell about the troublesome recovery from a break-up, which led to the wish to never have to return to this kind of situation and a repellent attitude:

Now nothing can touch me
I’ve seen what I can be
Lonely I’ve walked through the fire
But I’m still alive
I’m still alive

The performers

Identical twin sisters Veronika and Daniela Nízlová have been singing since their childhoods. Under their original stage name Tweens they released four successful albums in Slovakia between 2000 and 2005. Their first album as TWiiNS was released in 2009 with help from proucer Jimmy Douglass. Furthermore, they appeared in various musicals. In 2008, they were backing singers for Czech representative Tereza Kerndlová in the Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade. Her song Have some fun only finished second last in the second semi final thus not making it to the final. In 2010, their international single Boys, Boys, Boys was released.

In 2011, the duo was chosen internally to rerpresent Slovakia in the Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf with the song I'm still alive, written by Bryan Todd, Sandra Nordstrom and Branislav Jancich.

The songwriters

I'm still alive was written by Bryan Todd, Sandra Nordstrom and Branislav Jancich. Bryan Todd is a successful record producer from New Zealand, who has worked with acts such as Ashley Tisdale, Miley Cyrus, V Factory and Jordin Sparks. He also released a couple of songs as a singer. Swedish songwriter Sandra Nordstrom has been working mainly as a lyricist for various different international singers.

The national selection

Unlike in 2009 and 2010, when Slovakia held big national selections with many songs, the 2011 was chosen internally. Originally, the country wanted to withdraw from the contest but they returned in the last minute after all.

Slovakia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Slovakia wanted to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1993 but narrowly did not make it to Millstreet finishing fourth in the Eastern Europe semi final. The debut came the year after to little success followed by relegations in 1995, 1997 and 1999 after low placings in 1996 and 1998. Slovakia decided not to return to the contest in 2000 and stayed away from the competition until 2009. Their two participations since then both ended in the semi finals.

Statistics

Not counting the failed attempt in 1993, this will be Slovakia's sixth participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. It will be the first time that the Slovak entry is performed in English. This means that only the following countries are left that have always had all of their entries performed (almost) entirely in a national language: Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Serbia, Serbia & Montenegro, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia. Furthermore, it will be the second time that Slovakia is being represented by a duo.

The Slovak entry will be performed as the fifth in the second semi final, after the experimental mid-tempo song from Belgium and before the ballad from Ukraine. A clear disadvantage might be the fact that the song is performed in a streak of slower songs. An advantage or disadvantage – depending on the taste of the audience – might be the fact that the the mainstream song follows right after something more unusual. Generally it appears that slower songs are affected less by an early position in the draw. However, it has to be mentioned that Slovakia was eliminated in the semi finals last year from a spot almost equal (fourth) despite being among the favourites.

Želáme Slovensku a TWiiNS veľa šÅ¥astia a dobré výsledky v Düsseldorfe!

Videos

Song presentation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-svXUFnJ8tg

The preview video:

TWiiNS with Boys, Boys, Boys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH6audCnUwk

Backing Tereza Kerndlová in Belgrade:

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Lithuanian entry.

Previous parts of the series:

1. Estonia
2. Italy
3. Croatia