Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Vice Vukov performing "Čežnja" in Naples

Eva Sršen performing "Pridi, dala ti bom cvet" in Amsterdam

Yugoslavia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 27 times, debuting in 1961 and competing every year until its last appearance in 1992, with the exceptions of 1977–1980 and 1985. Yugoslavia won the 1989 contest and hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1990.

Ljiljana Petrović was Yugoslavia's first entrant in the contest in 1961 and placed eighth. In 1962, Lola Novaković gave the country its first top five result, finishing fourth. This would remain Yugoslavia's only top five result until 1983, when Danijel finished fourth with the song "Džuli". Novi Fosili also finished fourth in 1987 with "Ja sam za ples". In 1989, the country achieved its only victory in the contest, when Riva won with the song "Rock Me".

History

1961–1991: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961. The national pre-selection organized by the Yugoslav broadcaster Yugoslav Radio Television (JRT) was Jugovizija, and it featured entries submitted by the subnational public broadcasting centers based in the capitals of each of the constituent republics of the Yugoslav federation: SR Bosnia and Herzegovina (RTV Sarajevo), SR Croatia (RTV Zagreb and RTV Split^[1]), SR Macedonia (RTV Skopje), SR Montenegro (RTV Titograd), SR Serbia (RTV Belgrade) and SR Slovenia (RTV Ljubljana) and also the broadcasting services of the autonomous provinces within SR Serbia: SAP Kosovo (RTV Priština) and SAP Vojvodina (RTV Novi Sad).^[2] The first to compete in 1961 were Belgrade, Ljubljana and Zagreb, while the others joined in the following years.^[2]

During its existence, SFR Yugoslavia was represented by a variety of artists from five of the eight Yugoslav federal units. These artists were from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia, with Macedonia, Vojvodina, and Kosovo never passing the national pre-selection. Croatia was the most successful constituent republic, as its performers won the national contest 13 out of the 26 times SFR Yugoslavia took part in the contest. From 1977 to 1980, and in 1985, Yugoslavia didn't participate in the contest.

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia won the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 with the song "Rock Me" by the group Riva. Following the rules of the contest, the Eurovision Song Contest 1990 took place in Zagreb, as the entry came from Croatia.

1992: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

During the process of breakup of SFR Yugoslavia in 1991, the former constituent republics: Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia proclaimed independence and hence withdrew from Jugovizija, while the then-leaderships of Serbia and Montenegro agreed to maintain a close alliance. On 28 March 1992, the countries that still (at least formally) constituted the fading and shrunken former Yugoslav federation took part in 1992 Jugovizija held in Belgrade. It included artists not only from Serbia and Montenegro, but also from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although the latter declared independence on 1 March of that year. Among it candidates was Alma Čardžić.^[3] The winner of that pre-selection was "Ljubim te pesmama" performed by Extra Nena (Snežana Berić) from Serbia.^[4] Before that year's ESC took place, on 28 April, a new federative state was formed consisting of Serbia and Montenegro called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia which was represented by the previously mentioned Extra Nena in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992 held on 9 May.^[5][6][7] Yugoslavia was banned from participating in the Song Contest until 2004 due to UN sanctions during the Yugoslav Wars and the Croatian War of Independence.

1993–present: After the breakup of SFRY

After the dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia its former constituent republics proclaimed independence. The once subnational public radio and TV stations changed to national but under new names, including: RTV Slovenia, HRT, RTS, MKRTV and so on. Since joining the EBU respectively, all of the ex-Yugoslav countries have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia.

Overall the results of the new republics have been mixed: Croatia had some early successes in the mid-1990s, and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have enjoyed some success in recent years, while the Republic of Macedonia has never secured a top 10 result despite making it through to the final each year until 2008, in which it lost at the semi-final stage. In 2004, the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro debuted and came in 2nd and in 2007, Montenegro joined the contest but failed to qualify for the final, while Serbia won the Eurovision Song Contest the first time it entered as an independent nation. In 2013, no ex-Yugoslav country secured a spot in the final, as Bosnia & Herzegovina withdrew before the contest began, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro & Serbia all failed to qualify in the first semi-final and Macedonia failed to qualify in the second semi-final.

Contestants

The following lists the 27 contestants that won the local competition and went on to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Note that the selected entries of 1978–1980 and 1985 did not actually compete at the contest, as Yugoslavia did not participate during those years because of internal political reasons. Yugoslavia is one of the few countries that have sent all the songs in one of the official languages.

Table key

Voting history

Between 1961 and 1992, Yugoslavia's voting history was as follows:

Most points given Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 95 2  Italy 94 3  France 93 4   Switzerland 81 5  Sweden 70

Most points received Rank Country Points 1  Turkey 80 2  United Kingdom 69 3  Israel 68 4  Belgium 63 5  Cyprus 59

Hostings

Commentators and spokespeople

• Due to Croatia and Slovenia becoming independent countries in the breakup of Yugoslavia, in 1992 there was no Croatian or Slovene commentator.

Non-participating years

In all, Yugoslavia did not participate in 5 contests: from 1977 to 1980 and again in 1985, due to national memorial day for 5 years of anniversary of death of Josip Broz Tito being held in the country.^[8]

Despite this Yugoslavia have had organized national finale for 1978, 1979, 1980 as part of Opatija music festival (Dani Jugoslovenske Zabavne Muzike). Opatija was not held in 1977.

See also

References

External links

• Points to and from Yugoslavia eurovisioncovers.co.uk

Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest   Participation 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 to 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 19921   Artists 1960s Ljiljana Petrović Lola Novaković Vice Vukov Sabahudin Kurt Vice Vukov Berta Ambrož Lado Leskovar Luciano Capurso & Hamo Hajdarhodžić Ivan & 4M 1970s Eva Sršen Kićo Slabinac Tereza Kesovija Zdravko Čolić Korni Grupa Pepel in Kri Ambasadori 1977 to 1979 1980s 1980 Vajta Aska Danijel Vlado & Isolda 1985 Doris Dragović Novi Fosili Srebrna Krila Riva 1990s Tajči Baby Doll Extra Nena   Songs 1960s "Neke davne zvezde" "Ne pali svetlo u sumrak" "Brodovi" "Život je sklopio krug" "Čežnja" "Brez besed" "Vse rože sveta" "Jedan dan" "Pozdrav svijetu" 1970s "Pridi, dala ti bom cvet" "Tvoj dječak je tužan" "Muzika i ti" "Gori vatra" "Moja generacija" "Dan ljubezni" "Ne mogu skriti svoju bol" 1977 to 1979 1980s 1980 "Lejla" "Halo, Halo" "Džuli" "Ciao, amore" 1985 "Željo moja" "Ja sam za ples" "Mangup" "Rock Me" 1990s "Hajde da ludujemo" "Brazil" "Ljubim te pesmama" 1Competed as FR Yugoslavia in 1992 (Note: Entries scored out are when Yugoslavia did not compete)