It is reported that a new rule requiring singers to perform in Slovene or a recognised minority language is to be introduced for EMA 2018.
Evrovizija.com reports that a new language rule requiring singers to perform in Slovene or a recognised minority language is to be introduced for next years Eurovision selection process. The new rules would mean that singers would not be allowed to sing in English and instead they may only perform in the following languages:
- Croatian
- German
- Hungarian
- Italian
- Romani
- Serbian
- Slovene
Since the language rule was abolished at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1999 seven entries from Slovenia have been performed entirely in Slovene, while one song was performed in English and Slovene. Slovenia’s best result when performing in Slovenian in the past 10 years came in 2007 when Alenka Gotar finished 15th in the final with the song “Cvet z juga”.
It is not clear whether the new rule will be similar to that of the Icelandic selection process. RUV, the Icelandic national broadcaster, has required entrants to perform their song in Icelandic in the semi-finals, with the artists then given a choice to perform in English or Icelandic in the final. The language that a song is performed in during the final, is the language that the song will be performed in at the Eurovision Song Contest.
At the Eurovision Song Contest a record thirty five of the competing songs were performed entirely in English, with just Belarus, Hungary, Italy and Portugal performing entirely in their own language. In the past two years both winners of the Eurovision Song Contest have featured lyrics not in English.
RTVSLO has yet to formally confirm their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. Last year Slovenia confirmed their participation in July as they launched their call for submissions for EMA 2017.
Source: Evrovizija
[tw-accordion class=””] [tw-accordion-section title=”Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest”] Slovenia was one of three countries to join the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993. The country qualified through a specially organised selection round called “Kvalifikacija za Millstreet” which was hosted in Slovenia, seven countries competed for three spots in Eurovision 1993. The country has participated in 22 editions of the Eurovision Song Contest. Their best result came in 1995 when Darja Švajger finished 7th scoring a total of 84 points, she is closely followed by Nuša Derenda who finished 7th in the 2001 contest with 70 points.[/tw-accordion-section] [/tw-accordion]
I bet they’re doing this in order to prevent listening public from complaining about future entries from Slovenia being sung in English.
i hope this will encourage Raiven or Nika to compete again