Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Flag
(1961–1991)
Flag
(1992)
Former participating broadcasterJugoslavenska radiotelevizija (JRT)
Participation summary
Appearances27
First appearance1961
Last appearance1992
Highest placement1st: 1989
Host1990
Related articles
Jugovizija
External links
Yugoslavia's page at Eurovision.tv Edit this at Wikidata

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 1990 contest.

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

Vice Vukov performing "Čežnja" in Naples (1965)
Eva Sršen performing "Pridi, dala ti bom cvet" in Amsterdam (1970)

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961 along with Spain and Finland. 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]

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 did not participate in the contest, however national finals still took place.

Yugoslavia won the 1989 contest with the song "Rock Me" by the group Riva. In accordance with the rules, the 1990 contest took place in Zagreb, as the entry came from Croatia.

1992: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

During the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the former constituent republics of Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia declared secession and hence withdrew from Jugovizija, while the then-leaderships of Serbia and Montenegro agreed to maintain a close alliance. On 28 March 1992, the republics that still (at least formally) constituted the fading and shrunken former Yugoslav federation took part in 1992's 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 its 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 contest took place, on 28 April, a new federal state was formed, consisting of Serbia and Montenegro and called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was represented by the previously mentioned Extra Nena in the 1992 contest.[5][6][7] Yugoslavia was banned from participating in the contest until 2001 due to UN sanctions during the Yugoslav Wars. The sanctions went into effect only a few weeks after the 1992 contest.

1993–present: After the breakup

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, its former constituent republics declared independence. The formerly sub-national public radio and TV stations of Yugoslavia changed to national but under new names, including: RTVSLO, HRT, RTS, MRT, BHRT and RTCG. Since joining the EBU respectively, all of the ex-Yugoslav countries have independently participated in the Eurovision Song Contest: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia (until 2018 designated as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).

Overall, the results of the new republics have been mixed: Croatia had some top 10 finishes in the late 1990s, Serbia and Montenegro (as a union) and Bosnia and Herzegovina have enjoyed high placings in the 2000s, and North Macedonia has secured a top 10 result and made it through to the final each year until 2008, in which, even though it came 10th in its semi-final, it did not qualify for the final. In 2004, Serbia and Montenegro debuted and came in second place. In 2007, Montenegro and Serbia entered the contest as independent nations, with Montenegro failing to qualify for the final and Serbia securing its only first place to date, and the only of any former Yugoslav republic. In 2013, no ex-Yugoslav country secured a spot in the final, as Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew before the contest began; Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia all failed to qualify in the first semi-final; and North Macedonia failed to qualify in the second semi-final. 2023 was the first time that all participating ex-Yugoslav countries qualified to the final, with Croatia finishing 13th, Slovenia 21st and Serbia 24th.

Participation overview

The following lists the 27 contestants that won the local competition and went on to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Yugoslavia is one of the few countries that have sent all the songs in one of the official languages, which were Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian, and Macedonian.[8] 22 out of the 26 Yugoslav entries in the contest between 1961 and 1991 were in Serbo-Croatian and the rest in Slovenian. The majority of entries, 11, came from Croatia, where Yugoslavia's pop music industry was centered. No entry from Macedonia or Kosovo ever made it to the contest, illustrating a cultural marginalisation of the poorest parts of the country.[8]

National contests also took place between 1978 and 1980 and in 1985, but with no intention of sending a representative to the contest.

Table key
1 First place
◁ Last place
Year Artist Song Language Place Points
1961 Ljiljana Petrović "Neke davne zvezde" (Неке давне звезде) Serbo-Croatian 8 9
1962 Lola Novaković "Ne pali svetla u sumrak" (Не пали светла у сумрак) Serbo-Croatian 4 10
1963 Vice Vukov "Brodovi" (Бродови) Serbo-Croatian 11 3
1964 Sabahudin Kurt "Život je sklopio krug" (Живот је склопио круг) Serbo-Croatian 13 ◁ 0
1965 Vice Vukov "Čežnja" (Чежња) Serbo-Croatian 12 2
1966 Berta Ambrož "Brez besed" Slovene 7 9
1967 Lado Leskovar "Vse rože sveta" Slovene 8 7
1968 Lući Kapurso and Hamo Hajdarhodžić "Jedan dan" (Један дан) Serbo-Croatian 7 8
1969 Ivan "Pozdrav svijetu" (Поздрав свијету) Serbo-Croatian[lower-alpha 1] 13 5
1970 Eva Sršen "Pridi, dala ti bom cvet" Slovene 11 4
1971 Krunoslav Slabinac "Tvoj dječak je tužan" (Твој дјечак је тужан) Serbo-Croatian 14 68
1972 Tereza "Muzika i ti" (Музика и ти) Serbo-Croatian 9 87
1973 Zdravko Čolić "Gori vatra" (Гори ватра) Serbo-Croatian 15 65
1974 Korni Grupa "Generacija '42" (Генерација '42) Serbo-Croatian 12 6
1975 Pepel in kri "Dan ljubezni" Slovene 13 22
1976 Ambasadori "Ne mogu skriti svoju bol" (Не могу скрити своју бол) Serbo-Croatian 17 10
1981 Seid Memić Vajta "Lejla" (Лејла) Serbo-Croatian 15 35
1982 Aska "Halo, halo" (Хало, хало) Serbo-Croatian 14 21
1983 Daniel "Džuli" (Џули) Serbo-Croatian 4 125
1984 Ida and Vlado "Ciao, amore" Serbo-Croatian[lower-alpha 2] 18 26
1986 Doris "Željo moja" (Жељо моја) Serbo-Croatian 11 49
1987 Novi fosili "Ja sam za ples" (Ја сам за плес) Serbo-Croatian[lower-alpha 3] 4 92
1988 Srebrna krila "Mangup" (Мангуп) Serbo-Croatian 6 87
1989 Riva "Rock Me" Serbo-Croatian[lower-alpha 4] 1 137
1990 Tajči "Hajde da ludujemo" (Хајде да лудујемо) Serbo-Croatian 7 81
1991 Baby Doll "Brazil" (Бразил) Serbo-Croatian 21 1
1992 Extra Nena "Ljubim te pesmama" (Љубим те песмама) Serbian 13 44

Hostings

Year Location Venue Presenters
1990 Zagreb, SR Croatia Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall Helga Vlahović Brnobić and Oliver Mlakar

Conductors

Year Conductor[lower-alpha 5] Musical director Notes Ref.
1961 Socialist Republic of Slovenia Jože Privšek N/A [9]
1962
1963 Socialist Republic of Croatia Miljenko Prohaska
1964 Socialist Republic of Serbia Radivoje Spasić
1965
1966 Socialist Republic of Slovenia Mojmir Sepe
1967 Socialist Republic of Slovenia Mario Rijavec
1968 Socialist Republic of Croatia Miljenko Prohaska
1969
1970 Socialist Republic of Slovenia Mojmir Sepe [10]
1971 Socialist Republic of Croatia Miljenko Prohaska
1972 Socialist Republic of Croatia Nikica Kalogjera
1973 Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Esad Arnautalić
1974 Socialist Republic of Serbia Zvonimir Skerl
1975 Socialist Republic of Slovenia Mario Rijavec
1976 Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Esad Arnautalić
1981 Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ranko Rihtman [11]
1982 Socialist Republic of Serbia Zvonimir Skerl
1983 Socialist Republic of Montenegro Radovan Papović
1984 Socialist Republic of Croatia Mato Došen
1986 Socialist Republic of Croatia Nikica Kalogjera
1987
1988
1989
1990 Socialist Republic of Croatia Stjepan Mihajlineć [lower-alpha 6] Socialist Republic of Croatia Igor Kuljerić [lower-alpha 7] [12]
1991 Socialist Republic of Serbia Slobodan Marković N/A
1992 Sweden Anders Berglund [lower-alpha 8]

Commentators and spokespeople

Year(s) Serbian commentator Croatian commentator Slovene commentator Spokesperson
1961Ljubomir VukadinovićGordana BonettiTomaž TerčekSaša Novak
1962Mladen Delić
1963Miloje Orlović
1964Miloje OrlovićSaša Novak
1965Mladen DelićLjubo Jelčić
1966Dragana Marković
1967Saša Novak
1968Snežana Lipkovska-Hadžinaumova
1969Gordana Bonetti
1970Milovan IlićOliver MlakarDragana Marković
1971No spokesperson
1972
1973
1974Helga Vlahović
1975Dragana Marković
1976Viktor Blažič
1977Did not participate
1978
1979No broadcast[13]
1980
1981Mladen PopovićOliver MlakarTomaž TerčekHelga Vlahović
1982Miša Molk
1983Boško Negovanović
1984Snežana Lipkovska-Hadžinaumova
1985Snežana Lipkovska-Hadžinaumova[lower-alpha 9]Did not participate
1986Mladen PopovićKsenija UrličićMiša MolkEnver Petrovci
1987Ksenija UrličićLjiljana Tipsarević
1988Mladen PopovićOliver MlakarSlobodan KaloperMiša Molk
1989Miša MolkDijana Čulić
1990Branko UvodićDrago Čulina
1991Ksenija UrličićCroatian commentary usedMebrura Topolovac
1992Separate countriesVeselin Mrđen
1993No broadcast[lower-alpha 10]Did not participate
1994Mladen Popović
1995
1996[lower-alpha 11]
1997Nikola Nešković
1998Vojislav Pantić
1999No broadcast
2000[lower-alpha 12]
2001Unknown
2002Mladen Popović
  • Due to Croatia and Slovenia becoming independent countries in the breakup of Yugoslavia, in 1992 there was no Croatian or Slovene commentator.

See also

Participation of successor states in Eurovision

Participation of successor states in Junior Eurovision

Notes

  1. ↑ Contains phrases in Spanish, German, French, English, Dutch, Italian, Russian, and Finnish
  2. ↑ Contains words in Italian
  3. ↑ Contains three repeated phrases in English
  4. ↑ Song's name and portions of the chorus are in English
  5. ↑ All conductors are of Yugoslav nationality unless otherwise noted.
  6. ↑ The song was performed without orchestral accompaniment at the national final.
  7. ↑ Although Kuljerić was officially credited as musical director, he did not conduct any entries; the orchestra was assembled and rehearsed by Stanko Selak, who was credited as the contest's assistant musical director. Selak additionally stepped in to conduct the Cypriot entry.
  8. ↑ Host conductor; also played accordion. The entry was conducted by Zvonimir Skerl at the national final.
  9. ↑ Transmitted next day on TV Skopje 1.
  10. ↑ RTS did not broadcast the competition live, but played videos of the participants within the show Music Carousel.
  11. ↑ In 1996, RTS transmitted the contest day after the live show, cutting the "good luck wishes" from politician leaders that aired before every performance.
  12. ↑ In 2000 there was no live broadcast of the contest, but Third channel of RTS aired all the performances (except Israel's), and the winning performance, without voting sequence.

References

  1. ↑ "18. jugoslavenski izbor pjesme Eurovizije" [18th Yugoslav Eurovision Song Contest]. Opatija. 7 March 1979. Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  2. 1 2 Jugovizija statistics by year Archived 26 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Eurodalmatia official ESC fan club, Dalmatia, Croatia
  3. ↑ Alma Čardžić Bio – Official Site (in Bosnian and Turkish)
  4. ↑ Extra Nena Bio – Official Site (in Serbian and English)
  5. ↑ "Eurovision Trivia: Did you know..." BBC News. 6 May 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  6. ↑ Klier, Marcus (28 September 2007). "Interview with Extra Nena". ESCToday. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  7. ↑ Deniz, Jose Miguel Galvan (14 March 2005). "Eurovision shows political side". BBC News. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
  8. 1 2 Vuletic, Dean (2019). Recognising Kosovo in the World of Televised International Song Contests. Springer Nature. p. 116. ISBN 978-9811394270. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (2012). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. One: The 1950s and 1960s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-065-6.
  10. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (2014). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Two: The 1970s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-093-9.
  11. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.
  12. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-163-9.
  13. ↑ Roxburgh, Gordon (2014). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Two: The 1970s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 352–365. ISBN 978-1-84583-093-9.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.