Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest

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.

Yugoslavia
(1961–1991)
(1992)
Member stationYugoslav Radio Television (JRT)
National selection events
Participation summary
Appearances27
First appearance1961
Last appearance1992
Best result1st: 1989
Worst resultLast: 1964
Nul points1964
External links
Yugoslavia's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see
Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1992

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.

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 of 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 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 ESC took place, on 28 April, a new federal state was formed consisting of Serbia and Montenegro called the 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 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 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 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, and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have enjoyed high scores in the 2000s, the Republic of Macedonia has secured a top 10 result and made it through to the final each year until 2008, in which, even though they came 10th, they didn't qualify to the final. In 2004, 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 and Herzegovina withdrew before the contest began; Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and 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
1
 Winner
◁
 Last place
Year Artist Constituent republic[8] Language Title Place Points
1961
 Ljiljana Petrović Slovenia Serbo-Croatian "Neke davne zvezde" (Неке давне звезде)
8
9
1962
 Lola Novaković Slovenia Serbo-Croatian "Ne pali svetlo u sumrak" (Не пали светло у сумрак)
4
10
1963
 Vice Vukov Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Brodovi" (Бродови)
11
3
1964
 Sabahudin Kurt Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbo-Croatian "Život je sklopio krug" (Живот је склопио круг)
13 ◁
0
1965
 Vice Vukov Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbo-Croatian "Čežnja" (Чежња)
12
2
1966
 Berta Ambrož Slovenia Slovene "Brez besed"
7
9
1967
 Lado Leskovar Slovenia Slovene "Vse rože sveta"
8
7
1968
 Dubrovački trubaduri Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Jedan dan" (Један дан)
7
8
1969
 Ivan & 3M Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Pozdrav svijetu" (Поздрав свијету)
13
5
1970
 Eva Sršen Slovenia Slovene "Pridi, dala ti bom cvet"
11
4
1971
 Kićo Slabinac Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Tvoj dječak je tužan" (Твој дјечак је тужан)
14
68
1972
 Tereza Kesovija Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Muzika i ti" (Музика и ти)
9
87
1973
 Zdravko Čolić Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbo-Croatian "Gori vatra" (Гори ватра)
15
65
1974
 Korni Grupa Serbia Serbo-Croatian "Moja generacija" (Моја генерација)
12
6
1975
 Pepel in kri Slovenia Slovene "Dan ljubezni"
13
22
1976
 Ambasadori Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbo-Croatian "Ne mogu skriti svoju bol" (Не могу скрити своју бол)
17
10
1981
 Vajta Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbo-Croatian "Lejla" (Лејла)
15
35
1982
 Aska Serbia Serbo-Croatian "Halo, Halo" (Хало, хало)
14
21
1983
 Danijel Montenegro Serbo-Croatian "Džuli" (Џули)
4
125
1984
 Vlado & Isolda Montenegro Serbo-Croatian "Ciao, amore"
18
26
1985
 Zorica Kondža feat. Josip Genda Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Pokora" (Покора) Withdrawn X
1986
 Doris Dragović Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Željo moja" (Жељо моја)
11
49
1987
 Novi fosili Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Ja sam za ples" (Ја сам за плес)
4
92
1988
 Srebrna krila Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Mangup" (Мангуп)
6
87
1989
 Riva Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Rock Me"b
1
137
1990
 Tajči Croatia Serbo-Croatian "Hajde da ludujemo" (Хајде да лудујемо)
7
81
1991
 Baby Doll Serbia Serbo-Croatian "Brazil" (Бразил)
21
1
1992
 Extra Nena Serbia within FR Yugoslavia Serbo-Croatian "Ljubim te pesmama" (Љубим те песмама)
13
44
NOTES:
a ^ Yugoslavia intended to enter the contest in 1985. However, due to the Contest being held on the national memorial day marking the fifth anniversary of former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito's death, broadcasting any musical program wasn't allowed and JRT was forced to withdraw.
b ^ Song's name and portions of the chorus are in English.

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

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
1979
1980
1981Mladen PopovićHelga Vlahović
1982Miša Molk
1983Boško Negovanović
1984Snežana Lipkovska-Hadžinaumova
1985Snežana Lipkovska-HadžinaumovaaDid not participate
1986Mladen PopovićOliver MlakarMiša MolkEnver Petrovci
1987Ljiljana Tipsarević
1988Slobodan KaloperMiša Molk
1989Miša MolkDijana Čulić
1990Branko UvodićDrago Čulina
1991Ksenija UrličićMebrura Topolovac
1992Separate countriesVeselin Mrđen
1993No broadcastDid not participate
1994Mladen Popović
1995
1996
1997Nikola Nešković
1998Vojislav Pantić
1999No broadcast
2000
2001Unknown
2002Mladen Popović
2003
a. ^ Transmitted next day on TV Skopje 1
  • 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 five contests: from 1977 to 1980 and again in 1985, due to the Contest being held on Yugoslavia's national memorial day for Josip Broz Tito.[9]

Despite their absence, Yugoslavia did organize national finals for 1978, 1979 and 1980 as part of the Opatija music festival (Dani Jugoslovenske Zabavne Muzike). The festival was not held in 1977.

Year Artist Title
1978 Oliver Dragojević "Zbogom ostaj ljubavi" (Goodbye my love)
1979 Novi Fosili "Sklopi oči" (Close your eyes)
1980 Novi Fosili "Najdraže moje" (My favourites)

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 April 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  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. http://eurobosniamp3.netfirms.com/yuentries.html
  9. "History – Eurovision Song Contest 1985". Eurovision.tv. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008.
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