EMA is the national contest in Slovenia

Slovenia

Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...

 to select the country's entry since 1996 to the Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...

. The contest has been held since the country's debut in the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been held every year since, except for on two occasions (1994 and 2000) when Slovenia did not compete at Eurovision. The contest is organized and broadcast by the Slovene broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija

Radiotelevizija Slovenija

Radiotelevizija Slovenija – usually abbreviated to RTV Slovenija – is Slovenia's national public broadcasting organization. Based in the country's capital, Ljubljana, it has regional broadcasting centres in Koper and Maribor and correspondents around Slovenia, Europe and the world...

 (RTV SLO). The contest was previously known as Slovenski izbor za pesem Evrovizije (literally Slovenian selection for the Eurovision Song Contest)

Format

The contest had previously been a one-night contest, in which the winner would be decided through jury, or a mixture of both televoting and the votes of an independent jury. Due to some criticism in the past over the use of jury voting, which is some cases has been completely contrary to the televoting results, 100% televoting was used in 2007 and 2008.

In 2004, the contest was extended over five nights (4 semifinals & final). In each semifinal there were 8 songs and three of them were qualified to final. In the final there were twelve songs from semifinals and four. The final had two rounds: in the first voting was done by jury and televote(50:50), in the second round (top 3 songs) voting was conducted by televote only.

In 2007, the contest was extended over three nights, with two semi-finals and one final. Between 10 and 12 songs competed in each semi-final, with the top 5 or 6 songs progressing to the final. The winner was decided through two rounds of televoting: in the first round the top two songs were decided, who would then progress to a Super Final. the second round of voting would then selected the winner from these two songs.

Changes were made to the format for the 2009 EMA. A mixture of jury and televoting has returned to the contest, which was shortened to just two nights. 14 songs competed in the semi-final, with 8 songs progressing to the final, where they were joined by six more songs, internally selected by RTV Slovenia to compete. These six songs have been composed by those who have achieved remarkable success at EMA in recent years and celebrated some hits in the Slovenian charts. The final of EMA 2009 has been held on 1 February 2009, with the semi-final one day earlier, on 31 January.

The 2010 contest featured two major changes to the 2009 format, which remains intact. Fistly televoting solely decided the winner, removing the jury vote. Furthermore all songs had to be performed in Slovene, with the winning song performed in Slovene at the Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo

Oslo

Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...

.

Guests

Trough the years special guest have been asked to make an appearance. The guest list includes:Katrina Leskanich

Katrina Leskanich

Katrina Leskanich is an American singer and musician, long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for being the lead singer and namesake of the pop band Katrina and the Waves.-Early life:...

 the winner of Eurovision Song Contest 1997

Eurovision Song Contest 1997

The Eurovision Song Contest 1997, was the 42nd Eurovision Song Contest and it was held at the Point Theatre Dublin, Ireland, on 3 May 1997. Boyzone member Ronan Keating and Carrie Crowley were the presenters of the show....

, Lys Assia

Lys Assia

Lys Assia born Rosa Mina Schärer on 3 March 1924, Rupperswil, Aargau, Switzerland) is a Swiss singer who won the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. When Lys Assia was a young girl she was a dancer. In 1940, however, she stood in for a female singer...

 the winner of the first Eurovision Song Contest

Eurovision Song Contest

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...

 and in 2010 Alexander Rybak

Alexander Rybak

Alexander Igoryevich Rybak or in Belarusian Alyaksandr Igaravich Rybak , born 13 May 1986 in Byelorussian SSR is a Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, pianist, writer, and actor...

 the winner of Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Eurovision Song Contest 2009

The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....

Winners

Year	Song	Translation	Artist	Songwriter(s)	Position in ESC
1993	Tih deževen dan Tih deževen dan "Tih deževen dan" was the Slovene entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993, performed in Slovenian by 1X Band.The song was performed sixteenth on the night, following Luxembourg's Modern Times with "Donne-moi une chance" and preceding Finland's Katri Helena with "Tule luo"...	A quiet rainy day	1X Band 1X Band 1x Band is a musical band that represented Slovenia for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993. Their singer, Cole Moretti sang the song Tih deževen dan, which ended at 22nd place....	Cole Moretti, Tomaž Kosec	22nd
1995	Prisluhni mi Prisluhni mi "Prisluhni mi" was the Slovene entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995, sung by Darja Švajger in Slovenian.The song was performed twentieth on the night, following Denmark's Aud Wilken with "Fra Mols til Skagen" and preceding Israel's Liora with "Amen"...	Listen to me	Darja Švajger Darja Švajger Darja Švajger was born in Maribor, SR Slovenia in 1965. Darja is one of the country's most popular singers but perhaps most known internationally for representing Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest twice.-Early life:...	Primož Peterca, Sašo Fajon	7th
1996	Dan najlepših sanj Dan najlepših sanj "Dan najlepših sanj" was the Slovene entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996, sung by Regina in Slovenian....	The day of the most beautiful dreams	Regina Regina (singer) Regina is a Slovenian singer, best known for her participation in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest.- Eurovision Song Contest :...	Aleksander Kogoj Aleksander Kogoj Aleksander Kogoj is a Slovenian film director, born 1965 in Ljubljana.His interest in film making began at an early age. As a teenager he wrote a good deal, and his passions were special effects. His skills as a musician meant he could combine sound and visuals, which led to his first experimental...	21st
1997	Zbudi se Zbudi se "Zbudi se" was the Slovene entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, sung in Slovenian by Tanja Ribič.On the night the song was performed sixth...	Wake up	Tanja Ribič Tanja Ribic Tanja Ribič is a Slovenian actress and a singer. She represented Slovenia at Eurovision Song Contest 1997 with the song "Zbudi se", which finished 10th. She is married to actor and director Branko Đurić....	Saša Lošić Saša Lošic Saša Lošić - Loša is one of the most recognizable composers of the Balkans and the leader of the band Plavi Orkestar, which was one of the most popular acts of the former Yugoslav Pop and Rock scene.He is a composer of often folk-inspired pop, as well as theatre scores Saša Lošić - Loša (born July... , Zoran Predin Zoran Predin Zoran Predin is a Slovenian singer-songwriter from Maribor. In the 1980s, he was the front man of the folk-rock band Lačni Franz. He also writes music for film, television and theatre....	10th
1998	Naj bogovi slišijo Naj bogovi slišijo "Naj bogovi slišijo" was the Slovene representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 1998. It was sung by Vili Resnik and performed in Slovenian....	Let the gods hear	Vili Resnik	Matjaž Vlašič, Urša Vlašič	18th
1999	Še tisoč let	For still a thousand years	Darja Švajger Darja Švajger Darja Švajger was born in Maribor, SR Slovenia in 1965. Darja is one of the country's most popular singers but perhaps most known internationally for representing Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest twice.-Early life:...	Primož Peterca, Sašo Fajon	11th (as "For a Thousand Years For A Thousand Years "For A Thousand Years" was the Slovene entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, sung by Darja Švajger and performed in English, the first time a Slovenian entry was performed in English... ")
2001	Ne, ni res	No, not really	Nuša Derenda Nuša Derenda Nuša Derenda is a Slovenian singer who represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2001 in Copenhagen, Denmark where achieved 7th place.-Biography:...	Matjaž Vlašič, Urša Vlašič	7th (as "Energy")
2002	Samo ljubezen Samo ljubezen "Samo ljubezen" was the Slovenian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. The lyrics were written by Barbara Pešut and the music by Robert Pešut...	Only love	Sestre	Robert Pešut, Barbara Pešut	13th
2003	Lep poletni dan	A nice summer day	Karmen Stavec Karmen Stavec Karmen Stavec is a Slovene musician and pop singer.-Early years:Karmen was born in West Berlin, at that time part of West Germany, to Slovene parents. After graduation she came to Domžale, Slovenia, where she joined the dance duo "4 Fun". She also began to study Germanic studies at the...	Martin Štibernik, Karmen Stavec Karmen Stavec Karmen Stavec is a Slovene musician and pop singer.-Early years:Karmen was born in West Berlin, at that time part of West Germany, to Slovene parents. After graduation she came to Domžale, Slovenia, where she joined the dance duo "4 Fun". She also began to study Germanic studies at the...	23rd (as "Nanana Nanana "Nanana" was the Slovene entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, sung by Karmen Stavec and performed in English.The song performed 26th on the night, following Sweden's Fame with "Give Me Your Love".At the close of voting had received 7 points, placing twenty-third in a field of twenty six... ")
2004 EMA 2004 EMA 2004 is television show in which is selected slovene Eurovision 2004 entry. Final took place in Gospodarsko rastavišče, Ljubljana on 15 February 2004. In final appear 3 appearances selected by tele-vote in each of the semi-finals, and 4 appearances selected by jury in semi-finals.- Final :In...	Stay Forever	-	Platin Platin Platin is mostly referred as "Bilatin". It is a very valuable item that is widely found in Gazi Bulvarı and Saimekadın. The global production of Bilatin is heavily used in Bilatin Gold Show and Semih Lambada Show....	Simon Gomilšek, Diana Lečnik	SF: 21st
2005	Stop Stop (Omar Naber song) "Stop" was the Slovene entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, sung by Omar Naber and performed in Slovenian, despite its English title and the fact that there are two different English lyrics....	-	Omar Naber Omar Naber Omar Naber , born Omar Kareem Naber , is a Slovenian singer and songwriter.He was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His father was from Jordania, while his mother is Slovenian...	Omar Naber Omar Naber Omar Naber , born Omar Kareem Naber , is a Slovenian singer and songwriter.He was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His father was from Jordania, while his mother is Slovenian... , Urša Vlašič	SF: 12th
2006	Plan B	-	Anžej Dežan Anžej Dežan Anžej Dežan Anžej Dežan Anžej Dežan (born June 17, 1987 in Šentjur (near Celje, Slovenia) is a Slovenian singer.-Biography:Anžej began his musical career by winning the TV show Karaoke only ten years old...	Matjaž Vlašič, Urša Vlašič	SF: 16th (as "Mr Nobody Mr Nobody (Anžej Dežan song) "Mr Nobody" was the Slovene entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, sung by Anžej Dežan in English.On the night of the semi-final, the song performed third, following Bulgaria's Mariana Popova with "Let Me Cry" and preceding Andorra's Jenny and "Sense tu"... ")
2007 EMA 2007 EMA 2007 was the television show in which Slovenia selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. The final took place in Ljubljana on February 3, 2007...	Cvet z juga Cvet z juga "Cvet z juga" is a "popera" song by Alenka Gotar, and represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. The song is about a girl who bids farewell to her boyfriend and gives him a white flower as a reminder.On the night of the semi-final, the song performed twenty-fifth, following...	Flower of the south	Alenka Gotar Alenka Gotar Alenka Gotar is a Slovene soprano singer, born in Rodica pri Domžalah in 1977. With the song “Cvet z juga” , she represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki, Finland...	Andrej Babić Andrej Babic Andrej Babić is a Croatian songwriter who has written many Eurovision songs since 2003. He is one of the few songwriters who has written for four countries, having written entries for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Portugal....	15th
2008	Vrag naj vzame Vrag naj vzame "Vrag naj vzame" is a song by Rebeka Dremelj, composed by Josip Miani-Pipi and written by Amon. The song was the Slovenian entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 in Belgrade, Serbia.-At Eurovision:...	To hell with it	Rebeka Dremelj Rebeka Dremelj Rebeka Dremelj is a singer, model, fashion designer, actress and TV presenter...	Josip Miani-Pipi, Amon	SF: 11th
2009	Love Symphony Love Symphony "Love Symphony" is a song by string quartet Quartissimo and was the Slovene entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The song was composed by Andrej Babić and Aleksandar Valenčić, and vocals were performed by Martina Majerle....	-	Quartissimo Quartissimo Quartissimo are the string quartet made of Žiga Cerar , Matjaž Bogataj , Luka Dukarić and Samo Dervišić ....  feat. Martina Majerle Martina Majerle Martina Majerle is a Croatian singer. Majerle represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia with the string quartet Quartissimo with the song "Love Symphony". It competed in the second semi-final but failed to reach the final...	Andrej Babić Andrej Babic Andrej Babić is a Croatian songwriter who has written many Eurovision songs since 2003. He is one of the few songwriters who has written for four countries, having written entries for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Portugal.... , Aleksandar Valenčić	SF: 16th
2010	Narodnozabavni rock Narodnozabavni rock "Narodnozabavni rock" is a song written by Marino Legović and Leon Oblak and performed by Ansambel Roka Žlindre and Kalamari, who represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010...	Folk rock	Ansambel Roka Žlindre & Kalamari Kalamari (band) Kalamari is a Slovene musical group consisting of Jože Jež Pepi, Matjaž Švagelj, Boštjan Tršar and Egon Prinčič.-Eurovision 2010:Together with Roka Žlindre, Kalamari represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Narodnozabavni rock"...	Marino Legović, Leon Oblak	SF: 16th
2011	Vanilija	Vanilla	Maja Keuc Maja Keuc Maja Keuc , is a singer who represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "No One"....	Matjaž Vlašič, Urša Vlašič	13th (as "No One No One (Maja Keuc song) "No One" is a song performed by Maja Keuc. The music was composed by Matjaž Vlašič, and the lyrics were written by Urša Vlašič. The song was the winner of the 2011 edition of EMA, where it was performed in Slovene as "Vanilija" , and later represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in... ")

External links

• EMA Official site (in Slovene)