EMA 2008 – Slovenia

EMA 2008 was the 13th edition of the Slovenian national final format Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA). The competition was used by RTV Slovenija to select Slovenia’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. The 2008 edition of EMA took place at the RTV Slovenija Studio 1 in Ljubljana and consisted of three shows: two semi-finals and a final. The competition was broadcast on TV SLO1 and online via the broadcaster’s website rtvslo.si.

Format

Twenty songs competed in three televised shows consisting of two semi-finals on 1 and 2 February 2008 and a final on 3 February 2008. Ten songs competed in each semi-final with public televoting exclusively selecting five finalists out of the ten songs to proceed to the final. In the final, the winner was selected over two rounds of public televoting. In the first round, two out of the ten competing songs were selected to proceed to a superfinal. In the superfinal, the winner was determined.

Competing entries

Artists and composers were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 10 October 2007 and 30 November 2007. Over 200 entries were received by the broadcaster during the submission period. An expert committee consisting of Elza Budau (lyricist), Andrej Šifrer (singer and composer), Vojko Sfiligoj (musician and composer), Samo Koler (public representative) and Igor Pirkovič (RTVSLO Eurovision project manager) selected twenty artists and songs for the competition from the received submissions. The competing artists were announced on 11 December 2007. Petre Pečovnik with the song „Extrem“ and Skupina Zaka‘ pa ne with the song „Eo eo“ were later disqualified from the competition and were replaced by Brigita Šuler with the song „Samara“ and Cole in predsednik with the song „Dober planet“.

Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)
4Play	„DJ“	Miha Hercog, Igor Amon Mazul
Andraž Hribar	„Corpomorto (Jutri jadram naprej)“	Andraž Hribar
Brigita Šuler	„Samara“	Werner Brozovič, Andreja Brozovič	Song was chosen as a replacement
Cole in predsednik	„Dober planet“	Josip-Cole Moretti, Miklavž Ašič, Jože Andrejaš	Song was chosen as a replacement
Dennis	„Ni me sram“	Denis Vučak, Zvone Tomac
Eva Černe	„Dovolj“	Boštjan Grabnar, Damjana Kenda Hussu
Halgato Band	„Nomadi“	Milan Ostojić, Feri Lainšček
Iris	„Peti element“	Sabina Hribernik, Saša Lendero
Johnny Bravo	„Butn …, butn!!!“	Leon Oblak
Langa in Civili	„Za svobodo divjega srca“	Mišo Kontrec, Feri Lainšček
Male malice	„Spam“	Tadej Vasle
Manca Špik	„Še vedno nekaj čutim“	Raay, Urša Vlašič
Mirna Reynolds	„Lepi fantje“	Robi Povše, Mirna Reynolds
Neža Trobec	„Prav ti“	Borut Praper, Rok Predin
Petre Pečovnik	„Extrem“	Petre Pečovnik	Disqualified
Rebeka Dremelj	„Vrag naj vzame“	Josip Miani-Pipi, Igor Amon Mazul
Skupina Zaka‘ pa ne	„Eo eo“	Aleš Zibelnik, Matej Vidovič, Urša Mravlje	Disqualified
Slovenia United and Grupa občanov	„Kako je ne bi imel rad“	Jurjev Kolk
Stereotipi	„Naravnost v srce“	Dare Kaurič, Janez Rupnik
Tina Gačnik – Tiana	„Povej!“	Bor Zuljan, Leon Oblak
Turbo Angels	„Zabava“	Ed Fisher, Boštjan Groznik
Ylenia	„Našel si me“	Marino Legovič, Damjana Kenda Hussu

Semi-finals

Two semi-finals took place on 1 and 2 February 2008. Semi-final 1 was hosted by Lorella Flego and Peter Poles and semi-final 2 was hosted by Tjaša Hrobat and Jure Sešek. Ten entries competed in each semi-final and a public vote selected five entries to proceed to the final.

In addition to the performances of the competing entries, LeeLooJamais, Aleksandra Kovač and Neisha performed as guests in semi-final 1, and Trkaj, Alya, 6pack Čukur and 1996 Slovenian Eurovision entrants Regina performed as guests in semi-final 2.

Semi-final 1 – 1 February 2008

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Skupina Langa	„Za svobodo divjega srca“	7,176	1
2	Slovenia United and Grupa občanov	„Kako je ne bi imel rad“	1,463	8
3	Mirna Reynolds	„Lepi fantje“	379	10
4	Dennis	„Ni me sram“	1,354	9
5	Cole in predsednik	„Dober planet“	1,742	5
6	Andraž Hribar	„Corpomorto (Jutri jadram naprej)“	1,467	7
7	Turbo Angels	„Zabava“	2,983	3
8	Ylenia	„Našel si me“	1,58	6
9	Manca Špik	„Še vedno nekaj čutim“	1,831	4
10	Johnny Bravo	„Butn …, butn!!!“	4,683	2

Semi-final 2 – 2 February 2008

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Stereotipi	„Naravnost v srce“	1,831	8
2	Rebeka Dremelj	„Vrag naj vzame“	3,541	3
3	Tina Gačnik – Tiana	„Povej!“	2,986	5
4	4Play	„DJ“	6,367	1
5	Halgato Band	„Nomadi“	1,525	9
6	Neža Trobec	„Prav ti“	631	10
7	Iris	„Peti element“	2,018	7
8	Brigita Šuler	„Samara“	3,413	4
9	Eva Černe	„Dovolj“	4,919	2
10	Male malice	„Spam“	2,247	6

Final

The final of EMA 2008 took place on 3 February 2008, hosted by Bernarda Žarn and Mario Galunič. The winner was selected over two rounds of public voting. In the first round, the top two entries were selected to proceed to the second round: „Za svobodo divjega srca“ performed by Skupina Langa and „Vrag naj vzame“ performed by Rebeka Dremelj. In the second round, „Vrag naj vzame“ performed by Rebeka Dremelj was selected as the winner.

In addition to the performances of the competing entries, 1995 and 1999 Slovenian Eurovision entrant Darja Švajger, 2001 Slovenian Eurovision entrant Nuša Derenda, 2007 Slovenian Eurovision entrant Alenka Gotar and Helena Blagne performed as guests.

Final – 3 February 2008

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Manca Špik	„Še vedno nekaj čutim“	3,432	9
2	Eva Černe	„Dovolj“	8,044	5
3	Langa in Civili	„Za svobodo divjega srca“	21,193	1
4	4Play	„DJ“	9,134	4
5	Johnny Bravo	„Butn …, butn!!!“	6,192	7
6	Tina Gačnik – Tiana	„Povej!“	4,945	8
7	Cole in predsednik	„Dober Planet“	3,189	10
8	Rebeka Dremelj	„Vrag naj vzame“	12,665	2
9	Turbo Angels	„Zabava“	7,914	6
10	Brigita Šuler	„Samara“	9,746	3

Super Final – 3 February 2008

Draw	Artist	Song	Televote	Place
1	Langa in Civili	„Za svobodo divjega srca“	56,428	2
2	Rebeka Dremelj	„Vrag naj vzame“	56,823	1

Rebeka Dremelj previously came 10th in the 2004 Slovene Final, 3rd in 2005 & 4th in 2006. At the 1st ESC Semi-Final she was equal 11th. Cole (Moretti) represented Slovenia in ESC 1993 as lead singer of the group ‚1X Band‘.