Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest

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
Participation history
    • 1975
    • 1976
    • 1977
    • 1978
    • 1979
    • 1980
    • 1981
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. The Yugoslavian participant broadcaster in the contest was Jugoslavenska radiotelevizija (JRT) which selected its entrant with the national competition Jugovizija. Yugoslavia won the 1989 contest and hosted the 1990 contest.

"Neke davne zvezde" performed by Ljiljana Petrović was Yugoslavia's first entrant in the contest in 1961 and placed eighth. In 1962, "Ne pali svetla u sumrak" by Lola Novaković gave the country its first top five result, finishing fourth. This would remain Yugoslavia's only top five result until 1983, when "Džuli" by Danijel finished fourth. "Ja sam za ples" by Novi Fosili also finished fourth in 1987. In 1989, the country achieved its only victory in the contest, when "Rock Me" by Riva won.

History

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1961–1991: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

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

Jugoslavenska radiotelevizija (JRT) was a full member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), thus eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest representing the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). It participated in the contest representing SFR Yugoslavia from its 6th edition in 1961 until the 36th edition in 1991.

Yugoslavia debuted in the contest in 1961 along with Spain and Finland. The national pre-selection organized by JRT was Jugovizija, and it featured entries submitted by its affiliates, the subnational public broadcasting centers based in the capitals of each of the constituent republics of the Yugoslav federation: RTV Sarajevo (SR Bosnia and Herzegovina), RTV Zagreb and RTV Split[1] (SR Croatia), RTV Skopje (SR Macedonia), RTV Titograd (SR Montenegro), RTV Belgrade (SR Serbia), and RTV Ljubljana (SR Slovenia); and also the broadcasting services of the autonomous provinces within SR Serbia: RTV Priština (SAP Kosovo) and RTV Novi Sad (SAP Vojvodina).[2] The first affiliates to compete in 1961 were RTV Belgrade, RTV Ljubljana, and RTV 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 Jugovizija 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, hosted by RTV Zagreb on behalf of JRT, as the entry came from Croatia.

1992: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

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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 broadcasters from 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 "Ljubim te pesmama" by Extra Nena in the 1992 contest.[5][6][7]

Only a few weeks after the 1992 contest, FR Yugoslavia was banned from participating in Eurovision due to UN sanctions during the Yugoslav Wars. Even under the sanctions, the contest could continue to be broadcast in the country except in 1999 due to the NATO bombing of RTS headquarters. It was not until 2001 that Udruženje javnih radija i televizija (UJRT) was able to join the EBU after sanctions were lifted. UJRT participated in Eurovision in 2004 and 2005 representing Serbia and Montenegro.

Successor states

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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 them have independently participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing their countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia (designated as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until 2018).

Participation overview

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

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, 10, 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]

Jugovizija also took place between 1978 and 1980, and in 1985, but with no intention of sending a entrant to Eurovision.

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 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[a] "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 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 4 92
1988 Srebrna krila[b] "Mangup" (Мангуп) Serbo-Croatian 6 87
1989 Riva "Rock Me" Serbo-Croatian 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

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Year Location Venue Executive producer Director Musical director Presenter Ref.
1990 Zagreb Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall Goran Radman Nenad Puhovski Seadeta Midžić Helga Vlahović and Oliver Mlakar [9]
[edit]

Conductors

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Year Conductor[c] Musical director Notes Ref.
1961 Jože Privšek N/A [10]
1962
1963 Miljenko Prohaska
1964 Radivoje Spasić
1965
1966 Mojmir Sepe
1967 Mario Rijavec
1968 Miljenko Prohaska
1969
1970 Mojmir Sepe [11]
1971 Miljenko Prohaska
1972 Nikica Kalogjera
1973 Esad Arnautalić
1974 Zvonimir Skerl
1975 Mario Rijavec
1976 Esad Arnautalić
1981 Ranko Rihtman [12]
1982 Zvonimir Skerl
1983 Radovan Papović
1984 Mato Došen
1986 Nikica Kalogjera
1987
1988
1989
1990 Stjepan Mihajlinec[d] Igor Kuljerić [e] [13]
1991 Slobodan Marković N/A [d]
1992 Sweden Anders Berglund [f]

Commentators and spokespersons

[edit]
Television commentators and spokespersons from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1961–1991) and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1992–2002)
Year Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Spokesperson Ref.
SR Slovenia SR Croatia SR Bosnia and Herzegovina SAP Vojvodina SR Serbia SAP Kosovo SR Montenegro SR Macedonia
TV Ljubljana TV Koper-Capodistria TV Zagreb TV Sarajevo TV Novi Sad TV Beograd TV Prishtina [sr; sq] TV Titograd TV Skopje
Channel Commentator Channel Commentator Channel Commentator Channel Commentator Channel Commentator Channel Commentator Channel Commentator Channel Commentator Channel Commentator
1961 Televizija Ljubljana [sl] Saša Novak Launched in 1971 Televizija Zagreb Unknown Launched in 1961 Launched in 1975 Televizija Beograd Unknown Launched in 1975 Launched in 1964 Launched in 1964 Unknown [14]
1962 Unknown Unknown [15]
1963 Saša Novak Saša Novak Saša Novak [16]
1964 Unknown Unknown Unknown [17]
1965 Unknown Unknown [18]
1966 [19]
1967 [20]
1968 [21]
1969 [22]
1970 [23]
1971 TV Ljubljana [sl] TV Zagreb TV Beograd TV Skopje Unknown No spokesperson [24]
1972 TV Koper-Capodistria Unknown Oliver Mlakar Oliver Mlakar Unknown [25]
1973 TV Ljubljana 1 [sl] TV Zagreb 1 Unknown TV Beograd 1 Unknown TV Skopje Unknown [26]
1974 Unknown Helga Vlahović [27][28]
1975 TV Sarajevo Unknown TV Skopje Unknown Unknown [29]
1976 Oliver Mlakar Unknown No broadcast Oliver Mlakar Unknown Unknown [30]
1977 Unknown Unknown Did not participate [31]
1978 [32]
1979 No broadcast N/A
1980
1981 TV Ljubljana 1 Unknown No broadcast TV Zagreb 1 Unknown Unknown TV Novi Sad [sr] Unknown TV Beograd 1 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Helga Vlahović [28][33]
1982 TV Koper-Capodistria Unknown Oliver Mlakar Oliver Mlakar Oliver Mlakar Unknown [34]
1983 No broadcast [35]
1984 TV Koper-Capodistria Unknown TV Prishtina [sr; sq] Unknown TV Titograd 1 Oliver Mlakar TV Skopje 1 Unknown [36]
1985 No broadcast Did not participate N/A
1986 TV Ljubljana 1 Unknown TV Koper-Capodistria Unknown TV Zagreb 1 Ksenija Urličić TV Sarajevo 1 Unknown TV Novi Sad Unknown TV Beograd 1 Unknown TV Prishtina Unknown TV Titograd 1 Unknown TV Skopje 1 Unknown Unknown [37]
1987 Vesna Pfeifer Ksenija Urličić Ksenija Urličić Ksenija Urličić Ksenija Urličić Ljiljana Tipsarević [38][39]
1988 Unknown No broadcast Oliver Mlakar Unknown Oliver Mlakar Oliver Mlakar Unknown Unknown Unknown Miša Molk [40][41]
1989 Unknown [42]
1990 Unknown Unknown Unknown [43]
1991 Ksenija Urličić HTV 1 Ksenija Urličić TV Sarajevo 1 Ksenija Urličić Mladen Popović Mladen Popović [sr] TV Prishtina Mladen Popović TV Titograd 1 Mladen Popović TV Skopje 1 Ksenija Urličić [44]
Year Slovenia Croatia Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Macedonia Spokesperson Ref.
AP Vojvodina Serbia AP Kosovo and Metohija Montenegro
RTVSLO HRT PBSBiH RTS RTCG MRT
Channel Commentator Channel Commentator
1992 Independent nation; see Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest § Commentators and spokespersons Independent nation; see Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest § Commentators and spokespersons Independent nation; see Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Eurovision Song Contest § Commentators and spokespersons TV Novi Sad 1 [sr] Mladen Popović TV Beograd 1 Mladen Popović Unknown Unknown Independent nation; see North Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest § Commentators and spokespersons Unknown [45]
1993 Regional affiliate of RTS as RTS Novi Sad [sr] RTS B2 Unknown Regional affiliate of RTS as RTS Prishtina [sr; sq] Did not participate [46]
1994 RTS 3K [sr] [47]
1995 Unknown
1996 RTS 2 Unknown [48]
1997 Unknown
1998 RTS 3K Unknown [49]
1999 Unable to broadcast due to the NATO bombing of RTS
2000 Regional affiliate of RTS as RTS Novi Sad [sr] RTS 1 Unknown Replaced by RTK under UNMIK control [50]
2001 Unknown
2002 RTS 2 Unknown [51]

See also

[edit]

Participation of successor states in Eurovision

Participation of successor states in Junior Eurovision

Notes

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  1. ^ Credited as Ashes and Blood
  2. ^ Credited as Silver Wings
  3. ^ All conductors are of Yugoslav nationality unless otherwise noted.
  4. ^ a b The song was performed without orchestral accompaniment at the national final.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Host conductor; also played accordion. The entry was conducted by Zvonimir Skerl at the national final.

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ Vuletic, Dean (2019). "Recognising Kosovo in the World of Televised International Song Contests". Eurovisions: Identity and the International Politics of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1956. Springer Nature. p. 116. ISBN 978-9811394270.
  9. ^ "Zagreb 1990". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^
  15. ^
  16. ^
  17. ^
  18. ^
  19. ^
  20. ^
  21. ^
  22. ^
  23. ^
  24. ^
  25. ^
  26. ^
  27. ^
  28. ^ a b "Helga Vlahović: 1990 presenter has died". European Broadcasting Union. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  29. ^
  30. ^
  31. ^
  32. ^
  33. ^ "RTV danes – Televizija" [RTV today – Television]. Delo (in Slovenian). Ljubljana, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia. 4 April 1981. p. 7. Retrieved 28 October 2024 – via Digital Library of Slovenia. | "RTZ TV Program – subota, 4. travnja – prvi program". Glas Podravine (in Serbo-Croatian). Koprivnica, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia. 3 April 1981. p. 12. Retrieved 29 May 2024. | "Televizió" [Television]. Magyar Szó (in Hungarian). Novi Sad, SAP Vojvodina, Yugoslavia. 4 April 1981. p. 20. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via Vajdasági Magyar Digitális Adattár. | "Телевизија – Први програм" [Television – First channel]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia. 4 April 1981. p. 14. Retrieved 27 May 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka. }}
  34. ^
  35. ^
  36. ^
  37. ^
  38. ^
  39. ^ "Novi fosili na Pesmi Evrovizije 1987: Neno šarmirao belgijsku kraljicu, Zec poljubio pitona u glavu" [Novi fosili at the Eurovision Song Contest 1987: Neno charmed the Belgian queen, Zec kissed the python on the head]. Radio TV revija (in Serbo-Croatian). 1987. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2023 – via Yugopapir.
  40. ^
  41. ^ "Vas zanima, kakšno vlogo igra Miša Molk na letošnji Emi?" [Are you interested in what role Miša Molk plays at this year's EMA?]. Elle Slovenija. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  42. ^
  43. ^
  44. ^
  45. ^
    • "Televizija – Subota, 9.5" [Television – Saturday 09/05]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. 9 May 1992. p. 39. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka.
    • "Televizió" [Television]. Magyar Szó (in Hungarian). Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Yugoslavia. 9 May 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 18 June 2024 – via Vajdasági Magyar Digitális Adattár.
  46. ^ "TV Petak" [TV Friday]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. 28 May 1993. p. 23. Retrieved 4 June 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka.
  47. ^ "TV Subota" [TV Saturday]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. 30 April 1994. p. 18. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka.
  48. ^ "ТВ Субота" [TV Saturday – TV 2 Belgrade]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. 18–19 May 1996. p. 31. Retrieved 25 May 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka.
  49. ^ "TV Program – Subota" [TV Program – Saturday]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. 13 June 1998. p. 16. Retrieved 2 August 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka.
  50. ^ "ТВ Програм – Петак 30. јун 2000" [TV Program – Friday 30 June 2000]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. 30 June 2000. p. 15. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka.
  51. ^ "Телевизија – Субота, 25, мај 2002" [Television – Saturday, 25, May 2002]. Borba (in Serbian). Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. 25 May 2002. p. 18. Retrieved 25 May 2024 – via Pretraživa digitalna biblioteka.
[edit]
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