For my second blog of reviews, I decided on the Balkan entries. Balkan nations have been known for doing songs in their own unique styles in the past. All four songs here are very different and offer a mix of sounds for this year’s Contest.
ALBANIA
Song: “Zjerm”
Performer: Shkodra Elektronika
Albania has not missed a Eurovision since they first entered in 2024. Again this year, the Festival I Kenges was used to select their entry. in a tight final with fifteen songs, the winner was decided to be the group Shkodra Elektronike with the song “Zjerm.”
Shkodra Elekronike were formed in 2019 and their musical style is mixing Albanian folk music with electronica.
Hailing from the Albanian city of Shkoder, Shkodra Elekronike consist of Kole Laca and Beatrice Gjergji who were raised in Italy. Both members do vocals and instrumentation. Beatrice wrote the lyrics for the song while Kole composed the music. The song is about hope for a better world despite being very aware of the troubles it’s facing. It has its own unique style. It’s dramatic with a catchy beat. The vocals of both Beatrice and Kole mix with the song very well.
ESC Chances: Seeing how Albania has not qualified an English-language song into the Grand Final since 2015, it’s been made clear that singing in Albanian is now their best chances of qualifying for the Grand Final. Don’t forget it’s not a guarantee either as most of their recent qualifiers have been ballads. I give this song’s qualifying chances at 50/50. It will depend on Eurovision viewers going for a style of song like this. I myself didn’t like this song at first but I’ve started liking it more with each listen. They will need to have better staging than what they had for Festival I Kenges if they want to qualify.
CROATIA
Song: “Poison Cake”
Performer: Marko Bosnjak
Once again, the Dora contest from HRT was used to select Croatia’s entry for 2025. The winner was a 21 year-old Bosnian singer named Marko Bosnjak for the song “Poison Cake.” Marko is a singer from Prozor-Rama who was born to sing and has actually been around since he was twelve having won the Pinkove Zvezde singing contest in 2016. He’s still kept his talent alive since and even competed in Dora 2022 where he finished second. The second-place finish was just the boost he needed to get his career rolling. Now it’s his turn for Eurovision.
NOTE: For those wondering why a Bosnian singer is representing Croatia and also wonder why there have been no Bosnian entries since the 2016 Contest, it’s because the Bosnian network BHRT has a huge debt with the EBU. When the ban started in 2016, BHRT owed almost €5.5 million. Now they owe just over €9 million.
It’s hard to classify what type of song this is. The theme of the song is obviously sweet revenge, both literally and figuratively. The song mixes a lot of moods and a lot of genres. It starts with a slow hurting feel, then the feel turns playfully devious and then viciously wicked. The song mixes the singing styles of pop, soul, rap and opera. His talent is showcased well in this song but not as good as his other songs. Since I’ve heard better singing from Marko in the past, it was hard to like at first. It’s a song with potential to grow on you over time.
ESC Chances: So far in the 2020’s, Croatia’s two appearances in the Grand Final are as many Grand Final appearances in the 2010’s! Their second-place achievement from last year sent a message Croatia can do it. Can Marko take Croatia into the Grand Final for the third straight time? It’s a big question. Betting odds have him low right now. He can keep the Dracula-like costume. One thing is it will definitely need a lot better staging and better choreography for its chances to get a boost.
MONTENEGRO
Performer: Nina Zizic
Song: “Dobrodosli”
Montenegro returns to the Eurovision stage after a three-year break and with what will only be their second participation in the 2020’s. Back this past November, the Montesong Contest was held to decide the qualifying song and artist for Basel. Upon deciding their entry, they would have the very first song decided for Eurovision 2025. Originally the winner was Neonoen with the song “Clickbait” but when it was revealed they played their song live long before the eligibility date, their win was rescinded. The first of many national final disqualifications this year. The title of national final winner was given to runner-up Nina Zizic for “Dobrodosli.”
Nina is no stranger to Eurovision. In 2013, she teamed up with hip hop group Who See to represent with the song “Igranka.” Her song this year is very different from her 2013 song and really shows a lot of maturity since. Without a doubt, this is a very dramatic ballad. It starts off quietly but the intensity grows. Nina’s singing knows how to capture the intensity of the song and her vocals are amazing. This is considered by many to be one of Montenegro’s best entries ever.
ESC Chances: Montenegro joins Denmark as the only two nations here in Basel that have never qualified for the Grand Final in the 2020’s. To be fair, Montenegro’s only other time competing in the 2020’s is 2022. Montenegro has only qualified for the Grand Final twice: in 2014 and 2015. As for 2013’s “Igranka,” many people feel it deserved to qualify. Listening to this year’s song, it sounds like a song worthy of qualifying for the Grand Final. It has what it takes to stand out from your common Eurovision ballad. Knowing their frequent low finishes at Eurovision, a nation like Montenegro will need the right staging if they are to qualify. Big improvements since Montesong. Nina’s singing is great but it won’t be enough.
SERBIA
Song: “Mila”
Performer: Princ
For selecting their Eurovision entry for 2025, Serbia held the Pesma za Evroviziju ’25 contest to decide their entry. The contest was marred because there were many entries withdrawing because of how broadcaster RTS was handling broadcast of national news events, especially protests. In the end, the winner decided was singer Princ od Vranje, or simply Princ, and his ballad “Mila.”
Princ, whose real name is Stevan Zdravkovic, has been involved in music since he was fifteen. He has previously been part of bands Sesta Zica and Sisyphus and has sung in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar before starting his solo career in 2021. The song is a ballad where he expresses his love to a woman, despite knowing he’s a difficult person to love. It sounds more like a pop ballad than what we commonly know as a Balkan ballad. The music doesn’t stand out so much, but the vocals are expressive. Nevertheless there’s the feeling something is missing.
ESC Chances: The 2020’s have been mostly kind to Serbia. They’ve qualified for all four Grand Finals this decade. Songs we didn’t think would make it in did make it in. Now this song does not have very optimistic chances right now. Some may feel it’s missing something. Also there’s a rumor floating around that RTS fixed his win, but nothing has been proven yet. This song does risk being dismissed as a ‘boring song.’ Better staging than in the national final will be needed to rescue this.
And there you have it. That’s my review of this year’s entries from the Balkan nations. Three of them are in their national language. All four have their own unique style. We”ll see what their fates are in the semifinals.
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