Our ESC history

After a new method selecting its representative at the "Jugovizija" song festival was introduced, Yugoslavia competed throughout the 80's (with the exception of 1985. when it withdrew because the date of the contest coincided with the date of Tito's death - May 4th), until the dissolution of the federation in 1992, when it marked its last participation in a reduced form (without the Croatian and Slovenian television).

In that period, performers representing TV Zagreb had most success. In fact, Zagreb television nominees were selected as Yugoslav representatives for ESC ten times, also achieving the best results, including the victory of "Riva" in 1989 in Lausanne. It was the only victory for Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Representatives of TV Ljubljana were selected six times, representatives of TV Sarajevo five times, TV Belgrade nominees three times and TV Titograd twice as representatives of Yugoslavia in the Eurovision Song Contest. The highest result was achieved by the Croatian singer Daniel representing TV Titograd, scoring a fourth place in 1983 in Munich with his song Julie. Only Macedonia, as a Yugoslav federation republic, never had a representative in the European contest.

A special mention certainly goes to Ljiljana Petrović the first representative of Yugoslavia, and a previously unknown singer Novi Sad. At the time of the national song contest Ljiljana was in Ljubljana, where she was recording her debut album. Having heard young Ljiljana, the Slovenian composer Jože Privšek offered her his song "Neke davne zvezde" (Some ancient stars). She accepted, and triumphed at the national festival. Interestingly, the lyrics for that song were written by the famous poet Miroslav Mika Antić. Appearing at the 1961 ESC held in Cannes, Liljana scored an eighth place.

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, each of the former republics turned independent states had the possibility to continue competing in the Eurovision Song Contest. Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia managed to do so the following year - in 1993, sending their representatives to Millstreet, Ireland.

In 1996, FYR of Macedonia made its first attempt of appearing on the European musical scene, although without success. In fact, it had to wait for its debut until 1998..

On the other hand, because of international sanctions and the exclusion from the United Nations and the Council of Europe, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (later State union of Serbia and Montenegro) was denied the possibility of applying for membership in the European Broadcasting Union.

Only after political changes, the fall of the Milošević regime and the rise to power of pro-European forces, the process of rejoining the United Nations and the Council of Europe was initiated - this also being a prerequisite for EBU membership.

Only after 2002, FR Yugoslavia (later State Union of Serbia and Montenegro) became actively involved in the process of admission to the EBU and finally in 2004 - under a different name and in a completely different competition format, appeared at the ESC in Istanbul.

"Lane moje" (My Sweetheart) was very successful in the semifinals and then scored an outstanding 2nd place in the Eurosong Grand Finale.

In 2005 the SU of Serbia and Montenegro was represented by the Podgorica band "No Name" - scoring a 7th place in Kiev with their song "Zauvijek moja" (Forever mine).

The national competiton for the representative of SU of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006 was marked by a scandal fueled by heated emotions in the two republics due to the initiative of the Montenegrin authorities to hold a referendum on independence. Accusations and insults voiced by both television centers, the biased voting of the Montenegrin members of the jury, the booing and the protest of the live audience that walked out from the Sava Center Hall in the national finals, resulted in SU of Serbia and Montenegro withdrawing from the competition in Athens.

Still, a year later, in 2007, Serbia and Montenegro - now two independent states - appeared at the ESC in Helsinki. What happened there on May 12th, still represents one of the happiest moments for Serbia and its citizens in recent history... Marija Šerifović's "Molitva" (Prayer) triumphed...