Slovenia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with the song "", written and performed by group LPS. The Slovene participating broadcaster, (RTVSLO), organised the national final in order to select its entry for the contest. The first stage began on 29 November 2021 with the purpose of selecting four newcomer artists to advance to the second stage EMA 2022. The national final featured twenty entries competing across two semi-finals on 5 and 12 February 2022, and the final on 19 February 2022, where a combination of jury and public voting decided the Slovenian representative in Turin among twelve entries.
Slovenia was drawn to compete in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 10 May 2022. Performing during the show in position 5, "" was not announced among the top 10 entries of the first semi-final and therefore did not qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Slovenia placed last out of the 17 participating countries in the semi-final with just 15 points.
Background
Prior to the 2022 contest, (RTVSLO) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Slovenia twenty-six times since its first entry . Its highest placing in the contest, to this point, has been seventh place, achieved on two occasions: in with the song "" performed by Darja Švajger and in with the song "Energy" performed by Nuša Derenda. The country's only other top ten result was achieved in when Tanja Ribič performing "" placed tenth. Since the introduction of semi-finals to the format of the contest in 2004, Slovenia had thus far only managed to qualify to the final on six occasions. In , Slovenia was represented by Ana Soklič with the song "Amen", which failed to qualify for the final, finishing in 13th place in the first semi-final with 44 points.
As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, RTVSLO organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster confirmed its participation in the 2022 contest on 15 September 2021. RTVSLO has traditionally selected its entry through a national final entitled (EMA), which has been produced with variable formats. To this point, the broadcaster has only foregone the use of the national final twice; in and in when the entry was internally selected.
Before Eurovision EMA Freš 2022
returned as the first phase for Slovenia's selection for the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time after its first appearance in 2020, with a revamped format from the first edition. Newcomer artists who were not more than 30 years old and had released a maximum of three songs were eligible to apply for via a submission period opened by RTVSLO on 8 October 2021. A total of 24 artists were selected to take part in the selection, which commenced on 29 November 2021. After a series of nights, each showcasing a duel, 14 entries advanced to take part in the televised final on 28 January 2022. The remaining fourteen entries competed for four places in EMA 2022, two selected by public voting and two selected by a jury.
Format Twenty-four songs competed in a series of duels starting in November 2021 for four weeks. After the duels, the fourteen winning songs competed in a televised live final selection show, which took place on 28 January 2022. The selection show saw the remaining fourteen songs compete for four places in the emerging category of EMA 2022.
After the four duels held each week (on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), a weekly final was held on each Saturday where three out of the four weekly winners advanced: one selected via a public online vote and the other two by a committee composed of Joker Out singer Bojan Cvjetićanin, singer Eva Boto, who represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, and rapper Arne Međedović. Non-qualifiers were given a Second Chance on the following week (20 to 24 December), when one more act was chosen among three every day, for a total of fourteen finalists.
On 28 December 2021, revealed that over 48,000 votes were cast during the online voting rounds of between 29 November and 24 December. The full results were revealed after EMA 2022 on 20 February 2022.
The 14 remaining entries were then originally meant to compete in two final selection shows, in which two entries would qualify from each show. However, on 12 January 2022, it was revealed by RTVSLO that all 14 entries would compete in one show on 28 January 2022 due to programming issues and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia at the time. The final saw four songs qualify for EMA 2022, with two songs chosen by the public and two by the jury.
Competing entries Artists and composers were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 8 October 2021 and 22 November 2021. All artists were required to be under the age of 30 and have three commercially released songs or fewer. Two days after the closing of the submission window, RTVSLO announced a total of 127 applications had been received for both competitions. The competing artists for were announced on 26 November 2021, along with which songs would compete in each duel. Among the competing composers was , who represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 as member of the 1X Band, and Raay, who represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 as member of Maraaya.
Artist Song Songwriter(s) Ain't Harmony "" Anja Ruperčič, Katarina Pangeršič, Nika Svetlin, Nina Pintar, Špela Ivančič Anja Vodošek "Maniac" Raay, De Liri "" Zala Kores, Julija Veleski, Ella "" Špela Škofič, , Miklavž Ašič, Jože Andrejaš, Dare Kaurič, Janez Rupnik, Aleš Berkopec, Primož Velikonja, Damjan Berkopec, Mitja Šedlbauer, Nejc Viher Emma "" Neisha, Dejan Radičević Evita "" Eva Šolinc, , Damjana Kenda-Hussu, Simon Gomilšek, Diana Lečnik, Leon Oblak Hvala Brothers "" Miha Hvala, Nejc Hvala, Rok Hvala Ina "" Matic Mlakar, Jure Skaza, Ina Olup Jaka Hliš "" Jaka Hliš, Jon Vitezič "Jesus Style" Jon Vitezič, Katja Korošec "" Katja Korošec, Katja Kos "Deadly Flower" Katja Kos, Mario Babojelić Lara Dovier "" Andrej Bezjak, Marko Duplišak, Lara Dovier, Jure Grudnik, Miha Oblišar, Jean Markič, Marko Golubović, Samuel Waermö, Uroš Obranovič LaraYul "" Lara Šket Leya Leanne "Naked" Leya Leanne, Shawn Myers, Jonas Gladnikoff LPS "" Filip Vidušin, Žiga Žvižej, Gašper Hlupič, Mark Semeja, Zala Velenšek, Jakob Korošec Luma "All In" Lucija Harum, Martin Vogrin, Vid Turica Marijan and Špela "I Am So in Love" Marijan Novak Mia Vučković "" Aleksandar Ignjatić, Senad Smajlović, Luka Radojlović Mitja Dragan "" Boro Dolc, Darjo Peklar, Mitja Dragan, Fadila Prijatelj Neli Jerot "" Neli Jerot, Nino Ošlak, Igor Pirkovič, Drago Mislej, Danilo Kocjančič, Franco Zabukovec, Domen Kumer, Petra Pečovnik Nika S. "" Martin Lunder, Nace Jordan Nina Sodnik "Will You Be Enough" Nina Sodnik, , Tea Vindiš, Matej Sušnik, Blaž Sotošek Stela Sofia "" Stela Tavzelj,
Contestant progress 2022 began with the first week of duels on 29 November 2021 and concluded with a live final on 28 January 2022. – Contestant was in the top four of the final and advanced to EMA 2022 as one of the four winners of – Contestant advanced from respective duel/weekly final/Second Chance round to the next stage – Contestant finished in last place from respective duel/weekly final and was given a Second Chance round in week four Contestant Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Second Chance Final Duels Weekly Final Duels Weekly Final Duels Weekly Final LPS Advanced Advanced Advanced to EMA 2022 Luma Advanced Advanced Stela Sofia Advanced Advanced Leya Leanne Advanced Advanced De Liri Advanced Advanced Eliminated(EMA Freš 2022 Final) Katja Kos Second Chance Advanced Anja Vodošek Second Chance Advanced Emma Advanced Second Chance Advanced Ina Advanced Advanced Jon Vitezič Advanced Advanced Jaka Hliš Advanced Advanced Nika S. Advanced Second Chance Advanced Mia Vučković Second Chance Advanced Marijan and Špela Advanced Advanced LaraYul Second Chance Eliminated (Second Chance) Hvala Brothers Second Chance Lara Dovier Advanced Second Chance Ain't Harmony Second Chance Katja Korošec Second Chance Evita Second Chance Mitja Dragan Second Chance Ella Second Chance Nina Sodnik Second Chance Neli Jerot Second Chance
Duels
The first duel rounds took place between 29 November and 18 December 2021. All of the twenty-four competing entries were divided into three separate weeks. Each week featured four daily duels from Monday to Thursday with one qualifier from each duel progressing to the weekly final. The runners-up of each duel were given a Second Chance round after all of the other duels had taken place. The results were determined via an international online vote on RTVSLO's website from 8:00 (CET) to 19:00 (CET) on the day of each duel. Each week rounded up with an online webcast final that featured the four duel winners of the week. Three of the artists advanced to the final selection show, while the last place finisher advanced to the Second Chance round. The results of the weekly final were determined via a combination of both jury voting and internet voting. The jury panel that voted in the weekly finals consisted of the show presenters Bojan Cvjetićanin, who would go on to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 as lead singer of Joker Out, Eva Boto, who represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, and Arne Međedović.
+ Daily Duels – Week 1 Duel Date Artist Song Votes Result I Katja Kos "Deadly Flower" 1,142 Second Chance Nika S. "" 1,316 Advanced II Anja Vodošek "Maniac" 1,161 Second Chance Stela Sofia "" 1,974 Advanced III LPS "" 3,139 Advanced Neli Jerot "" 419 Second Chance IV Ella "" 799 Second Chance Jon Vitezič "Jesus Style" 1,536 Advanced + Weekly Final 1 – 4 December 2021 Artist Song Jury Internet Result Votes Rank Nika S. "" 4 877 4 Second Chance Stela Sofia "" 3 1,295 2 Finalist LPS "" 1 2,455 1 Finalist Jon Vitezič "Jesus Style" 2 977 3 Finalist
+ Daily Duels – Week 2 Duel Date Artist Song Votes Result I Ina "" 1,174 Advanced LaraYul "" 718 Second Chance II Ain't Harmony "" 1,229 Second Chance Jaka Hliš "" 1,295 Advanced III Luma "All In" 1,159 Advanced Mitja Dragan "" 662 Second Chance IV Evita "" 539 Second Chance Lara Dovier "" 1,061 Advanced + Weekly Final 2 – 11 December 2021 Artist Song Jury Internet Result Votes Rank Ina "" 2 660 4 Finalist Jaka Hliš "" 4 706 2 Finalist Luma "All In" 1 1,026 1 Finalist Lara Dovier "" 3 680 3 Second Chance
+ Daily Duels – Week 3 Duel Date Artist Song Votes Result I Hvala Brothers "" 1,310 Second Chance Leya Leanne "Naked" 1,848 Advanced II De Liri "" 1,137 Advanced Katja Korošec "" 780 Second Chance III Emma "" 1,100 Advanced Nina Sodnik "Will You Be Enough" 735 Second Chance IV Marijan and Špela "I Am So in Love" 1,290 Advanced Mia Vučković "" 741 Second Chance + Weekly Final 3 – 18 December 2021 Artist Song Jury Internet Result Votes Rank Leya Leanne "Naked" 1 1,237 1 Finalist De Liri "" 2 643 3 Finalist Emma "" 3 622 4 Second Chance Marijan and Špela "I Am So in Love" 4 733 2 Finalist
Second Chance
The remaining fifteen artists were given a Second Chance round between 20 and 24 December 2021. All fifteen performers were divided into five rounds, of which one from each would qualify for the final selection show. Similarly to the initial duel rounds, the results were determined by an international online vote held on RTVSLO's website.