It’s the time of year when the Post-Eurovision depression is in full swing, but there’s no better cure than to reminisce! Together with ESCDaily Editor, Dennis Van Eersel, we will be discussing each of this year’s competing nations – from their results to how we think they could improve in the future!
Serbia
Predictions, Personal Scores and Results
Anita:
Prediction: Qualifier
Dennis:
Prediction: Qualifier
Results: 15th place, Final
Did Serbia live up to expectations?
A: I definitely think that Serbia lived up to expectations. It was never totally clear among fans whether Serbia would qualify, but I was quietly confident. The performance was energetic and memorable without being too extra. The vocals were strong, and in the context of the second semi-final, it was clear that Serbia would be qualifying.
D I think Serbia did a good job in 2021, since I wasn’t so sure about their qualification beforehand. After seeing their rehearsal however, those doubts faded soon. What Anita says, especially in the second semi their qualification was never in jeopardy. So in that sense, they lived up to the expectations.
How do you personally feel about the song for Serbia at Eurovision 2021?
A: I do think that their 2021 entry had much more potential at Eurovision than their previous song, so the extra year did them well. As much as I wanted something more in the style of their mega hit, Favorito, Loco Loco was still a strong entry that would have Eurovision appeal. Keeping the national language is another admirable choice. Overall, a strong entry from Serbia that I’m sure I’ll look back on fondly.
D: More than the song it was the performance that won me over, giving me some slight Serebro-vibes. These women for Russia in 2007 did an even better job and had the benefit of competing in a full-televote year. Because all in all, despite personally liking this, the entry was not suited for a high place in the final at a current Eurovision with 50/50 jury/televote.
Could Serbia have done anything different?
A: Realistically I think the group stayed totally authentic to their style, and you can’t really ask for much more. I think the only change I would have made to the performance was the end of the performance with the change of visuals. I really enjoyed the black, white and red theme, and it’s a shame they didn’t keep that throughout the performance. Otherwise, I think Serbia achieved the highest they could with this song and performance.
D: Yes, but after seeing the back-up tape which we will get to later, let’s be glad they didn’t. I think they tried to focus on the good vocals instead of their appeal and that was a good move. This Serbian act had the risk of getting ‘too cheap’ soon, but they kept it decent enough to get a good result.
What can Serbia do to ensure success in future years?
D: Serbia has had their biggest successes with the Balkan-ballads in the style of Željko Joksimović. And it has been a few years already that we have seen and heard a Yugoslav nation doing very well in that genre. I would welcome it very much if Serbia sends us such a gem in that genre again.
A: I would LOVE to see a Balkan ballad from Serbia next year, especially if it’s written by Željko. He is a songwriting powerhouse, and I really do miss that style at Eurovision. Hurricane was definitely geared more towards the televote, whereas if they were to send a Željko-style ballad, it has the potential to impress the jury as well as the televote. Either way, I think they will stick with the national final, which seems to currently be working for the nation.
Which was better, the live-on-tape performance or the actual performance?
D: As I said earlier in this article, Serbia did something very different in their back-up tape. They were aiming for a visual act with the women in boxes and lots of shifting camera shots. This wasn’t working out for them at all, and I think the Serbian broadcaster noticed this as well since their actual performance in Ahoy was completely different. And an improvement as well.
A: It’s not often we disagree, but today is the day. I actually don’t mind the back-up performance. The start gives me Shady Lady vibes, and while it’s a bit ‘extra’, I don’t think it’s a bad addition at all. The performance is still fierce, and while I think their camera work was a bit sloppy, I still think it would have easily landed them in the final. I also prefer that they kept that black, white and red theme throughout the entire performance, and for that, I’m leaning towards the back-up tape as my preferred version…