The tenth entry on the evening of the second semi-final is actually more of a taste of what was to be expected following the opening of Serbia because it seems that most of the Balkan countries kept to the style and touch and one is somewhat sure that they will most likely all turn out to be successful especially those which have been put in different and opposing sides of the draw. The nation in this case though is Slovenia, a nation that is yet to reach a top five placing at the event but ultimately one which has mediocre results throughout the years. This year they will be represented by the young and charismatic Eva Boto with the song Verjamem composed by Vladimir Graić and Hari Mata Hari with the lyrics penned by Igor Pirkovič.

Eva Boto was born on December 1st, 1995. She lives in the small town of Šentjanž pri Dravogradu which lies in the North Eastern part of Slovenia, 120 kilometres from the capital Ljubljana. She is now a second-year student attending the Ravne na Koroškem High School, but she is already thinking about continuing her studies in Graz, Austria, or London where she would like to study soloist singing. She has been singing since a very early age and practices daily in her specially designed music room at her home. At 10 years of age, Eva entered an international singing competition in Austria and won. Later, she performed several times at the FENS Youth Musical Festival, where she won twice.

Eva Boto was only 15, when she applied to audition for the Mission Eurovision contest. The national broadcaster RTVSLO produced this series of programmes, which started on October 2nd, 2011 and ended this February, with only one goal in mind, to choose the singer who would represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest. Convincing renditions of songs from Mariah Carey, Shaina Twain, Irene Cara, Leona Lewis and Darja Švajger made a huge impression on the members of the jury and audiences alike.

In the end, Eva Boto won a landslide number of votes with the song Verjamem (I Believe), one of the three she sang on the final night of Mission EMA 2012. Eva's favourite singer is Beyonce, but she likes 1980s and 1990s music as well. In her spare time, Eva plays guitar, plays with her dog and cat and, as every teenager loves to hang out with her friends. She's no stranger to computers and make-up, either. Eva enjoys cooking, especially baking. She is very emotional and sometimes shy. Her biggest bad habit is laziness. Eva's best friends and supporters in life and in her music career are her mother, father and elder sister Sanja. Eva describes her participation in Baku as her greatest life experience and challenge so far.

The Critics Voice Their Opinion

Magnus Kaxe

• Good-looking, vocally decent singer in a nice song with a powerful chorus that gets stuck in my head. The verse melody goes too low in key for the singer to be able to sing it properly and the song loses a bit there. But still one of my favorite ballads this evening! But please let go of the ugly hat on the backing singers! They deserve a six (6) points for that entry.

Marion Welter

• This is a completely different track than the one before it but I am not too fond of these kind of ballads even though, I have to compliment her on a beautiful set of vocals. She has a good range and will most likely impress. Unfortunately one (1) point from my end. 

Tobias Larsson

• Like Serbia but weaker - another Balkan ballad that wants to be overwhelming but that doesn't quite nail it. The singer has an excellent voice, but the chorus just isn't convincing enough. Hmm, like my colleague, I agree on six (6) points.

Entry Background

Performer: Eva Boto

Composers: Vladimir Graić and Hari Mata Hari

Author: Igor Pirkovič

Song: Verjamem

Language: Slovene

Broadcaster: RTVSLO

History of the Nation

The eighteenth entry from Slovenia and hopefully continuing a trend that was built last year when they managed to overcome a number of disappointing years to reach the finals and also reach a decent position. This year, they have decided to take up a brand new route by looking for the performer first and foremost, a system that was used well by Germany to find both Lena and Roman actually. In the final, the finalists performed three songs and ultimately this was chosen. The best results that the country have achieved amount to a seventh place in 1995 when Darja Svajger took to the stage for the first time with Prisluhni Mi and then also a couple of years later in 2001 with Nusa Derenda and her entry Energy. Since the introduction of the semi-final system, Slovenia has only been in the final twice, missing out very closely on two other occasions. Eva Boto will be hoping to be the third woman to take the country to the final.

Source: Eurovision.tv for the Biographical Information and all respective media

The Team of Radio International would like to invite to join the weekly Ultimate Eurovision Experience. The Show is broadcast on 106.8FM and Digital Cabel 41 in the Netherlands and also via the internet via www.radiointernational.tv and will also be web-televised via the show's own Live Video Channel via the website. The simulcast will be from 2000 – 2300 hours CET this Wednesday.

Interview with Jedward (Ireland 2011 and 2012):  

Lilian, Eric and JP had the big pleasure to interview Jedward at the recent Eurovision in Concert event in Amsterdam. Jeward already competed at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 reaching 8th place with "Lipstick" and in a national selection earlier on this year the Irish Nation selected Jedward again to represent Ireland again at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, Azerbaijan with the song "Waterline". Last week Radio International aired the interview with Jedward's Mentor and 1992 Eurovision Song Contest Winner - Linda Martin who will be accompanying Jedward also to Baku. But this week on Radio International enjoy the crazy twins in interview. 

Eurovision in Concert 2012:  

Last Saturday, 21 April 2012, the annual Eurovision Music extravaganza took place in Amsterdam for the fourth time where this year is a record of 24 countries' representatives performed their entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 which will come from Baku, Azerbaijan on May 22, 24 and 26. The event was a full success with an early start for the artists and journalists meeting in the delegation hotel in Amsterdam for the first session of interviews. After a Word of Welcome from EBU's Sietse Bakker the artists were taken by boat to the centre of Amsterdam for their soundcheck in the venue for the evening - The Melkweg. That also included the second session of interviews with the many international media that was accredited. The Team of Radio International in combination with Poplight from Sweden were also present to conduct as many interviews as possible with the 2012 Hopefulls. This week on Radio International listen to interviews with the representatives of Azerbaijan, Ireland, Latvia, Moldova and Slovenia.   

Interview with Sabina Babayeva (Azerbaijan 2012):  

The host country Azerbaijan where the 57th Eurovision Song Contest takes place will be represented by Sabina Babayeva. In 2011 Eldar & Nigar won the Eurovision Song Contest with "Running Scared" with this victory taking the contest to Baku, Azerbaijan. Following in the footsteps is now the song "When the music dies" which is already qualified and competes in the Grand Final on Saturday, 26 May 2012 on lucky Number 13. Listen to a short interview with the singer which was done last weekend in Amsterdam at Eurovision in Concert.  

Eurovision Song Contest Sportlight - Eurovision in Concert 2012 Recap:  

The Radio International Irish Voice will be returning on this week's edition of Radio International - Dermot Manning who will be taking a look back at Europe's biggest promotion event that happened last weekend in Amsterdam - Eurovision in Concert 2012 with 24 artists performing their country's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. Dermot will be chatting about the most memorable moments on the show this week.  

Interview with Anmary (Latvia 2012):  

Number 4 in Semi Final 1 of the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 is the starting position for this year's entry from Latvia - Anmary who will be performing "Beautiful Song" on Tuesday, 22 May 2012. Anmary was also part of the line-up of Eurovision in Concert last weekend in Amsterdam. Lilian and JP interviewed the singer which you can hear during this week's edition of the show.  

Euro Friends Song Contest 2012 with Andy Simon:

Continuing with the Euro Friends Song Contest in search for the ultimate Eurovision song as voted for by the many fans around the world. Andy  Simon joins us every week to reveal the qualifiers for the next round.  The website of the Euro Friends Song Contest www.euro-friends.com where you can easily vote for your favourite Eurovision song per country and also see The Euro-Friends TV Show as hosted by Andy Simon. You can also join the Facebook Group. This week Andy looks at the next qualifiers from Heat 46 (Netherlands).

Interview with Eva Boto (Slovenia 2012): 

This year's entry from Slovenia is performed by Eva Boto who will be competing in Semi FInal 2 at Number 9 with the song "Verjamem" with this following in the footsteps of Maya Keuc who reached Number 13 in the Grand Final in 2011 with the song "No One". Let's see if this year Eva can top that result for Slovenia. Eva was also part of Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam last weekend where the Team of Radio International met the very young singer for a brief interviews which you can hear during this week's edition of Radio International. 

Eurovision Song Contest News with Luke Fisher from escXtra.com:

Check out the latest developments connected to the Eurovision Song Contest. Whether it is music releases of Eurovision performers, appearances, special concerts, gossip, news, etc. Luke will have the latest updates during this week's edition of the show.

Interview with Pasha Parfeny (Moldova 2012):  

Moldova this year will be represented by Pasha Parfeny whose entry to the 2012 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is called "Lautar" and will bein Semi Final 1 on Tuesday, 22 May 2012 at Number 17. Pasha was also in the line-up of Eurovision in Concert 2012 in Amsterdam last weekend and also became an "interview victim" when Lilian Brunell caught up with the singer awaiting his soundcheck. Listen to this interview with week on Radio International.  

Eurovision Music Requests/Eurovision Quiz:

A big part of the show is playing listeners' requests. Submit your requests and / or greetings to your Eurovision friends through Radio International via the CONTACT Link on www.radiointernational.tv or via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . But also don’t miss out on the weekly Eurovision Quiz where you can win something.

Join Radio International on Wednesday, 25 April 2012 from 2000 - 2300 hours CET, via the website or on FM. Radio International is available live via www.radiointernational.tv and on FM 106.8 and Digital Cabel Channel 41 in parts of the Netherlands. Should you not be able to listen live, the show will appear in the Programme’s Show Archive a few hours after it’s airing on the radio.

Source: Team of Radio International