Dora 2025 SONGWRITER DEEP DIVE 🇭🇷🕸️📊
After getting its best ever result as an independent nation in 2024 Croatia has a lot to live up to in Basel. It looks like many familiar faces are looking to strike, with 21/28 of the songs having connections. Let's take a look (a thread 🧵)
Ananda - "Lies Lay Cold"
One of three songs in the lineup written by Ananda, with her also being the performing artist here. The song was cowritten by Jonas Ekdahl and Andreas Björkman, who have previously worked together on songs for Bernarda and Queens of Roses
EoT - "Bye, Bye, Bye"
In 2019 Maja and Boris played in the band Manntra, along with none other than Marko 'Baby Lasagna' Purišić, reaching 4th place. Can they follow in their former bandmates footsteps in this new constellation?
Irma - "Enigma"
Our second collab between Ananda and Andreas. Andreas has a history with Dora, writing succesful songs like "Redemption" (5th place), "Ocean of Love" (6th place), "Here for Love" (4th place) and "In the Darkness" (7th place). Can he add another top 10?
Ivxn - "Monopol"
Our last song from the Andreas Björkman/Ananda/Jonas Ekdahl team. Let's see if Ananda ended up choosing the right song for herself, or gave away her best
Jelena Radan - "Salut!"
Jelena Radan is back after 16 years, having failed to qualify on her first two attempts. We see the writers from her original entries, with an exciting addition - Matej Zec of Let 3 fame. Will his presence be able to inject some chaos into the mix?
Lara feat. LSQ - "Mama"
Miroslav and Lea have both had moderate succes in Dora, with Lea providing one of the three songs for the Dora 2011 duels, and Miroslav reaching 9th place with Feminnem in 2007. Is this their big break?
Luka Nižetić - "Južina"
A Dora veteran, Luka is back for his 5th attempt. He previously achieved his best result in 2019, placing 3rd with "Brutalero". Is he bound for another top 3 finish?
Magazin - "AaAaA"
An inescapable name in Croatian music, Magazin is back to Dora, this time with 2019 fan favourite Lorena Bućan as its singer for the first time. Can the group finally fly the Croatian flag at Eurovision again, 30 years after their 6th place in Dublin?
Marin Jurić Čivro - "Gorjelo je"
Marin is back five years after his 2020 attempt, where he placed 15th. Will the presence of Vatra frontman Ivan Dečak in the credits help him get a better result?
Marko Bošnjak - "Poison Cake"
Marko took silver in Dora 2022, with the dramatic "Moli za nas". Now he's back, hoping to take the final step up the podium. Helping him is Emma Gale, who was also behind early Supernova 2025 fan favourite "Monster"
Marko Škugor - "Šta da Boga molim ja"
One of 3 songs by Hrvoje this edition. In 2021 he placed 5th with Filip Rudan's "Blind" and last year he made it to 11th with Lara Demarin's "Ne vjerujem ti". This entry is song by Marko Škugor, a member of Klapa s Mora from Eurovision 2013
Marko Tolja - "Through the Dark"
Marko Tolja makes his third attempt, placing 12th in 2007 and failing to make the final in 2007. Helping him improve his record is Dora 2022 winner Mia Dimšić and Ivan Popeskič, who helped Nuška Drašček reach 8th at EMA 2009
Martha May - "Running to the Light"
In 2023 Martha made her debut with "Distance", reaching 12th. Now she's back, with the help of Matteo Despares, who wrote MESC 2024 fan favourite "Mara" for Denise Mercieca
Matt Shaft - "Welcome to the Circus"
Matt and Laura are both debuting at Dora 2025, and have helped write each others songs. Who will place the best?
Natalie Balmix - "Život ide dalje"
Last year Natalie and Darko participated with "Dijamanti", placing 10th but gaining fans. Will the legendary Macedonian composer behind 15 Eurovision entries and the young Croatian singer achieve a stronger result this time?
Natally - "Dom si srcu mom"
Another Hrvoje Domazet song, this time written along with Alka Vuica and Marija Mirković. The most notable of their previous entries is "Hajde da ludujemo", the fan favourite Yugoslav entry from 1990, which Alka was behind
Petar Brkljačić - "Kraj"
Our third and final song from Hrvoje Domazet this edition
Teenah - "Aurora"
A collab between NF frequents Ylva and Linda Persson, as well as Charlie Mason (Rise Like a Phoenix - Conchita Wurst), John Matthews (Teenage Life - Daz Sampson) and Siniša Reljić (My Friend - Jacques Houdek)
BONUS: llyricum - "Tananai"
One of two backup entries with connections, "Tananai" was written by Andrej Babić, the man behind iconic entries from Croatia, Portugal, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Aleksandar Valenčić, his "Love Symphony" cowriter
BONUS: Patricia Gasparini - "Karma"
Last connected song, Patricia placed 18th in Dora 2023
The remaining 7 songs do not seem to have any connections
Filomena - "Strong"
Lelek - "The Soul of My Soul"
Nipplepeople - "Znak"
Ogenj - "Daj, daj"
Supersonic Trio - "Animal"
Fenksta - "Extra"
Swingers - "Ful kul"
And that's all! Hope you enjoyed reading this thread, and found it informative. If you did, make sure to follow me so you don't miss out on similar deep dives I will be making for all other national finals this season. Until then, take care!
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