Yugoslavia participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 27 times, debuting in 1961 and competing every year until its last appearance in 1992, with the exceptions of 1977–1980 and 1985. Yugoslavia won the 1989 contest and hosted the 1990 contest.
Ljiljana Petrović was Yugoslavia's first entrant in the contest in 1961 and placed eighth. In 1962, Lola Novaković gave the country its first top five result, finishing fourth. This would remain Yugoslavia's only top five result until 1983, when Danijel finished fourth with the song "Džuli". Novi Fosili also finished fourth in 1987 with "Ja sam za ples". In 1989, the country achieved its only victory in the contest, when Riva won with the song "Rock Me".
History
1961–1991: Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia was represented by a variety of artists from five of the eight Yugoslav federal units. These artists were from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia, with Macedonia, Vojvodina, and Kosovo never passing the national pre-selection. Croatia was the most successful constituent republic, as its performers won the national contest 13 out of the 26 times SFR Yugoslavia took part in the contest. From 1977 to 1980, and in 1985, Yugoslavia did not participate in the contest, however national finals still took place.
Yugoslavia won the 1989 contest with the song "Rock Me" by the group Riva. In accordance with the rules, the 1990 contest took place in Zagreb, as the entry came from Croatia.
1992: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
During the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the former constituent republics of Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia declared secession and hence withdrew from Jugovizija, while the then-leaderships of Serbia and Montenegro agreed to maintain a close alliance. On 28 March 1992, the republics that still (at least formally) constituted the fading and shrunken former Yugoslav federation took part in 1992's Jugovizija held in Belgrade. It included artists not only from Serbia and Montenegro, but also from Bosnia and Herzegovina, although the latter declared independence on 1 March of that year. Among its candidates was Alma Čardžić.[3] The winner of that pre-selection was "Ljubim te pesmama" performed by Extra Nena (Snežana Berić) from Serbia.[4] Before that year's contest took place, on 28 April, a new federal state was formed, consisting of Serbia and Montenegro and called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was represented by the previously mentioned Extra Nena in the 1992 contest.[5][6][7]
Yugoslavia was banned from participating in the contest until 2001 due to UN sanctions during the Yugoslav Wars. The sanctions went into effect only a few weeks after the 1992 contest.
1993–present: After the breakup
After the breakup of Yugoslavia, its former constituent republics declared independence. The formerly sub-national public radio and TV stations of Yugoslavia changed to national but under new names, including: RTVSLO, HRT, RTS, MRT, BHRT and RTCG. Since joining the EBU respectively, all of the ex-Yugoslav countries have independently participated in the Eurovision Song Contest: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia (until 2018 designated as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).
Overall, the results of the new republics have been mixed: Croatia had some top 10 finishes in the late 1990s, Serbia and Montenegro (as a union) and Bosnia and Herzegovina have enjoyed high placings in the 2000s, and North Macedonia has secured a top 10 result and made it through to the final each year until 2008, in which, even though it came 10th in its semi-final, it did not qualify for the final. In 2004, Serbia and Montenegro debuted and came in second place. In 2007, Montenegro and Serbia entered the contest as independent nations, with Montenegro failing to qualify for the final and Serbia securing its only first place to date, and the only of any former Yugoslav republic. In 2013, no ex-Yugoslav country secured a spot in the final, as Bosnia and Herzegovina withdrew before the contest began; Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia all failed to qualify in the first semi-final; and North Macedonia failed to qualify in the second semi-final. 2023 was the first time that all participating ex-Yugoslav countries qualified to the final, with Croatia finishing 13th, Slovenia 21st and Serbia 24th.
Participation overview
The following lists the 27 contestants that won the local competition and went on to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.
22 out of the 26 Yugoslav entries in the contest between 1961 and 1991 were in Serbo-Croatian and the rest in Slovenian. The majority of entries, 11, came from Croatia, where Yugoslavia's pop music industry was centered. No entry from Macedonia or Kosovo ever made it to the contest, illustrating a cultural marginalisation of the poorest parts of the country.[8]
National contests also took place between 1978 and 1980, but with no intention of sending a representative to the contest.
^All conductors are of Yugoslav nationality unless otherwise noted.
^The song was performed without orchestral accompaniment at the national final.
^Although Kuljerić was officially credited as musical director, he did not conduct any entries; the orchestra was assembled and rehearsed by Stanko Selak, who was credited as the contest's assistant musical director. Selak additionally stepped in to conduct the Cypriot entry.
^Host conductor; also played accordion. The entry was conducted by Zvonimir Skerl at the national final.
^RTS did not broadcast the competition live, but played videos of the participants within the show Music Carousel.
^In 1996, RTS transmitted the contest the day after the live show, cutting the "good luck wishes" from politician leaders that aired before every performance.
^In 2000 there was no live broadcast of the contest, but Third channel of RTS aired all the performances (except Israel's), and the winning performance, without voting sequence.
^Vuletic, Dean (2019). "Recognising Kosovo in the World of Televised International Song Contests". Eurovisions: Identity and the International Politics of the Eurovision Song Contest since 1956. Springer Nature. p. 116. ISBN978-9811394270.
^Roxburgh, Gordon (2012). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. One: The 1950s and 1960s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN978-1-84583-065-6.
^Roxburgh, Gordon (2014). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Two: The 1970s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN978-1-84583-093-9.
^Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN978-1-84583-118-9.
^Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN978-1-84583-163-9.
^Roxburgh, Gordon (2014). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Vol. Two: The 1970s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 352–365. ISBN978-1-84583-093-9.
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