Best Semi-Final Non Qualifiers– Over the last two weeks, hundreds of our readers have voted for their Top 5 Best Eurovision entries that did not make it to the final. Each voter had ten points to distribute: 5 to his favorite, 4 to the second place etc. Out of these points we calculated the ultimate Top 15 of your favorite Semi-Final non qualifiers! You can see the other places and our other rankings here! Your runner-up is Slovakia!
In 2010, Slovakia sent the popular young singer Kristina to Oslo, after she won the national final by a landslide. Her song “Horehronie” is an ode to the homonymous region in Slovakia. Kristina sings that “The most beautiful trees are in Horehronie” and that she ”come[s] back here when [she feels] sad “ The trees telling her to shake it off. The stage outfit was apparently supposed to be an homage to these trees as Kristina and her backings all wore green outfits with leaves and roots as accessories. In 16th place, the song failed to reach the Eurovision final.
Related articles
I kept hoping this would not have happened. I had doubts on Slovenia 2012 but indeed less with this one and so it did happen. I do not agree. I don’t like it and wouldn’t have minded if it were in the final but it’s not the second best non qualifier imo! But taste is taste… bring on Anna now :p
i don’t agrre with you this was of of the best entries in 2010
That’s fair to defend what you like. I really loved the Slovakian nf in 2009 and 2010 they were very big and over the top but they had many great and genuine entries. “Horehronie” felt on the other hand over the top, over dramatic and written just to win this. It did and then it got popular but to me, the song just doesn’t really go anywhere and I’m disappointd this over-the-top production and rather boring song won over other entries. I understand that being in Slovakian and its folky tune is attractive and that 16th is definitely quite unfair in comparison to other 2010 entries that got through (“Opa” for starters…) but it’s never been a favorite of mine. It could have been in the 2010 final yes, but was it the second most deserving one to? I don’t think so that’s all.
Anna who?
LOL
No, sincerely, I don’t really like anything about the Swedish song from that year – I refuse to believe that it will top this list (although now it wouldn’t surprise me). I think they made a huge mistake not sending “Keep on walking”.
“Keep on Walking” is my #2 of 2010 behind “Siren”
What an incredible song that was and like Caroline or BWO it came so close to win MF :’(
I guess that I prefer the princess to the headdress if that is the choice we are left with …
I never ever said Netherlands 2012 would be on that list and never figured why opeople thought it would be!
I have never understood this song… but I think it has a lot of fans around Europe. It´s a funny song, I think. Ok…I can bear it. But it doesn´t deserve be #2.
I’ve never been really crazy about the song, but, after all, it was nice and somewhat unique, she is pretty and talented, so I can’t see why it failed back in 2010…
I disagree.I mean,the song was ok but the live performance with the green people etc was so kitchy.
Once again a really nice ethnic song that unfortunately lacks the most necessary: an appealing melody. It has all the right ingredients but the cake became somewhat pulpy.
If the live version was anything like the studio version, then yes I think “Horehronie” would have been a justified entry on this list. But the performance was such a let down, particularly the vocals. Slovakia was my favourite heading into the 2010 contest, but I knew it was doomed once Kristina had performed. A real shame.
I like this song in studio version but the live performance was a total mess, both vocally and visually. I understand the concept and intention behind the stage performance but a gloomy Slovak forest (even if it is dancing) just doesn’t come across live on TV.
2nd best non-qualifier since 2004? Certainly not in my book!
It placed 14th out of 17.
I am not too fond of this but same with ‘Siren’; that respective semi-final was so awful I do not get their terribly bad positions. While that Je ne sais quoi shit almost came 1st… what went wrong with ESC voters?
I liked it from the very first time I heard the song till I heard her singing live.. yes the song is good, but for her live performance..hmmm I dont agree with you guys
I like this song very much, but its live presentation way just too damaging; it came across as messy and Kristina’s vocals did not rise to the occasion. N*2? No way.
Tomorrow: what happened to my guitar? I looked so fashionable with it!!! MF at its very “best”.
“what happened to my guitar?”
I realised that I did not know how to play it and that playing it wouldn’t be appropriate either. I am a princess after all …
Por supuesto!
I was so sure this would pass the semi and end up in top 10 until I saw the live performance…still like the song and one of the best Slovakian entries to date…and she is so adorable!
The song itself can be described as mediocre at best – what they did on stage was beyond awful, they ruined everything with these women chanting “Hallelujah”. It’s a deserved non-qualifier.
Nice song, but man her sining sucked!
It’s almost bad as Rybak!! LOL
I HATE it! Fake ethno and shitty choreography, outfits and everything else!
I wish number 1 would be one of these:
1. Poland – Ich Trjoe – I follow my heart
2. Poland – JetSet – Time to party
3. Cyprus – Annet Artani – Why do the angels cry
4. Sweden – Anna Bergendahl – This is my life
5. Estonia – Sandra Oxenryd – Through my window
I wish Estonia – Sandra Oxenryd – Through my window. The other ones… better no !
Since all my favourites have already appeared in this list, I’d say Andorra 2005 FTW!
I know that it won’t happen …
San Marino 2008
… would be a fantastic choice too … but won’t happen either.
I have no idea how San Marino 2008 didn’t make this list. D:
It’s so much better than well… 90% of this list so far.
On that note, *repeat of general dislikes I had about Verjamem*. The only truly unique complaint I have here is that this one probably deserved the final, but it’s no where near a tragic loss.
Hi Marko, All set for the football friendly next week?
Hi DEAR Martin!! :-***** Yeah, LOL
Gosh, Just realised it’s tonight. Best of luck to both teams. I think Serbia may stuff us though
Well, my choices:
1. Netherlands 2012
2. Netherlands 2011
3. SanMarino 2008
(I wish my avatar looked more serious……)
I think most people are in agreement here that the song itself was pleasant enough and I liked it a lot (still do) but the live performance let it down badly. I’d be surprised if Anna doesn’t take top spot.
Where is Cyprus 11? Where is San Marino 08? Where is Israel 12?
I must agree that I was surprised not to see San Marino 2008 on this list. From what I could tell, it seemed to be quite popular with the fans on this website.
I have been to Arena and San Marino 2008 was horrible, I’d rather choose Senit from San Marino!
San marino 08 was lightyears from being horrible, imho; as for San Marino 11, it was too mainstream and conventional for my taste.
Ha, the 1st in this list, I voted for in that Year.:D
for no. 1 please anything but LeAnn Bergendull and her boring country-pop ballad. i was so happy when she was out …
I knew this had no chance to qualify, and this song became the ultimate proof that, in decent years, thuis kind of kitchy/gay/fanwanks songs that gets no top 5 from bookies have absolutely NO chance to qualify with televoting.
My personal favourite for #1 is Sandra Oxenryd for Estonia, and I wouldn’t mind San Marino 2008 either.
I gave it 1 point, so it was in my top5. It is a good song. Let’s see which one is the best… I don’t think it will be my favourite one, but well.. hope so
Lovely tune ! Would have been my 2010 runaway winner , had it not been for the underwhelming live performance! Still 8/12 and my #9 in a fantastic year like 2010 ! I guess tomorrow we are going to deal with my 2010 #8…
I had Slovakia 2010 as my # 7 on this BSNQ list. Great to see them making it on this list ( even that high ) since it was the first time since their return that they had been taken seriously and enjoyed that much of support among fans ! Even if the LIVE outcome was average , Horehronie still shares a big merit of love and will remain a very credible and familiar through years ( almost classic ) Slovakian entry !
the best song in 2010!!
Most people criticize the live performance but honestly this entry represents about 90 % of the things I dislike in an esc entry with most prominent element the in your face wanna be local elements. ‘Horehronie” was more or a tourist guide for this specific area of Slovakia rather than a song. A charming but vocally irritating and mediocre singer as Kristina, a mediocre song and one of the worst live presentations I have seen the last years in esc. Of course if it wasn’t Slovakia it would have possibly qualified but still no big loss musically for the 2010 final imo..I do understand why this entry is liked and I respect that high position I just personally dislike every aspect of this unfortunate slovak entry. The last 2 years Slovakia has come by with much more credible IMO efforts and I hope they do continue to participate, they add diversity to the contest since they re appeared.
As for the entries I would love to see featured : Hungary 08, Netherlands 07, Estonia 06 are some of them but it was never going to happen..