ESCUnited Reviews EMA 2025: Part I

Happy EMA day to all who celebrate! We certainly do, and some members of our team have written down their thoughts on the twelve songs competing to represent Slovenia at Eurovision 2025.

This review roundup is brought to you by a highly qualified panel of experts (or at least some people who love Eurovision enough to write about it online):

1. Sam
2. James
3. David
4. Boris
5. Jasmin
6. Emma

ANNA – “Čau”

Sam: 4/10
“This is a declawed, Slovene version of ‘Slo-Mo.’ Slov-Mo, if you will. I happen to love ‘Slo-Mo’ but points off for lack of originality.”

James: 3/10
“A boring faux-empowerment song about Anna ditching her bonehead boyfriend. Why do lyricists think it’s special that someone ditches an idiot or a cheat? Wouldn’t the more interesting angle be that they avoided hooking up with them in the first place? The triplet chorus and title fondly reminds me of N*SYNC’s ‘Bye Bye Bye,’ which I never thought I’d say. Nostalgic Gen-Xers who overpraise that song should go pound sand with Anna’s moronic lovers.”

David: 7/10
“This is fun and happy, it has the catchy tune and is just a vibe on its own. Despite it’s in Slovene, and the fact I personally understand nothing, it somehow manages to stay interesting. I mean, I assume that “Čau” is the universally understood word ‘Ciao’ or bye in English, which makes it easy to sing along with anyhow. I’m smiling, nonetheless.”

Boris: 6/10
“A feisty anthem by a woman in a pencil coat. Anna’s thing is that she fires off the Ciao’s like a trigger-happy cowboy in a gunfight, and the end result is a moderate bop.”

Jasmin: 4.5/10
“Some people will go crazy over this one but I am not one of those people. It’s energetic and fun but soooo repetitive that these three minutes felt much longer. The song just goes on and on in the same way as it started. I don’t see much progression here and it just relies on the beat and that’s it.”

Emma: 3/10
“I think they were going for a catchy chorus because the rest of the song is so basic it lost me some 15 seconds in. In a world of girl bops, this would probably land mid to low ladder in the Grand Final of Eurovision 2009, if it qualifies for it at all.”

Highest Score: 7/10 (David)
Lowest Score: 3/10 (James, Emma)
Total: 27.5 / 60
Average Score: 4.6/10

ZveN – “Divja”

Sam: 4/10
“On my first listen, the abrupt switch to throat singing over a horror film score caught me off guard and genuinely scared me so much that I had to turn it off. Before anyone accuses me of being either a prudish American or a musically naïve Eurofan, my taste in music is (as James might attest) bafflingly diverse. When I was finally brave enough to give it another go – during daylight hours – I was able to appreciate the artistic merit this song clearly has. It’s so close to being exactly the kind of song I love to see in Eurovision but loses me in the second half. That said, Bambie Thug’s staging finally sold me on the song itself, so maybe there’s similar potential here (if it goes to Eurovision, which it won’t).”

James: 9/10
“Perhaps the most Eurovision unfriendly national selection I have heard in a while. Which is probably why I love it. Starts off a capella, starting with words and then adding vocal impressions of instrumentation, then adding a flute, before someone goes full-on Tanya Tagaq with throat singing. This has the potential to terrify the audience if done right.”

David: 1/10
“There’s something symphonic about this, which seemed charming… and then we enter the other half of the song. Why the fuck did the song suddenly go completely manic, as if, animals suddenly started to try and sing?! I mean… where did this mental idea even come from??? I was alright with the melody, but that…”

Boris: 8/10
“Random pile of bird noise vocals shaped to sound like Björk <3 of course the fandom loathes it (as much as they hate Björk’s music, which they’ll never will admit to because it makes them look uncultured <3). ‘Divja’ is a trip. A fun trip. Definitely not a Eurovision trip, but that’s okay.”

Jasmin: 5/10
“I appreciate the effort but it’s messy and all over the place. So many elements are stacked together in a short three-minute track that I’m not sure what to think of it. It’s giving pagan / mediaeval tone to it which I really like but I’d like it to be more mysterious and fragile rather than edgy. Live could be interesting and surely unique though, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Emma: 6/10
“I can appreciate the dedication to the acapella nature sounds, at least it’s more cultural than most. The growls, moans and sighs make things layered, feral (dare I say Midsommer-y…) and with the right staging, this could stand out in Eurovision. But they really have to hit the nail on the head for this for it to work. It could be a make it or break it entry.”

Highest Score: 9/10 (James)
Lowest Score: 1/10 (David)
Total: 33/60
Average Score: 5.5/10

PolarAce – “Kind”

Sam: 1.5/10
“Too cheesy for my taste. Nice voice though.”

James: 1/10
“This guy’s vocal style really grinds my gears. It’s that modern Idol / X Factor / Voice style where words like ‘kind’ are warbled to sound like ‘Kay-ind.’ I know it’s not kind to say, but ‘get f%$#ed’ to anyone who sings like this.”

David: 3/10
“How it hits close to my heart, this is so closely coded to me. Let me just say, it’s not that I don’t wish to be kind, I’m just being honest. The idea and message are wonderful, but as a catchy song that should be a hit, the idea is sadly nowhere near. Full respect for bringing these lovely messages to the public now and then.”

Boris: 3/10
“A less bad ‘Our Choice.’ PolarAce dips very heavily into the ‘Charity Song’ archetype and it’s an instant no. Still, there is an earnestness to a young man going out of his way to be kind to the world and make people happy. My final verdict is preachy and tiresome, if well-intentioned.”

Jasmin: 4/10
“This tried to be anthemic, but it failed to make the impact. I feel uninspired after listening to this song and I’m sure that the intention was the opposite. I appreciate the message but that doesn’t save the song from being mediocre across the board.”

Emma: 2/10
“This is the world peace type of song you won’t be hearing me pay attention to much. It’s the type of a song where superficial messages masquerade as positive, feel-good songs that is not only dated, but it doesn’t even come across as a good interval act track.”

Highest Score: 4 (Jasmin)
Lowest Score: 1 (James)
Total: 14.5/60
Average Score: 2.4/10

Astrid and the Scandals – “Touché”

Sam: 6.5/10
“Aiko vibes but with a little more bite. This is very fun.”

James: 3/10
“Another song where the protagonist thinks it’s empowering to have sex with an idiot and make his mom wash the dress he stained. It’s basic, and what early fun was promised with its pop-punk-like intro fizzled out rather quickly. In Europe adults seem to stay with their parents until they get married or die – and given Europe’s lack of fertility, probably caused by anti-septic gigglefests like this, it’s the latter. Who knew that demographic needed an anthem?”

David: 2/10
“Cool enough musically, but dear lord, were those lyrics just… pathetic? Singing about mama boy’s break up? Can’t say this is something I would like to listen willingly. Vocally isn’t impressive either. Even a great lack of proper text, hard to understand where the versus, chorus and overall structure of the song is.”

Boris: 7.5/10
“An Avril track with Elliephant vocals <3 Slovenia’s indie scene strikes again, in this out there punk rock number. Again, it’s not surprise to me the fandom loathes this selection but not I. Touché is a hilarious break-up song, not only blaming the ex for his pathetic behaviour, but also his mother for raising a useless cretin of a son. It is a delicious, unhinged piece that could lend itself to very funny staging ideas.” 

Jasmin: 2/10
“I feel bored listening to this one. Everything sounds so overproduced and just artificial that I am struggling to find the positive aspects of this sadly. Definitely not my cup of tea.”

Emma: 7/10
“I like it. It’s not anything revolutionary but it carries this sense of the y2k movie sequence where the main character is late for school. As a millennial, it evokes some nostalgia for me, and I caught myself bopping to it. I’m not sure that bridge is good enough though, or what they can do with the staging, buuut, I wouldn’t mind this sound on the Eurovision stage altogether. We don’t see it a lot.”

Highest Score: 7.5 (Boris)
Lowest Score: 2 (David, Jasmin)
Total: 28/60
Average Score: 4.7/10

Jon Vitezič – “Vse ti dam”

Sam: 7.5/10
“Really cool, new wavy production that seems to get better with each listen. It’s definitely not a Eurovision Song ™ but it’s earned itself a spot on my playlist whenever it makes its way to Spotify.”

James: 5/10
 “Jon might claim to give you all, but the end result of this mid-synth pop bore suggests otherwise.”

David: 3/10
“Bro found a time machine and went a few decades back. I mean, it’s okay, but far from being something splendid. Bro does feel like he is in his element with this type of song, but it just doesn’t appeal to me. Vocals are rather weak and low, which allows the music to take more of the focus, which drags the vocals further down.”

Boris: 9.5/10
“THE BIGGEST CRIME of this selection is not putting it on streaming platforms, because now I have to brave RTVSLO’s buggy website whenever I want to listen to ‘Vse ti dam.’. :-/ It’s worth it though, for this beautiful synthcore piece combines elements from Depeche Mode’s “’enjoy the silence” and marries them to Bazart’s ‘Maanlicht.’ It’s my jam! The ideal superfinal for Slovenia is Jon and someone Jon can beat (KiKi or summat). If Slovenia are going to NQ anyway, then at least have them do it with the best composition in their selection.”

Jasmin: 7/10
“Surprisingly, I enjoy the suppressed vocal and a heavier production in this song. By the end, the bridge was disappointing, but the chorus is catchy, and they can work with it. I would like it more if the vocal is more prominent, but I enjoy in the melody at least.”

Emma: 9/10
“Oh I see, the endless stream of the Joker Out vibes. That said, I wasn’t expecting to like it as much and it kind of got me on the second listen. The vocals seem a little held back to make room for the wonderful production and instrumentation. This dreampop, indie track makes up for the overall introspective performance. It’s a personal favorite in the Slovenian selection this year.”

Highest Score: 9.5 (Boris)
Lowest Score: 3 (David)
Total: 41/60
Average Score: 6.8/10

Kiki – “O-ou!”

Sam: 7/10
“This has Big Theatre Kid Energy™ but in a very cool way. It’s also the most French song I’ve ever heard sung in Slovene. The chorus vaguely reminds me of ‘Sweet Dreams’ by Eurythmics. The second half is what might take this to the Eurovision Grand Final though – what a way to pick up the pace.”

James: 8/10
“This will both confound and amuse the foreigners in equal measure. Starts off sounding vaguely French, ends up with Slavic choruses, all a-top an art house track. As wacky indie goes, this has potential, and the outro is certainly interesting. This may be too wacky for your average Eurovision punter who thinks “Serving Kant” in the Maltese selection is the greatest song ever, which will doom this to dinner theater in Maribor from where this came.”

David: 1/10
“VERY quirky, but not in a good way. The style and sound are very slow and boring for the most part and is perhaps a bit too long. Then when we hit around the 2-minute mark, it’s like we enter the bizarro world for a short time. I’m just completely off by this point. I have no clue what to describe this song in general.”

Boris: 8/10
“Dorky band girls <3 “O-Ou” sounds like it’s been composed for theatre (note that I’m not even saying “musical theatre”). It sounds like a song you’d encounter in a play aimed at children, and it gets my imagination running: a mimicat-shaped chicken stumbling her way through a forest, encountering a big bad wolf and then… PECKING IT TO DEATH in the intense final key change. It’s fun, and those that hate it should get some fucking culture in their pathetic lives.”

Jasmin: 5/10
“Little by little this grew on me but it took time. Still, not amazed, or in love with it but at least it feels authentic. The song is a hot mess like many other songs in this selection. I have zero ideas how to stage this and make it look good. Slovenian delegation decided to be edgy this year with this selection. Eh, it’s fun?? Right?”

Emma: 3/10
“Listen, I get the cartoonish intent here, but I am not looking to feel like I’m immersed in a Pink Panther ‘let’s do something sus’ scene. That final beat with the male choir vocals towards the end may have helped this a little bit, but not nearly enough for me.”

Highest Score: 8 (James, Boris)
Lowest Score: 1 (David)
Total: 32/60
Average Score: 5.3/10

We’re halfway through ranking and reviewing all the songs from EMA 2025, and these are the results so far:

1. Jon Vitezič – “Vse ti dam” | 6.8/10
2. ZveN – “Divja” | 5.5/10
3. Kiki – “O-ou!” | 5.3/10
4. Astrid and the Scandals – “Touché” | 4.7/10
5. ANNA – “Čau” | 4.6/10
6. PolarAce – “Kind” | 2.4/10

Stay tuned for Part II, and remember that all EMA 2025 songs are available to stream at rtvslo.si.

Agree with our ranking? Think we’re completely wrong in every way? Let us know what #YOU think of EMA 2025 on our socials (@escunited), Discord or at our forum.