Croatia CROATIA 2025 - Marko Bošnjak - Poison Cake

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[Gera11]

A lot of interesting entries but also a lot of filler. My favourite entry is "The Soul of My Soul" but only if it will be performed in Croatian. The English lyrics are diminishing its epicness tbh. If not, then Monopol >>>

Lelek - "The Soul of my Soul" 9.5/10
IVXN - "Monopol" 9/10
Ananda - "Lies Lay Cold" 8.5/10
Matt Shaft - "Welcome to the Circus" 8/10
Luka Nižetić - "Južina" 8/10
Petar Brkljačić - "Kraj" 7.5/10
Jelena Radan - "Salut" 7.5/10
Magazin - "AaAaA" 7.5/10
Ogenj - "Daj, daj" 7/10
Marin Jurić Čivro - "Gorjelo je" 7/10
EoT - "Bye, Bye, Bye" 6/10
Natalli - "Dom si srcu mom" 6/10
Laurakojapjeva - "NPC" 6/10
Marko Bošnjak - "Poison Cake" 6/10
Nipplepeople - "Znak" 5.5/10
Teenah - "Aurora" 5.5/10
Supersonic Trio - "Animal" 5/10
Martha May - "Running to the Light" 4/10
Irma - "Enigma" 4/10
Marko Škugor - "Šta da Boga molim ja" 4/10
Filomena - "Strong" 3/10
Marko Tolja - "Through the dark" 3/10
Swingers - "Ful kul" 2/10
Fenksta - "Extra" 1/10

 

[Mrm]

There isn't any single video of instagram influencer IVXN singing, not only live, but singing at all, any single snippet, few seconds, smth...

I can't wait everybody to experience his live singing at DORA for the first time..

Literally living for that MELTDOWN! MONOPOL!

 

[Mrm]

And btw this is the only NF of 2025 season in which I gave 0/10 (I got 6 of them here actually :/) for now and where I don't have 10/10 (based on studio versions)

My 0s here are:

1. IVXN
2. Jelena Radan
3. Luka Nižetić
4. Martha May
5. Matt Shaft
6. Supersonic Trio

Mostly I couldn't tolerate such a production, but there are some other reasons..

I also gave 1/10 to Lelek

 

[Luki]

There isn't any single video of instagram influencer IVXN singing, not only live, but singing at all, any single snippet, few seconds, smth...

I can't wait everybody to experience his live singing at DORA for the first time..

Literally living for that MELTDOWN! MONOPOL!

He can't sing, you can hear that in the studio version. It's a trainwreck in the making and I am here for it.

 

[Mrm]

He can't sing, you can hear that in the studio version. It's a trainwreck in the making and I am here for it.

LEGIT!

 

[Phoenix]

I like this Dora better than the ones since it was reintroduced. Sure, there isn't a Baby Lasagna moment, but people forget how dreadful the rest of the competition was, and Semi 1 has got to be the worst Dora edition ever.

This year is surprisingly fine, I like that it's more open. I do hope that Poison Cake will flop on its arse, what the hell was that?

 

[lavieenrose]

The more I listen to it, the more I think Južina could win Eurovision. It's, oddly enough, getting there that I think is the bigger hurdle (which I suppose is easier for me because when it inevitably does not win this NF I can spend the whole season going "would've won" which is, technically, unfalsifiable).

Also, much like Brutalero, unintentionally gayass (affectionate)

 

[RainyWoods]

The more I listen to it, the more I think Južina could win Eurovision. It's, oddly enough, getting there that I think is the bigger hurdle (which I suppose is easier for me because when it inevitably does not win this NF I can spend the whole season going "would've won" which is, technically, unfalsifiable).

Also, much like Brutalero, unintentionally gayass (affectionate)

So it's not just been me secretly thinking that. I was keeping it to myself. I think Južina could be a big crowd pleaser. It's super charming, really catchy and memorable. The song is structured in a way as well that cries out for all these different creative staging ideas that would so easily just slot into place. It could be non stop moments. I also thought that of Tijana's To The Sky though back in the day when the only crowd pleased were me and you.. so I'm going to be careful.

 

[LivingOrganism]

Haven't had much time lately, but I finally got through all the songs for this year's Dora and I must say, I'm really surprised at how many people are hating on the NF, at least on Youtube. In my opinion it's one of the strongest so far this year, definitely better than Latvia, Albania, Luxembourg, among others. I guess people just expected something at the level of Baby Lasagna, but hey, what can I say, I am one of the weirdos who didn't even like BL's song until I saw the live version. That's what I always tell people - wait for the live performances, because they can change literally everything.
Anyway, here's my favorites this year. I can't say how good they will be in the bigger picture, I don't play in predictions like "this song is definitely NQ" or "this is an easy qualifier" because such predictions are rarely correct.

- EoT - Bye, Bye, Bye (my overall nr. 1 so far, but it's all very close)
- Lelek - The Soul of My Soul
- Luka Nižetić - Južina
- Magazin - AaAaA
- Marko Bošnjak - Poison Cake
- Petar Brkljačić - Kraj
- Amanda - Lies Lay Cold

All of those I wouldn't mind winning. That is before the live performances of course. I have also seen that many people seem to like the song "IVXN-Monopol" and yeah, it's not bad, but I wouldn't put it among the favorites.

 

[lavieenrose]

I also thought that of Tijana's To The Sky though back in the day when the only crowd pleased were me and you.. so I'm going to be careful.

And, iconically, not my mother

 

[Alcatraz]

...

 

[jatojo]

I know it could look like a lazy pick (and tbh, I haven't listened to all Croatian entries), but I think Lelek - "The Soul of my Soul" stands out. It does sound a bit like other Eastern European girl groups we've seen at Eurovision (Poland, Czechia etc), but the song is quite catchy, they will probably do well live, and the staging has good potential.

 

[Yoozek]

Dude cover yourself up, I'm trying to focus and listen to music, phew

 

[Yoozek]

Aaaaa - my dog once tried to steal a leftover pizza from my desk and placed its paw on the keyboard. Then when I came back - there was no pizza left and "Aaaaa" written in facebook chat. Now when I think about it, seems like he could as well become Eurovision lyricist lmao

Luka Nižetić - seems interesting. He's got that crazy vibe behind the eyes.
Matt Shaft - could be this year's dark horse, but a regular performance dressed as a bunch of clowns won't cut it.
Lelek - I want that in Croatian, in English it somehow misses this sparkle of "I don't have a fockin clue what they're singing about and I love it"
IVXN - just get on stage half naked and become Croatian Markus Riva. Everyone seems to think this dude can't sing. So if he actually can, people would root for him more. This mono mono monopol would rock polish radio stations 100%.

 

[Mainshow]

He can't sing, you can hear that in the studio version. It's a trainwreck in the making and I am here for it.

That's not really a problem since most of the chorus is basically 50% beat/music, 40% choir paying tribute to Croatia 1999, and 10% him looking fierce mouthing "Monopol monopol Mo-no-pol".
If he comes up with 5 hunks accompanying him on stage and do some cheography or looking fierce, they will easily qualify.

 

[HarryUK]

For me it’s gotta be Lelek, Marko or IVXN

 

[han-g]

For me it’s gotta be Lelek, Marko or IVXN

Which Marko?

 

[HarryUK]

Which Marko?

Bošnjak

 

[r3gg13]

DORA this year is top notch! I’m a sucker for anything Tonci Huljic makes, so Magazin’s AAAAA is very well appreciated. However, I do not think that it is the best one of the bunch. EOT, IMO, is the best choice from the bunch. I think that Bye Bye Bye gives the best first impression. Luka Nizetic, Matt Shaft, Ogenj, Nipplepeople and Laurakojapjeva also have great songs. I think there’s a lot of good choices in this NF.

 

[Luki]

Finally found the time to listen to all the songs this year. I must say I like the variety and overall this is the best and most balanced line-up of Dora since re-introduction in 2019.

Considering anti-abortion knights of Ogenj are the favorites I will be using all of my 20 votes for Marko Bošnjak. It would be such a downgrade to send this band after what Baby Lasagna, a full fledged practicing Catholic demonstrated last year.

Poison Cake has that kpop vibe to it, which is something I don't usually like but it also could have the Jann mixed with Kristian Kostov effect. I really hope he prepares a good staging.

Other than him, I really liked laurakojapjeva (absolute earworm, will benefit from the fact there is now a SKAM audience in Croatia, potential dark horse), nipplepeople (sad it is not competitive), Luka Nižetić and Fenksta.

I feel like it's really down to Marko Bošnjak (LGBT/progressive) and Ogenj (conservative). This will likely be the narrative of the coming month before Dora. I really can't see anyone else coming near that top 2. Magazin despite its legacy is a mess that has been heavily criticized in the media, Luka Nižetić is highly unlikeable persona in Croatia, EoT/Matt Shaft and other BL wannabes don't have the refinement and vision BL had last year, IVXN will be quite bad live (calling it rn), Marko Tolja like Luka is not liked by general audience (despite being potential jury winner imo).

I am actually looking forward to this year Dora as it will be really exciting.