SLOVENIA 2012 - Eva Boto - Verjamem

[GRE]

Perfect song! I gave my 12, not to regret afterwards like in the case of Denmark and Italy! Please, I beg you, keep it in Slovenian! I see Slovenia having the best song from the ex-yu countries in the end, but having the hardest time to qualify, since Eva Boto is not a big star like Jeliko or Nina! But I really hope it will be in the final!!

Maybe this will be true..!
Nobody expected Slovenia from the 6 ex-yu countries,but made the surprise!

 

[A-lister]

You can't really say that, because Slovenian is technically not "in between" of anything. It is however, part of the "Western Group" of "South Slavic" languages, together with Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin. Linguisticallly it is also relatively close to Macedonian and Bulgarian (the "Eastern Group" of that same branch).

Czech, Slovak and Polish form their own branch of "West Slavic" languages. The remaining one is the "East Slavic" branch, which includes Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian. And of course there are lots of similarities, but strictly spoken, someone from Slovenia should have an easier time understanding Croatian than Slovak (f.ex.).

Anyway, sorry for being a nerd, but I love languages. And my mother tongue is Dutch, and nothing upsets me more than people say that that is "in between" German and English. :twisted:

Actually I know all these divisions, I'm sort of a "language nerd" myself, but we were discussing whether these divisions are actually accurate (atleast in the case of Slovene) and I think Slovenians would know better than us on this issue. I mean people still call Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia "Eastern Europe", while in fact they are Central-Europe. Just because there are divisions made, doesn't mean they are actually accurate and in some cases can be misleading.

They say the same about Swedish.

 

[A-lister]

And saying Slovenian is 'in between' czech and Croatian isn't a bad thing...it does seem to be a mix of the two. People in Slovenia would understand more Czech/Slovak than people from most parts of Croatia..it's like Macedonian is in between "Serbo-Croat" and Bulgarian...we're not saying the in between languages are not real languages because of that or that they're any less important - we just mean they are a 'bridge' between the two.

Exactly, it's not a bad remark, it's just a way to try to "place" the language.

 

[CypriotGirl]

About Slovenian, I can say that is the only ex-yu language that I cannot understand at all! Not that I understand very well Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian, but I easily get many words/phrases. I understand better Slavo-Macedonian because it's almost the same with Bulgarian. But in Slovenian, I only get few words and phrases! Mostly when they are written! Does "Verjamem" means "We Believe" or something?

I love Slovenian language anyway!

 

[Hrvatska19]

Verjamem means I Believe...Vjerujem in Croatian/Bosnian/Macedonian, Verujem in Serbia, Veruvam in Macedonian and Vjarvam in Bulgarian..

 

[Hrvatska19]

oops i meant Croatian/Bosnian/Montenegrin...not Macedonian

 

[rebus]

You can't really say that, because Slovenian is technically not "in between" of anything. It is however, part of the "Western Group" of "South Slavic" languages, together with Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin. Linguisticallly it is also relatively close to Macedonian and Bulgarian (the "Eastern Group" of that same branch).

As far as I know (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin are more or less the same language. We say in Romania: "Serbo-Croatian language". Montenegrins practically are Serbs from Montenegro. I watched Serbian TV and I saw a Slovenian movie - it was translated in Serbian - and I realized then that Slovenian and Serbian are a bit different.

 

[qabadachia]

Slovene and Serbo-Croatian (u know what I mean) could be compared to Catalan and Spanish.

 

[Hrvatska19]

As far as I know (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin are more or less the same language. We say in Romanian: "Serbo-Croatian language". Montenegrins practically are Serbs from Montenegro. I watched Serbian TV and I saw a Slovenian movie - it was translated in Serbian - and I realized then that Slovenian and Serbian are a bit different.

You're right about the language, but not sure many Montenegrins would like hearing that nowadays

 

[rebus]

You're right about the language, but not sure many Montenegrins would like hearing that nowadays

We have the same problem with Moldavians from Republic of Moldova

 

[qabadachia]

It's funny thing, though... I mean, when you think about it: each and every single ex-Yu country has been struggling to build it's own national and cultural identity based on these small differences between our regional dialects... And then they go to Eurovision and sing in English. Now that's what I call a WTF moment.

 

[A-lister]

It's funny thing, though... I mean, when you think about it: each and every single ex-Yu country has been struggling to build it's own national and cultural identity based on these small differences between our regional dialects... And then they go to Eurovision and sing in English. Now that's what I call a WTF moment.

I know right? All these wars and conflicts and in the end they'll all end up together in the EU anyhow and doesn't stand up for their own languages even when they have the chance to do so (like in ESC for instance)

Weird paradox.

 

[LakZaNokte]

I strongly recommend that we move on from this off-topic discussion cause...well, u all know why


so, the song. not bad. didn't like it that much at 1st listening but I ended up singing the melody all day yesterday

 

[A-lister]

I strongly recommend that we move on from this off-topic discussion cause...well, u all know why


so, the song. not bad. didn't like it that much at 1st listening but I ended up singing the melody all day yesterday

True

Keep it Slovenian though!!!

 

[strupberry]

I think it makes sense that Slovenians understand other South Slavic languages more than the other way around. While dialects have lots of germanicisms, Slovenian slang has quite a lot of balcanisms. We hear balkan songs more than they hear Slovenian songs, same with movies, and generally get in contact with those languages more. I am probably in the group that understands the least (young, don't listen to balkan music, don't spend holidays there, etc.) and I still understand, let's say, 80% of Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, with lots of logical assumptions made.
And we might be the closest language to the West Slavic branch, but still we're quite on the edge on that bridge. I understand probably about 30% of Czech texts, even less when they speak.

edit: oops, ok, done with the off topic now

 

[Hrvatska19]

I think it makes sense that Slovenians understand other South Slavic languages more than the other way around. While dialects have lots of germanicisms, Slovenian slang has quite a lot of balcanisms. We hear balkan songs more than they hear Slovenian songs, same with movies, and generally get in contact with those languages more. I am probably in the group that understands the least (young, don't listen to balkan music, don't spend holidays there, etc.) and I still understand, let's say, 80% of Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, with lots of logical assumptions made.
And we might be the closest language to the West Slavic branch, but still we're quite on the edge on that bridge. I understand probably about 30% of Czech texts, even less when they speak.

edit: oops, ok, done with the off topic now

Thanks for that info!
I don't really see how we're off topic..we are talking about Slovenia after all, i'd hope that nobody would turn the conversation bitter...we should be able to talk about languages and cultures consdiering ESC doesn't showcase that much anymore.

 

[likid]

Main reason, why we mostly understand good Serbo-Croat language and they don't understand ours, has roots in ex-yugoslavia. Although official languages is EX-YU were Serbo-Croat, Slovenian and Macedonian language, in normal life Serbo-Croat language was the only one, that was used all over Yugoslavia. You could use SLO languge only in Slovenia, same Macedonin language only in Macedonia. In YU army the only language was Serbo-Croat and each male spent there at least one year and half. We learned in primary school in Slovenia at least one year Serbo-Croat language, In other parts of YU they never learn SLO language. Almost all popular music in EX-YU were in Serbo-Croat language. All best entertaining TV shows at that time were in Serbo-Croat language...

I could give you many more similar examples. it is true that since our independence this is not so influencial anymore and especially the ones that were born around our independence twenty years ago and younger don't understand Serbo-Croat language fluently.

P.s. I'm talking about Serbo-Croat language because for us Slovenians this is the same language. i'm aware that there are differences but If you would ask ordinary Slovene about diferences, mostly they won't be able to tell you that.

p.s.s. this is esc topic and I really like our choice.

 

[dominik79]

Don't vote just based on our song. Vote based on our plead

 

[Odalis]

Main reason, why we mostly understand good Serbo-Croat language and they don't understand ours, has roots in ex-yugoslavia. Although official languages is EX-YU were Serbo-Croat, Slovenian and Macedonian language, in normal life Serbo-Croat language was the only one, that was used all over Yugoslavia. You could use SLO languge only in Slovenia, same Macedonin language only in Macedonia. In YU army the only language was Serbo-Croat and each male spent there at least one year and half. We learned in primary school in Slovenia at least one year Serbo-Croat language, In other parts of YU they never learn SLO language. Almost all popular music in EX-YU were in Serbo-Croat language. All best entertaining TV shows at that time were in Serbo-Croat language...

I could give you many more similar examples. it is true that since our independence this is not so influencial anymore and especially the ones that were born around our independence twenty years ago and younger don't understand Serbo-Croat language fluently.

P.s. I'm talking about Serbo-Croat language because for us Slovenians this is the same language. i'm aware that there are differences but If you would ask ordinary Slovene about diferences, mostly they won't be able to tell you that.

p.s.s. this is esc topic and I really like our choice.

Understandable situation, same with former USSR republics, they all still speak russian (with some minor exceptions like Lithuania, Estonia who have a strong anti-russian policy which i have nothing against btw) but russians never had to learn all the local languages - russian was an official language of 15 countries. Just one difference that Ex-YG republics speak languages of practically one division while former USSR countries include tuns of languages that have nothing to do with each other whatsoever, some even have their own alphabets that don't look anything like the others, unique and amazing (like armenian and georgian).
Btw i looove balkan languages, they are so beautiful, and the best part - quite understandable, gotta love our big slavic language family

Ooooook back to the song lol
It's really growing on me, gorgeous, very good choice, Slovenia.
Now i only hope for two things: 1. keep it in Slovenian! 2. no more females with ballads for the second semi-final, please! Thanks

 

[Kryptonite]

I just read an interview with Sašo Graič (composer of "Verjamem"). He said that he wrote the song in 2008 and more importantly - it was meant to be entry in 2012, sung by Hari Mata Hari. He also revealed that Eva Boto worked on her performance with Beauty queens. They were teaching her how to perform and how to express her feelings while singing. There will be minor changes in the song (nothing radical, only small things).

They're still deciding about the language, but Graič prefers Slovene.