Veronika (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Veronika"
The cover artwork for "Veronika". The cover features Raiven in a gray outfit amongst a black background. Four men around her are shown bowing down to her.
Single by Raiven
from the EP Sirene, Pt. 1
Released20 January 2024 (2024-01-20)
Length2:46
LabelSelf-released
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Danilo Kapel
  • Martin Bezjak
  • Peter Khoo
  • Sara Briški Cirman
Raiven singles chronology
"Ikona"
(2023) 		"Veronika"
(2024)
Music video
"Veronika" on YouTube
Eurovision Song Contest 2024 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Bojan Cvjetićanin
  • Klavdija Kopina
  • Sara Briški Cirman
Entry chronology
◄ "Carpe Diem" (2023)

"Veronika" (Slovene pronunciation: [ʋɛˈɾòːnika])[1] is a song by Slovenian singer-songwriter Raiven. Described as a "dark alternative pop song"[2] that is inspired by the story of Veronika of Desenice, it was composed by Raiven along with five others, with lyrics also coming from Raiven. The song was self-released on 20 January 2024 through Virgin Music Group, and is scheduled to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

Background and composition[edit]

"Veronika" is composed by Bojan Cvjetićanin, Danilo Kapel, Klavdija Kopina, Martin Bezjek, Peter Khoo, and Raiven, with lyrics for the song written by Cvjetićanin, Kopina, and Raiven.[3] Cvjetićanin is a current member and lead singer of Slovenian rock band Joker Out, who represented Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.[4] According to Raiven, the song is inspired by Veronika of Desenice, a Countess of Celje who was the first woman to be convicted of witchcraft in Slovenia. She was reportedly murdered under the orders of her father-in-law, because of her lower status and his opposition of her marriage to his son.[5][6] In an analysis by Wiwibloggs writer Ruxandra Tudor, the song is described as "a dark alternative pop song", with Veronika described as "a woman of power, a magical figure". She later went on to say that, "the song possesses a mystical allure, and its potency grows as the composition unfolds, showcasing Raiven’s formidable vocal abilities. Raiven [later declares] 'I am, you are, Veronika,' conveying that the power of her character, Veronika, can be found within each of us."[4] Raiven has also described the song as a "child of mine", wishing to put an emphasis on visual art for the song.[7]

The song was originally meant to be written for Raiven's second EP, Sirene, and not meant for the Eurovision Song Contest. According to Raiven, the song took six months to create, and that she focused on the "dramatic quality [of the song]... I wanted her story to not only be expressed but also resonate with the year 2024."[5][8]

Raiven was officially announced as Slovenia's Eurovision representative for 2024 during a press conference held at the Ljubljana Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet on 12 December 2023.[9] The song and its accompanying music video premiered on 20 January 2024, during a special television programme titled Misija Malmö.[10][11][12]

Music video and promotion[edit]

An accompanying music video was released on the same day the music video was released. It was filmed at the Črni Kal quarry and in Radovljica, directed by Lukas Zuschlag and Tjaša Barbo and choreographed by Zuschlag.[7][12][13][14] In an interview given out by Radiotelevizija Slovenija, Raiven stated that she wanted to incorporate "the four elements – earth, fire, water and air". Raiven, who has a phobia of deep water, stated that production for the music video was "time-consuming and very stressful".[7] The music video features Raiven in a body of water, with Raiven "calling out" Veronika surrounded by an entourage of four men.[15]

Raiven performed the song at Dora 2024, the preselection for Croatia's Eurovision entry. To further promote the song, Raiven performed the song at various Eurovision pre-parties. Raiven appeared at the Barcelona Eurovision Party on 6 April 2024,[16] the Eurovision in Concert pre-party on 8 April,[17] and the Nordic Eurovision Party on 14 April.[18]

Eurovision Song Contest[edit]

Main article: Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Internal selection[edit]

Slovenia's broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVSLO) officially announced their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on 14 September 2023.[19] Initially, the broadcaster planned to host a national final, although this was later scrapped for an internal selection.[20][21]

A pair of panels determined the representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, with a Slovenian panel picking five finalists and an international panel choosing the final song out of the five finalists.[22] On 12 December 2023, Raiven was officially announced as the Slovenian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.[9] The song was released on 20 January 2024, along with a music video.[12]

At Eurovision[edit]

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consist of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. During the allocation draw on 30 January 2024, Slovenia was drawn to compete in the first semi-final, performing in the second half of the show.[23]

Release history[edit]

Release history and formats for "Veronika"
Country Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various 20 January 2024
Self-released

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Veronika". Slovenski pravopis (in Slovenian). Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU); Fran Ramovš Institute of the Slovenian Language. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  2. ^ Tudor, Ruxandra (20 January 2024). ""I am Veronika" – Slovenia's Raiven releases Eurovision 2024 song". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  3. ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (20 January 2024). "Slovenia: Raiven releases her Eurovision entry 'Veronika'". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b Tudor, Ruxandra (20 January 2024). ""I am Veronika" - Slovenia's Raiven releases Eurovision 2024 song". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b Santos, Pedro (20 January 2024). "Slovenia's song for Eurovision 2024 released: Raiven with "Veronika"". Eurovision World. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  6. ^ Grafenauer, Bogo (2009). "Veronika Deseniška" [Veronika of Desenice]. In Vide Ogrin, Petra (ed.). Slovenski biografski leksikon (in Slovenian). ISBN 978-961-268-001-5.
  7. ^ a b c Čeh, Žana E. (21 January 2024). "Raiven o Veroniki: "V vsakem izmed nas je neki del, ki je ranjen"" [Raiven on Veronica: "There's a part of each of us that's wounded"]. Radiotelevizija Slovenija (in Slovenian). Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Prisluhnite, kako zveni skladba Veronika, s katero bo Raiven zastopala Slovenijo na Evroviziji" [Listen to the song Veronika, with which Raiven will represent Slovenia at Eurovision]. Radiotelevizija Slovenija (in Slovenian). 20 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  9. ^ a b "At the Eurovision Song Contest, we will be represented by Raiven with her song entitled Veronika". Radiotelevizija Slovenija (in Slovenian). 12 December 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  10. ^ "V soboto ob 20.00 Misija Malmö, predstavitev skladbe za izbor Pesem Evrovizije" [On Saturday at 20:00 Misija Malmö, the presentation of the entry for the Eurovision Song Contest] (in Slovenian). Radiotelevizija Slovenija. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  11. ^ Granger, Anthony (17 January 2024). "Slovenia: Misija Malmö Song Reveal Show Details Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Grace, Emily (20 January 2024). "Slovenia: Raiven Releases Eurovision 2024 Entry 'Veronika'". Eurovoix. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Raiven - Veronika | Slovenia | Official Video | Eurovision 2024". EBU. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Slovenia: Raiven ready to reveal 'Veronika' music video". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  15. ^ Bermejo, Aitor (21 January 2024). "Veronika finally comes alive: Slovenia's Raiven reveals her entry for Malmö!". ESCplus. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  16. ^ Maldonado, Yesaac (9 January 2024). "Slovenia: Raiven Confirmed for Barcelona Eurovision Party 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  17. ^ @eurovisioninconcert (8 January 2024). "Our Third Confirmed Act is Raiven!". Retrieved 13 January 2024 – via Instagram.
  18. ^ Granger, Anthony (14 January 2024). "Sweden: Five Artists Announced to Date for the Nordic Eurovision Party 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  19. ^ Maatko, Alesh (14 September 2023). "Slovenija gre na Evrovizijo 2024" [Slovenia is going to Eurovision 2024]. Evrovizija.com (in Slovenian). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  20. ^ Maatko, Alesh (17 October 2023). "Ema 2024: Štiri skladbe, en zmagovalec" [Ema 2024: Four tracks, one winner]. Evrovizija.com (in Slovenian). Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  21. ^ Granger, Anthony (10 December 2023). "Slovenia: Eurovision 2024 Song to be Revealed on January 20". Eurovoix. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  22. ^ Granger, Anthony (10 December 2023). "Slovenia: Eurovision 2024 Song to be Revealed on January 20". Eurovoix. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veronika_(song)&oldid=1218944067"