Introducing 2010: Slovakia

All songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 have been selected. During the weeks between the national final season and the actual Eurovision Song Contest, we will introduce all 39 entries in random order. Part thirty-five of the series is dedicated to the Slovak entry.

Basic information
Performer: Kristína Peláková
Song:
Horehronie
Language:
Slovak
Music:
Martin Kavulič
Lyrics:
Kamil Peteraj
Draw:
4th in the first semi final



The song

Horehronie is a mid-tempo pop song with ethnic influences. The lyrics are dedicated to the region the song is named after:
Na tráve ležím a snívam
O čom sama neviem
V tom vánku čo ma kolíše
Keď je slnko najnižšie

Najkrajšie stromy sú na horehroní
To tiché bratstvo vraví poď
I am lying in the grass and I am dreaming
And I don't know what about
Inside the breeze
When the sun is low

The most beautiful trees are in Horehronie
A silent brotherhood is telling me so



The performer

Kristina Peláková has been singing, dancing and playing the piano since her childhood. She attended the conservatory in Košice and launched her career as a professional singer after meeting producer Martin Kavulič. Her first single was released in 2007 but she had her major breakthrough the year after when Vráť mi tie hviezdy became a hit in Slovakia. Her first album ...ešte váham was released in 2008 as well.

She entered the Slovak national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 and she won the fifth quarter final and the first semi final as well as the final after a tie-brek decision. The song has become a hit since reaching the top of the Slovak airplay charts.


The songwriters

The Slovak entry was written by Martin Kavulič (music) and Kamil Peteraj (lyrics). Martin Kavulič is a successful composer of pop and dance music, who has been working with Kristina since the beginning of her career. Kamil Peteraj has won various awards in the field of literature being a famous poet, lyricist and screenwriter.


The national selection

The Slovak national selection was one of the biggest this year featuring total of 60 songs. Six quarter finals were held with the top four of each (chosen by televoting) qualifying for the semi finals. After the two semi finals, 12 acts remained for the final, where the winner was chosen by televoting and a jury. There was actually a tie for first place with Mista being the favourites of the jury.


Slovakia in the Eurovision Song Contest

Slovakia wanted to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1993 but narrowly did not make it to Millstreet finishing fourth in the Eastern Europe semi final. The debut came the year after to little success followed by relegations in 1995, 1997 and 1999 after low placings in 1996 and 1998. Slovakia decided not to return to the contest in 2000 and stayed away from the competition until last year.