Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

Anžej Dežan at EMA 2006

EMA 2006 was the 11th edition of the Slovenian national final format Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA), used by RTV Slovenija to select Slovenia's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. The competition took place at the RTV Slovenija Studio 1 in Ljubljana, hosted by Janez Škof, Aljoša Ternovšek and Boris Koba and was broadcast on TV SLO1, Radio Val 202 and online via the broadcaster's website rtvslo.si.[3][4]

Fourteen songs competed in a televised show where the combination of points from a five-member expert jury and a public televote determined the winner. Viewers were able to vote via telephone, SMS and USSD, and the televote was divided into two groups: votes cast via landline phones and mobile phones (SMS and USSD). The televoting groups and the expert jury each assigned points as follows: 1–8, 10 and 12, with the song that received the highest overall score when the votes were combined being determined the winner.[4]

Artists and composers were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 29 September 2005 and 20 November 2005.[5] 107 entries were received by the broadcaster during the submission period.[6] An expert committee consisting of Jaka Pucihar (composer), Rok Lopatič (music producer), Jernej Vene (music editor for Radio Val 202), Mitja Ciuha (Eurovision expert) and Mario Galunič (television presenter) selected fourteen artists and songs for the competition from the received submissions.[7] The competing artists were announced on 28 November 2005.[8]

EMA 2006 took place on 29 January 2006. In addition to the performances of the competing entries, Alya and 2001 Slovenian Eurovision entrant Nuša Derenda performed as guests. The combination of points from a five-member jury panel (1/3) and a public televote split into votes cast via landline phones (1/3) and mobile phones (1/3) selected "Plan B" performed by Anžej Dežan as the winner.[9] The jury consisted of Martin Žvelc (music producer), Nataša Assejev (editor for RTV Slovenija), Cole Moretti (1993 Slovenian Eurovision entrant as member of 1X Band), Dragan Trivič (musician and Head of the RTV Slovenija legal department) and Črt Sojar Voglar (composer).[10]

The results of EMA 2006 caused controversy as Saša Lendero who won both televoting groups ultimately placed second due to the jury awarding her zero points, marking the second time in three years that the jury expelled the televoting winner from their votes. "Plan B" was also accused of plagiarising the song "Santa Maria" by Austrian singer Simone, however the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowed the song to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest as they did not see it as a plagiarism.[11][12] A new version of "Plan B" was later created with the song being translated to English for the contest titled "Mr Nobody".[13]

Anžej Dežan made several appearances across Europe to specifically promote "Mr Nobody" as the Slovenian Eurovision entry. On 4 February, Dežan performed "Mr Nobody" during the Maltese Eurovision national final Malta Song for Europe 2006.[14] Dežan also performed the song during the third elimination show of the Ukrainian Eurovision national final Ty – Zirka! on 25 February, and during the Serbian and Montenegrin Eurovision national final Evropesma-Europjesma 2006 on 11 March.[15] On 8 April, Dežan appeared in Croatia during the HTV1 show Studio 10.[16] Dežan also completed promotional activities in Macedonia in late April, including a performance during the Sitel TV programme Zvezdena Planeta.[17]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Slovenia and awarded by Slovenia in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the semi-final and the final of the contest.