My (very lopsided) verdict on Bosnia:

Year	Artist	Song	Language	Final	Points	Semi	Points
1993	Fazla	"Sva bol svijeta"	Bosnian	16	27	2	52	Top 10
1994	Alma and Dejan	"Ostani kraj mene"	Bosnian	15	39	No semi-finals		An rather stiff and stilted, outdated and syrupy romantic duet
1995	Davor Popović	"Dvadeset prvi vijek"	Bosnian	19	14			This has a decent tune but overall it's also quite old fashioned in feel
1996	Amila Glamočak	"Za našu ljubav"	Bosnian	22	13	21	29	A very spirited and committed performance of a not so exciting song
1997	Alma Čardžić	"Goodbye"	Bosnian	18	22	No semi-finals		A jolly song with some sweet group harmonies, but it's very twee
1999	Dino and Béatrice	"Putnici"	Bosnian, French	7	86			Top 10
2001	Nino	"Hano"	Bosnian, English	14	29			Quite a nice Middle Eastern flavour to this but the song is a little dull
2002	Maja	"Na jastuku za dvoje" (На јастуку за двоје)	Serbian, English	13	33			A power pop style pop rock song with an '80s feel: quite nice but doesn't stand out
2003	Mija Martina	"Ne brini"	Croatian, English	16	27			Quite a similar style to the previous year but unremarkable overall
2004	Deen	"In the Disco"	English	9	91	7	133	A strong Top 10 finish for this high camp: it is memorable but rather basic
2005	Feminnem	"Call Me"	English	14	79	Top 12 in 2004 final		This feels like a "Chain Reaction" rip off: it isn't great
2006	Hari Mata Hari	"Lejla"	Bosnian	3	229	2	267	Top 10
2007	Marija Šestić	"Rijeka bez imena" (Ријека без имена)	Serbian	11	106	Top 10 in 2006 final		Top 10
2008	Laka	"Pokušaj"	Bosnian	10	110	9	72	Top 10
2009	Regina	"Bistra voda"	Bosnian	9	106	3	125	Top 10
2010	Vukašin Brajić	"Thunder and Lightning"	English	17	51	8	59	Top 10
2011	Dino Merlin	"Love in Rewind"	English	6	125	5	109	Top 10
2012	Maya Sar	"Korake ti znam"	Bosnian	18	55	6	77	Top 10
2016	Dalal and Deen feat. Ana Rucner and Jala	"Ljubav je"	Bosnian	Failed to qualify		11	104	Top 10

10 Fazia - Sva Bol Svijeta (1993, 16th)

Their 1st entry and a pretty good effort with some nice folky elements, and I really enjoy the backing singers’ parts.

9 Laka - Pokušaj (2008, 10th)

A rather confusing song and performance but it somehow works and has an enjoyable chaotic energy.

8 Dalal and Deen featuring Ana Rucner and Jala - Ljubav Je (2016, DNQ)

The 11th place in the semi for this comeback entry was so unfortunate: they really threw everything at this duet with the cello melody, the impassioned singing and the frenetic rapped section.

7 Maya Sar - Korake Ti Znam (2012, 18th)

A beautiful ballad that doesn’t have the interesting instrumental features of many of their other later entries but has a real understated quality.

6th Marija Šestić - Rijeka Bez Imena (Ријека без имена) (2007, 11th)

This has a rather mystical feel to it with the dance-like accompaniment, as well as a brilliant lead vocal.

Pokusaj is my highlight from these, still a fun bop

5 Vukašin Brajíc - Thunder And Lightning (2010, 17th)

A strong and gritty rock track that didn’t deserve to give them their lowest finish since 1997. He has a distinctive voice that I really like.

4 Hari Mata Hari - Lejla (2006, 3rd)

Their best result ever and a powerful ballad. Its strength really lies in the rich accompaniment of traditional instruments.

3 Regina - Bistra Voda (2009, 9th)

Quite an intense and very well sung number. I really enjoy the drum roll and the march-like feel to the slow chorus that builds to an exciting climax.

2 Dino and Béatrice - Putnici (1999, 7th)

This was their first top 10 finish and really set the tone for the kind of ethnic style they would be using later on. It’s a beautiful and enchanting duet, with a very distinctive accompaniment including a violin and another traditional stringed instrument. Dino is one of former Yugoslavia’s most renowned musicians, and of course he would be back…

1 Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind (2011, 6th)

2011 wasn’t all bad. From the 2nd place death slot in the final there was this gem. It’s wonderfully catchy, but also has a lovely and folk charm to it and interesting, quirky lyrics. To me this really stands out as something unique in the contest’s history.

Željko and Dino are such Eurovision powerhouses. Lejla is one of my favourite songs in Eurovision full stop, it’s just on another level.

Can B&H please get back to the contest? x

There's really only one song for me amongst that lot.

Lejlam ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great No.1. Love In Rewind was a highlight in a poor year.

Lejla and Pokušaj are my other favourites, although Call Me was fun in a naff way. Very odd entry to come from an Eastern country though, feels more like a dated schlager from Scandinavia.

Country 10: Bulgaria

Our reigning champions have had a short and relatively broken history in the contest. After joining in 2005, they sat out in 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2023 to 2025 before their spectacular return this year, in all cases citing financial constraints as the reason for not participating. Including 2020 that gives them a total of 16 entries.

What is incredible is that the semis have been relatively unkind to them, with only 6 qualifications out of a possible 15. However their record once they reach the final is stunning by modern contest standards, with 4 out of 6 top 5 finishes covering positions 1, 2, 4 and 5. Overall I think they have brought a very high standard to the contest, including a few deserved strong results and some underrated DNQs.

I've been a Bulgaria fan since 2010. When they announced their comeback for 2026 I wished for them to come back with 'an absolute banger and win'. I got my wish. 😀

Edited August 7Aug 7 by Colm

My notes:

Year	Artist	Song	Language	Final	Points	Semi	Points
2005	Kaffe	"Lorraine"	English	Failed to qualify		19	49	Not an exciting number and the "Lorraine in the rain" rhyme is a little naff
2006	Mariana Popova	"Let Me Cry"	English			17	36	Top 10
2007	Elitsa and Stoyan	"Water"	Bulgarian	5	157	6	146	Top 10
2008	Deep Zone and Balthazar	"DJ, Take Me Away"	English	Failed to qualify		11	56	Top 10
2009	Krassimir Avramov	"Illusion"	English			16	7	It has a camp charm but it's a rather over the top and melodramatic duet
2010	Miro	"Angel si ti" (Ангел си ти)	Bulgarian, English			15	19	A fairly ordinary piece of dance pop, but it's pleasant enough
2011	Poli Genova	"Na inat" (На инат)	Bulgarian			12	48	Top 10
2012	Sofi Marinova	"Love Unlimited"	Bulgarian			11	45	Top 10
2013	Elitsa and Stoyan	"Samo shampioni" (Само шампиони)	Bulgarian			12	45	Top 10
2016	Poli Genova	"If Love Was a Crime"	English, Bulgarian	4	307	5	220	Top 10
2017	Kristian Kostov	"Beautiful Mess"	English	2	615	1	403	Top 10
2018	Equinox	"Bones"	English	14	166	7	177	Top 10
2020	Victoria ◇	"Tears Getting Sober"	English ◇	Contest cancelled[a]				On paper I should like this but it plods a little and I find it slightly formulaic
2021	Victoria	"Growing Up Is Getting Old"	English	11	170	3	250	This has something of the John Lewis advert about it, and I don't really connect with it
2022	Intelligent Music Project	"Intention"	English	Failed to qualify		16	29	I appreciate going down the rock avenue but this doesn't go hard enough and is a little bland
2026	Dara	"Bangaranga"	English	1	516	1	278	Top 10

10 Mariana Popova - Let Me Cry (2006, DNQ)

This has excellent vocals and it’s a nice early example of what they would be able to do, with Eastern European vibes in the accompaniment.

9 Poli Genova - Na Inat (2011, DNQ)

She would be back - I can see why this didn’t land but it’s a punchy and slightly rocky number.

8 Deep Zone and Balthazar - DJ, Take Me Away (2008, DNQ)

This is really interesting, not so much for the song itself but for the dubstep flavoured track which seems incredibly bold and ahead of the curve.

7 Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess (2017, 2nd)

He did a great job with this and I was thrilled to see them get such a brilliant result, though it’s not as adventurous as the tracks to come.

6 Equinox - Bones (2018, 14th)

Great singing on this and it’s an atmospheric, sensual and soulful song.

Oh I really love DJ Take Me Away, completely robbed. Agreed the production was a bold choice for the time and clearly too bold.

Tears Getting Sober is my favourite that has already gone otherwise my three overall favourites are still left. A kind of poppier Billie Eilish adjacent number that I was intrigued to see in the contest, which then never happened.

I didn’t care much for the 2021 sequel unfortunately.

5 Elitsa and Stoyan - Samo Shampioni (2013, DNQ)

The second appearance for this duo and it was a real shame this didn’t make it through. The track has such a distinctive and authentic sound to it and the drumming is absolutely marvellous.

4 Siri Marinova - Love Unlimited (2012, DNQ)

It was an even bigger shame the previous year that this missed out on qualifying on a tiebreak. The vocal performance does start off a little shaky but finds its groove. It’s a really strong dance track but it’s also emotionally powerful.

3 Dara - Bangaranga (2026, 1st)

On first listen I was impressed by this but also found it a little bitty and wasn’t sure if the different sections came together. However I’ve grown to like it a lot and I was delighted that it won for them. The different parts do mean that it rewards repeat listens and remains exciting to revisit.

Hey Siri Marinova play Bulgarian Eurovision songs.

Agreed on all of these positions from what's left. Elitsa and Stoyan were robbed second time out.

Bangaranga absolutely came to life on stage. I didn't do any rankings this year but I only enjoyed about 10 songs and this was one of them, however it would have been in the lower end of that 10 until I saw it performed - wow, what a star. Nailed everything.

Edited Thursday at 08:575 days by gooddelta

Water would also be my top 2. One of the first ‘wow’ Eurovision moments of my life.

Bones as a studio version I was soooo obsessed with, but the live performance brought it down a few places unfortunately. Still though, Bulgaria has been an unstoppable force pretty much ever since they debuted.

Poor Sofi missing out on that Q. One of the worst injustices. But she will always be in our hearts as the eternal Buzzjack icon akin to Lady Buzzjack and Eurovision forum legend.

Bulgaria is an all time top 5 Eurovison country for me now. I'm delighted that they finally got their win.

Water certainly seems to be a lot more engaging than most other stuff that year. Quite hypnotic. Glad it did well.

Never liked Beautiful Mess. But you can't argue with the jury and televote throwing points at it to such an extent. As gd pointed out, imaging getting +600 points and only coming second. It was a weak year I guess so the whole continent had eyes/ears for only a handful of songs.

Angel Si Ti has a fairly ordinary chorus but I love everything else about it. The verse melody, the dramatic strings, the piano. A flawless vocal too.

I find myself watching the winner's performance of Bangaranga more than the original performance. As discussed on Youtube, it couldn't have been any better if it was directed - the improvisation in the green room, by Dara and the dancers. The way she perfectly arrived at the top of the stairs to sing the first verse. The triumphant walk down the stairs. The way she skipped along the catwalk with the flags flying. One of the best Eurovision moments ever.

Notable songs

Tears Getting Sober ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If Love Was a Crime ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Angel Si Ti ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bones ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bangaranga ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edited Thursday at 10:555 days by Colm

2 Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime (2016, 4th)

This will be high on my all time list so it’s tough to place it 2nd. The framework of it is quite a standard pop song (though with quite special and distinctive lyrics I think). But what really spices it up is the Bulgarian chant part in the chorus, the recurring riff and the beautiful performance. An absolute gem that, like quite a few of my favourites, ended up in 4th.

1 Elitsa and Stoyan - Water

The first and more successful of their two appearances, and Bulgaria’s first final appearance giving them an excellent top 5 finish. This is utterly thrilling and electrifying, as well as being bold and different and ingenious. Aside from the signature drumming there’s the didgeridoo-like instrument, the throat singing, the scatting, the chant like repetition and the uncompromising folk style. Culturally it feels like such an all time great entry that on balance I had to put it 1st.