Slovenia Eurovision 2024 Reactionalysis - Music Teacher Analyses Veronika by Raiven 

This is my winner this year- not only she is a trained opera singer and delivers the song in raw, bewitching way, the storyline behind lyrics is amazing and I wish people would understand it to appreciate the art hidden in plain sight

It is supposed to be a real historical person, Veronika Deseniška (1380 - 1425), the first woman in Slovenian history accused of witchcraft. She was the second wife of Frederick II. of Celje, but since she was a noblewoman of a lower status, Friderik's father, the powerful Count Herman II of Celje, did not approve of their union. When Friderik and Veronika fled to Fridrihštajn castle near Kočevje, where they secretly got married, old Herman sent an army after them with the order to capture them. Friderik managed to save Veronika from the castle, but he was captured by the soldiers and imprisoned in the tower at Celje Castle - this is still called Friderik's Tower. He was imprisoned here for more than four years, Veronica was also captured and imprisoned. Herman accused the unhappy Veronika of being a prostitute who seduced his son. They organized a trial that lasted two days, and although the judges found no guilt, let alone a crime, Herman had her murdered. he basically accused her of witchery and drowned her.

Raiven's musical education is a master's degree in opera singing. She sings these high notes herself.

I agree, structurally this is genius. I love the dark, underwater drama. Fingers crossed we see Raiven in the finals.

My ❤ since day one. I love itscomplexity, her vocals, lyrics, the story behind it. Raivens idea to resurrect a woman, wrongly accused of witchcraft and later murdered by drowning anyway is just amazing. Veronika starts where true Veronikas life ended. In water. She rises up. As a monument to anyone, who has ever been in life "prosecuted" for having a different opinion, looks, thoughts. How all the instruments, onomatopoietic sounds,lyrics and voice form a whole is just amazing. I only hope, there are eurovision viewers, who are there not just for bread and circuses, and will appreciate thismasterpiece and push it toward finals.

My winner this year! I love it, I love it, I love it! So tragic it's not even predicted to make it to the grand final! I really, really hope it makes it! As many people as possible need to hear this mastery! Also, amazing vid as always! Edit: you made me love this song even more than I already did!

I love Raiven. Thank you for appreciating this song. But I'm afraid this song might be too complex for casual viewers.

My absolute favourite of the year along with Norway and Switzerland. The vocals, atmosphere, story-telling, production are all absolutely spectacular. She deserves a LOT more recognition!

Absolutely brilliant! I love that call and response. Your insight is so appreciated

I love that Bojan (the singer from Joker Out, aka Slovenia 2023's entry) wrote the part of the song that you get with the fire visuals. I really really hope this one will qualify!

Raiven is a classically trained operatic mezzo and the author(s) knew how to use that to advantage. The song is in my personal top five, but it isn't all that popular and is currently ranked low, people saying it will not qualify.

One of my faves this year❤ Absolutely loved it from day one! Thank you for your musical appreciation!🎉

I love this, love the mood, the vocals, the drama, love pretty much everything about it.

Amazing explanation, thank you ❤ love the song

I am. You are. Veronika.

The name is Raiven. Veronika was the first witch that was drown in Slovenia in the time of a witch hunt

She is opera singer

Love this! It's in my top 5.

Bravo Raiven ❤

Veronika of Desenice - wiki Raiven - Sara Briški Cirman nice review:)

We❤Raiven.

You are right and thanks. Go Ravien. 🤟🇸🇮🤟

Absolutely magnificent song, love it totally. I am a musician, btw... She should have won. High class singing, concept is great, lyrics and realisation as well. Touching, dark type of music. Absolutely magical, beautiful!

I like this! The wavy melody in the beginning immediately reminded me of a song called Die Schatten werden länger (The shadows grow longer) from the musical Elisabeth. It's not exactly the same, but sounds like a very similar chord progression to me, close enough to make it feel familiar right away. The rest of the song is very different of course. I especially enjoy the darkness of it, and the small surprises along the line. Although I have to say that this video staging works better for me than the live version.

She is soprano opera singer :) and in live performane si does sing those high notes live: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S85RsWZrgcM.html and there is acustic version also : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QC4IExlNbz0.html

It is supposed to be a real historical person. Veronika Deseniška (1380 - 1425) was the second wife of Frederick II. of Celje, but since she was a noblewoman of a lower status, Friderik's father, the powerful Count Herman II of Celje, did not approve of their union. When Friderik and Veronika fled to Fridrihštajn castle near Kočevje, where they secretly got married, old Herman sent an army after them with the order to capture them. Friderik managed to save Veronika from the castle, but he was captured by the soldiers and imprisoned in the tower at Celje Castle - this is still called Friderik's Tower. He was imprisoned here for more than four years, Veronica was also captured and imprisoned. Herman accused the unhappy Veronika of being a prostitute who seduced his son. They organized a trial that lasted two days, and although the judges found no guilt, let alone a crime, Herman had her murdered. he basically accused her of witchery and drowned her

Perfect all in all👍👍👍

Hell yeah RAIVEN!!! I'm from Slovenia🇸🇮❤!!! I HOPE WE WIN!!!!!🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮 And her other song is amazing too!!

T O P! *tears*

This is my first time listening to this song as well. FUN FACT: Im from slovenia😂😂😂

At this point, it feels like Mike will react to every song but Norway. 😢

Like I am from Slovenia and almost everyone who is in my class says that it is really weird😂

Easily the best this year - shivers up the spine. (I have no connection to Slovenia).

Love her voice, she's a classically trained pro. But sadly the song just doesn't catch me. 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. (Wikipedia) She was drowned I think. So Raven is playing her ghost as she drowned. While the blue and darkness fits the video (the video is cool af imo), the way they did the staging gives me more Frozen vibes than drowned at sea. Just like Norway I want to love it so badly, but just can't connect with it.

The Nun...🙀

You put my every emotion into words!!!

I love the song, I love the official video, but I'm painfully disappointed by the staging. Instead of staying true to its dark, earthy, swampy nature, the song is transfered to light, blue cloudy heaven. Such a mismatch. I'm so sorry that I'm losing Slovenia in the semifinal.

im from slovenia and i dont like the song tooo much

The production of the song and the vocals are very good, for me the problem is the melody, which is too anti-Eurovision. The chorus is too disconnected from the flow of the song in my opinion. But her vocals are really good, the vocal version that will be at Eurovision is different from the one in the video. The high notes on stage will be hers and no longer from the backing vocals.

Fine. But the orgiastic business is gratuitous. Shame and dishonor for our country.

Sramujem se za ta gnus

FYI: That hard RRR at 3:00 is the only "R" sound existing in Slovenian language. There is no other "R" but this. PS: It's about a "Veronika Deseniška" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronika_of_Desenice R in VeRonika is a bit shorter, of course.

It's about Veronika from Slovenin history en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronika_of_Desenice

The text of the song is about Veronika Deseniška, Countess of Celjska. Read more at sl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronika_Deseni%C5%A1ka

We❤Raiven.