Raiven - Veronika | Slovenia 🇸🇮 | Official Video | Eurovision 2024 | REACTION

[@elendil_lehtinen]

This mesmerizing lady is my Eurovision 2024 winner, and I can say it that early in the season because she totally blew me away!🖤🇸🇮🌙⛥ Raiven has not only one of the most beautiful voices I've ever had the honour to listen to, her vocal range is also absolutely insane and you can already hear it in "Veronika", as she is going from deep and sombre verses to operatic heights in the epic finale! You don't even know how happy I am to have found her and her magical art through Eurovision, and this is also why I'm loving the contest so much: Every now and then you get to see alternative and progressive artists shine if you get through all the generic mainstream we don't want to listen to, and Raiven is definitely one of the brightest artistic minds that has ever taken part in the massive event that renders the world speechless. Raiven is not only known for being an outstanding songwriter, but also for playing the harp ethereally and for her heart-melting mezzo-soprano vocals - and she already took part in Slovenian national finals years ago, now finding her way to Eurovision finally. Can you imagine how much she deserves to show her magic on the big stage after all these years!?🖤🌙 "Veronika" is actually referring to a real historic person, and I'll be giving you an excerpt of what eurovisioncorgi wrote about the background of the lyrics. The words get even more haunting if you understand the true depth: "This song was directly inspired by Veronika Deseniška, a 15th century Countess who was accused of witchcraft and murdered by drowning. The heavy presence of water in the lyrics and music video is a clear nod to the manner in which Veronika died. Culturally, Veronika Deseniška’s tragic love story with her husband Frederick has long been a source of inspiration for artistic works. In fact, the Veronika Poetry Award and Veronika Festival that take place each year at Celje Castle in Slovenia are named after her! Because of this, Raiven’s entry holds a special cultural significance to Slovenia beyond the song’s darkly enchanting presentation." It's absolutely evident: "Veronika" is combining the tragic story of Veronika Deseniška with the real life injustice of modern times, and is a strong statement for everyone who is being pushed down or suppressed, especially women. I don't even recall how often I've lost myself in the ethereal ambience of this masterpiece - but what I as a half-Croatian person living in Japan can say is: Well done, Slovenia, you touched the deepest core of my heart and you gave me an artist that will accompany my life forever. Divna pjesma!🙏✨️⛥

[@kocostamatis3080]

Veronika Deseniška is a Croatian historical character and legend. Many thanks to Raiven and Slovenia for highlighting her story.

[@kocostamatis3080]

Veronika Deseniška is a Croatian historic figure and legend.....not sure if you know that. 🇭🇷❤🇭🇷

[@M2ARDYONYO]

SLOVENIA 🇸🇮 winner 2024, Art, Epic, Dramatic Love Raiven❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@metulj]

Great job from Slovenia. Dark, mysterious, great vocals, artistic and different . WELL DONE Slovenia...my favourite....and great video also....

[@supracodm]

winner 🥇🇸🇮🤍

[@user-nd4ii6uq9l]

The song is about 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 and a witch, 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. Love from Slovenia Kat

[@smiljanova605]

Thank you for writing this tekst, because I was already preparing to write this, but I dont have to anymore. Please send it to other commenters because they dont know this story, but it is very important to understand this magical song!! Supporter from Ljubljana❤

[@vesnanuspahic7510]

hvala za objasnjenje ,tuzna prica sa tragicnim zavrsetkom 😞

[@sasokornet6616]

She is a professional opera singer so we can count on really quality live performance.

[@cybermom77]

The V she's doing with her fingers at the beginning is V for Veronika :)

[@tilenoblak7304]

Thank you from Slovenia🇸🇮🥰

[@elendil_lehtinen]

Love to Slovenia!🖤✨️🌙 Hvala od pola Hrvata koji živi u Japanu! Raiven je divna!🙏🥰

[@KristinJ965]

A strong song,i could feel it😍😮This could be a winner🤩👍

[@damijanturk2897]

Love from Slovenia for you2 ❤

[@elendil_lehtinen]

Love to Slovenia!🖤✨️🌙 Hvala od pola Hrvata koji živi u Japanu! Raiven je divna!🙏🥰

[@robertpulko8673]

Veronika Deseniška in Celjski grofje.... Slovenia forever... 👍🇸🇮

[@almalicious18]

About song Veronika (to maybe understand this drowning, bodies and all the water more): The story of the love between Count Friderik II and Veronika of Desenice is one of the greatest love stories in Slovenian history. He was the son of a powerful ruler, while she was a rural noblewoman. Their love was so strong that nothing could stop it. Rumour has it that Frederick II of Celje, son of the mighty Count Herman II, had a hand in the death of Elizabeth of Frankopan, his first and legal wife. Contrary to his father’s will he secretly married Veronica of Desenice immediately afterwards. Because of this, his father had him imprisoned in the main tower, where he spent over 4 years and where, according to a legend, he wanted to starve him. Meanwhile, after being acquitted in the first witchcraft process in Slovenia initiated by this sly old Count, Veronica was drowned. Herman II accused unfortunate Veronika of being a witch who had cast a spell on his son and he was 100% sure that's why his son killed his first wife and married Veronika. I'm Slovenian and I'm soooo proud of Raiven (her real name Sara Briški Cirman). She is fenomenal artist, musician, (opera) singer, and excellent harpist. I love her and her capacity of knowledge of music. She is really next level artist. Go RAIVEN 🤍🤍🤍

[@NB-nq9vv]

This year's winner

[@marcelwagner8986]

Thanks for your amazing honest feedback. Let's hope we get into top 10. I am not allowing myself to think for more because eurovision is political + slovenia is usually unseen by the European family 🤔 Let's see what will happen. Greetings from slovenia 🇸🇮 🌈 🏳️‍🌈

[@stranik1765]

З того що я чув, на мій погляд ця пісня повинна потрапити у топ 5. Бажаю вам успіху з України.

[@dragicakovacic6969]

Krasno zgodovinska Veronika iz Celja

[@intros3]

Thank you for the nice response. It is also nice to hear that you like the Slovenian language. As for the song, I personally miss the melodiousness needed for Eurovision, and the televoting probably won't reward it with points like the jury might. But Raiven is an excellent singer, she also sings in the opera and I think she will blow everything away with her vocals live.

[@pikkecc]

Top 10 this years ❤❤❤

[@andreastevanovich]

Stop fighting about nationalities, you commenting folks, we all know that politics is all about divide et impera. Haven't you come here for the music? Kudos to Raiven, she is phenomenal, and all three countries from ex-Yugoslavia have good chances at this year's ESC. Raiven likes to explore historical personalities and the lyrics for this song have been inspired by a real woman, Veronika Desinićka (Veronica of Desinić, a place in Croatia) and who, due to her marriage to the wealthy man disapproved by her family (with whom she ran away) - had been falsely accused by his father to have been a witch that seduced his son, and ended up tragically in the Croatian castle of Veliki Tabor. According to the legend, wind howling in the castle during winter nights is actually Veronika's spirit wailing and screaming... The song has been co-written by Joker Out's Bojan Cvjetičanin. Here's the link to Raiven's live, unplugged performance at the Croatian Eurovision song contest Dora, where she was a special guest star, the same night when our Baby Lasagna got elected. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6i1nK18Zpxriqcsi=_m7_5dxJULjlFND5 Mezzosoprano singer Raiven wore a stunning hand-made dress with hundreds of laser-cut leaves. This version of "Veronika" sounds even more magical than the official one. Enjoy! #meow_from_croatia #rimtimtagiwin

[@vesnanuspahic7510]

Malo ljudi u Svetu zna da pola Evrope prica slicno ili jezikom slovena.😉

[@TheTinaKid]

Thanks for checking out the song, nevertheless, we never win, not even close so...

[@matejamatejci1652]

I think its V AS VERONICA.. THIS "ONE EYE SIMBOL" IN THE VIDEO

[@enterthecronic]

I think you’re right!!

[@bergles8]

also like... see link

[@GaiusPrimusMatius]

Slovenia is not a Balkan country not culturally, not genetically nor geographically 😊😊😊but it's associated because was once part of Yolugoslavia on the other hand was 1000 years under the holly Roman empire❤❤❤❤❤

[@LepDan-wt4tx]

Although we have a different perspective on what Balkans means and even some philosophers shared their ideas on the subject, the fact that a part of the country lies on the Balkan peninsula can not be disputed.

[@GaiusPrimusMatius]

@@LepDan-wt4tx part of Italy and Austria as well 👍

[@Xgenerati]

I am Slovene and Slovenia IS the northern-most Balcan Country - true - more because of history thank geography. But it is.

[@cybermom77]

@@GaiusPrimusMatius which part of Italy do you consider Balkan?!

[@GaiusPrimusMatius]

@@cybermom77 Istrian part

[@tinazager289]

Veronica was the first woman in Slovenia accused of witchcraft 😉

[@andrazlogar861]

That I doubt :)

[@tinazager289]

@@andrazlogar861 check history of Veronika Deseniška 👍🏼

[@andrazlogar861]

@@tinazager289 i know of her history, but I still doubt she was first.

[@lenariuse]

go POLAND justyna steczkowska -witcher

[@user-gu8mi6vu8f]

Très belle femme, très belle voix, mais la chanson ne suscite aucune émotion en moi, désolé. J'apprécie davantage dans le style des ballades, la chanson française de Slimane ou la chanson serbe de Teya Dora. Elles me procurent des émotions.