Eurovision began in 1956 as a technical experiment in television broadcasting, where viewers could watch a live song contest in seven different nations: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and Italy. Although Eurovision began as an experiment, it’s shaped up to be an international, show-stopping competition that unites the European nations to listen to one another’s songs, to one another’s souls. Eurovision demonstrates all sorts of cultural and ethnic styles of music, costumes, languages, and even dances.
The Czechoslovakian connection to Eurovision is fascinating. Czechoslovakia was never able to participate in Eurovision due to being a part of the Eastern bloc. Because of this, a rival Intervision contest took its place, broadcasted from various venues around Czechoslovakia during its first four years. Interestingly, Czechs have historically gotten some involvement in Eurovision, such as multi-Intervision Golden Clef winner and Prague native Karel Gott participating in the contest, placing thirteenth for Austria in the London 1968 Eurovision Song Contest with his song “Tausend Fenster.” Although uncommon, Eurovision competitors from one nation can represent another. This was also the case for Norwegian singer Wenche Myhre, who represented Germany during the same year and placed 6th. The winner of London 1968, however, was Spanish singer Massiel with her song “La la la.”
It would be over a decade before Czechoslovakia would once again participate in Eurovision in some fashion, as the Prague Theatre of Illuminated Drawings would perform their interval act in Luxembourg 1984.
Lastly, right before the “Velvet Divorce, ” Czechoslovakia’s national broadcaster, Czechoslovak Television (ČST), was a part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the group that runs Eurovision.
After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Slovakia was the first of the two nations to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Slovakia’s journey through Eurovision began in 1994, with Slovak vocalist Maťo Ďurinda and his band Tublatanka. They performed “Nekovecná Piesen (Neverending Song)” and placed ninteenth in Dublin 1994. After one year of absence, Slovakia’s next entry, Marcel Palonder, achieves Slovakia’s current highest placing, eighteenth, with his song “Kým nás máš (As long as you have us)” in Oslo 1996. For the last time in the 1990s, Slovakia was represented by Katarína Hasprová and her song “Modlitba (Prayer),” placing twenty-first in the grand final of Birmingham 1998.
After the 1990s, Slovakia was represented in Eurovision four more times. Unfortunately for the nation, they never again made it to the grand final. In Düsseldorf 2011, the TWiiNS, with their song “I’m Still Alive,” placed thirteenth in the semi-final. After Baku 2012, Slovakia has never participated in another Eurovision, due to the financial issues facing Slovakia’s national broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS). RTVS has attempted to reenter for 2025, but was ultimately unable to due to continuing financial issues.
Ironically, while Slovakia’s national broadcaster, now called Slovak Television and Radio (STVR), faces issues due to finances right now, this is what also stopped the Czech Republic’s current broadcaster, Czech Television (ČT) from participating in the 1990s. As of Latvia 2003, ČT was unable to participate due to financial issues. The costs associated with Eurovision, then and now, even just to broadcast it, are incredibly high, just as it was for the Czech Republic. There are a lot of considerations to make, such as pay for: lyricists, singers, recorders, organizers, judges, venues, etc. That is just for choosing a representative for the Czech Republic in Eurovision.
Now, the Czech Republic does not have this problem. In fact, its introduction to the Eurovision Song Contest began with Helsinki 2007, where the band Kabát represented the nation with their song “Malá dáma (Little lady).” How did they get to Eurovision? Kabát, among 10 acts, were chosen by the public to represent the Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic’s first foray, Kabát scored last place in the semi-final. It was the same way with Gipsy.cz’s “Aven Romale” in Moscow 2009. After their 2010 to 2014 hiatus, the Czech Republic reentered the contests. Stockholm 2016 was the first time the Czech Republic qualified for the finals, led by Gabriela Gunčíková and her song “I Stand,” which made it to 25th place. The Czech Republic’s best performance was given by Mikolas Josef, who sang “Lie to Me” and earned the 6th place spot, even after a back injury months before.
In 2023, the Czech Television registered with the new name of their nation, “Czechia.” That same year, Vesna was chosen to represent Czechia with “My Sister’s Crown,” a song sung in English, as a majority of Czech entries have been sung, Ukrainian, as a reflection of the concurrent invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Czech, for the first time in 16 years, and Bulgarian. All four of the languages chosen also reflect the diversity of the folk band members. “My Sister’s Crown” earned 10th place, Czechia’s second top ten, so far!
While Slovakia’s competed 7 times so far, Czechia’s competed 14 times, despite the late start. Not that it’s a competition! In fact…
Czechia’s next representative brings Czechs and Slovaks back together! Adonxs was born in Myjava, Slovakia as Adam Pavlovčin. If he wins this year’s Eurovision, he’ll have done so already so accomplished. So far, he’s won on the reality show SuperStar, is a five-time Slovak IDO street dance champion, Cena Inakosti Award winner for LGBTQ+ activism, and even campaigned successfully to include all gender and sexual identities in the Slovak definition of “love.” Much of his success, though, almost did not happen due to the lost confidence in his voice, since puberty caused him to go from the tenor range, a high-pitched voice, to the basso profondo, an intensely low-pitched voice. Because of the change in his voice, he chose to dance but only began singing again due to the help of his accomplished singing instructor, Hana Pecková, a retired opera singer. Recently, Adonxs has revealed his song, called “Kiss Kiss Goodbye,” which will be sung in English. Earlier, the singer unveiled the acoustic version of his song.
And he’s on March 7th, the music video of his potential winning song was finally unveiled.
Good luck to Adonxs in Basel 2025!
Written by Emanuel Linton
Sources:
“London 1968.” Eurovision, European Broadcasting Union, eurovision.tv/event/london-1968. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
“Final of London 1968 - Eurovision Song Contest.” Eurovision, European Broadcasting Union, eurovision.tv/event/london-1968/final. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
“Slovakia.” Eurovision, European Broadcasting Union, eurovision.tv/country/slovakia. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
“Czechia.” Eurovision, European Broadcasting Union, eurovision.tv/country/czechia. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.
Granger, Anthony. “🇸🇰 Slovakia: RTVS Will Not Participate in Eurovision 2025 Due to Budget Cuts.” Eurovoix, Eurovoix World, 8 Apr. 2024, eurovoix.com/2024/04/08/slovakia-will-not-participate-in-eurovision-2025/.
Vuletic, Dean. “No Eurovision for the Czech Republic?!” Radio Prague Int., Radio Prague International, 23 May 2003, english.radio.cz/no-eurovision-czech-republic-8074142.
“Checking in on Czechia: Their Top 5 Eurovision Placings To ...” Eurovision, European Broadcasting Union, 20 Sept. 2024, eurovision.tv/story/czechia-top-5-eurovision.
Farren, Neil. “🇨🇿 Czechia: Adonxs to Eurovision 2025.” Eurovoix, Eurovoix World, 26 Dec. 2024, eurovoix.com/2024/12/11/czechia-adonxs-to-eurovision-2025/.
Adventis, Evgenia Klochay Klochay. “Adam Pavlovčin: Trvalo Mi Několik Let, Než Jsem Si Začal Svého Hlasu Vážit.” DailyStyle.Cz – Online Lifestylový Magazín, Dailystyle.cz, 1 June 2022, dailystyle.cz/adam-pavlovcin-trvalo-mi-nekolik-let-nez-jsem-si-zacal-sveho-hlasu-vazit/.