#BIRTHDAY: Martin Ďurinda from Slovakia is 64 today

Some countries seem to ‘get’ our favourite TV show. They seem to know what sort of song will do well in any given year. And success breeds success.

At the other end of the scale, you get those which try and sometimes just lose interest. Our friends in Slovakia fall into this category. A few attempts in the 1990s, and then a few some ten years later. That first Slovak song in a Grand Final came from Tublatanka, fronted by today’s birthday boy Martin ‘Maťo’ Ďurinda. The contest in 1994 was a big deal, with seven countries debuting. And some did well with some not so. Maťo and Co did beat three other debutants and even got a maximum. The three Maťo beat have all done far far better since, so maybe Slovakia don’t quite have what it takes. But they can take heart, that crucial international vote in the current contest Grand Finals are heavily influenced by the Slovaks. So maybe they would like to return some day.

Authors: Riigi Ametnik, John Stanton

Source: OnEurope