This year marks Montenegro’s 13th entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. As the country doesn’t participate consistently—often skipping years—it’s a welcome sight to see Montenegro returning to the competition.

At the national final, Montesong, the rock band NeonoeN initially won with their song “Clickbait”. However, after the track was discovered to have been played publicly prior to the competition—a potential rule violation—the band chose to withdraw voluntarily. As a result, runner-up Nina Žižić, who was just one point behind, was selected to represent Montenegro in their place.

Nina Žižić, born in Nikšić in 1985, north of Podgorica, studied English and literature at the University of Montenegro. She’s no newcomer to the Eurovision stage. Nina first rose to prominence in 2004 as part of the girl group Negre, who finished third in the Serbia and Montenegro national selection that year. In 2006, she left the group to pursue a solo career and competed in Montevizija 2006, where she placed 17th.

In 2007, she scored a regional radio hit with the song “Strogo Povjerljivo” . Eurovision fans may also remember her from 2013, when she joined the hip-hop duo Who See for the energetic track “Igranka”. Though they made a bold impression, they sadly didn’t make it to the Grand Final.

Song:  Dobrodošli
Writer(s): Boris Subotić & Violeta Mihajlovska Milić
Composer(s): Boris Subotić & Darko Dimitrov
Broadcaster: RTCG

The song “Dobrodošli”, meaning “Welcome” in English, is a pop ballad with an uplifting message—reassuring listeners that, in the end, everything will turn out fine. While the lyrics carry a tone of optimism, the melody leans more serious and introspective, lacking the brightness one might expect.

Smile, endure everything, it will pass
Take it all, it will pass, smile,
It will pass, smile, endure it all,
It will disappear, it will stop. And when will it?

It embodies the classic Balkan pop sound—rich, emotional, and perhaps a bit challenging for wider audiences to instantly connect with. Still, its uniqueness could work in its favour: among this year’s entries for Basel, it stands alone in its style, which might help it leave a lasting impression.