Croatia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 with the song "Probudi me", composed by Davor Tolja, with lyrics by Alida Šarar, and performed by the band E.N.I.. The Croatian participating broadcaster, Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT), selected its entry for the contest through Dora 1997.
Croatia first appeared in the Eurovision Song Contest as an independent country in 1993, having previously entered as a part of Yugoslavia from 1961 to 1991. The sub-national broadcaster from SR Croatia was the most successful at the national finals, with 11 of the 27 entries that won the Yugoslavian selection for Eurovision being Croatian.[1] It gave Yugoslavia three of the country's Top 5 placings in the contest, with "Rock Me" performed by Riva winning the 1989 contest, as well as fourth-place finishes for both "Džuli" by Daniel in 1983 and "Ja sam za ples" by Novi fosili in 1987.[1]
Croatia's former sub-national broadcaster RTV Zagreb became the country's national broadcaster after independence, renamed Hrvatska radiotelevizija (HRT). 1997 marked HRT's fifth participation at the contest representing Croatia as an independent country. Previous results for Croatia were mixed, with its first two entries gaining 15th and 16th position. However its entries from 1995 and 1996 both placed within the top 10, with "Nostalgija" by Magazin and Lidija placing 6th in 1995 and "Sveta ljubav" by Maja Blagdan placing 4th in 1996.
Before Eurovision
Dora 1997
HRT held a national final to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1997. The broadcaster held Dora 1997 on 9 March at the Crystal Ballroom of Hotel Kvarner in Opatija, hosted by Ljudevit Grgurić Grga. 20 entries competed, and the winner was decided by 20 regional juries.
Heading into the final of the contest, RTÉ reported that bookmakers ranked the entry 6th out of the 25 entries.[2] E.N.I. performed 23rd on the night of the contest, following France and preceding the United Kingdom. The group received 24 points, placing 17th of the 25 competing countries.[3]
