“Sve ili ništa”, “Okeani”, “Stoperka”… TOP 10 Serbian results at the OGAE Song Contest!

Although the OGAE Song Contest might not be a competition followed by the wider public, it holds a special significance among Eurovision fans. The contest has been held continuously since 1986, and every OGAE network member country gets the opportunity to present its biggest hit of the year — a song that wasn’t at Eurovision, but is strong enough to „stand shoulder to shoulder“ with the best from Europe.

For Serbia, this competition has become a kind of musical diary of the domestic scene over time: every year, we choose something that best represents the sound of the moment, whether it’s emotional ballads, modern pop hits, radio megahits, or songs that have already conquered the region.

While we are still awaiting our first victory, our representatives have managed to shine. Some songs finished unexpectedly high and became darlings of European fans; others are remembered for the strength of the performer, the quality of production, or a specific musical aesthetic recognized only by the OGAE audience.

Looking back — through over twenty-five years of participation — it is clear that Serbia has had its striking moments and that, when it sends the right mix of quality and popularity, it can compete even with the biggest names.

Serbia’s Golden Age at the OGAE Song Contest is certainly the period from 1999 to 2015, when in just eight editions, we finished in the upper half of the table six times, including as many as five entries into the TOP 10 — in 1999, 2008, 2009, 2013, and 2015. This was a time when the domestic pop scene was particularly strong, and Serbian performers brought a recognizable sound that did very well with the OGAE audience across Europe.

In this text, we bring you the TOP 10 best Serbian placements at the OGAE Song Contest, ranked exclusively by the final position on the scoreboard.

From the spectacular debut in 1999, through modern hits that entered European charts, to the most recent successes — this is the list that best shows how Serbia sounded through the years in the eyes (and ears) of the Eurovision audience.

10. „Stoperka“ – Goca Tržan (2000) – 15th place

At the beginning of the new millennium, Goca Tržan brought a fresh, modern pop sound with the song „Stoperka“ (Hitchhiker). At the time, the domestic scene was just starting to open up to more contemporary productions, so the song was a real refreshment. Although the result was not among the highest, Goca’s charisma and the song’s radio appeal left a strong mark.

Fifteenth place represents a decent result for the early years of participation, when Serbia still lacked a stable identity in the OGAE competition.

„Stoperka“ today has an almost cult status among OGAE community veterans, as one of the songs that signaled the modern direction of Serbian pop production.

Goca Tržan – „Stoperka“

9. „Ona nosi Pradu“ – Milica Pavlović (2025) – 14th place

In 2025, Milica Pavlović brought a contemporary pop sound that already dominated regional charts. „Ona nosi Pradu“ (She Wears Prada) is an energetic, modern, and maximally radio-friendly song, with Milica’s recognizable visual identity further boosting attention.

Fourteenth place represents an encouraging step forward compared to previous years, and the song showed that Serbia is once again finding a sound that resonates with the European audience. Many fans consider this the start of a stronger Serbian comeback to the OGAE scene.

Interestingly, this is also Serbia’s best result of the last decade, purely in terms of placement.

Milica Pavlović – „Ona nosi Pradu“

8. „Čuvaj moje srce“ – Aleksandra Radović (2012) – 14th place

Aleksandra Radović brought one of the most emotional ballads Serbia has ever sent. „Čuvaj moje srce“ (Guard My Heart) stood out for its exceptional vocal performance, clearly defined melody, and a personal, almost confessional atmosphere. The song was a favorite among the ballad lovers segment of the OGAE audience.

Fourteenth place might not sound spectacular, but it is considered a solid result for a ballad that was less commercial than most of the competition that year.

Aleksandra’s interpretation remains remembered as one of the most vocally high-quality entries sent by Serbia.

Aleksandra Radović – „Čuvaj moje srce“

7. „Perje“ – Milan Stanković (2011) – 12th place

Milan Stanković was already known for his unique aesthetic, and „Perje“ (Feathers) continued that story in a more modern, futuristic direction. The song represented a departure from traditional Balkan pop and flirted with the electro-pop genre that was becoming increasingly popular in those years.

Twelfth place was a very solid result and an indicator that the audience appreciates Milan as an artist who brings something different and authentic.

„Perje“ is still considered one of his most identity-driven singles, and the OGAE audience often cites it as an example of a song that could have gone even higher.

Milan Stanković – „Perje“

6. „Ime moje“ – Jelena Tomašević (2015) – 9th place

Jelena’s second entry into the TOP 10 came with the song „Ime moje“ (My Name), which brings a recognizable Balkan pop sensibility in a modern, urban production.

The song is filled with emotion, and Jelena’s interpretation carries that specific dose of pathos that makes her loved by audiences across Europe.

Ninth place represents a stable success, especially in a year that had many strong competitors.

Interestingly, Jelena is the only domestic female artist with two TOP 10 results, which puts her at the very top of all-time Serbian OGAE favorites.

Jelena Tomašević – „Ime moje“

5. „I da mogu“ – Emina Jahović (2013) – 9th place

„I da mogu“ (If I Could) was one of the most modern songs Serbia sent to the OGAE Song Contest during the 2010s.

Emina Jahović was intensively working on her international career during that period, which was reflected in the production of this song — a pure pop sound, a clear melody, and a soulful, yet radio-friendly chorus.

Ninth place fully justifies the reputation Emina had among fans across the Balkans and Turkey.

The song was well-rated in the pre-favorites that year, and the result is still considered one of the fairest for Serbia, given the breadth of her international appeal.

Emina Jahović – „I da mogu“

4. „Aspirin“ – Seka Aleksić (2008) – 9th place

Seka Aleksić was the first Serbian artist to bring the pop-folk sound into the TOP 10. „Aspirin“ was a regional mega-hit at the time, and its recognizable rhythm and energy also won over OGAE members across Europe.

The song represented an ideal combination of commercial sound, a catchy chorus, and production that sounded contemporary for its time.

Ninth place was a real surprise — a positive one — as many expected a weaker result due to genre barriers. Instead, „Aspirin“ showed that the OGAE scene is more open than thought, and that the audience rewards a quality hit regardless of the genre.

Seka Aleksić – „Aspirin“

3. „Ludak kao ja“ – Željko Joksimović (2014) – 8th place

Željko Joksimović was already a European music brand, which the OGAE audience recognized even outside of Eurovision. „Ludak kao ja“ (A Fool Like Me) brought an urban pop sound that leaned into the trends of the time, while retaining Željko’s characteristic emotional style. The song had strong production, mature lyrics, and wide recognition in the region.

Eighth place was a great success at the time, as the competition that year was characterized by an extremely strong lineup.

Željko’s song is still one of those that fans often mention when talking about Serbian favorites that could have achieved more, thanks to its commerciality and recognizability.

Željko Joksimović – „Ludak kao ja“

2. „Okeani“ – Jelena Tomašević (2009) – 7th place

Following her success at Eurovision 2008, Jelena Tomašević proved once again a year later that she belongs to the top of the domestic music scene. „Okeani“ (Oceans) was the perfect combination of elegance, emotion, and modern pop arrangement, which perfectly fit the taste of the OGAE audience.

The song delivered the atmosphere of a major radio hit, but with Jelena’s recognizable dose of drama and vocal power.

Seventh place remains a stable benchmark against which all subsequent Serbian results are often compared. This success cemented Jelena’s status as one of the most successful Serbian female artists in the OGAE competition, and the song is still frequently found on fan playlists.

Jelena Tomašević – „Okeani“

1. „Sve ili ništa“ – Svetlana Ceca Slavković (1999) – 3rd place

Serbia entered the OGAE Song Contest in a big way, with a song that immediately showed the potential of the domestic scene. „Sve ili ništa“ (All or Nothing) was modern and emotional pop, shaped to sound international at a time when participating countries mostly sent ballads.

The entire project looked extremely professional for the late nineties, which contributed to a strong impression on the OGAE audience.

Third place remained unreachable for more than two decades, and the song is now considered one of the most successful Serbian musical releases ever sent to the competition. Many fans still call this participation „historical“ because of the strong debut and the clear identity that Serbia showed from the very first step.

Svetlana Ceca Slavković – „Sve ili ništa“

Will Serbia achieve a historic victory?

Looking at this list, it is clear that Serbia has managed to make recognizable and impactful choices for the OGAE Song Contest over the years. From the brilliant debut in the late nineties, through stable results during the „golden period“ between 2008 and 2015, domestic artists have demonstrated the diversity and quality of our music scene year after year.

Although we are still waiting for our first victory, Serbia’s biggest hits have managed to reach audiences across Europe, winning solid placements and becoming fan favorites.

This Top 10 list shows that Serbia’s greatest successes in this competition have mostly come from a combination of strong vocals, emotional interpretation, and songs that have already conquered the domestic market. It is also interesting that both newcomers and established stars are among the best, which speaks to the breadth of Serbian music production that resonates well with the OGAE audience.

Serbia continues to participate every year, and with an increasingly strong domestic scene, the question remains open — is victory perhaps closer than we think?

A detailed history of this contest, all past winners, as well as the full history and results of all OGAE Serbia representatives can be found HERE.