ZAGREB, 19 May 2022 - The winner of the 2022 Eurovision song contest, the Ukrainian rap group Kalush Orchestra, will play their first gig after the Eurovision victory at the Sea Star Festival in Umag, Croatia, on 27-28 May.

The global sensation from Ukraine is the new headliner of the Sea Star Festival, which will also feature another Eurovision competitor, the Serbian musician Konstrakta, who has become the most popular regional performer over the past few months with her song "In Corpore Sano".

At the recent Eurovision contest held in Turin, Italy, Konstrakta won the maximum number of points, 12, from both the Croatian jury and Croatian viewers of the Eurovision final.

In the lineup of the 27-28 Umag festival are also hip-hop star IggyAzalea, techno queen AmelieLens, the region's most popular band Dubioza Kolektiv, platinum hitmakers Meduza and Topic, Senidah, BučKesidi, Umek, Adiel, Insolate, Tijana T and Vojko V.

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February 21, 2022 - The artist and song that will represent Croatia at Eurovision 2022 were chosen last Saturday. Mia Dimšić won this year's Dora with the song ''Guilty Pleasure''. The competition was held in the Marino Cvetković Hall in Opatija.

The selection of the Croatian song for the Eurovision Song Contest Dora 2022 was held on Saturday night in the Marino Cvetković Hall in Opatija, and the winner is Mia Dimšić, who received the most votes from the audience and the jury! Mia travels to Turin in May this year and will represent us at Eurosonog in neighboring Italy, reports Dnevnik.

Dora was opened by Albina Grčić with the song "Tick-tock", last year's winner. She performed the song in a different arrangement, and she was joined on stage by dancers. 

Singer Mila Elegović opened the competition part of Dora with the song "Ljubav". She performed the ballad on stage without dancers and did the whole performance on a high chair.

After her, Mia Negovetić took the stage and performed the song "Forgive Me". The young singer with strong vocals shone in an elegant black dress with dropped shoulders and received a standing ovation from the audience. 

The song "Pray for us", authored by Vlaho Arbulić, was performed by the young Marko Bošnjak, and he arrived in front of the audience in a black suit with white stripes. Mia Negovetić cried during his performance.

Twenty-one-year-old Jessa performed the live song "My next mistake" in the company of four dancers. The ladies were fashionably matched, and the miniature tops combined with flashy details blended perfectly into the atmosphere of the song.

Legendary Zdenka Kovačiček competed on Dora with the song "Stay On The Bright Side". She was joined by dancers, and Zdenka wore a striking blue patent leather coat for the occasion and left a strong impression on the audience with her unquestionable vocal abilities. 

Tina Vukov surprised everyone by choosing a dress, and it is not enough to say that she shone in a tight creation with a deep neckline and a wide floor-length body. She sang the song "Hideout" accompanied by a pianist, and the company on stage were backing vocals. 

Roko Vušković performed the song "A little later", and intrigued the audience with his interesting choreography. He was joined by a dancer dressed only in a white shirt. 

After him, Bernarda won the stage with the song "Here For Love" and brought a dose of liveliness with her performance during which she was accompanied by dancers.

ERIC, like Bernarda, competed in Dora last year, and for this year's performance with the song "I Found You", he chose a striking suit with silver details. The single, accompanied by dancers, was catchy, and his merry performance was greeted with applause by the audience.

"In the darkness" was the song with which the singer ToMa competed on Dora this year.

Singer Elis Lovrić filled the hall with a powerful song named "No war", and she performed in front of the audience with nothing else but a guitar.

Ella Orešković made her debut last year on the Opatija stage, and this year she returned with the song "If you go away". The daughter of our former prime minister, in a transparent combination with sequins accompanied by dancers, did her best and received a big round of applause.

Singer Tia took the stage of Dora for the first time this year, and introduced herself to the audience with the song "Love me to heaven".  She chose a transparent dress with bare shoulders for the performance.

The last one was Mia Dimšić with the song "Guilty pleasure". Our famous singer wore a black combination and a mini-skirt, and with one dancer she delighted the audience in the hall and was greeted with applause.

The Dora 2022 finalists competed in the following order:

1. Mila Elegovic - Ljubav
2. Mia Negovetic - Forgive Me (Oprosti)
3. Marko Bosnjak - Moli za nas
4. Jessa - My Next Mistake
5. Zdenka Kovacicek - Stay On The Bright Side
6. Tina Vukov - Hideout
7. Roko Vušković - A little later
8. Bernarda - Here For Love
9. Eric Vidović - I Found You
10. ToMa - In The Darkness
11. Elis Lovrić - No War
12. Ella Orešković - If You Go Away
13. Tia - Voli me do neba
14. Mia Dimšić - Guilty Pleasure

In the end, Mia Dimšić was chosen as the winner of this year's Dora with the votes of the audience and the jury and will represent Croatia at Eurovision 2022 in Turin, Italy. 

Some accuse Mia of plagiarizing Taylor Swift

Reactions on social media were mixed. While many liked the song, in addition to congratulating Mia Dimšić and wishing her good luck at Eurovision 2022, others expressed her dissatisfaction and for more than one reason.

Some users believe that both Marko Bosnjak and Mia Negovetic deserved more and to be representatives of Croatia in Eurovision 2022 ahead of Mia Dimšić.

However, the most serious accusation was probably that a large number of users pointed out the more than suspicious resemblance between the Croatian artist's song and the song "Willow" by American star Taylor Swift. Some even believe that Mia plagiarized Swift and that a lawsuit could follow. Mia Dimšić has not commented on these accusations.

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September 19, 2021 - HRT confirms Croatia's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. The selection of Croatia's entry for Italy will once again be crowned through the Dora competition.

Croatia is again getting ready for the 66th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and is undeniably in high spirits. As HRT recently posted, “The beautiful September weather only contributes to the preparations for Dora and Eurovision 2022, which are in full swing! The Croatian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest will begin soon, so stay with us for more information.”

Since the country's debut in 1993, Dora has been used to select Croatia's entry for Eurovision except between 2012 to 2018 when Croatia had undergone a series of internal selections and withdrawals. In 2019, Dora returned and has been used ever since. 

According to Eurovoix, Dora 2022 is expected to take place in Opatija. The city has hosted all editions of the show except in 2011. Opatija and HRT signed a three-year deal to host Glazbeni Dani Hrvatske Radiotelevizije, which Dora is a part of.

Last year, Albina was chosen to represent Croatia in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Tick-Tock". With the votes of the jury and public, the song made it in the top ten but landed 11th in the semi-final and did not qualify for the finals.

This year's Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Italy on May 22 following their victory with Maneskin's "Zitti e buoni" at the 2021 Eurovision contest. 

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