Just a week ago after winning the right to represent Montenegro at next year’s contest, Neonoen has voluntarily given up its right to participate in next year’s contest in Basel.
The withdrawal comes after an investigation after performance prior to September 1
As we have previously reported, it was reported that the band performed a different version of “Clickbait” at last year’s Festival Kulture Zabjelo, which is against the contest’s rules.
On their withdrawal, the band has put out a message saying that they would like to end uncertainty and wish Montenegro’s representative the best of luck:
In the best public interest, with the desire to end the uncertainty and once again contribute to the music for which we are here in the first place, we inform you that we are voluntarily withdrawing from participation in Eurovision. According to the regulations, RTCG will choose another representative, and we will be the first to wish them luck and provide our full support.
The victory at Montesong brought us publicity, the type and extent of which we did not choose, nor could we control. We note, and the facts confirm it, that the live performance of the working version of the song did not jeopardize the Montesong festival process itself, nor could it affect its final outcome and our placement. It is also a fact that there were many similar examples and that the EBU always decided that those songs could participate (one even won the Eurovision Song Contest), because they did not have a competitive advantage over the others, which is clear to everyone.
However, we simply do not want to be part of any stories outside of music, nor to promote our own work in that way.
Eurovision was never a goal in itself for us. Expanding the field of our musical activity – it certainly is!
The Montesong Festival, organized by the Association of Variety Artists, brought 16 new songs and that is its greatest value.
We would like to thank the management of RTCG for their benevolent relationship and their intention to give us room for other options. We believe that they will understand our decision to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest, and we thank them for that as well.
Special and huge gratitude for the support of fellow musicians, lovers of good music, friends, acquaintances, journalists and the general public from Montenegro and abroad, which gave us strength in the last days. Our families together with us lived through all the splendor and despair of this process and now it’s time to repay them and dedicate ourselves in the right way.
CLICKBAIT lives on as a musical single, but we fear also as a contemporary social phenomenon.
Once again, thank you all. Now let’s all support Montenegro at Eurovision together!”
Upon the reveal of NeonoeN’s withdrawal, it was announced that RTCG is now in the process of selecting NeonoeN’s replacement as Montenegro’s Eurovision 2025 representative, which will be revealed in the coming days.
Montenegro’s Eurovision Journey
Before Montenegro announced its return to the Eurovision Song Contest for 2025, they had a scattered appearance at the competition.
There has been a Montenegrin presence at the Eurovision Song Contest as far back as 1983, when the nation was a part of Yugoslavia. Montenegrin entries went on to represent Yugoslavia in 1983 and 1984, placing 4th and 18th respectively. Similarly, the nation also sent an entry as part of Serbia and Montenegro in 2005, placing 7th with No Name’s “Zauvijek moja”.
As an independent nation, Montenegro debuted in 2007 with Steven Faddy’s “Ajde, kroci”. This began a string of non-qualifications, until their first appearance in a Grand Final in 2014. Montenegro’s best result came in 2015 with Knez’s “Adio”, scoring 44 points and placing 13th. Their most recent appearance in the Contest was in 2022, when Vladana finished in 17th place in the semi-final with 33 points with her song “Breathe”.
What do you think of this latest development? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky for all things Montenegro at Eurovision 2025!
News Source: RTCG
Photo Credit: Lazar Kovačević
Giwrgos Oiko