Country Bosnia and Herzegovina Language Bosnian | As Hari Mata Hari Composer(s) Željko Joksimović | |
Artist(s) Hari Varešanović,
Nihad Voloder,
Izudin Kolečić,
Karlo Martinović Lyricist(s) Fahrudin Pecikoza,
Dejan Ivanović | ||
"Lejla" was the Bosnian and Herzegovinian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, performed in the country's native language by Hari Mata Hari. It was composed by Eurovision Song Contest 2004 runner-up Željko Joksimović from Serbia, and the lyrics were written by Fahrudin Pecikoza and Dejan Ivanović.
The song was first performed in the semi-final, as Bosnia and Herzegovina had not finished in the top ten at the previous Contest. Here, it was performed twenty-second (following Estonia's Sandra Oxenryd with "Through My Window" and preceding Iceland's Silvia Night with "Congratulations"). Here, it received 267 points, placing second in a field of 23 and qualifying for the final. The song later on also won the journalists' award for best composition of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006.
In the final, it was performed thirteenth (following Romania's Mihai Trăistariu with "Tornerò" and preceding Lithuania's LT United with "We Are The Winners"). At the close of voting, it had received 229 points, placing third in a field of 24 and meaning that Bosnia and Herzegovina would have an automatic final berth in their next Contest. It became Bosnia and Herzegovina's highest ranking in Eurovision, beating Dino Merlin's seventh place in 1999.
The performance featured the entire band wearing white suits and, as the final bridge began, linking arms and walking towards the front of the stage.