[4] Former Eurovision contestants Hari Mata Hari, who represented Bosnia in 2006, and Jelena Tomašević with Bora Dugić, who represented Serbia in 2008, as well as singers Ivan Bosiljčić and Halid Bešlić were featured as a guest performers during the show.

An English language version of the entry titled "Synonym" was also recorded and performed during the show.

[5][6] According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final.

On 25 January 2012, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in.

[7] The running order for the semi-finals was decided through another draw on 20 March 2012 and Serbia was set to open the show and perform in position 1, before the entry from Macedonia.

The Serbian performance featured Željko Joksimović performing together with four members of the Ad-Hoc Orchestra: Dragan Krstić (drums), Dušan Alagić (piano and guitar), Ksenija Milošević (violin), Miloš Nikolić (flute) and Olga Popović (violin), all in black outfits.

[10][11] At the end of the show, Serbia was announced as having finished in the top 10 and subsequently qualifying for the grand final.

[12] Shortly after the second semi-final, a winners' press conference was held for the ten qualifying countries.

This jury was asked to judge each contestant based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.

In addition, no member of a national jury could be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently.