The English Sides - Estonia and Bosnia
Updated August 9th


In the next few weeks and months this page will change to give you the chance to meet again the stars of the 1997 contest. Thirteen of the twenty-five songs have English versions and I hope to feature them all.


Estonia: Keelatud Maa - Maarja-Liis Ilus

Maarja's CDSixteen-year-old MAARJA-LIIS ILUS from Tallinn is probably the youngest artist to represent Estonia in two consecutive Eurovision Song Contests. She first appeared on the music scene at the age of three, and at the age of four she secured the lead role in a children's musical film, winning most of the festivals she participated in. As a professional singer, Maarja-Liis performs several concerts a week, and is the favourite of the radio play-lists. She has written a number of successful songs. She came fifth in last year's contest and also released her first CD. She is currently in the middle of recording her new album.

Twenty-five-year-old HARMO KALLASTE, is a nalive of Viljandi, a small town in Southern Estonia. He first appeared on the music scene at the age of five, participating in several Estonian Television Song Contests for children. Harmo studied piano at the Children's Music School in Rapla and saxophone at the Georg Ots Music School in Tallinn.

This is the second occasion KAARI SILLAMAA has written the Estonian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. The forty-two-year-old music teacher has been the director of the School of Fine Arts for children for the past three years. She is also a piano player/backing vocalist in the rock band The Names. Kaari has written over 150 texts and has composed two children's operas.

Download the English version 60 seconds MPEG-3 (450K)

"FORBIDDEN LAND"
Music: Harmo Kallaste, Lyrics: Kaari Sillamaa

Why hide yourself in yesterday?
When you disappear you remain there.
I find you for the hundredth time
Still, the abyss between us gets deeper, I feel.
But if l give up you'll be lost for good...


Bosnia-Herzegovina: Goodbye - Alma Cardzic

Alma Cardzic

ALMA CARDZIC's song Let There Be Peace In Bosnia and Sarajevo, City of Mine, have made her Bosnia's most popular singer. This is her second Eurovision - in 1994 she sang in the 39th Contest in Dublin. Alma has been involved in music since childhood, singing in school choirs, and opened the studio Liberated Dobrinja. Her first CD, Blue Eye, came out in 1995.

SINAN ALIMANOVIC has arranged the songs for the Euvovision Song Contest since 1993. He is the manager of the music production and programmes department at RTV BiH. Born in Leskovac in 1954 he graduated from Pristina Music Academy. He is the conductor of RTV Sarajevo's Big Band, and also writes music for film and television.

MILIC VUKASINOVIC has sold over two million copies of his rock and folk albums. Born in Belgrade in 1950, by the age of 12 he was playing drums during the rock'n'roll boom. In 1971 he moved to London, taught himself guitar and started writing songs. He returned home to Sarajevo where he played drums with top bands.

Download the English version 60 seconds MPEG-3 (450K)

"GOODBYE"
Music: Sinan Alimanovic/Milic Vukasinovic, Lyrics: Milic Vukasinovic

I recall the times
When my mind was the movie' screen
I close my eyes
But no pictures once there have been....

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