#Eurolaul 1997

[eurovision-revisited]

1997 Dublin - Number 16 - Maarja-Liis Ilus - "Keelatud Maa"

It's the second year at Eurovision in a row for Maarja, one of Eurolaul and later Eesti Laul's ever presents. Last year she got lucky, snagging the winning song when the intended singer looked like she couldn't make it. Even then she only scraped into Eurovision on a Eurolaul tie-break.

This year it's much clearer. Dominating Eurolaul 1997, Maarja-Liis Ilus bring Keelatud Maa (Forbidden Land) all the way to 8th place in the final - even if this was a little disappointing considering she'd been one of the favourites to win the entire contest, and it didn't hit the heady heights of fifth, where she'd finished in 1996. Nevertheless Estonia was becoming a Eurovision contender and Maarja was the voice driving that.

Keelatud Maa itself is a wistful ballad tinged with sadness. A lover reaching out to her partner, wanting them to adapt and not remain rooted in a past which they can't let go. It's a plea for them to move on, lest the forbidden, foggy, marshy land between them grow so impenetrable there's no way back together. That's a maturity that's not often witnessed at Eurovision; it's hauntingly poised on the threshold between encouragement and hopelessness.

Those wonderful lyrics were written by Kaari Sillamaa, the mother of Janika Sillamaa, Estonia's first ever Euro Laul winner in 1993 who nearly made it to Eurovision, but fell short in the qualification round. I've already written about her.

Maarja doesn't stop at having represented Estonia twice at Eurovision. She tried to get there twice more. She sang at Eurolaul 2004, but finished fourth. The year before that she entered Melodifestivalen in Sweden, but got eliminated in the heats. She's been spokesperson for Estonia twice and has also hosted Eesti Laul, most recently in 2022.

Beyond Eurovision, she's released 11 albums, been named as Estonia's best female singer four times, she's sung the role of Eva Péron in the Estonian production of Evita, as well as several other leading roles in musicals. She was a judge on three seasons of Eesti otsib superstari, including the season in which Jüri Pootsmann won. Maarja is absolutely one of the biggest names in Estonian music.

[eurovision-revisited]

1997 Dublin - Number 26 - Kate - "Perpetuum mobile"

Eurolaul this year has wisely relocated back to the studio after the mess of Eurolaul 1996. With that transfer comes the first appearance of Kate aka Katrin Mandel and her partnership with songwriter Aivar Joonas. Given that title and the solo violin opening, it would appear that they've been listening to the Penguin Café Orchestra when composing.

The lyrics to this were written by Leelo Tungal, children's author and translator. An interesting character for a song about being stuck in the perpetual grind of life and work and the need to celebrate the joys outside that ever-turning circle. It's a delicate little thing not in the typical Eurovision groove. Kate has a strong voice held back to deliver this with authority and feeling.

This finished joint fifth with the panel of international jurists who chose Estonia's entry this year. The British and German judges especially liked it. As the winner of Eurolaul was a runaway, all the other places were separated by just a few points. Not a great year to make a debut, but neither Kate nor Aivar were deterred. This was their first entry of four with consecutive appearance from 1997-2000.

She never won. This was a strong opening to her Eurolaul career so I'd guess that she's going to appear in my top 26s again in the next few years. This song featured as a track on her first LP, released the same year. As well as releasing another five albums after this, she teaches music.

[eurovision-revisited]

1998 Birmingham - Number 19 - Kate - "Tulepuuhuulte luule"

Kate has returned to Eurolaul for 1998 with some more traditional, folky vibes after her successful debut in 1997. She's edged up seven places in my yearly round up!

Last year her song was, perhaps conventionally, about wanting to stop the globe and get off. Not an uncommon wish in 1997 when so much had been happening around the world in the preceding years. In 1998, she's gone to her safe place - the forest. Tulepuuhuulte luule (Firewood Lips Poetry) is an elaborate metaphor combining the imagery of a forest fire with the idea that anger is a fire that consumes all in its path.

If you've ever felt like lashing out in fury, this song is about you. Go find you calm space. Listen to the silence of the trees, and endure as they do.

Two violins, a guitar, a traditional drum and three rather wonderfully deep male harmonies are all that are required to give body to this music from Estonia's heartlands. Once again Kate's voice is confident singing the words of another poet, this time Villu Kangur. This finished 3rd in the final, in the best-of-the-rest slot behind the two songs that were clear at the top competing for the title. With this song and result, Kate established herself as a Eurolaul fixture, and one of the main contenders to represent Estonia in a future Eurovision.

There are two more entries to come and now that Alma Čardžić has entered her last national final for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kate is almost certain to become my national final crush for the time being.