Maarja
Maarja-Liis Ilus, sometimes better known by her performing name Maarja (bor… Read Full Bio ↴Maarja-Liis Ilus, sometimes better known by her performing name Maarja (born December 24, 1980 in Tallinn, Estonia) is a pop musician who has achieved chart success in a number of countries across Europe and Asia. Ilus has also represented her native Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, and is often credited as being the first Estonian solo artist to achieve international chart success.
Ilus' music career started at the age of four, when she began performing major roles in children's musicals across Estonia. Having gained a lot of performing experience at any early age, Ilus released her self-titled debut album Maarja in 1996, achieving reasonable success in her home country. Although the album made her known within her country, true national success would not come until the Eurolaul event later on that year. Ilus would perform two songs in the Eurolaul, "Kaelakee Hääl" and "Kummalisel Teel", the former a duet with Ivo Linna. The duet would ultimately win the competition, and she would go onto finish 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. The exposure from competing in Eurovision would ultimately make Geffen Records notice the young Ilus, signing her for her first international album release.
Meanwhile, Ilus entered the Eurolaul again in 1997, winning with the solo "Keelatud Maa". Ilus would eventually finish 8th in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997. The result helped to further solidify her popularity in Estonia, making her second album First In Line an instant success there when released on August 25, 1998. The album, which was Ilus' first effort entirely in English, was also released internationally, topping album charts in Japan and receiving considerable airplay in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The success of the album made her, at the time, Estonia's most successful popular music artist ever. Ilus would not achieve the same success when she tried to break through into the American mainstream, though, with the album essentially failing to make any impact on the Billboard charts. Ilus would also release the mostly Estonian language album Kaua Veel later on in 1998, with the album winning her the Estonian Female Singer of the Year award. In 1999 she also became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
Ilus' next album would be City Life in 2001, which again achieved reasonable success in Estonia. The album would not, however, repeat the international success of First In Line. Following the release of City Life, Ilus' international popularity faded a little, although she still remained a notable celebrity in Estonia. Ilus would enter the Melodifestivalen of 2003 in Sweden with the song "He is Always On My Mind", although she would be eliminated at the semi-final stage. The appearance in Melodifestivalen helped to re-establish Ilus in Sweden a little, but the release of the song as a single (and release of a modified version of City Life, with the song as the first track) was a commercial failure.
Ilus would enter Eurolaul for the third time in 2004, performing the self-written "Homme", but she would ultimately finish in 4th place. Since 2004 Ilus has worked on smooth jazz projects, working with the club jazz band Hinkus and performing vocals on Tõnu Raadik's Flow of Dreams album. She also recorded a duet with the Latvian pop singer Lauris Reiniks in 2005, with the song becoming a hit in both Estonia and Latvia.
Ilus' music career started at the age of four, when she began performing major roles in children's musicals across Estonia. Having gained a lot of performing experience at any early age, Ilus released her self-titled debut album Maarja in 1996, achieving reasonable success in her home country. Although the album made her known within her country, true national success would not come until the Eurolaul event later on that year. Ilus would perform two songs in the Eurolaul, "Kaelakee Hääl" and "Kummalisel Teel", the former a duet with Ivo Linna. The duet would ultimately win the competition, and she would go onto finish 5th in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996. The exposure from competing in Eurovision would ultimately make Geffen Records notice the young Ilus, signing her for her first international album release.
Meanwhile, Ilus entered the Eurolaul again in 1997, winning with the solo "Keelatud Maa". Ilus would eventually finish 8th in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997. The result helped to further solidify her popularity in Estonia, making her second album First In Line an instant success there when released on August 25, 1998. The album, which was Ilus' first effort entirely in English, was also released internationally, topping album charts in Japan and receiving considerable airplay in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The success of the album made her, at the time, Estonia's most successful popular music artist ever. Ilus would not achieve the same success when she tried to break through into the American mainstream, though, with the album essentially failing to make any impact on the Billboard charts. Ilus would also release the mostly Estonian language album Kaua Veel later on in 1998, with the album winning her the Estonian Female Singer of the Year award. In 1999 she also became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.
Ilus' next album would be City Life in 2001, which again achieved reasonable success in Estonia. The album would not, however, repeat the international success of First In Line. Following the release of City Life, Ilus' international popularity faded a little, although she still remained a notable celebrity in Estonia. Ilus would enter the Melodifestivalen of 2003 in Sweden with the song "He is Always On My Mind", although she would be eliminated at the semi-final stage. The appearance in Melodifestivalen helped to re-establish Ilus in Sweden a little, but the release of the song as a single (and release of a modified version of City Life, with the song as the first track) was a commercial failure.
Ilus would enter Eurolaul for the third time in 2004, performing the self-written "Homme", but she would ultimately finish in 4th place. Since 2004 Ilus has worked on smooth jazz projects, working with the club jazz band Hinkus and performing vocals on Tõnu Raadik's Flow of Dreams album. She also recorded a duet with the Latvian pop singer Lauris Reiniks in 2005, with the song becoming a hit in both Estonia and Latvia.
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Maarja Lyrics
All I Want Is You Giving you a kiss in the dark That's about as far…
All the Love You Needed You are trying hard to find an image in your mind you…
By the Light of the Moon I didn't know you before that night Yet I could feel…
City Life The streetwise guys the real cool types Look at me from…
Could You Just look at you You haven't a clue Hidden feelings Thing…
Ema süda Üks paigake siin ilmas on Kus varjul truudus, arm ja õnn Kõi…
First In Line Constricted dreams, That sleep in my mind, Now seem to guide…
He Is Always on My Mind Here I stand by your side It's been a while since…
Heleda leegina põlen Mõtetes lendan su juurde Ööl kui pole und Taas mu meel Tu…
Hide Your Heart All alone in this garden of earthly delights No one aroun…
High Hope Did we leave it for tomorrow Find new rooms behind closed…
Hold On To Love When you are feeling down hearted Sometimes the world is go…
Hold Onto Love When you are feeling down hearted Sometimes the world is goi…
Hold Your Heart All alone in this garden of earthly delights No one aroun…
I Cannot Help Myself I cannot help myself Listen now we've got a story Of the…
I Know You Are The One I fell in love at once I saw you I just…
I Will Be There for You Show me the star you wish upon And I'll look for…
I Wonder When the leaves have turned to yellow Colder winds freeze m…
Just a Dream Away There is a place where lovers go When they want to…
Just Missed The Train Roll over baby, the time has come To make a little…
Kaua veel Kui öö on heitnud päeva oma varju Ma tähtedele tõusen taeva…
Keelatud Maa Miks aina peidad end eilses? Kui sinna kaod, siis kadunuks…
Kohtumine sul tundub et jooksen su eest ja mulle et ammu mul…
Kuldne Põld Sulle meenun siis Kui käib läänetuul Kesk kuldseid viljapõld…
Maarja-first in line Constricted dreams, That sleep in my mind, Now seem to gui…
My Hometown It's been too long too many nights If I could change or t…
Never Let You Go I see a light in your eyes I feel the thought…
Nothing in the Universe Can you see the state I'm in It's like I lost…
Playing Your Game Love never knocks on the door Or asks for permission before…
Please Don't Cry Feels like you're all alone Got no place to call your…
Rainbow Colours Two hours since you went away Already feels like seven days …
Say You Will You keep me waitin' for your call gimme an answer don't yo…
Shine It On Just when you thought I was gone From afar I'm back…
Suudlus läbi jäätunud klaasi Hetke vaid mõni mälestus kestab, kuid on neid, mida minna…
Valed vaid Nii nagu juhuslik nool Arm meid tabada võib igal pool Kas …
Vana Vaksal Mind jälle äratab üks vana tantsuviis, sest rattad laulavad,…
Walk Away Tried to give you everything But I got nothing in return I…
What In This World I see you smile And I wonder what you mean With that…