In 1998 she left Rhythm Avenue to appear as a backing singer for Swedish stars like Eric Gadd, Carola, Robyn and Charlotte Nilsson. This included a slice in the action when Nilsson won the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem with the song Take Me To Your Heaven. Her first solo single in 2000 was called The Little Voice, just as the title track was.
Three videos were made for the album; Fifth Element, The Little Voice, landing in the top 5 of MTV Nordic’s most played list, and Fishies, filmed on location in Sardinia, Italy. Unfortunately, The Little Voice album was never released due to EMG's buyout of Roadrunner Arcade Music and eventual fall into bankruptcy.
But this didn't mean the end of Sahlene's career. In Estonia they had a problem since one of their most famous singers, Ines, decided that she didn't want to sing the song Runaway in the national preselections for the Eurovision Song Contest. Sahlene accepted the offer and won the national finals. Thus, she once again participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, this time as a principal singer, and she secured third place for the host, Estonia. The song was very successful in the charts, not only in Estonia and Sweden but also in the other Scandinavian countries, as well as the Baltic States and even in Switzerland and France.
Finally most of the tracks from the Little Voice album were released on a new album in April 2003. The album of course also includes Runaway.
She participated in the first semi-final of the Swedish selection 2006, under the name Anna Sahlene, with the song This Woman. However, her fifth place in the semi-final killed her chances of representing her native country.
Eurovision Song Contest 2002 - Tallinn
Entry for Estonia
Performer: Sahléne
Song title: Runaway
Song writer(s): Jana Hallas
Song composer(s): Pearu Paulus, Ilmar Laisaar, Alar Kotkas
Sang in Position: 8
Final Position: 3
Total Points: 111
The small capital of Tallinn was the poud host of the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest. The rules for the 2002 contest stated that only 22 countries would be able to participate, but the European Broadcasting Union later changed this into 24 countries being allowed into the competition. Israel accepted the invitation as the first runner-up in the pool of countries that were initially doomed to stay at home. Portugal, the second runner-up declined to go to Tallinn, so Latvia was able to enter the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest. This was a rather peculiar situation, since Latvia ended up winning the whole contest in the end!
There was no clear favorite among the 24 countries competing. Sweden, Germany and the host country Estonia were tipped as winners, but it was Marie N (Marija Naumova) who was able to hold the trophy in her hands. Marie N had already tried to enter the 2000 and 2001 Eurovision Song Contests, but narrowly missed out both times. Her 2002 entry I Wanna had a stunning dress change gimmick as Marie started her song wearing a white suit - only to end it wearing a sexy red dress! This was the start of many more intriguing dress changes in the following Eurovision Song Contests. However, Marie N's I Wanna didn't prove to be a big success in the European charts as the single of it was only released months after the Latvian victory.
The tragic figure of the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest was the Danish singer Malene. Seen by many fans as one of the favorites to win, she ended up in the last position with just seven points in total. That was a severe blow to the Danish nation who won the contest in 2000 and who came 2nd in 2001, but would miss out on the 2003 competition in Riga.
Just Another Day
Sahlene Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For something new to come
For a change in my life
And I have been trying for some time
To forget about you
But I can't say I'm rational
I don't really miss what we had
But some of the moments we shared
Chorus
It's just another day
Just another ordinary day
What difference does it make
That I have become aware
Of my mistakes
I need a new beginning
With open arms I will embrace
A most needed change
Come what may
What's done can never be undone
I've got to live my life
With the choices I've made
But I must admit to myself
That I still care about you
But I guess it's too late now
I know it was not working out
But were we giving up
Too easy on the fight
Chorus
And since you've gone
I've starting wondering if I'm wrong
And I won't say I know
That loneliness really
Makes you stronger
Got no one else to blame
My choice is made
I was the one to let you go
Now I miss you so
Chorus
In Sahlene's song "Just Another Day," the singer is expressing her longing for a change in her life, a new beginning. She has been trying to forget about someone from her past but finds it difficult to do so. She isn't sure if she really misses her past relationship but acknowledges that there were moments they shared that she valued. The chorus is a reminder that life goes on, even when you become aware of your mistakes. The singer wants to embrace change no matter what happens.
The second verse starts with the realization that what is done can never be undone, and she must live with the choices she's made. However, she still cares about the person she's been trying to forget, and it's too late to turn back time. Furthermore, the singer realizes that she wonders if she made the right choice by letting that person go. She recognizes that loneliness can make people stronger, but it's also her fault that she missed out on the relationship.
Overall, the song is about the struggles of starting afresh and accepting the choices one has made. It shows that change may not always be easy, but it's necessary to move forward in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I have been waiting for so long
I have been eagerly anticipating a new and exciting occurrence for what seems like an eternity
For something new to come
A change of pace, something out of the ordinary, something to jolt my senses and add new color to my life
For a change in my life
I'm craving a shift, a shake-up to the routine that's become so entrenched over time
And I have been trying for some time
I've put forth an effort in the past to move past thoughts of you and focus on other things
To forget about you
To purge you from my mind and emotions so as to move on with my life
But I can't say I'm rational
I must be honest and admit that I'm not thinking with a clear head when it comes to thoughts of you
I don't really miss what we had
I'm not pining for the relationship we once had, but rather certain cherished moments that we shared
But some of the moments we shared
There are specific happy moments from our time together that have stayed with me over time
It's just another day
This day feels like any other, lulling me into a sense of complacency and normality
Just another ordinary day
Another mundane day, with no excitement or adventure to be found
What difference does it make
What impact will this day have on the grand scheme of things? What will change?
That I have become aware
I'm conscious of the fact that I'm seeking something more from life
Of my mistakes
I acknowledge my errors and wrong turns in the past
I need a new beginning
I'm searching for a fresh start, a clean slate, a new page to turn
With open arms I will embrace
I'm ready and willing to welcome this new chapter with a sense of hope and positivity
A most needed change
I recognize that change is necessary for my growth and happiness, and I'm actively seeking it out
Come what may
I'm prepared to face whatever may come, good or bad
What's done can never be undone
I understand that past actions and decisions cannot be undone or erased
I've got to live my life
I need to move forward and live my life to the fullest, regardless of past regrets
With the choices I've made
I must accept responsibility for the decisions I've made that have led me to this point
But I must admit to myself
It's important for me to be honest with myself and recognize my true feelings
That I still care about you
Despite my efforts to move on, my emotions have not fully detached from thoughts of you
But I guess it's too late now
I realize that too much time has passed, and it's unlikely that we can rekindle what we once had
I know it was not working out
I acknowledge that our relationship was not healthy or fulfilling, and had run its course
But were we giving up
Did we let go of our relationship too easily and not put up a strong enough fight?
Too easy on the fight
Perhaps we didn't work hard enough to overcome our difficulties and save our relationship
And since you've gone
In the time since you left my life
I've starting wondering if I'm wrong
I'm questioning whether I made the right decision in letting you go
And I won't say I know
I can't definitively say one way or another what the correct course of action was
That loneliness really
The experience of being alone has led me to believe that
Makes you stronger
Enduring loneliness can make you tougher and more resilient in the long run
Got no one else to blame
I must accept full responsibility for where I am now, and not shift blame onto others
My choice is made
I've made my decision, and there's no going back or second guessing myself
I was the one to let you go
I was the one who ended things, and there's no changing that now
Now I miss you so
Despite the decisions I've made, I can't help but feel the absence of your presence in my life
Contributed by Leo I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.