Eurovision Song Contest 1994 - Dublin
Entry for Portugal
Performer: Sara Tavares
Song title: Chamar A Música
Song writer(s): Rosa Lobato Faria
Song composer(s): João Carlos Mota Oliveira
Sang in Position: 8
Final Position: 8
Total Points: 73
For the second consecutive time, Ireland hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, this time in its capital Dublin. Due to the fact that so many countries wished to participate in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, the European Broadcasting Union decided to adopt a relegation system. For the 1994 contest, it would mean that the seven countries that finished at the bottom of the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest were relegated and couldn't participate in the 1994 edition of the show. Instead, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia made their debut. However, Italy and Luxembourg withdrew voluntarily, so only the bottom five countries of the 1993 contest in Millstreet - Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Denmark and Belgium - were relegated. That meant that the total amount of participating countries was 25, just as in the preceding year.
Poland's debut at the Eurovision Song Contest was very successful when their representative Edyta Gorniak came in second with 166 points. However, the Polish song was almost disqualified as Edyta sang her song To Nie Ja! half in English in one of the dress rehearsal which violated the rule that every entry had to be sung in the native language. Nevertheless, even the talented Gorniak wasn't even near to this year's winner, which once again, was Ireland.
About the winner
Never before in the history of the song contest, a country had won three times in a row. The Irish entrants Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan sang Rock 'n Roll Kids, which in the end was 60 points ahead of the runner-up and was the highest score ever at a Eurovision Song Contest to date. This overwhelming victory for Ireland would not be the last in this century, as just two years later in 1996, Ireland would win again.
Facts & figures
The biggest commercial success of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest was none of the songs though, but the interval act Riverdance. The Irish dance sensation went on to be a world famous stage show, which would be seen by millions of people all around the world.
Tavares died in 2023, after a 14-year battle with cancer.
Dam Bô
Sara Tavares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sem sintib li ma mim.
ês perguntam kê kum tem,
Um respondês kum suspiro.
Um passa pôc temp ta
Percebê ke era bô
Um razão pam surri
Ta tchega dia de volta
Dam bô
Kakrê fca mi só
Dam bô
M' krêb li ma mim
Rio passa, el dzem "nô bai"
Ba k'di mar k'ti ta tchemam, oia
Sol brilha, mar mansa
Um descansa nha alma.
Dam bô
Kakrê fca mi sô,
Dam bô,
M'krêb li ma mim
M'krêb li ma mim
M'krêb li ma mim
M'krêb li ma mim
The lyrics to Sara Tavares's song Dam Bo are sung in Cape Verdean Creole and convey a sense of peace and contentment with one's surroundings. The first stanza talks about living life in a certain way, without feeling anything in particular. People ask what's wrong, and the singer responds with a sigh. Eventually, the person realizes that they are good just the way they are and it's now time to return home. The chorus "Dam Bo" is repeated throughout the song and means "I love you."
The second stanza describes a scene of a river flowing by and the sun shining down on the calm sea. The singer feels at peace with this beauty around them and their soul feels rested. The chorus is repeated again with a sense of deep affection for the person they are addressing.
Overall, the song seems to convey a message of coming to terms with oneself and finding peace in the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Jam ka krê, vivê assim,
I like to live like this
Sem sintib li ma mim.
Without feeling alone
Ês perguntam kê kum tem,
They ask what's wrong
Um respondês kum suspiro.
I respond with a sigh
Um passa pôc temp ta
I spend some time
Percebê ke era bô
Realizing that it was good
Um razão pam surri
Reason to smile
Ta tchega dia de volta
The day of return arrives
Dam bô
I love you
Kakrê fca mi só
I don't want to be alone
M' krêb li ma mim
I believe in myself
Rio passa, el dzem 'nô bai'
The river flows, it says 'let's go'
Ba k'di mar k'ti ta tchemam, oia
To the calling of the sea, look
Sol brilha, mar mansa
The sun shines, the sea is calm
Um descansa nha alma.
I rest my soul
M'krêb li ma mim
I believe in myself
M'krêb li ma mim
I believe in myself
M'krêb li ma mim
I believe in myself
M'krêb li ma mim
I believe in myself
Writer(s): Hernani Almeida
Contributed by Jonathan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@neishaguy
2023, love from Trinidad and Tobago, its one of my favorites. Thank you for the music. Love you!
@anjavirtuell4916
Rest in peace, dear Sara 😢🫶🧡
@anamateus715
Minha Grande Diva.....a tua música,a tua voz ...mexe com tudo meu....Dam Bo....meu ser vão solto pelo mundo......
@hedevaldoluis2640
Ai como doi...😢😢😢😢
@francinehedler187
Que música maravilhosa...passam-se os anos e a emoção é sempre a mesma...o coração viaja, a alma volta lentamente p aquela tarde do fim do verão, nas estradas sinuosas do litoral da França, onde pela primeira vez ouvi Dambo com o vento batendo no rosto e o por do sol deitando em cores lilases no mar da Corsega.... a música e seu poder de transcender....para sempre, Sara...
@anamateus715
Corajosa, lutadora, combateste um longo combate, agora descansa...vamos sentir saudades.Segura na Mão de Deus e vá em Paz
@bguedesf
Conheci Sara Tavares em 2012, quando fui morar em Jaén, Espanha. Apaixonei-me pela primeira nota. Já no Brasil, conversando com um amigo Cabo-verdiano, relatei do meu novo amor musical. João, tbm Tavares disse: minha prima, muito tempo que não nos falamos. Chorei e morri de tesão musical! Pedi que traduzisse "Dam Bô". Tudo que eu sentia escutando a música, só exaltou mais e mais. Música a gente sente!!!! <3
@josemarricardo-vc3cb
Possas e hoje ela acaba de falecer éhhhhh
@marcosantos7175
Passa-se os anos e continua sendo boa essa música ! Voz maravilhosa Sara um abraço do Brasil
@ritaie6445
Essa música faz-me viajar. Transmite paz e bons pensamentos! Fico com vontade de abraçar a minha outra metade!!! <3