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.
Lisboa Kuya
Sara Tavares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Capaz de fazer dum ya
Algo mais do que um sim
Nina, nina ninar
Tudo o que pede pra ser pra já
E deixar aconchegar-se a mim
A certeza de que nada mais terá
O mesmo sabor
O mesmo sabor
Nem cerejas na na na na na na
Nem Lisboa ye
Nem cerejas na na na na na na
Nem Lisboa ye ye ye
Ensina-me a ser assim
Capaz de fazer dum simples ya
Algo mais do que um sim
Nina, nina ninar
Tudo o que pede pra ser pra já
E deixar aconchegar-se a mim
A certeza de que nada mais terá
O mesmo sabor
A certeza de que nada mais terá
O mesmo sabor
Nem cerejas na na na na na na
Nem Lisboa yeh
Nem cerejas na na na na na na
Nem Lisboa
A certeza de que nada mais terá
O mesmo sabor
Nem cerejas na na na na na na
Nem Lisboa
Lisboa kuya
Kuya bué
Lisboa kuya buérere
Lisboa kuya
Kuya bué
Lisboa kuya buérere
Lisboa kuya
Kuya bué
Lisboa kuya kuya buérere
The lyrics of Sara Tavares’ song “Lisboa Kuya” are about the desire to learn how to embody something more significant than a simple “yes”. The repetition of “nina, nina ninar” suggests the idea of soothing, calming, and comforting, perhaps indicating the desire for a profound connection with someone or something. This connection is so deep that it cannot be replicated or replaced by anything else, not even by the sweetest cherries, as represented by the line “nem cerejas na na na na na na”. The longing for true belonging is further represented by the line “nem Lisboa”, which means nothing but Lisbon can truly provide that same feeling.
Tavares’ song is a tribute to Lisbon, the city where she was born, and the longing for a sense of belonging and safety which can be found in the people and places of Lisbon. The repetition of “Lisboa kuya” emphasizes the importance of this city, and the line “kuya bué” indicates that Lisbon is not just any other place; it is exceptional, unique, and irreplaceable. The use of Portuguese slang in the lyrics adds an interesting layer of depth to the song, as it shows not only the artist’s connection to her birthplace but also her familiarity with the language, and with the way it is used by Portuguese people.
Overall, “Lisboa Kuya” is a song about the desire for a deep and meaningful connection, the longing for belonging, and the acknowledgment that some things are irreplaceable. The unique combination of the artist’s personal connection to Lisbon, her familiarity with Portuguese slang, and the desire to connect with someone or something provides a compelling interpretation of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Ensina-me a ser assim
Teach me to be like this
Capaz de fazer dum ya
Capable of turning a 'yes' into something more
Algo mais do que um sim
Something more than just a 'yes'
Nina, nina ninar
Lullaby, to lull to sleep
Tudo o que pede pra ser pra já
Everything that asks to be done quickly
E deixar aconchegar-se a mim
And let them snuggle up to me
A certeza de que nada mais terá
The certainty that it won't have the same taste anymore
O mesmo sabor
The same flavor
Nem cerejas na na na na na na
Not even cherries na na na na na na
Nem Lisboa ye
Not even Lisbon
Ensina-me a ser assim
Teach me to be like this
Capaz de fazer dum simples ya
Capable of turning a simple 'yes' into something more
Algo mais do que um sim
Something more than just a 'yes'
A certeza de que nada mais terá
The certainty that it won't have the same taste anymore
O mesmo sabor
The same flavor
Nem cerejas na na na na na na
Not even cherries na na na na na na
Nem Lisboa yeh
Not even Lisbon
A certeza de que nada mais terá
The certainty that it won't have the same taste anymore
O mesmo sabor
The same flavor
Lisboa kuya
Lisbon, my dear
Kuya bué
Dear one, so much
Lisboa kuya buérere
Lisbon, my dear, my love
Lisboa kuya
Lisbon, my dear
Kuya bué
Dear one, so much
Lisboa kuya buérere
Lisbon, my dear, my love
Lisboa kuya
Lisbon, my dear
Kuya bué
Dear one, so much
Lisboa kuya kuya buérere
Lisbon, my dear, my love
Contributed by Carter G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bryce Barker
Beautiful song so relaxing
Ailime Oliveira
Concordo plenamente contigo Sara! E quero lá estar novamente. Saudades...😭😭😭
ana c domingues
que linda esta musica... que serenidade:) sara es unica!
Joanne Henderson
Absolutely Beautiful!
jhofay
this song makes you want to cry, it's so beautiful...
Michael Leonard
kuya (termo angolano) = saboroso
Monica Magalhães
Olá
MsBlabladada
Sinto o balanço do ritmo rico de Lisboa/Cabo Verde. Esta é a linda mistura da história! O lado bom, hoje efeito tão mágico. Ouça enquanto escreve o comentário. Abra o coração. Quanto talento! Obrigada por emprestar a voz aos sonhos de calor e luz . Linda mulher, linda voz.
ola milewska
Great song and great singer :-)))
le pape
linda musica mana sara parabens