To nie ja
Encyclopedia
"To nie ja!" was the Polish
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994
, performed in Polish
by Edyta Górniak
. This was Poland's debut at the contest, and consequently the first time that Polish had been used in a contest entry.
The song is a dramatic ballad, with Górniak describing herself as having an "easy world" - seemingly one of easy distinctions between good and bad. She sings that she is not Eve
, referring to the Biblical character, and asking for her listener not to blame her for the sins of that figure.
Górniak's voice was compared to that of Mariah Carey
in its range (a comparison made easier by the fact that she performed in a short white dress, reminiscent of some of Carey's outfits), and many contest fans have argued that if she had been allowed to sing in English (contest rules at the time stipulating that songs had to be in the national languages of the competing countries), she could have achieved victory. The result has stood as the most successful first-time entry in contest history until the ballad "Molitva
" performed by Serbia
n Marija Šerifović
went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
; Serbia
's first entry as an independent state. Serbia and Montenegro
's entry in the 2004 contest
also placed second. At the same contest, Hungarian
entrant Friderika
, making her country's début with "Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet?
" placed fourth, presaging the domination of the contest by Eastern
and Central Europe
an performers in subsequent years.
Somewhat ironically, Górniak was threatened with disqualification after singing the second half of the song in English during the dress rehearsal watched by the national jury members. An English-language version was later recorded, titled "Once In A Lifetime", and featuring Górniak telling her lover that their relationship is a "once in a lifetime" event.
The song was performed twenty-fourth on the night, following Russia
's Youddiph
with "Vyechniy stranik
" and preceding France
's Nina Morato
with "Je suis un vrai garçon
". At the close of voting, it had received 166 points, placing second in a field of twenty five.
It was succeeded as the Polish representative
in the 1995 contest
by Justyna
with "Sama
".
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994
Eurovision Song Contest 1994
The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1994 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenters were Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan. The pair hosted the evening in French, English and Irish...
, performed in Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
by Edyta Górniak
Edyta Górniak
Edyta Górniak is one of the most popular female singers from Poland.- Beginnings :At the age of 14 Górniak formed a band and was playing at private parties and evening dances. After taking singing lessons, in 1989, aged 16, she gave her first public appearance on a Polish television talent show...
. This was Poland's debut at the contest, and consequently the first time that Polish had been used in a contest entry.
The song is a dramatic ballad, with Górniak describing herself as having an "easy world" - seemingly one of easy distinctions between good and bad. She sings that she is not Eve
Eve (Bible)
Eve was, according to the creation of Abrahamic religions, the first woman created by God...
, referring to the Biblical character, and asking for her listener not to blame her for the sins of that figure.
Górniak's voice was compared to that of Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
in its range (a comparison made easier by the fact that she performed in a short white dress, reminiscent of some of Carey's outfits), and many contest fans have argued that if she had been allowed to sing in English (contest rules at the time stipulating that songs had to be in the national languages of the competing countries), she could have achieved victory. The result has stood as the most successful first-time entry in contest history until the ballad "Molitva
Molitva
"Molitva" is a song by Serbian singer Marija Šerifović. It was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. It was Serbia's Eurovision debut as an independent nation; the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro having dissolved in June 2006...
" performed by Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n Marija Šerifović
Marija Šerifovic
Marija Šerifović is a singer from Serbia. She won the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 with the song "Molitva". Šerifović was born in Kragujevac, Socialist Republic of Serbia, Yugoslavia and is the daughter of Verica Šerifović, also a notable singer...
went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The Eurovision Song Contest 2007 was the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It was won by first-time appearance as an independent country Serbia and was held at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland from 10 May to 12 May. The host broadcaster was YLE.Finland earned the right to host...
; Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
's first entry as an independent state. Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
's entry in the 2004 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004, was the 49th Contest and it was held in the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first occasion in which the contest was held in Turkey after they had won the competition in 2003 with Sertab Erener singing "Everyway That I Can"...
also placed second. At the same contest, Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
entrant Friderika
Friderika Bayer
Friderika Bayer is a Hungarian singer.In 1994 she won the Song Contest called by the Hungarian Television. The title of her winning song was: "Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet?" Later in 1994 she was the third runner up in the Eurovision Song Contest staged in Dublin...
, making her country's début with "Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet?
Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet?
Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet? was the Hungarian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, performed in Hungarian by Friderika...
" placed fourth, presaging the domination of the contest by Eastern
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
and Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
an performers in subsequent years.
Somewhat ironically, Górniak was threatened with disqualification after singing the second half of the song in English during the dress rehearsal watched by the national jury members. An English-language version was later recorded, titled "Once In A Lifetime", and featuring Górniak telling her lover that their relationship is a "once in a lifetime" event.
The song was performed twenty-fourth on the night, following Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
's Youddiph
Youddiph
Masha Katz is Russian singer. She is most known for representing Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 held in Dublin.-Biography:Maria or Masha was born on the 23rd of January 1973 in Moscow. At the age of 13 she formed her first group performing heavy metal songs. In 1989 she met with the...
with "Vyechniy stranik
Vyechniy Stranik
"Vyechniy stranik" was the Russian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, performed in Russian by Youddiph...
" and preceding France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Nina Morato
Nina Morato
Nina Morato is a French singer-songwriter, best known for her participation in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest.- Early career :...
with "Je suis un vrai garçon
Je Suis Un Vrai Garçon
"Je suis un vrai garçon" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, performed in French by Nina Morato. The song was performed twenty-fifth on the night, following Poland's Edyta Górniak with "To nie ja"...
". At the close of voting, it had received 166 points, placing second in a field of twenty five.
It was succeeded as the Polish representative
Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Although Poland did not become member of the European Broadcasting Union until 1993, the Eurovision Song Contest was often broadcast on Telewizja Polska , the Polish broadcaster - even if delayed....
in the 1995 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1995
The Eurovision Song Contest 1995 was the 40th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 13 May 1995 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenter was Mary Kennedy. This contest broke the chain of victories that Ireland enjoyed in 1992, 1993, and 1994...
by Justyna
Justyna Steczkowska
Justyna Steczkowska is a Polish singer, song-writer, and actress.She comes from a big musical family, and played violin in a family band before becoming a solo singer. She has a vocal range of 4 octaves....
with "Sama
Sama (song)
"Sama" was the Polish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1995, performed in Polish by Justyna.The song is somewhat elliptical lyrically. Justyna sings about feeling alone, comparing her state of mind to being "a little flea"...
".