"Rock Me" is a song recorded by Croatian pop band Riva with music composed by Rajko Dujmić and lyrics written by Stevo Cvikić. It in the

Eurovision Song Contest 1989 The Eurovision Song Contest 1989 was the 34th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 6 May 1989 in the in Lausanne, Switzerland. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster (TSR) on behalf of the Swiss Bro ...

, held in

Lausanne Lausanne ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, city of the Swiss French-speaking Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Vaud, in Switzerland. It is a hilly city situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, about halfway bet ...

, resulting in the country's only ever win at the contest.

Background

Conception

"Rock Me" was composed by Rajko Dujmić with Croatian lyrics by Stevo Cvikić. In addition to the Croatian-language version, Riva recorded an English-language version with lyrics also by Cvikić.

Eurovision

On 4 March 1989, "Rock Me" performed by Riva in Croatian, and representing Televizija Zagreb (TVZg), competed in the of ''

Jugovizija Yugoslavia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 27 times, debuting in 1961 and competing every year until its last appearance in 1992, with the exceptions of 1977–1980, and 1985. The Yugoslavian participating broadcaster in the conte ...

'', the national final organised by the

Yugoslav Radio Television Yugoslav Radio Television (''Jugoslavenska radiotelevizija''/Југословенска радиотелевизија or ''Jugoslavenska radio-televizija''/Југословенска радио-телевизија; JRT/ЈРТ) was the national ...

(JRT) to select its song and performer for the of the

Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...

. The song won the competition, so it became the –and Riva the performers– for Eurovision. On 6 May 1989, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne hosted by (TSR) on behalf of the

Swiss Broadcasting Corporation The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (; ; ; ; SRG SSR) is the Swiss public broadcasting association, founded in 1931, the holding company of 24 radio and television channels. Headquartered in Bern, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation is a non-pro ...

(SRG SSR), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Riva performed the Croatian-language version of "Rock Me" twenty-second and last on the evening, following 's "Flieger" by

Nino de Angelo Domenico Gerhard Gorgoglione (born 18 December 1963), known professionally as Nino de Angelo, is a German singer of Italian descent known for his 1983 chart-topper " Jenseits von Eden", and who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 19 ...

. Nikica Kalogjera conducted the event's live orchestra in the performance of the Yugoslavian entry. At the close of voting, it had received 137 points, placing first and winning the contest. In their winning reprise the group's lead vocalist Emilija Kokić sang the song in English. This is the country's only ever win at the contest. The song was succeeded as winner in by " Insieme: 1992" performed by

Toto Cutugno Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno (; 7 July 1943 – 22 August 2023) was an Italian Italian popular music, pop singer-songwriter, musician, and television presenter. He was best known for his worldwide hit song, "", released on his 1983 album of the sam ...

representing . It was succeeded as Yugoslav entrant that year by "

Hajde da ludujemo Yugoslavia was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1990 with the song "" , composed by Zrinko Tutić, with lyrics by Alka Vuica, and performed by Tajči. The Yugoslav participating broadcaster, (JRT), selected its entry through ''1990 ...

" performed by Tajči.

Aftermath

The song's victory led to international awareness of Yugoslav and

Croatian rock Croatian popular music is the popular music of Croatia. Prominent mainstream pop artists include: Oliver Dragojević, Gibonni, Dino Dvornik, Toni Cetinski, Thompson (band), Thompson and others. Croatia is known for the specific Dalmatian sound ...

. Riva's frontwoman Kokić continued to appear in various shows but had no significant success after the 1989 victory.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Eurovision songs of Yugoslavia Eurovision songs of 1989 Croatian songs Eurovision Song Contest-winning songs 1989 songs Macaronic songs