"To nie ja!" (Polish pronunciation: [ˈtɔ ɲɛ ˈja]; "It wasn't me!"; often rendered without the exclamation mark) was the Polish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994,[1] performed in Polish by Edyta Górniak. This marked Poland's debut at the contest, and consequently the first time that the Polish language had been used in a contest entry. The song achieved second place in the Eurovision final – at the time the highest ever placing attained by a debut song (even in the first contest, Switzerland won with their second song of the night). It was released as a single in English as "Once in a Lifetime".
Quick Facts Single by Edyta Górniak, from the album Dotyk ...
"To nie ja!" |
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Released | March 1994 |
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Recorded | January 1994 |
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Genre |
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Length | 3:05 |
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Label | Pomaton EMI |
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Songwriter(s) |
- Jacek Cygan
- Stanisław Syrewicz
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Producer(s) |
- Stanisław Syrewicz
- Graham Sacher
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Country | |
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Artist(s) | Edyta Górniak |
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Language | |
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Composer(s) | Stanisław Syrewicz |
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Lyricist(s) | Jacek Cygan |
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Conductor | |
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Final result | 2nd |
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Final points | 166 |
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"Sama" (1995) ► |
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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, and to accept her for who she really is.[2]
In 1984, composer Stanisław Syrewicz was in Chicago to demonstrate a composition to another composer named Pawel Oczątkowo, to be used by an American band upon the release of their album.
Ten years later, singer Edyta Górniak, while in London, contacted Jacek Cygan to write the lyrics to the music, that she had heard and had won her heart. She said that it should be understandable to people who do not know Polish. It was picked as first Polish representative at Eurovision.[3]
Quick Facts "Once in a Lifetime", Single by Edyta ...
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The English version "Once in a Lifetime" was released as Górniak's debut single and was featured on her debut album Dotyk. It features Górniak telling her lover that their relationship is a "once in a lifetime" event. The original Polish version also appears as the B-side of the single.
The single cover includes pictures by photographer Marlena Bielińska. The cover artwork was designed by Debi Ani Design Associates.
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Two videos were made, one for the Polish version and another for the English version. "To nie ja" starts with Górniak singing on a dark stage surrounded by smoke and blue light. Inserts of her singing in the recording studio occur throughout the video. For "Once in a Lifetime", Górniak wears yellow clothes in front of a white background, while the camera shows her from different perspectives.
- "Once in a Lifetime" (3:00)
- "To nie ja" (3:00)
More information Region, Certification ...
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Kennedy O'Connor, John (2005). The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History.