| "Rock Me" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byRiva | |
| from the album Riva | |
| Language | Croatian |
| Released | 1989 |
| Genre | Pop-rock |
| Label | Jugoton |
| Composer | Rajko Dujmić |
| Lyricist | Stevo Cvikić |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1989 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artists |
|
| As | |
| Language | |
| Composer | |
| Lyricist | Stevo Cvikić |
| Conductor | Nikica Kalogjera |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 1st |
| Final points | 137 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Mangup" (1988) | |
| "Hajde da ludujemo" (1990) ► | |
| Official performance video | |
| "Rock Me" onYouTube | |
"Rock Me" is a song recorded by Croatian pop bandRiva with music composed byRajko Dujmić and lyrics written by Stevo Cvikić. Itrepresented Yugoslavia in theEurovision Song Contest 1989, held inLausanne, resulting in the country's only ever win at the contest.
"Rock Me" was composed byRajko 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.[1]
On 4 March 1989, "Rock Me" performed by Riva in Croatian, and representingTelevizija Zagreb (TVZg), competed in the28th edition ofJugovizija, the national final organised by theYugoslav Radio Television (JRT) to select its song and performer for the34th edition of theEurovision Song Contest. The song won the competition, so it became theYugoslavian entry –and Riva the performers– for Eurovision.[2]
On 6 May 1989, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at thePalais de Beaulieu in Lausanne hosted byTélévision suisse romande (TSR) on behalf of theSwiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Riva performed the Croatian-language version of "Rock Me" twenty-second and last on the evening, followingGermany's "Flieger" byNino de Angelo. Nikica Kalogjera conducted the event's live orchestra in the performance of the Yugoslavian entry.[3]
At the close of voting, it had received 137 points, placing first and winning the contest.[4] In their winning reprise the group's lead vocalistEmilija Kokić sang the song in English. This is the country's only ever win at the contest. The song was succeeded as winner in1990 by "Insieme: 1992" performed byToto Cutugno representingItaly. It was succeeded as Yugoslav entrant that year by "Hajde da ludujemo" performed byTajči.
The song's victory led to international awareness ofYugoslav andCroatian rock.[5] Riva's frontwoman Kokić continued to appear in various shows but had no significant success after the 1989 victory.
| Preceded by | Eurovision Song Contest winners 1989 | Succeeded by |
