We are all capable of being heroes: this is the message from Serhat, San Marino’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.
Eurovoix got the chance to have a little chat with Serhat right before the show at Eurovision in Concert April 6 at the AFAS Live concert hall in Amsterdam. We asked him about his fondest Eurovision memory, something he thinks Eurovision fans should know about San Marino, and the message of his song “Say Na Na Na.”
While Serhat is representing San Marino for the second time, he is actually Turkish. He feels some pride in Turkey’s history in the Eurovision Song Contest.
“I’m representing San Marino but I’m from Turkey,” he said. “When Turkey won with Sertab Erener, in that moment, I really felt very happy. It was one of the best memories for me from the Eurovision Song Contest.”
He also had a fun fact to share about his Eurovision country, the tiny republic of San Marino.
“San Marino is one of the smallest states in Europe, and it is the oldest democracy in the world,” he said. “It was founded in 301. I think this is something everyone needs to know.”
As for his song, “Say Na Na Na,” Serhat believes that it has an important message that everyone should take to heart.
“We all are human beings with several fears in life, and we are trying to hide ourselves if we have some problems,” he said. “But actually, we have the power within ourselves. I really believe each of us is a hero. We all are heroes.”
He left us with an inspiring thought about the diversity of the world and the possibilities we can all experience.
“Life is full of different colors: we must be open to all the colors,” he said. “Be the hero, be the rainbow: then you are a winner in life.”
A big thank you to Serhat, the Sammarinese delegation, and the organizers of Eurovision in Concert for helping make this interview possible.
Serhat will perform in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 in Tel Aviv on May 14. He is one of 17 acts vying for 10 spots to the Grand Final on May 18.
Who is Serhat?
Serhat has previously represented San Marino in 2016 in Stockholm with the song “I Didn’t Know” which did not qualify for the final after finishing in 12th place in the first semi final. Despite not qualifying however, it was San Marino’s third highest placing in their history at the contest.
Serhat has become the second artist to represent San Marino on multiple occasions, following Valentina Monetta who competed three times from 2012 to 2014 and then once more in 2017 with Jimmie Wilson.
In his previous attempt in 2016, listening to fans on social media, Serhat decided to perform the disco version of his entry “I Didn’t Know” despite originally releasing a slower version of the song.
San Marino debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 alongside Azerbaijan. On their debut they were represented by Miodio and the song “Complice”, and finished last in their semi final with just 5 points. San Marino withdrew from the contest before returning again in 2011. Since then the country has participated annually and in 2014 qualified for their first final. The nations worst result came in 2017 when Valentina Monetta represented San Marino for the fourth time alongside Jimmie Wilson with “Spirit of the Night.” The pair finished last in their semi-final with just 1 point.
