Country Estonia As Maarja Composer(s) Harmo Kallaste | Artist(s) Maarja-Liis Ilus Language Estonian Lyricist(s) Kaari Sillamaa | |
"Keelatud maa" (English translation: "Forbidden Land") was the Estonian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, performed in Estonian by Maarja.
The song was performed thirteenth on the night (following Poland's Anna Maria Jopek with "Ale jestem" and preceding Bosnia and Herzegovina's Alma Čardžić with "Goodbye"). At the close of voting, it had received 82 points, placing 8th in a field of 25.
The song is sung from the perspective of a woman whose lover is putting barriers in her way when it comes to their relationship. She compares this to being in a "forbidden land", but tells him that it won't remain so forever.
On stage with Maarja were two backing vocalists, Airi Allvee and Evelin Samuel who was to represent Estonia in 1999. Allvee returned to Eurovision in Tallinn 2002 where she provided backing vocals for Ira Losco.
It was succeeded as Estonian representative at the 1998 Contest by Koit Toome with "Mere lapsed".