Marija Magdalena (song)

"Marija Magdalena" ("Mary Magdalene") is a song by Croatian singer Doris Dragović, released on 7 March 1999. It was written and composed by Tonči Huljić and Vjekoslava Huljić, and produced by Remi Kazinoti. The song won Dora 1999 and represented Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 where it finished in fourth place with 118 points. The song also functioned as the lead single for Dragović's twelfth studio album, titled Krajem vijeka. Within Croatia, the song achieved significant popularity and emerged as one of her most prominent musical successes.

Background and release
Dragović had previously participated in the Eurovision Song Contest when she represented Yugoslavia at the Eurovision Song Contest 1986 in Bergen, Norway with the song "Željo moja". Her performance secured an 11th place finish with a total of 49 points. Croatia made its debut as an independent country at the 1993 contest.

Since 1995, Dragović has been collaborating with songwriter Tonči Huljić, who would go on to compose "Marija Magdalena" for her twelfth studio album, titled Krajem vijeka. Lyrics were written by Vjekoslava Huljić, and production was done by Remi Kazinoti. The song was recorded at TM Studio in Zagreb and was officially released on 7 March 1999. It made its debut live performance at Dora 1999 where it won the first prize. Following her victory at Dora, the song was released in CD single format by Tonika Records and Orfej for the Croatian market, and it was also made available through Jupiter Records for the European market. An English version titled "Maria Magdalena" was also recorded and released.

On 8 May 2023, a revised rendition of the song was unveiled, featuring the songwriter Tonči Huljić in a collaborative effort.

Music video
The music video accompanying the song was under the directorial expertise of Katja Restović. Filming took place amidst the springtime of 1999, set against the backdrop of the island of Brač. Within the video, Dragović is prominently featured clad in a black dress, delivering her performance at diverse locations throughout the island.

At Dora
On 7 March 1999, Dora 1999, the selection show to find Croatia's Eurovision Song Contest 1999 representative was held. In a field of 24 entries, Dragović was 21st to perform her entry. During the voting sequence the song received 195 points from the regional juries with additionally receiving a set of 12 points from the public thus winning the competition with 207 total points.

At Eurovision
The song represented Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, after it was chosen through Dora 1999. Due to the high number of countries wishing to enter the contest a relegation system was introduced in in order to reduce the number of countries which could compete in each year's contest. Croatia had a high enough average points total to qualify to the final of the 1999 edition held at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem on 29 May 1999.

The song was performed fourth on the night, following Spain's Lydia with "No quiero escuchar" and preceding the United Kingdom's Precious with "Say It Again". She commenced her performance dressed in a white gown and cloak, an attire symbolic of the titular Mary Magdalene. A sole female backing singer, dressed in black, provided vocal support during the performance. As the second verse began, Dragović removed her cloak, revealing a tight bodice. At the close of voting, it had received 118 points, placing fourth of 23.

Controversy
To manage the increasing number of countries seeking entry, Eurovision introduced an average scoring system, based on each country's previous performance. It was discovered that offstage accompaniment in the form of vocals by a male voice choir, not present on stage, had been used during Dragović's performance. Consequently, Croatia faced a penalty in the form of one-third deduction from its average marks. No deductions were made to the song itself, and thus, the song's placement in the competition accurately reflects the points it was awarded. Huljić has made various remarks in several interviews asserting that the deductions in question were attributed to the song itself. However, it is worth noting that this assertion remains unverified and unproven to date. The inquiry into the issue of pre-recorded backing vocals was initiated on behalf of the Norwegian delegation, which was led by Jon Ola Sand.

Track listing
Croatian CD single
 * 1) "Marija Magdalena" – 3:03
 * 2) "Marija Magdalena" (English version) – 3:02
 * 3) "Marija Magdalena" (Instrumental) – 2:48
 * 4) "Marija Magdalena" (Music video)

European CD single
 * 1) "Maria Magdalena" (English version) – 3:02
 * 2) "Maria Magdalena" – 3:03
 * 3) "Maria Magdalena" (Instrumental) – 2:48

Live performances
In addition to its appearances at the Dora and Eurovision events, the song "Marija Magdalena" has become a consistent feature in Dragović's concert repertoire, regularly performed as a solo piece or as part of a medley alongside her other songs in various shows and gigs. As per Dragović's stated practice, she frequently chooses to initiate her concert performances with this song due to its "formal and dramatic attributes", making it a well-suited choice for an opening act. The most recent occasion on which it was employed as the opening piece occurred during her concert held at the Spaladium Arena in Split, commemorating her 40-year career.

On 14 June 2018, during the Zlatni Studio Awards ceremony, Dragović and Danijela Martinović collaborated in performing a medley featuring a selection of their Eurovision entries, which included "Marija Magdalena", "Željo moja", and "Neka mi ne svane".

Legacy
The song is widely regarded as one of Croatia's standout Eurovision entries and enjoys substantial support among Eurovision fans and critics. In a 2012 online survey on the Croatian Eurosong website, "Marija Magdalena" was voted as the country's best Eurovision entry. In a May 2018 poll conducted by Eurofest Hrvatska, the Croatian Eurovision Song Contest fan group, "Marija Magdalena" was ranked as the second-best Croatian ESC entry, trailing behind Danijela Martinović's "Neka mi ne svane".

Cover versions
The song has undergone several cover versions in recent years, with notable renditions including one by the Russian singer and songwriter Philipp Kirkorov in the year 2000, performed in the Russian language. In 2021, another rendition of the song was presented by Croatian singer Albina Grčić, who represented Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. The same year, ToMa, a Croatian singer who had taken part in the Dora 2021 music competition also rendered a rendition of the song as part of the "Eurosong od doma" online concert, an event orchestrated by eurosong.hr.

Furthermore, this song has become a recurring favorite in talent shows across Southeast Europe. It is frequently selected as a showcase for impressive vocal abilities, and it has been featured in various talent competitions, including Zvezde Granda, Supertalent, and Your Face Sounds Familiar, among many others.