Everyone’s favourite Turkish crooner is back — and he’s bringing an uplifting banger to the party. Serhat may not be a favourite with the bookies, but he has already won fans over with his upbeat number “Say Na Na Na”, which he delivers with his signature sound — something deep, resonant, and, dare we say, a tad sexy.
San Marino’s Eurovision 2019 star composed his second Eurovision entry all by himself, while the “Say Na Na Na” lyrics were written in conjunction with Mary Susan Applegate.
“San Marino is a small country with a very big heart!” Serhat said on Instagram when discussing his return. “My love for Eurovision inspired me to write and compose my first song.”
What are the “Say Na Na Na” lyrics about?
The lyrics seem to be addressed to a weary, sad person, with the goal of cheering her up. Bad things happen every day — just listen to the songs from Duncan Laurence, Hatari and Darude to hear some of the world’s woes! But Serhat encourages you to look past the dreary times and focus on the good. Just be yourself and if you’re having problems call Serhat. (Turkey’s international dialling code is +90).
It’s a timely song. Social media and the 24-hour news cycle remind us — constantly and in real-time — that crazy things are happening all around the world. It’s no doubt important to mourn and engage with horror — from terror attacks and mass shootings to widening inequality and the resurgence of certain diseases. But Serhat’s friendly chant na na na is a welcome distraction and a reminder that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
When it comes to personal matters and interpersonal tension, we’re frequently part of our own problem. But on the flip side we can also be the solution. So take the lead from Serhat and be the one who makes life a tad prettier by embracing others. Or, as Serhat sings, “be a hero, be the rainbow and say na na na!”
Serhat — “Say Na Na Na” lyrics
You look sad and lonely, is something wrong tonight?
Why this rush to run away? Things will be all right
Just be strong and look at me, hear me when I say
Who cares that you’re outta love, it happens every day
All your dreams have gone away, no matter what you do
Love all colors of this life and to yourself be true
Don’t forget my number, call me anytime
I will always tell you life is beautiful and fine
Say na na na
On a dark deserted way, say na na na
There’s a light for you that waits, it’s na na na
Say na na na
Say na na na
You’re not alone, so stand up na na na
Be a hero, be the rainbow and sing na na na
Say na na na
All your dreams have gone away, no matter what you do
Love all colors of this life and to yourself be true
Don’t forget my number, call me anytime
I will always tell you life is beautiful and fine
Say na na na
On a dark deserted way, say na na na
There’s a light for you that waits, it’s na na na
Say na na na
Say na na na
You’re not alone, so stand up na na na
Be a hero, be the rainbow and sing na na na
Say na na na
If you’re feeling lonely
We can take it slowly
Think I’m going crazy
Yes, I’m going crazy
We can all go crazy
Bir, Ki, Üç…
Say na na na
On a dark deserted way, say na na na
There’s a light for you that waits, it’s na na na
Say na na na
Say na na na
You’re not alone, so stand up na na na
Be a hero, be the rainbow and sing na na na
Say na na na
Say na na na
Do you like the lyrics of “Say Na Na Na”? Do they have a positive impact? Tell us in the comments below!
I love it. Maybe it takes me back to the dico 70s but that’s fine with me. You can sing it and dance to it. It makes me happy.
Does anybody get what he means when he says “say na na na”? Does that mean anything in a particular language? Or is it a pointless phrase to reflect the inherent pointlessness of human existence?
Serhat . . . Fun and meaningless – okay. BUT the song itself sounds a little bit dated. I mean, paradoxically enough, this song makes me sad a little, I don’t really fancy listening to it?
However, since it’s the first semi, this can actually qualify.
This needs to be in the final to provide an uplifting and fun break. Sure it’s not going to win or come close, but it deserves to be in the final. Also, it’s pretty much a backdoor entry for Turkey and means of protesting the Turkish government’s pullout from the contest.
Who would have thought that San Marino will be one of my favourites this year! I just read one comment on yt ”San Marino in Eurovision is not country- it’s a state of mind” lol, totally agree 😀
Vote say nanana 😀
it’s always funny to see these naive art pieces. I can’t really say I love it, but it’s just comical, and I enjoy laughing. 😀 good luck, Serhat! 😀
I vote for Sehat! Say nanana!
It’s fun song, has a fine retro vibe which many will love, likeable performer and I like the overal message of this entry. Maybe we should all listen to Serhat, start enjoying our life and don’t take ourselves so seriously. Say na na na! 🙂
Evrovision needs positive songs especially this year full of sad ballads!
I know right, Leonard Cohen look-alike singing disco, hahaha 🙂
I am getting mad when I see people wanting a song with such lyrics to qualify only because he is a meme. There are some much better songs in sf 1 that if this will qualify it will surely take someone else’s place. This is a joke entry, joke entries are fun but still should stay in semi.
“You look sad and lonely, is something wrong tonight?”
I would prefer to be sad than to listen to such a silly song. It has an awful message and such comments are the proof it shouldn’t be promoted. Seems like some people are literally starting to think sadness is a bad emotion.
No one is saying that sadness is a bad thing here but okay.
The lyrics say that and you’ve just tried to gaslight my opinion with a quote from there.
Cuz you don’t have a good opinion
Yes I do because unlike some ppl I can argument it.
*argue
You make it sound like there are 10 “1944”s or “Amar pelos dois” in the first semi. There aren’t.
No there aren’t but even Montenegro is better
Girl bye, no one cares about your opinion. Say nanana!
“Girl”, you are not replying under one’s comment only to say “bye” and nothing else that worth reading bcs it’s not your space, but that one’s, so it just doesn’t make sense. And a hint: when you don’t care, you ignore.
This needs to qualify for the final!
Probably not happening, but could San Marino pull off a Moldova 2017? A non-serious, fun song from a small country coming top 3.
Oh my lord, my little heart would give out. If it would then lead to a Moldova-esque return to the top ten the next year, I wouldn’t complain either!
I don’t know Turkish, but I checked various sources and they all translated it as “one, two, three”.
Without a trace of irony, I love this entry. Serhat reserved a special place in my heart after his first attempt, but this one is even better. I’ve just returned from a horrible day in work, so I’m going to play this right now and say Na, Na, Na!
Mark my words, San Marino will qualify for the Grand Final.
Glad to see Iceland and Portugal as favourites to go through by the way. I’m from Ireland and countries which usually struggle to qualify have a special place in my heart 🙂
Oh Serhat, my joyful smily daddy 😛
I hope to see him in the finale
Serhat is fantastic, and this song brings out some of the best of him. Yet again, it’s another song that could benefit from more than six people being on stage, but six will have to do. Let the crazyness… begin!
It s already know that there will be 5 backing singers on the stage, probably with some dancings in the pocket.
Mistake sorry. he-s on SF1 but i want any other of this SF instead of Serhat
I was going to say that this was my guilty pleasure, but since it seems to be that for many others too its not that “guilty” anymore.
I hope this will be San Marino’s second jump to the final. Performing in the first semifinal is surely positive for achieving it
I still think the whole song consists in Serhat trying to pick up a lady at a bar. 😀 The approach is very old school, some parts are very cheesy, but it puts a smile in my face. Colin and Joe both used the word “genuine” to describe it and I believe it makes sense.
Hahaha, agree, cheesy, but charming, with all that retro vibe it reminds me of somehow, I don’t know how, on ”Mambo no.5” song, lol
Never imagined San Marino could be better than Sweden. Really hope it qualifies, they deserve it.
”Never imagined San Marino could be better than Sweden.” ‘ESC 2013 says hi!
2008 too. Sorry not sorry.
This song is so genuine and lovable. It’s a bop, looks like it’ll be well-staged, and hopefully it’ll get Serhat a well-deserved ticket to the final.
“Love all colors of this life and to yourself be true” what San Marinese yoda say would it is, hmmm.
I don’t understand your English. yoda hmmm ???what is this???/
Please tell me what “yoda hmm” means. I want to find out this before I die. Is on my bucket list. (SARCASM)
”Be a hero, be the rainbow and sing na na na” are probably the cheesiest lyrics in this year’s line up and surprisingly, they 100% work for me in this format. What San Marino and Spain (and in some amount, Malta, Denmark and Ireland) have working in their favor is genuine simplicity. There is a lot of ”try hard” artistic songs this year, and while many of them work, some of them will come off as somewhat pretentious. Serhat is such a gentle and nice guy, oozing optimism and happiness. Will San Marino get a card to finals? At this… Read more »
Is this a shade to The Netherlands? If you don’t name them, I have the right to guess.
If Serhat will not qualify, I’m done. I’m DONE!!!!!
I totally love Duncan’s song. His is one of those which work perfectly in that high art form. Some are more on the edge for me. I will certainly name them in my April reviews, though.
I agree and I would add Czechia to the list, Colin.
Sure. Czechia has a charming song well made to attract both younger and older audiences. I believe they should qualify.
I see a lot of fan favorites that I truly don’t know the fate of. I can’t see a ton of obvious qualifiers, but I do have my favorites.