Photo: Georg Savisar / ERR

Estonia will make their debut appearance at Junior Eurovision during this year’s competition in Nice. And helping them make history is ARHANNA, who will sing her song “Hoiame Kokku” (Stick Together).

Scroll down for the “Hoiame Kokku” lyrics

Estonia in Junior Eurovision 2023: ARHANNA with “Hoiame Kokku”

ARHANNA, full name Arhanna Sandra Arbma, is 11 years old and hails from Räpina.

It’s in her home town where she takes music lessons and studies piano at the prestigious Räpina Music School.

ARHANNA was chosen to represent Estonia at Junior Eurovision after winning the 2022 edition of Tähtede Lava, ETV’s talent show. In the final she performed alongside Nele-Liis Vaiksoo, who has recently been announced as a finalist in Eesti Laul 2024.

What do the “Hoiame Kokku” lyrics mean?

“Hoiame Kokku” talks about that one friend who will support you when times are hard. The lyrics and visuals of the music video come together to help portray this message.

We initially see ARHANNA walking the streets in a slightly depressive state as she sings, “Believe, hope and know / That everything will be alright / Know that a good friend / Is coming to you.“ 

At first, the young star brings her sadness to school. But once she spends some time with Rael Laikre — ARHANNA’s real-life friend and the song’s co-writer — she begins to cheer-up.

A friend does what a friend ought to do — Rael takes ARHANNA to her happy places: a basketball court, huge tree, gaming park and, of course, takes her for bubble tea at an artsy wall.

In the final verse, ARHANNA acknowledges the importance of having a true friend behind you: “Staying together / Days will be better / A friend is right there with you / Always there with you.”

ARHANNA has previously hinted her live performance in Nice will have some similarities to the official music video.

“Hoiame Kokku” lyrics: ARHANNA (Estonia JESC 2023)

Lyrics: Rael Laikre and Leelo Tungal, Music: Arhanna Sandra Arbma and Karl-Ander Reismann

Karl-Ander previously penned “Hope”, Estonia’s song for Eurovision 2022. Leelo Tungal co-wrote Estonia’s first two Eurovision entries in 1993 and 1994.

Estonian lyrics

Kui üksi tunned end,
ei murest üle saa
ja näib, et sõbrad sind
ei hoia, armasta,
usu, looda, tea,
kõik saab korda veel –
tea, et sõber hea
on su juurde teel.
Uu-uu-uu…

Hoiame kokku,
nii on meil lootust,
et sõber on olemas,
ole olemas!
Hoiame kokku,
nii on meil lootust,
et sõber on olemas,
ole olemas!

Kui tuge vajad sa,
sõber annab nõu
ühes temaga
leiad endas uue jõu.
Uu-uu-uu…

Hoiame kokku,
nii on meil lootust,
et sõber on olemas,
ole olemas!
Hoiame kokku,
nii on meil lootust,
et sõber on olemas,
ole olemas!
Aa-aa-aa-aa

Hoiame kokku,
nii on meil lootust,
et sõber on olemas,
ole olemas!

Staying together
Days will be better
A friend is right there with you
Always there with you

Staying together
Days will be better
I will stand by you!

English translation

When you are feeling alone
Not able to get over your worries
And it seems that your friends
Don’t care, don’t love you
Believe, hope and know
That everything be alright
Know that a good friend
Is coming to you
Oh-oh-oh…

Staying together
So we have hope
That a friend is there
Be there!
Staying together
So we have hope
That a friend is there
Be there!

When you need support
A friend will guide you
And together
You’ll find new strength inside
Oh-oh-oh…

Staying together
So we have hope
That a friend is there
Be there!
Staying together
So we have hope
That a friend is there
Be there!
Aa-aa-aa-aa

Staying together
So we have hope
That a friend is there
Be there!

Staying together
Days will be better
A friend is right there with you
Always there with you

Staying together
Days will be better
I will stand by you!

What do you think of Estonia’s first Junior Eurovision entry? Do you think they can secure victory with their debut? Let us know in the comments!

4 Comments
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Ria NL
Ria NL
1 year ago

I am very happy for the debute from Estonia. The song is very beautiful and one of my big favorites. Good luck for Arhanna and her country.

NoMoreEscAddicted
NoMoreEscAddicted
1 year ago

Very nice debut Estonia! Good luck!

Whisker
Whisker
1 year ago

Nice song and so much Estonian talent there, good luck to Arhanna and Estonia to their first JESC!

Vivian
Vivian
1 year ago

I’m still surprised Estonia has actually decided to make their debut at JESC this year, and I think this is a really good debut! The message is simple but comprehensible; Be there for your friends and they’ll be there for you. Arhanna’s got a good voice, I really like the harmony between the vocals, and the music video is cute. It doesn’t stand out too much in the broader scene since there’s a handful of songs that are more of an attention magnet so I often tend to lean more towards other entries this year, but this is still a… Read more »