Her passing on Sunday evening sent shockwaves through the Eurovision fandom, with countless social media users remembering her poise and her power.
Sara Tavares, who commentators described as a Portuguese Whitney Houston, passed away on 19 November from a brain tumour. She’d been battling it for more than a decade.
?? We share the sad news of Portugal #Eurovision 1994 Sara Tavares’s death this evening. She was 45 years old. Her art will always be part of her legacy. ? pic.twitter.com/w9pSvc3USo
— wiwibloggs (@wiwibloggs) November 19, 2023
Tavares was born in Lisbon in 1978. She rose to national prominence when she won the inaugural edition of Chuva de Estrelas in 1994. Among other things, she covered Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time,” wowing judges and viewers with her ability to make a big song her own.
Those skills were on fine show at Eurovision in Dublin later that year when she sang the beautiful number “Chamar a música”. She was just 16 years old at the time.
Spain’s jury gave her 12 points and she also received points from 13 of the 25 participating nations. She ultimately finished in eighth place. Only four Portuguese acts have ever placed higher.
A generation of children will also remember her for singing “God Help the Outcasts” in the Portuguese version of Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Our social media followers have been full of praise.
“Incredibly sad,” says user @jaccobabe. “Way too young to go. Amazing singer, and a fantastic song.”
@btsfairy_D said: “Spent my childhood singing along to this song with my cousin. I hope she’s resting peacefully knowing she’ll always be remembered.”
@CrazyJaerson remembered her historic role in the Portuguese music scene: “RIP to the youngest Festival da Cançao winner and Portuguese Eurovision entrant.”
@n0t_daisy said: “Sara Tavares, the one who gave me the music bug and whose song gave me my first victory in a music competition at age 11. Portugal lost so much today.”
Like so many, she punctuated her statement with an emoji of a broken heart.
Her song in Eurovision is one of my all time favourite, I’ve always thought she could return but sadly that never happened.
Such a bad news. RiP beautifull voice!
Very sad news!
I consider 1994 to be one of the very best years, and her lovely song and charming performance os a very strong point! It seems like she carved out a long and widely respected career as a world artist, and we’ll have all these excellent performances to remember her by. She was also one of the few Eurovision artists to appear on perhaps the best live music show, Later with Jools Holland : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G4blvdj04Hk
I was also grad when she was invited to perform as part of the 2018 interval.
Such sad news. I followed her career since 1994 and absolutely loved her music. I was in the Point Dublin for the 1994 contest and I will never forget the 3 minutes that Sara was on the stage – the entire audience was captivated by her song and I was convinced she might win – it was magical. I’ve never felt such emotion in the arena for any performance since. Portugal, you have one more angel shining bright and thank you Sara your beautiful music! X
I am so jealous! I wish I could time travel.
One of Portugal’s best ever entries. It’s one of my favourite songs of the decade, too. So sad.
Sara . A tua música acompanhou me tantas vezes . Cantarolei Chamar a Música . Sonhei com o Ponto de Luz . Doeu me Eu Sei . Uma das minhas músicas em português que mais amo . Dancei com Balance . És agora uma estrelinha no céu .
Truly devastating news… I’m shocked and speechless. Such a beautiful voice, stellar performance… One of the hardest losses.
R. I. P., dear Sara, and thank you for everything. Chamar la musica is so beautiful and in my top 5 of 1994. She was way too young to die.
Very sad news. That was one of the (many) great moments of that night in Dublin, one of the best Eurovision shows ever.
I didn’t realize she was so young when she participated at Eurovision in 1994 and now we’ve lost her too soon. Rest in peace.
I am so sad to hear this news. I met Sara in Dublin in 1994 during the ESC. I loved her song “Chamar a musica” so much. My condoleances to her family, friends and many fans.
Awful news. I am very sad. Don’t forget she was part of the interval at Lisbon 2018. Such talent, gone too soon.
A great singer, honey voice. Will be missed
“A Portuguese Whitney Houston”
Sara did not even live as long as Whitney. My heart breaks.
I read this earlier on another website. Very sad news. Chamara Musica is one of my all time favourite Eurovision songs and at the time i thought this was a potential winner on the night as it was beautifully sung by a very young Sara. People often talk about timeless classics and this song truly is. Sara has left a beautiful legacy. Condolences.