Nayah

French singer (born 1960)

Not to be confused with Nayaah.

Nayah

Nayah in 2018

Background information
Birth name| Sylvie Mestres
Born|  (1960-09-29) September 29, 1960 (age 64)
Perpignan
Occupation| Singer

Musical artist

Sylvie Mestres, also known as Nayah, is a French singer.

## Career

[edit]

Nayah launched her music career after six years of studies at the Perpignan Academy of Music and Drama. She was chosen to represent France during the Eurovision Song Contest of 1999 which was held in Jerusalem. Before going to Eurovision, attention was given to her in the French press when they revealed her relationship with the International Raëlian Movement (I.R.M.). Nayah entered the I.R.M. following her husband, and she had climbed the Guide levels until she became an assistant guide (Level 3). This happened after she released a first CD in 1988 titled Elohim which presents themes of the Raëlian Philosophy.

Although the singer confirmed that she had left the I.R.M. since 1996, Nayah followed a mobilization of anti-I.R.M associations, fearing that a victory offers a platform that is a little too visible with the International Raëlian Movement. She was not however prohibited from taking part in the contest, where she ranked 19 out of 23.

Nayah has since returned to the I.R.M. Nayah's return was quoted by the I.R.M. several times to point out the ostracism she had been facing and continued to face. In attempt to reverse this situation, an electronic book called Proud to be Raëlian was published in 2005.[1] A source alleges that Nayah confirmed that she had quit the International Raëlian Movement for good. This source was completely fabricated by the producer and his agent to occult the adherence of Nayah to the International Raëlian Movement.[citation needed] Nayah made a testimony on the subject which is printed on page 145-146 of the book Proud to be Raëlian:

> "In the beginning, when these damages started, my producer George Mary and my agent, Jacques Marouani, suggested I declare to the press that I was not active any more in International Raëlian Movement, to devote myself to my career, and to calm matters. It was a terrible decision which I was unwilling to take. Some articles in the press showed the declarations which I had learned by heart. But the whole of the press refused to believe in it. And it is easy to imagine for an industry which nourishes controversy and sensationalism." – Nayah[2]

## Achievements

[edit]

* 1990: Finalist in Swiss Eurovision
* 1996: "Gold Wandering entertainers"
* 1997: Gaining 1st Open Show in New Casting in Geneva
* 1997: 1st prize with St-Aubin Contest in Switzerland
* 1997: Challenge Eddie Barclay
* 1998: Finalist of the Rose d' Or with Antibes (France)
* 1999: Participation in Eurovision.

## Discography

[edit]

* 1988:  Elohim
* 1999: MINOR ROAD 2 titles. I want to give my voice took 19th place in the Eurovision contest)

## Quote

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"I do nothing but pass while hoping to leave on my passage some drops of humanity." – Nayah

## Footnotes

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This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.
Find sources: "Nayah" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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1. ^ Proud to be Raëlian, Nova Distribution, 2005.
2. ^ "Artist's Breach of Contract: Testimony number 6". Testimony of Nayah concerning her participation in Eurovision (in French). Coordination des Associations & Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience. 3 March 2000. Retrieved 3 August 2006.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nayah.

* https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125322/http://www.compagnie-spectacles.com/spectacle/sosie-celine-dion.html
* Official website

Preceded by

Marie Line
with Où aller

|  France in the Eurovision Song Contest
1999 | Succeeded by

Sofia Mestari
with On aura le ciel

|
|

* v
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France in the Eurovision Song Contest

Participation|

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* ~~2020~~
* 2021
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Artists|

* Ahez
* Alma
* Mathé Altéry
* Alvan
* Amir
* Amina
* Lisa Angell
* Anggun
* Isabelle Aubret
* Louisa Baïleche
* Alain Barrière
* Roger Bens
* Frida Boccara
* Guy Bonnet
* Amandine Bourgeois
* Jacqueline Boyer
* Dan Ar Braz
* Jonatan Cerrada
* André Claveau
* Martine Clémenceau
* Cocktail Chic
* Noëlle Cordier
* ~~Dani~~
* Dany Dauberson
* Anne-Marie David
* Paule Desjardins
* Fanny
* Les Fatals Picards
* Catherine Ferry
* Patrick Fiori
* Sandrine François
* Jean Gabilou
* Bilal Hassani
* Héritage des Celtes
* Jean Philippe
* Patricia Kaas
* Kali
* Serge Lama
* ~~Tom Leeb~~
* Gérard Lenorman
* Louane
* Madame Monsieur
* Guy Mardel
* Marie Line
* Betty Mars
* Jessy Matador
* Jean-Paul Mauric
* Sofia Mestari
* Christine Minier
* Nina Morato
* Marie Myriam
* Nayah
* Ortal
* Nathalie Pâque
* Virginie Pouchain
* Barbara Pravi
* Joël Prévost
* Profil
* Rachel
* Nicole Rieu
* Nathalie Santamaria
* Slimane
* Natasha St-Pier
* Sébastien Tellier
* Annick Thoumazeau
* Twin Twin
* Joëlle Ursull
* Amaury Vassili
* Dominique Walter
* La Zarra

Songs|

* "À chaque pas"
* "Allez Ola Olé"
* "L'Amour à la française"
* "Autant d'amoureux que d'étoiles"
* "La Belle amour"
* "C'est le dernier qui a parlé qui a raison"
* "Chacun pense à soi"
* "Le Chant de Mallory"
* "Chanteur de charme"
* "Chez nous"
* "Comé-comédie"
* "Divine"
* "Diwanit bugale"
* "Dors, mon amour"
* "Echo (You and I)"
* "Elle était si jolie"
* "L'Enfer et moi"
* "Et bonjour à toi l'artiste"
* "Et s'il fallait le faire"
* "Européennes"
* "Évidemment"
* "Femme dans ses rêves aussi"
* "Fulenn"
* "Hé, hé M'sieurs dames"
* "Humanahum"
* "Il doit faire beau là-bas"
* "Il est là"
* "Il était temps"
* "Il faut du temps"
* "Il me donne rendez-vous"
* "Il y aura toujours des violons"
* "J'ai cherché"
* "J'ai volé la vie"
* "Un jardin sur la terre"
* "Je n'ai que mon âme"
* "Je suis l'enfant soleil"
* "Je suis un vrai garçon"
* "Je veux donner ma voix"
* "Un jour, un enfant"
* "Mama Corsica"
* "Maman"
* "Marie-Blanche"
* "Mercy"
* ~~" Mon alliée (The Best in Me)"~~
* "Mon amour"
* "Monté la riviè"
* "Monts et merveilles"
* "Les Mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche"
* "Moustache"
* "N'avoue jamais"
* "N'oubliez pas"
* "L'Oiseau et l'Enfant"
* "On aura le ciel"
* "Où aller"
* "Oui, oui, oui, oui"
* "Un premier amour"
* "Printemps, avril carillonne"
* "Requiem"
* "Roi"
* "Sans toi"
* "Sentiments songes"
* "Sognu"
* "La Source"
* "Le Temps perdu"
* "Tom Pillibi"
* "Un, deux, trois"
* ~~" La Vie à vingt-cinq ans"~~
* "Vivre"
* "Voilà"
* "White and Black Blues"

Note: Entries scored out signify where France did not compete. Italics indicate an entry in a future contest.

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest 1999

Countries|

* Austria
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Denmark
* Estonia
* France
* Germany
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* Lithuania
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Turkey
* United Kingdom

Artists|

* Aistė
* Rui Bandeira
* Vanessa Chinitor
* Dino and Béatrice
* Doris Dragović
* Eden
* Trine Jepsen and Michael Teschl
* Lydia
* Marlain
* Marlayne
* The Mullans
* Nayah
* Charlotte Nilsson
* Tuba Önal and Grup Mistik
* Precious
* Evelin Samuel and Camille
* Selma
* Bobbie Singer
* Sürpriz
* Darja Švajger
* Mietek Szcześniak
* Times Three
* Van Eijk

Songs|

* "All Out of Luck"
* "Believe 'n Peace"
* "Como tudo começou"
* "Diamond of Night"
* "Dön Artık"
* "For a Thousand Years"
* "Happy Birthday"
* "Je veux donner ma voix"
* "Journey to Jerusalem – Kudüs'e Seyahat"
* "Like the Wind"
* "Living My Life Without You"
* "Marija Magdalena"
* "No quiero escuchar"
* "One Good Reason"
* "Przytul mnie mocno"
* "Putnici"
* "Reflection"
* "Say It Again"
* "Strazdas"
* "Take Me to Your Heaven"
* "Tha'nai erotas"
* "This Time I Mean It"
* "When You Need Me"

Authority control databases: Artists |

* MusicBrainz

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