Trivia
THE START
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Seven countries - each with 2 songs - took part in the first Grand Prix on
Thursday, 24 May 1956 at the Kursaal Theatre, Lugano, Switzerland. In order of
appearance, they were: Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France,
Luxembourg and Italy.
PROTEST
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The UK sent its first entry in 1957 to
Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. Sung by Patricia Bredin, it was called
"All", and the conductor was Eric Robinson. There was no British entry
in 1958, but the UK has been represented since.
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The UK has won on 5 occasions : "Puppet On
A String" - Sandie Shaw (1967), "Boom bang-a-bang" - Lulu (joint winner
in 1969), "Save Your Kisses For Me" - Brotherhood of Man (1976), "Making
Your Mind Up" - Bucks Fizz (1981) and "Love Shine a Light" - Katrina and
the Waves (1997). The UK has come second a record 14 times; been placed
third 3 times, and come fourth 5 times. The worst placing for the UK was
in 2000 when Nicki French finished 16th with "Don't Play That Song
Again".
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Despite only winning 5 times, the UK has to
date hosted the most contests. On four of these occasions, Katie
officiated as mistress of ceremonies (1960/63/68 - London; 1974
-Brighton). Other hostesses were Moira Shearer (1972 - Edinburgh);
Angela Rippon (1977 - Wembley); and Jan Leeming (1982 - Harrogate).
However, Dublin has the honour of hosting more contests than any other
city - the Irish capital has staged no fewer than 6 contests
(1971/81/88/94/95/96).
-
Terry Wogan has provided the commentary for
BBC viewers every year since 1980. He first commentated for BBC Radio
listeners in 1971, then transferred to TV for the 1973 and 1978 events,
before taking over the TV coverage full time in 1980. Other BBC
commentators down the years included Tom Sloan, the late Head of BBC
Light Entertainment (1959 and 1961); David Jacobs (1960; 1962-66); Rolf
Harris (1967); David Gell (1968-70); Dave Lee Travis (1971); Tom Fleming
(1972); David Vine ('74); Pete Murray ('75,'77); Michael Aspel ('76) and
John Dunn ('79) .
-
UK contenders in 1984, Belle and The
Devotions, were greeted by booing at the end of their song, "Love
Games", from some of the audience in Luxembourg because of the hostility
in mainland Europe to British soccer hooliganism raging at the time.
-
The Song For Europe contest has seen a
return to the format where the songwriters chose the artists to perform
their songs. This was last employed in 1991.
-
Political and protest songs are not popular
with the Eurovision audiences. Norway's anti-nuclear entry, Samiid êdnan
(Land of the Sami people), took 16th place in 1980, while Finland's 1982
entry, Nuku pommiin (Bomb extinction), scored no points! The UK's
environmental contribution was in 1990: Give A Little Love Back To The
World came 6th. However, at the other end of the scale, Ein bisschen
Frieden (A Little Peace), Germany's 1982 entry sung by Nicole, was a
runaway winner - 61 points clear of the runner-up!
-
In April 1974, a military coup was planned
in Portugal, and the trigger for action was the broadcast of its
Eurovision entry that year, E depois do adeus, sung by Paulo de Carvalho,
on national radio. The following year, the Portuguese entry was the
aptly titled Madrugada (April Dawn), sung by Duarte Mendes, then a
serving officer with the Portuguese army.
-
The Italians (in 1981, 1982 and 1986) and
the French (in 1982) pulled out of the contest because they were
discontented with the standard of music. However, after a public outcry
and pressure from their respective music industries, both nations
relented. Italy also decided to opt out in 1994, and again this year
alongside Luxembourg. In 1974, France - having already selected its
entry, La vie vingt-cinq ans, to be sung by Dani - withdrew during the
week of the contest in Brighton as a mark of respect for President
Georges Pompidou, whose death had just been announced.
-
In the 1968 event Britain complained that
Spain had not voted for their entry (Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations')
to make it lose. In 1966 Scandinavians Sweden and Norway, who finished
second and third respectively were accused of 'teaming up' to help each
other.
-
Norway entered the 1980 competition with a
song written about the construction of a hydro-electric power station.
Finland, not to be outdone by their Scandanavian neighbours scored nul
points in the 1982 competition with a song protesting about the building
of a nuclear power station.
DID YOU KNOW
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That
Eurovision is the name given to a network of communication channels—founded in
the 1950s—that links state TV stations across Europe. The system minimizes the
cost to each member of transmitting pan-European news and sports footage. In an
effort to scare up programming to justify the network, members thought up the
Song Contest and the first was held in Switzerland in 1956.
-
That
a young songwriting team, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, wrote one of the songs
for Britain’s national Eurovision Contest in 1966. It lost to Lulu’s Boom Bang a
Bang—which went on to win at the finals.
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That
the Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most-watched single events in the
world. At least 300 million TV viewers in Europe, as well as Asia and North
America, are expected to watch the 2002 Contest; some say the total number could
exceed 400 or even 500 million. For the 2001 contest, 95 percent of the Danish
viewing public tuned in—the highest percentage in Europe.
-
That
one of the hosts for the 2002 Tallinn Contest, Annely Peebo, is an accomplished
mezzo-soprano who performs frequently at the acclaimed Vienna Volksopera and
Staatsopera. Marko Matvere, the co-host, is a well known Estonian movie and
Shakespearean actor; he also plays accordion in a folk group.
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That
Eurovision’s rulebook encourages entrants to reflect the national identity of
the country they’re representing, including by using folk dress and instruments;
singing in the native tongue is also encouraged, though not required. From the
looks of this year’s competitors, the call to feature one’s local culture has
been roundly and whole-heartedly ignored.
-
That
the 2002 Song Contest logo, designed by Estonians Veiko Tamjärv and Margus Klaar,
was allegedly meant to celebrate the diversity of European culture—represented
by shapes of different colours and sizes. As a whole, it’s also roughly the
shape of Estonia.
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
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In 1992, for the first time, the top 3 placed
entries were all original English-language songs: Ireland, UK and Malta.
-
After songs in English began predominate in the
mid-1970s, including the winners Waterloo (Sweden: 1974) and Ding Dinge Dong
(Netherlands: 1975), a change in the rules was enforced in 1978 so that all
future entries had to be sung in one of the official languages of the
participating country, which in Switzerland, for example, could be in French,
German, Italian or Romansch. As well as the UK, only Ireland and Malta may sing
entirely in English.
-
Participating countries may choose singers
irrespective of nationality. Luxembourg frequently borrow singers from
neighbouring countries. Nana Mouskouri from Greece represented the Grand Duchy
in 1963, so too did Vicky Leandros on 2 occasions. The Greek singer came 4th
with "L'amour est bleu" in 1967, and went on to win 5 years later with "Apres
toi". Irish singer Geraldine was a Luxembourg representative in 1975, as were
Spanish duo, Baccara, in 1978. This year, Australia's Gina G represented the UK.
ROYAUME UNI
-
The UK sent its first entry in
1957 to Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. Sung by Patricia Bredin, it was called
"All", and the conductor was Eric Robinson. There was no British entry in 1958,
but the UK has been represented since.
-
The UK has won on 5 occasions :
"Puppet On A String" - Sandie Shaw (1967), "Boom bang-a-bang" - Lulu (joint
winner in 1969), "Save Your Kisses For Me" - Brotherhood of Man (1976), "Making
Your Mind Up" - Bucks Fizz (1981) and "Love Shine a Light" - Katrina and the
Waves (1997). The UK has come second a record 14 times; been placed third 3
times, and come fourth 5 times. The worst placing for the UK was in 2000 when
Nicki French finished 16th with "Don't Play That Song Again".
-
Despite only winning 5 times,
the UK has to date hosted the most contests. On four of these occasions, Katie
officiated as mistress of ceremonies (1960/63/68 - London; 1974 -Brighton).
Other hostesses were Moira Shearer (1972 - Edinburgh); Angela Rippon (1977 -
Wembley); and Jan Leeming (1982 - Harrogate). However, Dublin has the honour of
hosting more contests than any other city - the Irish capital has staged no
fewer than 6 contests (1971/81/88/94/95/96).
-
Terry Wogan has provided the
commentary for BBC viewers every year since 1980. He first commentated for BBC
Radio listeners in 1971, then transferred to TV for the 1973 and 1978 events,
before taking over the TV coverage full time in 1980. Other BBC commentators
down the years included Tom Sloan, the late Head of BBC Light Entertainment
(1959 and 1961); David Jacobs (1960; 1962-66); Rolf Harris (1967); David Gell
(1968-70); Dave Lee Travis (1971); Tom Fleming (1972); David Vine (1974); Pete
Murray (1975,1977); Michael Aspel (1976) and John Dunn ('79) .
-
UK contenders in 1984, Belle
and The Devotions, were greeted by booing at the end of their song, "Love
Games", from some of the audience in Luxembourg because of the hostility in
mainland Europe to British soccer hooliganism raging at the time.
-
The Song For Europe contest has
seen a return to the format where the songwriters chose the artists to perform
their songs. This was last employed in 1991.
-
The UK has twice been pipped at
the post by just one point. In 1968, after leading for much of the voting, Cliff
Richard with "Congratulations" finally gave way to the Spanish entry, "La La
La", sung by Massiel, when the German jury swung the vote at the last minute in
favour of the repetitive chorus. Cliff need not have worried, however, since
"Congratulations" outsold the winner across Europe - even in Spain ! In 1988,
the Yugoslav jury put paid to Scott Fitzgerald's lead with "Go" by awarding
Switzerland's Celine Dion enough points to put her one point ahead to clinch the
Grand Prix in Dublin with "Ne partez pas sans moi".
-
Up until 1960, the UK
elimination heats were known as the Festival Of British Popular Songs, which
involved knock-out rounds culminating in the UK final at the end of the series.
In 1961, it was renamed A Song For Europe, and for the next 3 years, various
famous names competed, sponsored by their respective record companies (who would
actually submit the songs), and the regional juries would decide the winner.
From 1964 until 1975, the Head of BBC Light Entertainment selected one artist or
group to perform all the contenders (usually 6), and the viewing public would
decide the winner by a postal vote. These were showcased on the major TV variety
shows of the day. In 1976, the BBC decided to return to the previous format of
different artists for each song and the regional jury system, the latter of
which was discontinued in 1987. In 1988, the UK entry was decided by a viewerd
telephone vote, which still continues today. From 1992 until 1994, one singer
was selected by the BBC to perform all 8 prospective Eurovision entries, and
this year there was a return to the 8 different acts format. There were more
changes in 1996 when the Great British Song Contest was shown in two parts: a
semi-final with 8 songs and a telephone vote. The top 4 songs were seen again in
The Great British Song Contest.
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The UK's lowest entry was Jemini with "Cry Baby" which not only came last, but scored nil points, in 2003.
OUT TAKES
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1975 - Bruce Welch of The Shadows fluffing the
second line of UK entry "Let Me Be The One", remarking "I knew it!" during the
live performance, but they still managed a second placing; 1990 - Female duo
Azôcar Moreno, who opened the contest with the Spanish entry "Bandido", were
thrown into confusion when their conductor was unable to hear the backing track
and direct the orchestra accordingly. They walked off stage and had to re-start,
this time successfully with full orchestra backing, and came in 5th.
RICH AND FAMOUS
STRANGE BUT TRUE
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More
countries opted to send their first entry to Eurovision whenever the contest was
staged in Ireland. In 1971, Malta took part for the first time in Dublin; in
1981, Cyprus made their debut there; in 1993, the 3 former Yugoslav republics:
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, sent entries under their new banner to
Millstreet, Co. Cork; and last year - yet again in Dublin - 7 former Eastern
bloc countries, including three from the former Soviet Union, made their debut:
Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovakia were the
latest nations to join the fray.
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By
sheer co-incidence, a strange Eurovision pattern emerges regarding the winning
countries since 1989: in 1989 Yugoslavia wins for the first (and only) time; in
1990 Italy wins for the second time; in 1991Sweden wins for the third time; in
1992 Ireland wins for the fourth time; in 1993 Ireland wins for the fifth time
and in 1994 Ireland wins for the sixth time.
VIEWING FIGURES
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There are no figures for the total viewing audience in the early years, but
during the last few years, the total world viewing ratings are estimated by
the EBU as being between 400 and 600 million. The largest single audience
with 75 million tuning in was in the former Soviet Union
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Non-participating countries either showing the Contest live or by deferred relay
in recent years include Australia, New Zealand, Korea, USA, Canada, Jordan,
Egypt, Hong Kong and India.
VOTING AND RULES
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The present voting system has
been in operation since 1975. Previous voting procedures included the 10-member
jury "one man/one vote" which was the norm from 1957-61; 1967-70, and once more
in 1974. In 1962, the juries awarded 1, 2 and 3 points to the 3 songs of their
choice; the following year 5 songs were awarded between 1 and 5 points; and from
1964-66, the juries were given the choice of voting for 3 songs (1, 3 and 5
points) or 2 (3 and 6 points) or just the one song (9 points). Between 1971 and
1973, two jurors from each country - one over 25; one under 25 -were sent to the
contest venue to register their votes in vision, awarding between 1 and 5 points
to each song, except of course for their own country's entry. There was no "on
air" voting in the first contest in 1956 - the winning song was simply decided
by a panel of judges, but the actual results were not made public.
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1996 sees the beginning of new
rules which limit the number of participating countries to 23 by means of a
pre-selection contest. This is because membership of the European Broadcasting
Union has increased to 43, all of whom are eligible to take part in the
Eurovision Song Contest. So this year regular participants Germany, Demark and
Israel were eliminated along with newcomers Russia, Romania, Hungary and the
Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia.
YOUNGSTERS WINNING VOTES
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Jean-Jacques, aged 12 (Monaco 1969)1
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Hanne Krogh, aged 15 (Norway 1971).
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One of the members of Cypriot group
Island was aged 11 - they performed Cyprus' first entry in 1981.
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Gili, the male half of Gili and Galit
(Israel 1989) was 11 years old.
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In the same year, France sent
12-year-old Nathalie Paque to sing its entry.
-
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The youngest UK contender was
15-year-old Emma Booth from Bridgend, South Wales, who performed "Give A Little
Love Back To The World" in 1990.
NIL POINTS
-
In 1978, Norway became famous for getting "nul
points", for their entry, 'Mil Etter Mil' (Mile after Mile). having done so 4
times (1963, 1978,1981 and 1997), and got an undeserved reputation for having
awful songs as a result.
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The Norwegians are not alone - other countries to
achieve the big zero are: Finland (1963/65/82); Austria (1962/88/91); Spain
(1962/65/83); Belgium (1962/65); Germany (1964/65); Switzerland (1964/67/98);
Netherlands (1962/63); Turkey (1983/87); Sweden (1963); Portugal (1964); Monaco
(1966); Italy (1966); Luxembourg (1970); Iceland (1989) and Lithuania (1994).
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The most famous nil points is by the UK's Jemini,
who in 2003 managed to score their first ever nil points with "Cry Baby".
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