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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZEUROVISION SONG CONTESTInternational European pop contest, risible and outdated. Began '56, popular for several years, but during '60s became increasingly anachronistic, representing everything the Beatles were sweeping away. UK first won '67 with Sandie Shaw's "Puppet On A String', setting the seal on a sure-fire Eurovision formula: a pretty girl singing jaunty, martial-style pop ("Boom Bang A-Bang' by Lulu, "Jack In A Box' by Clodagh Rogers, even Cliff Richard tried it with "Congratulations' '68). Has thrown up the odd mongrel hit: "Love Is Blue' by Paul Mauriat was unsuccessful Luxembourg entry '67, no. 12 UK; Nicole's "A Little Peace' (East Germany) was UK no. 1 '82. Dana, Bucks Fizz and Brotherhood Of Man all had a few hits. UK entrants were mostly MOR stalwarts like Cathy Kirby, Ronnie Carroll, Alisons etc; established songwriters like Les Reed, Norman Newell, Bill Martin and Phil Coulter all had a try, as well as young Elton John in '69 (unsuccessfully); but of all the winners only Abba '74 went on to big international success. The appeal of the annual TV show became tongue-in-cheek; the Monty Python comedy team parodied it mercilessly, and Norway became famous for scoring no points at all two years in a row. There was an attempt to update it '87 with a heavy metal entry, but Heavy Pettin' lost. Audience figures were said to be falling, but a generation had the sight of Katie Boyle intoning "Luxembourg...deux points' seared on its memory. |