The Netherlands

Music/Lyrics: Levent Coker/Selma Cuhaci

Conductor: Levent Coker

In her first of two successive contest appearances, Sebnem sang a laid back, smooth Turkish song, ably assisted by a violin and an accordion. 

Music/Lyrics: Simon Tauber, Steve Rodway/Simon Tauber, Steve Rodway

Conductor: Ernie Dunstall

Wearing a dress made by her Gran, Australian born Gina injected a bit of life early in the show. Easily the most contemporary song for years, it could be argued that the international success of the song provided a springboard for a more modern look and feel to contests in the future. 

Music/Lyrics: Ketama/Ketama

Conductor: Eduardo Leiva

For many, this is one of the surprising qualifiers for the 1996 contest. It doesn’t get much more Spanish than this; a strong voice dominating a Flamenco rhythm.  

Music/Lyrics: Pedro Osório/Jose Fanha

Conductor: Pedro Osório

Portugal’s entry is just as ethnic as the Spanish song which preceded it, but is more digestible. Lucia was never seen without a smile on her face around Oslo, and her performance was suitably chirpy. She would be seen soon afterwards as Colin Firth’s intended in the romantic comedy, Love Actually.

Music/Lyrics: Andreas Georgiallis/Rodoulla Papalambrianou

Conductor: Stavros Lantsias

This is the first of Constantinos’ four (although he’s still trying for more!) appearances. It’s a tender ballad which he sang from the heart.

Music/Lyrics: Paul Abela/Alfred Sant

Conductor: Paul Abela

The tune is a happy one, but the lyric - about a relationship gone wrong - isn’t. Her performance was merry and the song is one of the best from the small island.

Music/Lyrics: Zrinko Tutic/Zrinko Tutic

Conductor: Alan Bejlinski

Maja brought her experience to bear as she filled the stage on her own for her performance of her big Croatian ballad. Some of the big notes were challenging, but she was up to the task.

Music/Lyrics: George Nußbaumer/George Nußbaumer, Michael W Krausz

Conductor: Michael W Krausz

The Austrian song is in the minority Voralbergian language, the only time it has been heard in Eurovision. The song is a very cheerful gospel number that had them clapping in the aisles. 

Music/Lyrics: Regis Mounir/Regis Mounir

Conductor: Rui Reis

Switzerland’s song is an under-rated ballad that deserved a higher placing. Kathy’s voice reflected the nature of the lyric as she yearns for someone she can’t have.

Music/Lyrics: Costas Bigalis/Iro Trigoni

Conductor: Michalis Rozakis

Percussion instruments provide an interesting intro and gave a sense of anticipation of what may follow. What does follow is an upbeat, flowing tune which Marianne performs very well. 

Estonia - Ivo Linna and Maarja-Liis Ilus - Kaelakee Hääl (Estonian)

Music/Lyrics: Prit Pajusaar/Kaari Sillamaa

Conductor: Tarmo Leinatamm

At first glance, a young Maarja-Liis and a not so young Ivo might seem an odd combination for a duet. However, it is suitable given the lyrics; a young girl uncertain in the world and the voice of experience giving advice.

Music/Lyrics: Torhild Nigar/Torhild Higar

Conductor: Frode Thingnaes

Rumoured to be one of the songs rejected by NRK for the 1991 national final that never was, I Evighet is a lilting, flute inspired ballad. With Elisabeth at the microphone, it was always going to be up there at the end

Music/Lyrics: Dan Ar Braz/Dan Ar Braz

Conductor: Fiachra Trench

Although his song is in Breton, Dan employed the services of two British ladies for the main vocals. Diwanit Bugale is a gentle lullaby that was never going to win, but wasn’t destined to finish last either. 

Music/Lyrics: Aleksander Kogoj/Aleksander Kogoj

Conductor: Jozé Privsek

Regina’s dress was made by an old lady she met in a rural Slovenian village who offered it to her to wear in Oslo. The clarinet dominates the instrumental parts. 

Music/Lyrics: Piet Souer/Peter van Asten

Conductor: Dick Bakker

There is an abundance of na-na-na's at the beginning, but don’t let that put you off! After that, the song develops into a likeable, mid-tempo song that stays in the memory.  Little Maxine may well have needed physiotherapy for her neck, such was the height difference in height between herself and Franklin.

Music/Lyrics: John Terra/Daniel Dittmar

Conductor: Bob Porter

As with their Dutch neighbours before them, there are na-na-na’s aplenty at the start. Despite the dodgy opening, the overall effect of the song is pure, unashamed, unadulterated feel good fun! 

Music/Lyrics: Brendan Graham/Brendan Graham

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

What a shock! No-one predicted yet another Irish win. It was written by the man who had written Ireland’s 1994 winner. It’s a very Irish folk song. When asked who or what ‘The Voice’ belonged to, Brendan said it was up to the listener to decide. Had the current televoting system been in place, Eimear would have been nowhere near the top of the scoreboard. Definitely a case of the luck of the Irish!

Music/Lyrics: Timo Niemi/Timo Niemi

Conductor: Olli Ahvenlahti

Jasmine’s stylists had given her a formal look, which was inappropriate and looked odd! A casual approach for her gentle folk song would have been more in line with Jasmine’s youth and bubbly personality, and would have distracted less from a very pleasant tune.  

Music/Lyrics:  Anna Mjöll Olafsdottir, Olafur Gaukur/Anna Mjöll Olafsdottir, Olafur Gaukur

Conductor: Olafur Gaukur

Jazz loving Anna Mjöll sung a tribute to the genre and its most famous exponents. It’s very laid back and relaxing. 

Music/Lyrics: Robert Amirian/Kasia Kowalska

Conductor: Wiesiek Pieregorolka

There is drama by the bucket load in Kasia’s song and performance. Strong piano and short bursts of strings are to the fore in the arrangement.

Music/Lyrics: Adrian Bajramoviv, Sinan Alimanovic/Adrian Bajramoviv, Sinan Alimanovic

Conductor: Sinan Alimanovic

After Poland came another song full of passion, if not too much excitement. Za Nasu Ljubav never quite takes off.

Music/Lyrics: Juraj Burian/Juraj Burian

Conductor: Juraj Burian

Like the Bosnian song before it, the Slovakian song struggles to get going and it is difficult to stop one’s mind wandering to other things before the end. 

Music/Lyrics: Peter Grönvall/Nanne Grönvall

Conductor: Anders Berglund

This was one of the favourites going into the contest. In fact, it was revealed afterwards that it had won the pre-selection round. It’s a haunting piece of music, not unlike the type of song that has brought Enya big hits.

Music/Lyrics: Jascha Richter/Keld Heick

As the songs were heard in alphabetical order, the Danish song would have been the sixth to fall on the ears of the listening juries. There was not a chance that it would stand out enough to qualify. it’s a ballad that fails to get off the ground and fails to hold ones attention for long enough.

Music/Lyrics: Hanne Haller/Hanne Haller

The failure of Germany to qualify left NRK with less money to spend, as Germany is one of the biggest financial contributors to the EBU. Its omission is one of the biggest mysteries in the history of the contest. There is lots of energy and pace which combine with a very contemporary sound to create a song that many fans can still sing many years later.

Music/Lyrics: Delhusa Gjon/Delhusa Gjon

A real travelogue from the Hungarians! Almost every capital city in Europe gets a mention and why not? It worked for the Irish in 1990 so why not now? Unfortunately, it didn’t! Even so, it would have been worthy of a place in the final line up. Delhusa’s at times big ballad is strong enough not to need a live performance to enhance it, although it does sound better in Hungarian than English. He can feel aggrieved at not qualifying, far worse songs made it through.

Music/Lyrics: Doron VitenBerg/Eyal Madani

The mistake the Israelis made was to submit the live version of the audio for the pre-selection. Galit sounded as if she was stretching her voice too much and the up-tempo song sounds messy. Maybe the studio version would have impressed more.

Music/Lyrics: Kaliopi Gril/Kaliopi Gril

Here is one that would have benefited from a live performance. It would have given Kaliopi the chance to put across the emotion her voice portrays. From the audio, she could come across to some as simply screeching aimlessly. That is unfair as there is clearly emotion behind the vocal. 

Music/Lyrics:

It is possible to feel sorry for the Romanians being forced to stay at home. Theirs is a strong ballad which Monica would have given full justice to given the opportunity to perform it live. 

Music/Lyrics: Andrej Kosinskij/Nikolaj Denisov

Andrej sounds very like Mick Hucknall and the song is not a million miles away from something you would find on a Simply Red album. It is jazzy in feel and no-one can be surprised that he didn’t need to book a flight to Norway.

Conductor: Anders Berglund

Getting things started were the odd couple! Marie and Roger had completely different images. What counts is the performance and their voices worked well together for this big (almost) ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Karl Salli, Nake Lentonen/Karl Salli, Nake Lentonen

Conductor: Olli Ahvenlahti

Finland sent a fresh and contemporary dance number to Dublin. The image given to the two sisters of Cat Cat didn’t quite work and relying on the orchestra took away the punch that dance tracks need.

Music/Lyrics: Brendan Graham/Brendan Graham

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Surely Ireland couldn’t win for an unprecedented third time in a row? Not with two middle aged gentlemen singing an Irish folk song? It was too introspective to have broad appeal, wasn’t it? Yes, yes and no! Ireland made history and showed all those newcomers how it’s done.

Music/Lyrics: George Theophanous/George Theophanous

Conductor: George Theophanous

Two years after she finished 11th with a song written by her husband, they teamed up again, and finished 11th again. The Greek styles of the two songs aren’t worlds apart. There’s more of an ‘oomph’ this time and plenty of emoting by Evridiki. 

Music/Lyrics: Fridrik Karlsson/Stefán Hilmarsson

Conductor: Frank McNamara

Under the circumstances, the pressure was on Sigga to give a good performance and deliver a result, and she succeeded with the first part. While pleasant enough to listen to, Nætur seems to drift along and doesn’t seem to go anywhere. 

Music/Lyrics: George de Angelis, Mark Dean/George de Angelis, Mark Dean

Conductor: Michael Reed

Following in the more famous footsteps of Michael Ball and Sonia, West End star Francis accepted the BBC’s invitation to represent her country. The result was a very different song than the United Kingdom had sent before. It wasn’t the musical number that many may have expected; it is more in the style of the new age/gothic genres. Someone had the idea of including a crown of ‘thorns’ in Francis’ clothes.

Music/Lyrics: Zeljen Klasterka/Zeljko Krznaric

Conductor: Zdravko Sljivac

Having failed to win the Dora (Croatia’s selection show for the contest) the previous year with arguably a much better song, Tony tried again with a ballad that is very sincere and traditionally Croatian in sound. 

Music/Lyrics: Joao Carlos Oliveira/Rosa Lobato de Faria

Conductor: Thilo Krassman

At first glance, the Portuguese song is a sad affair, but the lyrics are actually positive. Sara, one of the youngest singers in the contest, carried it well.

Music/Lyrics: Giuseppe Scaramella/Giuseppe Scaramella

Conductor: Valeriano Chiaravalle

Duilio’s ballad builds steadily chorus by chorus. The only verse is right at the beginning.

Music/Lyrics: Ivar Must/Leelo Tungal

Conductor: Urmas Lattikas

Estonia’s debut is more likely to appeal to appeal to older listeners than younger ones. Nagu Merelaine is easy to listen to and doesn’t fit into any particular genre.

Music/Lyrics: Antonio Furtuna, Dan Bittman/Antonio Furtuna, Dan Bittman

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

The piano is the dominant instrument throughout Dan’s ballad. It works well, providing the song with an easy flowing feeling and a sound to make the listener maintain interest to the end. 

Music/Lyrics: Christopher Scicluna/Christopher Scicluna, Moira Stafrace

Conductor: Anthony Chircop

The tune is ok, but the lyrics are, at times, awful; ‘to tell you the truth, I’ll never change my youth’, and ‘not easy to say, there’s a will, there’s a way’, being a couple of examples. Chris should have taken the deeper notes as Moira couldn’t get down that far. Apart from that, it’s reasonable, and the theme of striving to succeed could be inspirational for some. 

Music/Lyrics: Edwin Schimscheimer/Coot van Doesburgh

Conductor: Harry van Hoof

Willeke was the choice Dutch broadcaster, NOS, to go to Dublin. The public selected a good, musical style big ballad for her to sing. 

Music/Lyrics: Ralph Siegel/Bernd Meinunger

Conductor: Norbert Daum

Mekado were three ladies put together by prolific contest writers, Siegel and Meinunger. Justifiably one of the favourites, their song is a contemporary, up-tempo tune which stays long in the memory. The performance was very professional.

Music/Lyrics: Martin Durinda/Martin Sarvas

Conductor: Vladimir Valovic

Old fashioned (in a good way) rock band Martin Durinda and Tublatanka got Slovakia’s so far occasional participation off to a good start. As you might expect, it’s a rock song, although the strings take away some of the impact. 

Music/Lyrics: Ovidijus Vyshniauskas/Gintaras Zdebskis

Conductor: Tomas Leiburas

Lithuania’s history in the contest started very inauspiciously with a failure to score even a single point. Ovidijus did deserve a few. Perhaps the shaven head with the leather trousers pt a few people off.

Music/Lyrics: Rolf Lövland/Hans Olav Mörk

Conductor: Pete Knutsen

Experienced Elisabeth teamed up with the youthful Jan for this ballad that remains popular with the fans. Big ballads need big voices to pull them off and these two coped easily. Jan’s immense talent is a big loss to music after his tragically early death.  

Music/Lyrics: Edo Mulahalilovic/Adi Mulahalilovic

Conductor: Siman Alimanovic

The audience applauded Alma and Dejan so loudly for so long at the beginning of the song that Dejan missed his cue because he couldn’t hear the orchestra. He maintained concentration enough to come in at the right place. Sentimentality aside, this is a very solid ballad. 

Music/Lyrics: Costas Bigalis Costas Bigalis

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Costas and his band looked like a recession hit Showaddywaddy in their colourful jackets. It’s definitely Greek, but doesn’t represent Greek music well, being a bit too juvenile. 

Music/Lyrics: Alfons Weindorf/Karl Brunner, Johann Brunner

Conductor: Richard Österreicher

Petra was one of the younger singers in the contest, and it showed during her sometimes nervy performance. The song is an understated anthem.

Music/Lyrics: Alejandro Abad/Alejandro Abad

Conductor: Jose LLobel

The scene is reflective and melancholy for the verse. When the chorus arrives, the song almost explodes into life and develops a rock feel.

Music/Lyrics: Silvester Jenei/Silvester Jenei

Conductor: Peter Wolf

Another country losing its Eurovision virginity. Frederika only needed to stand absolutely still to perform her folk song. It received the first maximum of the night, and deserved to do well.  

Music/Lyrics: Lev Zemlinski/Youddiph

Conductor: Lev Zemlinski

Russia’s first song starts gently but builds into the epitome of dramatic! Her cleverly designed dress allowed the choreography to increase the dramatic atmosphere as it waved and curled around her. A majestic debut indeed!  

Music/Lyrics: Stanislaw Syrewicz/Jacek Cygan

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Only the seemingly unstoppable Irish prevented a debut win for Poland. Petite Edyta was the little lady with the big voice with a fine ballad that has aged very well. 

Music/Lyrics: Bruno Maman/Nina Morato

Conductor: Alain Goraguer

The eccentric Nina looked and sounded like Barbara Streisand performing a number from ‘Cabaret’. It’s one of those you love or hate with not much room for views in-between.