1974 Logo © EBU

Basic information

Date: 
6 April 1974
Contest type: 
Grand Final
Venue: 
The Dome, Brighton, United Kingdom
Broadcaster: 
BBC
Presenter(s): 
Katie Boyle
About the contest: 

Brighton, a relatively unknown town on the south coast of England, was the venue of possibly the most famous of all contests. There were acts whose names are familiar to people who aren’t fans of the contest; Gigliola Cinquetti tried to be the first singer to win the contest twice, Olivia Newton-John went on to star in Grease, one of the biggest films of the 1970’s, and of course there was Abba. Having failed to win the Swedish selection one year earlier, Abba travelled to Brighton surely unaware of what was about to happen to them. It was the last time that the most iconic of Eurovision presenters, Katie Boyle, played host.

There was also a song which started a war! In 1974, the Portuguese revolution started. The signal for the army to start overthrowing the government was the playing of E Depois Do Adeus on the radio.

France did enter the contest with a song called La Vie A Vingt-cinq Ans to be sung by Dani. However, in the week leading up to the contest, French president, Georges Pompidou died, and the decision was taken to withdraw from the contest.

The voting system was changed again. Each country selected ten people to be jury members, and they each awarded one point to their favourite song.

Trivia: 
Katie Boyle’s dress was such a close fit that it had to be sewn on to her, and there wasn’t enough room for her underwear.

Results

Pos.CountryParticipant(s)SongtitlePointsRank
1
Finland
Carita
Keep Me Warm
4
13th
2
United Kingdom
Olivia Newton-John
Long Live Love
14
=4th
3
Spain
Peret
Canta Y Se Feliz
10
=9th
4
Norway
Anne-Karine Ström and the Bendik Singers
The First Day Of Love
3
=14th
5
Greece
Marinella
Krassi, Thalassa Ke T'agori Mou
7
11th
6
Israel
Poogy
Natati La Khaiai
11
=7th
7
Yugoslavia
Korni
Generacija 42
6
12th
8
Sweden
Abba
Waterloo
24
1st
9
Luxembourg
Ireen Sheer
Bye, Bye, I Love You
14
=4th
10
Monaco
Romuald
Celui Qui Reste Et Celui Qui S'en Va
14
=4th
11
Belgium
Jacques Hustin
Fleur De Liberté
10
=9th
12
The Netherlands
Mouth and MacNeal
I See a Star
15
3rd
13
Ireland
Tina
Cross Your Heart
11
=7th
14
Germany
Cindy und Bert
Die Sommermelodie
3
=14th
15
Switzerland
Piera Martell
Mein Ruf Nach Dir
3
=14th
16
Portugal
Paulo de Carvalho
E Depois Do Adeus
3
=14th
17
Italy
Gigliola Cinquetti
Si
18
2nd
About the songs: 
 CaritaCarita Finland - Carita - Keep Me Warm (English)

Music/Lyrics: Eero Koivistoinen/Hector

Conductor: Ossi Runne

Despite having a strong melody, Keep Me Warm somehow doesn’t quite deliver. It’s likeable and has a sing-along quality, but something to leave a lasting impression is missing.
 Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John United Kingdom - Olivia Newton-John - Long Live Love (English)

Music/Lyrics: Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro/ Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro

Conductor: Nick Ingman

Olivia, who was brought up in Australia, was asked by the BBC to sing for the country of her birth. Long Live Love has a marching style arrangement and was given a chirpy delivery by Olivia.
 PeretPeret Spain - Peret - Canta Y Se Feliz (Spanish)

Music/Lyrics: Pedro Pubill Calaf/ Pedro Pubill Calaf

Conductor: Rafael Ibarbia

Peret looked very serious (and slightly silly with the microphone hanging from his shirt)as he urged everyone to ‘Sing and Be Happy’. It’s very Spanish and likeable without sounding like a winner.

 Anne-Karine Ström and the Bendik SingersAnne-Karine Ström and the Bendik Singers Norway - Anne-Karine Ström and the Bendik Singers - The First Day Of Love (English)

Music/Lyrics: Frode Thingnaes/Philip Kruse

Conductor: Frode Thingnaes

Anne-Karine was part of the Bendik Singers when the represented Norway in 1973. This time, she was given top billing - probably because she was married to one of the writers. She seemed to enjoy her place in the spotlight.
 MarinellaMarinella Greece - Marinella - Krassi, Thalassa Ke T'agori Mou (Greece)

Music/Lyrics: Yorgos Katsaros/Pythagoras

Conductor: Yorgos Katsaros

Marinella stood rather awkwardly on the stage as her backing group performed the first few bars of Greece’s debut song. The bouzouki gives the song a very Greek feel, and it also sounds quite jolly.

 PoogyPoogy Israel - Poogy - Natati La Khaiai (Hebrew)

Music/Lyrics: Dani Sanderson/ Dani Sanderson, Alon Oleartchick

Conductor: Yonathan Rechter

Poogy were an odd collection of men with a nifty line in tank tops.  Natati La Khaiai is very melodic with a consistent tempo which makes you listen to the song from start to finish. The English version, I Gave Her My Life, has to be one of the best and funniest English versions.
 KorniKorni Yugoslavia - Korni - Generacija 42 (Serbo-Croat)

Music/Lyrics: Kornelije Kovac/Kornelije Kovac

Conductor: Zvonimir Skerl

There were doubts before the show was broadcast as to which language Korni would choose to sing their anti war song. The sound of bombs falling is even included for effect. 

 AbbaAbba Sweden - Abba - Waterloo (English)

Music/Lyrics: Benny Andersson, BjőrnUlvaeus/Stig Anderson

Conductor: Sven-Olaf Walldoff

This is where it all began! Waterloo has the double female vocal and full arrangement which would become Abba’s trademark. The conductor even dressed up as Napoleon.

 Ireen SheerIreen Sheer Luxembourg - Ireen Sheer - Bye, Bye, I Love You (English)

Music/Lyrics: Ralph Siegel/Michael Kunze, Humbert Ibach

Conductor: Charles Blackwell

Brit Ireen was a star in Germany but made her first appearance in the contest for Luxembourg. The song starts slowly and builds into an uncomplicated sing song. 

 RomualdRomuald Monaco - Romuald - Celui Qui Reste Et Celui Qui S'en Va (French)

Music/Lyrics: Jean-Pierre Bourtayre/Michel Jourdan

Conductor: Raymond Donnez

Romuald’s third and final Eurovision entry is a big ballad which he delivered very professionally. A good swansong for him.

 Jacques HustinJacques Hustin Belgium - Jacques Hustin - Fleur De Liberté (French)

Music/Lyrics: Jacques Hustin/Frank Gérald

Conductor: Pierre Chiffre

After spending the previous couple of years trying something gentle or fun, Belgium sent a passionate ballad. Jacques was up to the task.  

 Mouth and MacNealMouth and MacNeal The Netherlands - Mouth and MacNeal - I See a Star (English)

Music/Lyrics: Gerrit den Braber/Hans van Hemert

Conductor: Harry van Hoof

Party time!! Mouth bursts with charisma as he and Maggie MacNeal smiled their way through the happiest song of the contest. The performance probably won them a few points, even though the song was a strong contender for the top spot anyway. 

 TinaTina Ireland - Tina - Cross Your Heart (English)

Music/Lyrics: Paul Lyttle/ Paul Lyttle

Conductor: Colman Pearce

Wearing a dress whose pattern did indeed cross her heart, Tina certainly enjoyed her three minutes. There was more to enjoy about the Irish song than there had been for a few years.

 Cindy und BertCindy und Bert Germany - Cindy und Bert - Die Sommermelodie (German)

Music/Lyrics: Werner Scharfenberger/Kert Feltz

Conductor: Werner Scharfenberger

This is one of the less interesting entries from Germany. Even Bert didn’t seem too interested, although Cindy did her best.

 Piera MartellPiera Martell Switzerland - Piera Martell - Mein Ruf Nach Dir (German)

Music/Lyrics: Pepe Ederer/Pepe Ederer

Conductor: Pepe Ederer

The pattern of soft verse and slightly more intense chorus remains throughout the song. It’s all a bit dull.

 Paulo de CarvalhoPaulo de Carvalho Portugal - Paulo de Carvalho - E Depois Do Adeus (Portuguese)

Music/Lyrics: José Calvário/José Nisa

Conductor: José Calvário

Not many songs can claim to have started a war. In 1974, the playing of this song on the radio started the revolution. Ironically, the song is quite uneventful and passes by almost unnoticed. 

 Gigliola CinquettiGigliola Cinquetti Italy - Gigliola Cinquetti - Si (Italian)

Music/Lyrics: Daniele Pace, Mario Panzeri, Lorenzo Pilat, Corrado Conti/ Daniele Pace, Mario Panzeri, Lorenzo Pilat, Corrado Conti

Conductor: Gianfranco Monaldi

Ten years after she charmed Europe as a teenager, Gigliola returned with another soft ballad. She couldn’t quite emulate her previous success. 

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