1987

Music/Lyrics: Rölf Lovland/Hanne Krogh, Rölf Lovland

Conductor: Terje Fjaern

Sporting hair that defied gravity, Kate opened the contest with a charming performance of her sub-anthem ditty.

Music/Lyrics: Zohar Laskov/Zohar Laskov

Conductor: Kobi Oshrat

The Israeli Minister of Culture threatened to resign if this song represented his country! Dressed as the Blues Brothers, Datner and Kushnir couldn’t be accused of taking things too seriously as they ‘danced’ their way through their fairly amusing spoof.

Music/Lyrics: Kenneth Westmore/Stefanie Werger

Conductor: Richard Österreicher

The third, last and best of Gary’s songs. Previously, he had entered an up-tempo and an anthem song. This time, he entered a piano based ballad full of beauty.

Music/Lyrics: Valgeir Gugjonsson/Valgeir Gugjonsson

Conductor: Hjálmar Ragnarsson

After a messy debut the year before, Iceland returned with a mellow ballad, which is well constructed and subtle. The presentation was simple with Halla standing by the piano before walking slowly across the stage.

Music/Lyrics: Liliane Keuninckx, Guyri Spies/Liliane Keuninckx, Guyri Spies

Conductor: Freddy Sunder

The hosts went all rocky as they went for a second victory in a row. Soldiers Of Love is very memorable and the two guitarists are very entertaining as they fling their instruments with gusto.

Music/Lyrics: Mikael Wendt/Christer Lundh

Conductor: Curt-Eric Holmquist

With shades of the Caribbean in sound and appearance, the Swedes had a song that, if it was a school report, would have the comments ‘could do better.’ 

Music/Lyrics: Umberto Tozzi, Raf Riefoli/Giancarlo BIgazzi

Conductor: Giancarlo Lombardi

Umberto won the Sanremo festival as part of a trio which Raf wasn’t a part of. This isn’t the song that won the festival, but its quiet power and melodic tune made it a strong contender to win Sanremo’s big brother. 

Music/Lyrics: Alfredo Azinheira, Jorges Mendes/Alfredo Azinheira

Conductor: Jaime Oliveira

Suitably attired in seafarers style suits, the third male duo of the evening had an ocean themed song. It was one of the better songs of the contest, but probably lacked the ability to appeal to enough jury members. 

Music/Lyrics: Rafael Martinez, Rafael Trabucchelli/Patricia Kraus

Conductor: Eduardo Leyva

Did she have an accident in make up? Her appearance might have distracted from her song. Some would argue that wouldn’t be a bad thing. The two guitarists trying to steal the limelight did her no favours either. For the record, the song is dramatic and isn’t actually that bad. 

Music/Lyrics: Olcayto Ahmet Tugsuz/Olcayto Ahmet Tugsuz

Conductor: Garo Mafyan

All the chest wiggling and general prancing around was probably too much for most viewers. The performance is more memorable than the song, which tries to be a sing-along.

Music/Lyrics: Thanos Kalliris Vassilis Dertilis/Thanos Kalliris Vassilis Dertilis

Conductor: Yiorgos Niachros

Bizarrely compared to 80’s pop stars, Wham! by Terry Wogan (it takes more than just being a male duo to be Wham!), the Greek chaps gave us possibly the most un-Greek song that the country has sent to the contest. It has lots of brass and backing singers in strange outfits.

Music/Lyrics: Peter Koelewijn/Peter Koelewijn

Conductor: Rogier van Otterloo

Marcha sang all the songs in the Dutch final in 1987. The song chosen for her to perform in the contest is at times dark, and at other times, lively. Her two keyboard players were almost as involved in the performance as she was. 

Music/Lyrics: Roger Jouret, Alec Mansion/Roger Jouret, Alec Mansion

Conductor: Alec Mansion

Plastic certainly couldn’t be faulted for his lack of effort. He bounded all over the stage as he gave a rock style vocal to a synth based pop song.

Music/Lyrics: Rikki Peebles/Rikki Peebles

Conductor: Ronnie Hazlehurst

At the time, 11th was the worst position for any United Kingdom entry to finish, the tartan sash did him no favours! His song, which actually deserved a higher placing, is about an alleged UFO sighting.

Music/Lyrics: Marc Minier/Gérard Curci

Conductor: Jean-Claude Petit

This is the style of song the French do best. Christine was charming as she performed her floating ballad. Somehow, the juries failed to see the merits of what they were listening to.

Music/Lyrics: Ralph Siegel/Bernd Meinunger

Conductor: Laszlo Bencker

A different song, but essentially the same message as their 1985 entry. The style this time was a mix of calypso and reggae. As in 1985, they finished second when second last would have been more appropriate.

Music/Lyrics: Andreas Papapávlou/Maria Papapávlou

Conductor: Jo Carlier

Alexia had previously been in the contest when Cyprus debuted in 1981. This song is far more contemporary and infectious with a look to match. Arguably, it’s one of the best songs Cyprus has sent to the contest. 

Music/Lyrics: Petri Laaksonen/Veli-Pekka Lehto

Conductor: Ossi Runne

This is one of Finland’s most popular entries among fans. It’s certainly a lot more modern and continental than songs entered by Finland in previous years, a sign perhaps that the Finns were starting to understand what was required. 

Music/Lyrics: Helga Engelbrecht/Jacob Jonia

Conductor: Henrik Krogsgaard

While it is quite melodic, the Danish song is also rather twee but was probably sung around camp fires all over the country. The faces pulled by the members of Bandjo didn’t help the presentation.

Music/Lyrics: Sean Sherrard/Sean Sherrard

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Having won the contest in 1980 with a song written by someone else, Johnny, aka Sean Sherrard, wrote his second winner himself.  As with his 1980 winner, the song is based on personal experience as it was written about his then wife. It was clear when the preview videos were released (these were the prehistoric days before the internet!) that Hold Me Now was the one everyone else would struggle to beat. 

Music/Lyrics: Rajko Dujmic/Stevo Cvikic

Conductor: Nikica Kalogjera

There were so many ‘hics’, you’d think the band had had a few drinks before going on stage! The performance had no ’hiccups’, but it wasn’t going to be enough to pull this fairly weak song victory.

Music/Lyrics: Jean-Jacques Egli/Jean-Jacques Egli

Conductor: n/a

A very nervous looking Carole moved carefully on stage and seemed to be thinking about the next piece of choreography as much as anything else. Moitié Moitié is a pop/rock crossover.