Gerard Joling

Music/Lyrics: Sverrir Stormsker/Sverrir Stormsker

Conductor: n/a

Despite the title, there is nothing philosophical about Iceland’s third entry. The verses consist almost entirely of the names of famous people such as John Waine and Michael Caine.  

Music/Lyrics: Py Bäckman/Py Bäckman

Conductor: Anders Berglund

Better known for its up-tempo, bouncy songs, Sweden sent a fine ballad and Tommy, appearing in the Eurovision for the second time, had one of the best voices of the 1988 contest.

Music/Lyrics: Pepe Willberg/Kirsti Willberg

Conductor: Ossi Runne

The smiling Finnish band lifted the mood of the audience with their upbeat pop song. They ran on to the stage with arms in the air encouraging the audience to clap along from the start, and the scene was set for the next three minutes.

Music/Lyrics: Julie Forsyth/Julie Forsyth

Conductor: Ronnie Hazlehurst

Written by Julie, the daughter of Sir (well, he should be) Bruce Forsyth, Go is a beautiful ballad which was complimented well by Scott’s suitably melancholy voice. The string arrangement adds to the atmosphere of the song. Runner up was the least it deserved.

Music/Lyrics: Mazhar, Fauat, Özkan/ Mazhar Alanson

Conductor: Turan Yukseler

There is an infectious rhythm driving through the second of MFÖ’s eurosongs. It’s very catchy and even the ‘hey-ya’s’ don’t distract from one of the best of Turkey’s offerings.

Music/Lyrics: Enrique Piero/Francisco Dondiego

Conductor: Javier de Juan

The chirpy Spanish group gave a chirpy rendition of this up-tempo tune. The performance lifted the appeal of a song which would otherwise have blended unnoticed into the pack.

Music/Lyrics: Peter de Wijn/Peter de Wijn

Conductor: Harry van Hoof

Gerard gave his all as he belted out his infectious foot tapper of a song. It even edges towards the anthemic later on.

Music/Lyrics: Boris Dimitshtein/Ehud Manor

Conductor: Eldad Shrem

The host of the 1979 contest picked up the microphone to sing a song whose pace is slow at first, but increases bit by bit so that at the end, it’s difficult to keep up with if you’re singing along.  

Music/Lyrics: Atilla Sereftug/Nella Martinetti

Conductor: Atilla Sereftug

This is where one of the most successful careers of the last 30 years was born. Nella and Atilla had given her the type of ballad which would become her trademark. What a difference one point makes!   

Music/Lyrics: Peter Eades/Peter Eades

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

The hosts entered a soft rock ballad whose theme is along the lines of The Righteous Brothers He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. It was a credible defence that was unlikely to win.

Music/Lyrics: Ralph Siegel/Bernd Meinunger

Conductor: Michael Thatcher

The Germans employed the slightly gimmicky services of a mother/daughter duo. They both played piano and sported insincere smiles as they sung their Song For a Friend.

Music/Lyrics: Wilfried Scheuz, Klaus Kofler/Wilfried Scheuz, Klaus Kofler

Conductor: Harald Neuwirth

A rather unkempt looking Wilfried may well have felt aggrieved at scoring no points. His heartfelt ballad to a mysterious woman is by no means the worst song of the contest. 

Music/Lyrics: Soren Bundgard/Keld Heick

Conductor: Henrik Krogsgaard

There were six people on stage when the song started, but Kirsten was so heavily pregnant, there may well have been seven by the time this Danish europop song finished. 

Music/Lyrics: Dimitris Sakislis/Dimitris Sakislis

Conductor: Haris Andreadis

The rock edged intro gave way to a more broad European style when a nervous looking Aphroditi started singing. Despite that, it’s all a bit unmemorable.

Music/Lyrics: Anita Skorgan/Erik Hillestad

Conductor: Arild Stav

Candleabra adorned the piano at which Karoline sat, surrounded by her backing singers. The combination created the right atmosphere for Norway’s ballad. 

Music/Lyrics: Joseph Reynaerts, Dany Willem/ Joseph Reynaerts, Philippe Anciaux

Conductor: Dany Willem

Loaded with haunting atmosphere, Laissez Briller Le Soleil (Let the Sun Shine in Your Heart) could be dark and depressing (in a good way) if it had a different theme to the one suggested by the title. The mood remains throughout, supplemented by the backing vocals.

Music/Lyrics: Jacques Cardona/Alain Garcia

Conductor: Régis Dupré

Lara brought a bit of class to the evening with a beautiful, thoughtful ballad. The presentation was effectively simple and Lara was vocally flawless. 

Music/Lyrics: Luca Barbarossa/Luca Barbarossa

Conductor: n/a

Luca was third in the Sanremo festival in 1988 with a very challenging song, especially lyrically. Perhaps deciding that it would have been too much for a European audience, Luca’s rote this for the Eurovision. It has a more internationally appealing theme. The style is more soft rock than Italian.

Music/Lyrics: Gérard Lenorman/Gérard Lenorman, Claude Lemesler
Conductor: Guy Matteoni

The very French Gerard certainly had ‘le charme’ but not the song to contend for victory. It could make up the numbers on an album, but no more than that. 

Music/Lyrics: José Calvário, José Niza/José Calvário, José Niza

Conductor: José Calvário

Voltarei is the second, and far and away the best of Dora’s entries. It’s a very dramatic and emotional ballad which demonstrates that when Portugal gets it right, it gets it very right indeed. Not for the first time, a fantastic song went above the heads of the jurors.

Music/Lyrics: Rajko Dujmic/Stevo Svikic, Rajko Dujmic

Conductor: Nikica Kalogjera

There are hints of desperation and anger in Srebrna Krila’s song, which is essentially a pop tune. The lead singer gives a spirited performance.