Chiara

Music/Lyrics: Petar Graso, Remi Kasinoti/Petar Graso, Remi Kasinoti

Conductor: Stjepan Kalogjera

Danijela was the lead singer of Magazin when they represented Croatia three years earlier. Now a solo artist, her tender ballad builds steadily while remaining calm throughout. It will always be a fan favourite. 

Music/Lyrics: Yiannis Malachias/Yiannia Valvis

Conductor: n/a

Greek entries usually sound distinctive because of the unique sound of Greek music. This time, a more cosmopolitan rock sound was tried but, while Dionysia’s performance was genuine, the song just wasn’t strong enough to score heavily. 

Music/Lyrics: Marie-Line Marolany/Marie-Line Marolany

Conductor:  n/a

African rhythms had brought France some success early in the decade. The formula was tried again in an effort to lift them above some of the lower placings they had experienced since then.

Music/Lyrics: Alberto Estébanez/Mikel Herzog

Conductor: Alberto Estébanez

While this is a song worth listening to, it lacks the punch of other Spanish entries, a bit Spanish ballad by numbers.

Music/Lyrics: Gunvor Guggisberg, Egon Egemann/Gunvor Guggisberg

Conductor: n/a

The last song that involved Egon Egemann was very strings based with emphasis on his solo violin. The same formula is applied here to less effect and a worse result. With more countries using televoting instead of juries, it was never going to be the favourite song of enough viewers to get many votes, and ended up with no points at all. 

Music/Lyrics: Gabriel Dusík/Anna Wepperyová

Conductor: Vladimir Valovic

Katarina looked very graceful in her long, black evening dress. Her song is just as graceful and is a well constructed ballad which never goes over the top.

Music/Lyrics: Jaroslaw Pruszkowski/Olga Pruszkowska

Conductor: Wiesiek Pieregorolka

Just when you think the Polish song is going to limp along from beginning to end, it comes to life for the instrumental. That point comes a bit too late in the song to change the minds of those already turned off by it. 

Music/Lyrics: Tzvika Pik/Yoav Ginai

Conductor: Tzvika Pik

Did all the publicity help Dana to win? This one was the complete opposite of the sweet innocent Dana who had brought Ireland its first victory in 1970. The styling and the song were loaded with camp, and if leaving a lasting impression became important with the advent of televoting, Diva certainly does that. 

Music/Lyrics: Stefan Raab/Stefan Raab

Conductor: Stefan Raab

The stage simply wasn’t big enough for Guildo! His performance took him into the audience and up the scaffolding at the side of the stage. Within the crazyness of the song were hints of jazz and blues, though they easily missed in the fun of it all.

Music/Lyrics: Jason Paul Cassar/Sunny Aquilina

Conductor: n/a

This is the first of Chiara’s three appearances in the contest and she laid down a marker for what was to follow; a gentle, inoffensive ballad which came closest to giving her a win.

Music/Lyrics: István Lehr/Horváth

Conductor: Miklós Malek

Perhaps fed up with putting in a lot of effort for little reward, this was to be the last song Hungary entered for seven years. Charlie’s dreary blues number was never going to encourage viewers to reach for a pen to write down the phone number. 

Music/Lyrics: Matjaz Vlasic/Ursa Vlasic

Conductor: Mojmir Sepe

The tone is set immediately. Tinkling piano gives way to acoustic guitar before Vili’s angst filled voice takes over to tell the story in this wonderful, emotive ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Gerry Morgan/Gerry Morgan

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

While the melody of the Irish song is reasonably memorable, there isn’t really enough in the arrangement to support it. Consequently, Is Always Over Now? struggles to move away from the start line.

Music/Lyrics: José Cid/José Cid

Conductor: Mike Sergeant

José Cid, who wrote and performed Portugal’s 1980 entry, returned as part of the specially formed Alma Lusa. Together they gave us another very jolly ditty and chirpy performance.

Music/Lyrics: Adrian Romcescu/Liliana Stefan

Conductor:

The 15th song of the night bowls along efficiently, and while it never sparkles, Eu Cred does enough (just) to keep the listener interested. It isn’t often that a singer is alone on the Eurovision stage, but Malina coped well without support from backing singers.

Music/Lyrics: Scott English, Simon Stirling/Scott English, Simon Stirling

Conductor: James McMillan

Not for the first time, the United Kingdom entered the most contemporary song of the contest. It’s a pop song that has aged well and bears repeated hearing. It is also worth saying Imaani executed her duties as ‘host singer’ very professionally, dealing well with the demands made on her time.

Music/Lyrics: Michael Hajiyanni/Zenon Zindilis

Conductor: Costa Cacoyannis

Bursts of brass create an epic feel to the song, while the Greek language gives it the sound of a prayer to the Gods.  

Music/Lyrics: Eric van Tijn, Jochem Fluitsma/Eric van Tijn, Jochem Fluitsma

Conductor: Dick Bakker

It had been 23 years since the last Dutch victory. They must have fancied their chances of breaking that run with Edsilia’s modern and catchy song. Her performance was also worthy of the top spot.

Music/Lyrics: Bobby Ljunggren, Hakan Almquist/Ingela ‘Pling’ Forsman

Conductor: Anders Berglund

Jill sang a tender and sensitive ballad in a way that suggested she didn’t have a nervous bone in her body. In doing so, she pitched her performance at exactly the right level for the song.

Music/Lyrics: Philippe Swan/Philippe Swan

Conductor: n/a

The Belgians tried a young singer with the cute factor in the hope of achieving their second win. Her funk tinged pop song was a pre-contest favourite.

Music/Lyrics: Alexi Ahoniemi/Alexi Ahoniemi

Conductor: Olli Ahvenlahti

Bravely having a go with something a bit different, Finland entered a song which can best be described as earthy and sounding like something Enya might come up with if she was feeling energetic.

Music/Lyrics: David Eriksen, P K Ottestad/Linda Andernach Johannesen

Conductor: Geir Langslet

Despite the amount of percussion, Alltid Sommer still sounds slightly limp and laboured. Lars did his best and was rewarded with a generous place in the final scoreboard.

Music/Lyrics: Maria Rahula, Tomi Rahula/Peter Pruuli

Conductor: Heiki Vahar

Koit remained seated at the piano for the whole performance. He probably had difficulty summoning up enough energy as his song is a rather uninspired, lifeless ballad. 

Music/Lyrics: Erdinc Tunc/Canan Tunc

Conductor: Ümit Eroglu

Think of Turkish music and you think of high tempo, ethnically flavoured tunes. Unutamazsin is a welcome break from that style, and the piano based ballad is proof that the Turks can also do sensitive and emotional. 

Music/Lyrics: Grigor Koprov/Vlado Janevski

Conductor: Alexandar Dzambazov

As well as performing Macedonia’s debut, Vlado co-wrote it as well. Self belief was not lacking in him but in fairness, his Balkan ballad still sounds good many years after. As an added bonus, the English version is good as well, succeeding where many fail in having a sensible lyric.