Carlos Mendes

Music/Lyrics: Joachim Heider/ Joachim Heider

Conductor: Paul Kuhn

Mary made her contest debut with the type of song which, lyrically at least, would be come typical of German entries.

Music/Lyrics: Frédéric Botton/Frédéric Botton

Conductor: Franck Pourcel

Is it Betty or Edith Piaf singing? The distinctive vocal warble is definitely there and Comé-comédie could come from a 1940’s French film. The song is quite plain and not very memorable.

Music/Lyrics: Joe Burkett/Liam MacUistin

Conductror: Colman Pearce

Irelands only entry in Gaelic is otherwise not very Irish. It’s soft and melodic and while there is nothing to dislike, there is also nothing to really like about it.

Music/Lyrics: Augusto Algueró/Ramon Arcusa

Conductor: Augusto Algueró

Spain had already started to prove that the dramatic ballad was what they did best and Amanece is certainly that. 

United Kingdom - The New Seekers - Beg, Steal Or Borrow (English)

Music/Lyrics: Tony Cole, Graeme Hall, Steve Wolfe/Tony Cole, Graeme Hall, Steve Wolfe

Conductor: David MacKay

For trivia buffs, The New Seekers was the first band to perform ant the Eurovision Song Contest. The song was a mid tempo number along the lines of the commercially successful I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.

Norway - Grethe Kausland and Benny Borg - Småting (Norwegian)

Music/Lyrics: Kare Grottum, Ivar Borsum/ Kare Grottum, Ivar Borsum

Conductor: Carsten Klouman

With a song which could have been written for one of the 1960's contests, Norway’s hopes surely wouldn’t have been high. Grethe and Benny did their best, though.

Music/Lyrics: Josè Calvário/Josè Nisa

Conductor: Richard Hill

Drama, passion and emotion are all over the Portuguese entry. Carlos gave a good performance and deserved his place in the top ten.

Switzerland - Véronique Müller - C'est La Chanson De Mon Amour (French)

Music/Lyrics: Véronique Müller/Catherine Desage

Conductor: Jean-Pierre Festi

Gentle songs were the dominant style of the 1972 contest. Switzerland’s was one of the most gentle.

Malta - Helen and Joseph - L-imhabba (Maltese)

Music/Lyrics: Charles Camilleri/Albert Cassola

Conductor: Charles Camilleri

Not put off by finishing last on their debut the year before, Malta chose to sing in Maltese again. Early disco undertones feature in thearrangement, but there is nothing disco about the rest of the song or the performance. This was to be Malta's last appearance until 1976.

Finland - Päivi Paunu and Kim Floor - Muistathan (Finnish)

Music/Lyrics: Juha Flinck/Juha Flinck, Nacke Johansson

Conductor: Ossi Runne

The musical influences of one of Finland’s neighbours, Russia, are more than evident. One of six duos in the contest, Pavi’s deep voice and Kim’s higher voice (naturally) contrast, but still harmonise well.  

Austria - The Milestones - Falter Im Wind (German)

Music/Lyrics: Richard Schönherz, Manual Rigoni/Heinz Unger

Conductor: Erich Kleinschuster

Acoustic guitar and the flute feature heavily in the arrangement. The three men and one woman band returned for Austria in 1977 under a different name. 

Italy - Nicola di Bari - I Giorni Dell' Arcobaleno (Italian)

Music/Lyrics: Piero Pintucci, Nicola di Bari/Dalmazio Masini

Conductor: Gianfranco Reverberi

RAI once more turned to the Sanremo to find Italy’s representative. The gentle, melodic nature of the song suits Nicola’s voice perfectly. 

Music/Lyrics:  Nikica Kalogjera/Ivan Krajac

Conductor: Nikica Kalogjera

Possibly a bit overdramatic for a song called Music and You, it is nevertheless a strong effort which never lets the drama drop.  

Music/Lyrics: Hakan Elmquist/Hakan Elmquist

Conductor: Mats Olsson

Preceding Abba, Family Four were a two male, two female group from Sweden. As they demonstrated the previous year, their style was more folk than pop. 

Monaco - Anne-Marie Godart and Peter MacLane - Comme On S'aime (French)

Music/Lyrics: Raymond Bernard/Jean Drejac

Conductor: Raymond Bernard

To defend the crown, Monaco sent an inoffensive, understated ballad. Anne-Marie and Peter gave a suitably quiet performance.

Belgium - Serge and Christine Ghisoland - À La Folie Ou Pas Du Tout (French)

Music/Lyrics: Daniel Nelis, Bob Milan/Daniel Nelis

Conductor: Henri Segers

Serge and Christine sung a rather non-descript ballad which is rather twee, but doesn’t really go anywhere. 

Music/Lyrics: Klaus Munro, Mario Panas/ Klaus Munro, Yves Dessca

Conductor: Klaus Munro

Greek born Vicky represented Luxembourg for the second time, having enjoyed a big international hit with L’amour est Bleu. This time, she belted out a big ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Hans van Hemert/Dries Holten

Conductor: Harry van Hoof

The most fun song of the contest without doubt. Sandra and Andres are clearly enjoyed themselves, and there is plenty of reason for the listener to sing along with and tap their feet to.

All is going well until the first chorus, where the song takes an unexpected and slightly odd turn. The effect is to make the song sound messy.

Ronnie gives a cheerful performance of Morgen, which is a decent enough song without being inspiring.

Claude made her way through a very gentle and understated ballad. Her voice helps to give the song a nice, haunting quality.

For the sixth year in a row, Austria entered a ballad, and a powerful one at that. Karel sings it like he means it.

Despite being one of three songs sung by a duo this year, Chris does most of the work. In fact, Sophie only joins in during the chorus.

With possibly the best song they had sent to date, Switzerland were ‘looking at the sun’ and reaching for the stars with this classy, strings based ballad. Maybe Gianni’s orange suit put the jurors off.

Generous use of the accordion makes this song more memorable than it otherwise would have been. There is a key change, but the tempo and melody stay the same.

As well as having one of the longest titles in the history of the contest, this is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, as is Claes’ performance. In an era when the singer basically stood behind the microphone and sang, it’s a lively one.

This is a nice mid-tempo song which moves along steadily and contains no surprises. It makes for pleasant listening, though.

La Source is one of the most fondly remembered songs from the 1968 contest. It’s an infinitely superior ballad to Isabelle’s 1962 winner. C’est la vie.

In Cliff Richard, the BBC had persuaded one of the biggest international stars ever to sing in the contest to perform in his own contest. The song (which was a big hit in many countries) was written by the same team who wrote Puppet on a String. It can still be heard at birthday parties over 40 years later. 

No-one could accuse Odd of not being enthusiastic. He sways Tom Jones like and adds to the impact of the song. A fat lot of good it did him!

Pat, father of former world boxing champion Barry McGuigan, continued Ireland’s by now predictable sequence of sending a male singing a ballad. That aside, it’s a decent song and does what it needs to do.

Forty years after it won, La La La is still used as an example of a typical Eurovision song. The verses are calm and the chorus a bit more bouncy.

Norwegian Wencke sung for Germany. It’s lively and Wencke’s face is very expressive throughout.

The use of a traditional guitar gives Jedan Dan an appeal it would otherwise be lacking. The song opens with the chorus, moving into a more melodic verse.