Björn Skifs

Music/Lyrics: Werner Böhmler/ Werner Böhmler

Conductor: Richard Österreicher

With strong support of four dancers (including one wearing a leotard, leg warmers and an American football helmet – odd but strangely appealing), this was Marty’s second appearance in Eurovision in two years, having been part of Blue Danube the year before - Austria was drawn first then, too. This time, he sang a pleasant, but unremarkable ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Ali Kocatepe/Ali Kocatepe

Conductor: Onno Tunc

From their outfits to their choreography, the Turkish quartet were more traditional than modern. There is a bit of Staying Alive style strings, but otherwise it’s all very tame.

Music/Lyrics: Ralph Siegel/ Bernd Meinunger

Conductor: Wolfgang Rődelberger

Siegel and Meinunger are better known for their schlager anthems, but this is a distinct diversion. It’s a sentimental ballad about a lonely boy. The performance featured a rare appearance by the harmonica.

Music/Lyrics: Sophie Makhno, Jean-Claude Pascal/ Sophie Makhno, Jean-Claude Pascal

Conductor: Joel Rocher

When he won the contest in 1961, Jean-Claude was an old fashioned crooner and 20 years later, he hadn’t changed a bit. He stood fairly still throughout and waved his hands a lot during his performance of this traditional French ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Shuki Levi/Shlomit Aharoni, Yuval Dor

Conductor: Eldad Shrem

The Israelis are not averse to a bit of swaying from side to side during their songs. There was plenty of it to accompany this decent disco effort.

Music/Lyrics: Tommy Seebach/Keld Heick

Conductor: Allan Botschinsky

Tommy had represented Denmark two years earlier in Jerusalem and Debbie was one of his backing singers. As with his previous effort, this is a disco number and, also like before, Debbie prances around as if she’s got ants in her knickers. 

Music/Lyrics: Ranko Boban/Ranko Boban

Conductor: Ranko Rihtman

This was Yugoslavia’s first entry since 1976. It’s a sincere ballad which is nice to listen to but lacks much to stay in the memory.  

Music/Lyrics: Jim Pembroke/Olli Ojala

Conductor: Otto Donner

Reggae purists would have a strong case if they argued that this is not of that genre. The song aside, Riki’s outfit is more likely to be seen on a children’s entertainer than your average Jamaican.  

Music/Lyrics: Jean-Paul Cara/Joel Gracy

Conductor: David Springfield

More than worthy of its third place, Humanahum is a beautiful French ballad which flows effortlessly and was given a very strong performance by Jean.  

Music/Lyrics: Amado Jaen/Amado Jaen

Conductor: Juan Barcons

The Spanish song is a gentle Disco number, the sort which is played towards closing time when the guys are looking to make a move on the lady they’ve been looking at all night.

Music/Lyrics: Cees de Wit, Bart van der Laar/Cees de Wit, Bart van der Laar

Conductor: Rogier van Otterloo

The formally attired Linda and her equally formally suited band gave us a very Dutch song which is mid tempo in pace, flows freely and is nice if unspectacular. 

Music/Lyrics: Jim Kelly/Joe Burkett

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Lyrically different songs are always welcome and this does exactly what it says on the tin. It dismisses the attraction of horoscopes while the three ladies dance neatly in their futuristic (ish) outfits. The song remains a fan favourite today.

Music/Lyrics: Finn Kalvik/Finn Kalvik

Conductor: Sigurd Jansen

Songs performing immediately before or after the winning song often finish last. Finn can count himself very unlucky to have done so with his understated and simple ballad. He certainly didn’t deserve not to score. 

Music/Lyrics: Andy Hill, John Danter/Andy Hill, John Danter

Conductor: John Coleman

The removing of the skirts ensured the song, which gave the United Kingdom its fourth victory, would be one of the most memorable in the history of the contest. Making Your Mind Up is an up tempo, catchy bit of fun, but you can’t help feeling there were more worthy winners competing against it.  

Music/Lyrics: Carlos Paião/Carlos Paião

Conductor: Shegundo Galarza

His backing singers were dressed in boiler suits and were given a silly dance routine to perform. Carlos didn’t fare much better, although the song isn’t as bad as its placing might suggest.

Music/Lyrics: Kick Dandy, Giuseppe Marchese/Kick Dandy, Penny Els

Conductor: Giuseppe Marchese

Leggy Emly was dressed appropriately as she sang about one of the Bibles most famous characters. The song itself has a very memorable hook and was worthy of its position among the favourites before the contest. The juries thought differently, placing Belgium in the bottom half.

Music/Lyrics: Yiannis Dimitras, Yiorgos Niacgros/Yiannis Dimitras

Conductor: Yiorgos Niacgros

Yiannis spent the first half of his song serenading his pianist, who in turn seemed to be concentrating hard on the keys in front of her. The song is an almost instantly forgettable ballad

Music/Lyrics: Doros Georghiades/Stavros Sideras

Conductor: Michalis Rozakis

Island were a two male/two female group supported by two musicians. They got the Cypriot participation in the contest off to a strong start with a comfortable finish in the top ten. The song is quite repetitive but pleasant enough.  

Music/Lyrics: Peter Reber/Peter Reber, Nella Martinetti

Conductor: Rolf Zuckowski

While this song achieved Peter, Sue and Marc's joint highest placing, many feel it should have won. The Swiss trio tried for the fourth and final time to win the contest and must have fancied their chances. It’s a beautiful ballad which uses the pan pipes with haunting effect. Usually, Sue had the majority of the singing, but this time, it was Marc who did most of the vocals. No wonder they didn’t enter again, if they didn’t win with this, they were never going to win.

Music/Lyrics: Björn Skifs, Bengt Palmers/Björn Skifs, Bengt Palmers

Conductor: Anders Berglund

Björn represented Sweden in 1979 with a ballad, this time he had written a soft rock song. He gave a restrained performance and was probably deserving of his place in the top ten.

Music/Lyrics: Colm T. Wilkinson/Colm T. Wilkinson

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Colm opened the contest by giving the best performance of the night. It was more than a little over the top, but totally genuine. Born to Sing tells the story of a man more committed to his music than any woman he meets.

Music/Lyrics: Kai Eide/Kai Eide

Conductor: Carsten Klouman

Other songs before and since have failed to score, but this is easily the most famous. It’s actually quite a nice song, but Jahn’s vocals were louder and a lot more intense than this essentially calm song needed. Maybe that’s why he received no points.

Music/Lyrics: Dario Farina, Mauro Luisini/Sergio Bardotti

Conductor: Nicola Samare

This is arguably one of Italy’s weakest entries. It never really gets going, and the outfits didn’t help. 

Music/Lyrics: Reijo Karvonen/Anna Rakkaudelle Tilaisuus, Seija Simola

Conductor: Ossi Runne

The Finnish song starts off very quietly and the volume increases only slightly for the chorus. There is an attempt at a big finish, but it’s more of a limp than a burst over the line.  

Music/Lyrics: Victor Maméde/Carlos Quintas

Conductor: Thilo Krassman

There are far too many repetitions of the title to keep the song interesting. Turn down the volume and enjoy the performance instead. 

Music/Lyrics: Gèrard Stern/Didier Barbelivien

Conductor: Alain Goraguer

This has all the elements needed for a classic French ballad, but somehow manages to be as dull as the proverbial ditchwater. The fact it finished third was probably a case of home advantage.

Music/Lyrics: Ramón Arcusa, Manuel de la Calva/ Ramón Arcusa, Manuel de la Calva

Conductor: Ramón Arcusa

Perhaps in an effort to please the hosts, there are a few words in French. The drama in Jose’s voice isn’t quite matched by the arrangement, but isn’t far away.

Music/Lyrics: Stephanie de Sykes/Stuart Slater

Conductor: Alyn Ainsworth

Until the slump which started at the end of the nineties, this was the worst placing for any United Kingdom entry. Dressed like escapees from the circus, Coco performed enthusiastically and eleventh place was slightly lower than the song, a jaunty sing along, deserved. 

Music/Lyrics: Alain Morisod/Pierre Alain

Conductor: Daniel Janin

Vivre moves along pleasantly enough at a mid-tempo pace. While it’s pleasant enough, it drifts along without going anywhere and is a bit forgettable.

Music/Lyrics: Jean Vallée/Jean Vallée

Conductor: Jean Muzy

Jean first appeared in the contest in 1970. This beautiful ballad oozes class and integrity. Jean remains seated at the piano for the first half of the song before standing up and moving to centre stage until the end. 

Music/Lyrics: Eddy Ouwens/Toon Gispen, Dick Kooiman

Conductor: Harry van Hoof

Swirling strings grab the listener from the first note and the song never releases its grip. The trio sing well enough and their dance routine is co-ordinated, if a little dated now.

Music/Lyrics: Daghan Baydur, Onno Tunc/Hulki Aktunc

Conductor: Onno Tunc

Three years after its debut in the contest, Turkey came back for its second entry. The ladies and gentlemen in the quartet split the singing duties evenly between themselves, sometimes harmonising. There are lots of strings and a definite Turkish flavour to the song.

Music/Lyrics: Erich Leissman, Jean Frankfurter/John Mőring

Conductor: Jean Frankfurter

Having represented Luxembourg four years earlier, Ireen carried the banner this time for the country which had given her most success. Feuer is an out and out Disco floor filler and Ireen’s performance is full of joy. 

Music/Lyrics: Paul de Senneville, Olivier Toussaint/ Didier Barbelivien, Jean Albertini

Conductor: Yvon Rioland

The verses sound a little old fashioned, but the song is saved by a more punchy and catchy chorus. 

Music/Lyrics: Sakis Tsilikis/Yannis Xantoulis

Conductor: Haris Andreadis

Tania was suitably attired and, musically, the arrangement borrows some of the style from Chaplins era, stopping short of being completely Chaplinesque.

Music/Lyrics: Mabel/Mabel

Conductor: Helmet Olesen

The Danes have always enjoyed having fun at Eurovision. This song was unlikely to be seen as the most credible musically, but would have cheered anyone up. A big bass drum was also brought on to add a bit more to the ‘boom booms’. 

Music/Lyrics: Rolf Soja/Frank Dostal, Peter Zenter

Conductor: Rolf Soja

Baccara had recently had a big hit with Yes Sir, I Can Boogie and this is very much part two of that song. The vocals were nothing more than ok and the choreography was sensibly simple.

Music/Lyrics: Nurit Hirsh/Ehud Manor

Conductor: Nurit Hirsh

At first glance, the winner has the kind of title that critics of the contest point to in order to illustrate what they perceive as lyrical banality. The truth is that it uses the language Israeli children use to talk to each other. There are elements of Disco, complemented by Izhar’s white suit. 

Music/Lyrics: Walter Markel, Gerhard Markel/ Walter Markel, Gerhard Markel

Conductor: Richard Österreicher

The mysterious Mrs Robinson is the object of the singer’s affections.  The all male trio were dressed almost identically and each played a guitar.  

Music/Lyrics: Peter Himmelstrand/Peter Himmelstrand

Conductor: Bengt Palmers

Like the Belgian song, this is a piano based ballad which stands out but somehow failed to gain the points from the juries that it deserved. Like Jean Vallée, Björn starts at the piano and finishes on his feet.