Johnny Logan

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.

Music/Lyrics: Klaus-Peter Sattler

Conductor: Richard Österreicher

Synchronised choreography, a list of famous composers and a key change easier to spot than a feminist at a Jim Davidson gig: what more does a song need?

Music/Lyrics: Atilla Ozdemiroglu/Sanar Yurdatapan

Conductor: Atilla Ozdemiroglu

For those fed up with songs about love, this is something completely different. In the days before tourism, oil was the big industry and Ajda played it straight while singing its praises.

Music/Lyrics: Jick Nakassian/Rony Sofou

Conductor: Jick Nakassian

Anna, one of Greece’s biggest stars, made her contest debut with a song which probably wouldn’t feature highly on her greatest hits album.

Music/Lyrics: Pierre Delanoë, Jean-Paul Cara/ Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger

Conductor: Norbert Daum

Drifting into the bizarre, Luxembourg sent two petit sisters and a large man in a penguin outfit. It’s easy to hum along with, but was it really necessary to dress the backing singers up as penguins too?

Music/Lyrics: Abdel Ati Amenna/Malou Rouanne

Conductor: Jean Claudric

Morocco’s first and so far only foray into the contest is very Arabic. It was certainly a different sound for the contest and starts well, but eventually, the end seems a long time coming. 

Music/Lyrics: Alan Sorrenti/Alan Sorrenti

Conductor: Del Newman

After taking a couple of off years, Italy returned to form. Alan’s voice sounds quite normal during the verses, but goes soprano for the chorus.

Music/Lyrics: Bjarne Gren Jensen/Flemming Jorgensen

Conductor: Allan Botschinsky

Bamses Venner were four men in stripy jumpers who kept movement to a minimum as they performed this easy to remember little song. A bit of swaying from side to side sufficed.

Music/Lyrics: Tomas Ledin/Tomas Ledin

Conductor: Anders Berglund

Just Nu is a rock song and Tomas struts around the stage like a true rock star. There are shades of Mick Jagger in the way he carried the microphone stand.

Music/Lyrics: Peter Reber/Peter Reber, Véronique Muller

Conductor: Peter Reber
Eleven years after she finished fifth in the contest, Paola’s second effort is a quirky tune which grows steadily from a reserved start as does Paola’s performance.

Music/Lyrics: Aarno Raninen/Vexi Salmi

Conductor: Ossi Runne

Vesa combines singing with playing the flute, although not at the same time! Huilumies is a slightly messy song which fails to leave an impression.

Music/Lyrics: Sverre Kjellsberg/Ragnar Olsen

Conductor: Sigurd Jansen

The Sami people live north of the Arctic Circle and the threats facing their very traditional way of life were highlighted in this very ethnic song, which also includes the traditional Sami song

Music/Lyrics: Ralph Siegel/ Bernd Meinunger

Conductor: Wolfgang Rődelberger

Katia’s third and final Eurovision entry could be from the musical Caberet. She’s ably assisted by four men wearing black suits whose faces are painted white.

Music/Lyrics: Stephanie de Sykes, Stuart Slater/ Stephanie de Sykes, Stuart Slater

Conductor: John Coleman

Having survived a tie-break in the British selection show, Prima Donna, a six member vocal group of three men and three women, gave a suitably smiley performance of this cheerful song.

Music/Lyrics: José Cid/José Cid

Conductor: Jorge Machado

Saying goodbye in four different languages, José led the way through this mostly lively number, which is quite infectious.

Music/Lyrics: Frans Smit, Sjoukje Smit, Robert Verwey/Alex Alberts

Conductor: Rogier van Otterloo

Six years after her successful collaboration with the charismatic Mouth, Maggie represented the hosts with a slightly self-obsessed song, but it’s none the worse for that and is worth a listen.

Music/Lyrics: Sylvano Santorio/Richard de Bordeaux, Richard Joffo

Conductor: Sylvano Santorio

Profil wore matching outfits with multi coloured stripes across the front. They were co-ordinated to the extent of the stripes joining up along the line of the five singers. As for the song, it’s quite europop.

Music/Lyrics: Shay Healy/Shay Healy

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

The most successful of contest careers started here. It’s a heartbreaking ballad about the struggle Shay Healy’s Dad had coming to terms with the death of his wife. 

Music/Lyrics: José Antonio Martin/José Antonio Martin

Conductor: Javier Iturralde

The Spanish entry spends it’s time rising and dipping in volume and pace. The chorus is virtually chanted rather than sung.

Music/Lyrics: Daniel Dupret, Michel Muert, Marc Mullart/ Daniel Dupret, Michel Muert, Marc Mullart

Conductor:

It’s not quite Kraftwerk, but electro-pop makes an early appearance in the contest before it became trendy. Who says the Eurovision Song Contest has always been stuck in the past.