EuroVisionary.com - Everything you need to know about the Eurovision Song Contest - We welcome the 2009 Contest in Moscow

Music/Lyrics: Johnny Holshuysen/Gerrit den Braber

Conductor: Dolf van der Linden

The first song and the first daft title of the night. The song is quite calm and tuneful. 

Music/Lyrics:  André Popp/Pierre Cour

Conductor:  Johannes Fehring

This was the third big international hit to emerge from the contest. The song builds steadily as it progresses and is one continuous chorus, with the odd bridge thrown in for good measure.

Music/Lyrics: Kurt Peche/Karin Bognar

Conductor: Johannes Fehring

Austria’s chances of retaining the Eurovision crown seemed good. Peter was given a melodic ballad which starts gently and builds dramatically during the chorus.

Music/Lyrics: Hubert Giraud/Pierre Delanoë

Conductor: Franck Pourcel

Easy, gentle verses are followed by a more intense chorus, sung by a pure voiced Noëlle Cordier.

Music/Lyrics: Nuño Nazareth Fernandes/João Magalhães Pereira

Conductor: Armando Tavares Belo

Maintaining a steady tempo throughout, the song is nice enough to listen to, but was always unlikely to set the scoreboard alight.

Music/Lyrics: Daniël Faure/Gérard Gray

Conductor: Hans Möckel

Switzerland entered a soft ballad which feels a little bit stale in a contest full of fresher, more contemporary sounding songs. Perhaps this is why it didn’t score.

Music/Lyrics: Curt Peterson, Marcus Österdahl, Patrice Hellberg/Curt Peterson, Marcus Österdahl, Patrice Hellberg

Conductor: Mats Olsson

A very sombre and at times, dark song from Sweden. Not what they are known for, but there’s nothing wrong with being different.

Music/Lyrics: Lasse Mårtenson/Alvi Vuorinen

Conductor: Ossi Runne

Most people know Fredi from the 1976 contest. The two songs are completely different. ‘Varjoon-suojaan’ is a serious and dramatic song delivered by a serious looking Fredi.  

Music/Lyrics: Hans Blüm/Hans Blüm

Conductor: Willy Berking

In the early history of the contest, Germany entered good quality songs which stood a good chance of winning. ‘Anouschka’ does not let the side down. It holds the ear from beginning to end.

Music/Lyrics: Paul Quintens/Phil van Cauwenbergh

Conductor: Francis Bay

Louis kept the string section of the orchestra busy throughout this mid tempo song.

Music/Lyrics: Bill Martin, Phil Coulter/ Bill Martin, Phil Coulter

Conductor: Kenny Woodman

The United Kingdom’s first win came via a song which arguably was the worst song in a strong national selection. On the international stage however, it improves and was good enough to beat the competition.

Music/Lyrics: Manuel Alejandro/Manuel Alejandro

Conductor: Manuel Alejandro

Raphael, competing in his second successive contest, delivered a strong performance of a song full of emotion and drama.

Music/Lyrics: Tor Hultin/Ola B. Johannessen

Conductor: Øivind Bergh

Starting like the opening sequence of a western, ‘Dukkemann’ soon settles down into a pleasant song which moves along quite nicely.

Music/Lyrics: Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Colombier/ Serge Gainsbourg

Conductor: Aimé Barelli

The second daft title of the 1967 contest and a daft song too. Minouche gives an understated performance of a song which demands a bit more gusto in the presentation. With more ‘Boum Boum’s’ than Basil Brush, there is something appealing about it.

Music/Lyrics: Urban Koder/Milan Lindic

Conductor: Marijo Rijavic

This is a show song which includes a bit of spoken word. The tempo doesn’t alter during the song

Conductor: Giancarlo Chiaramello

Italy broke from their tradition of ending the winning combination from the Sanremo festival. Instead, the winning singer sang a different song, a suitably passionate and powerful Italian ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Michael Coffey/Wesley Burrows

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

The liveliest of the Irish entries so far. That said, it’s still a ballad but does build in tempo at times. Sean often mentions ‘the hills of Clare’, a phrase that’s open to misinterpretation if ever there was one.

 Germany - Margot Eskens - Die Zeiger Der Uhr (German)

Music/Lyrics: Walter Dobschinski/Hans Bradtke

Conductor: Willy Berking

Margo and Germany came to the contest with a gentle, floating ballad, something they hadn’t really tried before.

Music/Lyrics: Erik Kåre/Erik Kåre

Conductor: Arne Lamberth

Lots of brass moves this song along quite briskly. It occasionally pauses before re-launching itself on the listener.

Belgium – Tonia - Un Peu De Poivre, Un Peu De Sel (French)

Music/Lyrics: Paul Quintens/Phil van Cauwenbergh

Conductor: Jean Roderes

This is a lively piece of 60’s French pop, which keeps Tonia very busy. She sings non stop from start to finish.

Luxembourg - Michèle Torr - Ce Soir Je T'attendais (French)  

Music/Lyrics: Bernard Kesslair/Jacques Chaumelle

Conductor: Jean Roderes

The introduction makes you think that Tom Jones is about to leap on to the stage. However, the very feminine looking (and sounding) Michèle starts singing. She sings a mid-tempo song which builds for the chorus and even more at the end.

Music/Lyrics: Mojmir Sepe/Elza Budav

Conductor: Mojmir Sepe

Yugoslavia were starting to establish themselves as a country to be relied on to provide a decent song. ‘Brez Besed’ cements that reputation. Another good song and another good ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Arne Bendiksen/Arne Bendiksen

Conductor: Øivind Bergh

The woman who would host the contest 20 years later sings a fairly quiet song. She strums a guitar and the song is given some life by some bold brass.

Finland - Ann-Christine Nyström – Play-boy (Finnish) 

Music/Lyrics: Ossi Runne/Ossi Runne

Conductor: Ossi Runne

A mid-tempo effort from Finland which, like their (almost) neighbours Denmark, makes good use of the brass section.

Music/Lyrics: Carlos Canelhas/Carlos Canelhas

Conductor: Jorge Costa Pinto

Portugal tried something more up-tempo for their third entry. It moves along nicely, occasionally drifting into calm before changing up a gear again. 

Music/Lyrics: Udo Jürgen Bockelmann/ Udo Jürgen Bockelmann & Thomas Hörbiger

Conductor: Hans Hammerschmid

It was third time lucky for Udo and if he didn’t win with ‘Mercie Cherie’, he was never going to win. It’s very much in the piano ballad mould of his two previous entries and flows along fluently.

Music/Lyrics: Bengt-Arne Wallin/Björn Lindroth

Conductor: Gert Ove Andersson

Another future presenter, Lill teamed up with Svante to give an engaging and entertaining performance of this cheerful song.

Music/Lyrics: Manuel Alejandro/Manuel Alejandro

Conductor: Rafael da Ibarbia

Raphael made his way through his dramatic song with a suitably dramatic performance.

Switzerland - Madeleine Pascal - Ne Vois-tu Pas? (French)

Music/Lyrics: Pierre Brenner/Roland Schweizer

Conductor: Jean Roderes

Switzerland entered a steady ballad which, while being nice enough, doesn’t make you want to turn up the volume.

Music/Lyrics: Gérard Bourgeois/Jean-Max Rivière

Conductor: Alan Goraguer

At just under two minutes, this is the shortest song in the contest. Like Luxembourg, it’s a mid-tempo ballad but with a little less drama.

Music/Lyrics: Domenico Modugno/Domenico Modugno

Conductor: Angelo Giacomazzi

Having achieved a worldwide hit with his Eurovision entry eight years earlier, Domenico joined the ‘nul points’ club this time. As this song won Sanremo, it is a sharp reminder of how national and international tastes can vary.

Music/Lyrics: Claude Carrère/Jacques Plante

Conductor: Franck Pourcel

The title is repeated a lot, and I mean a lot! That aside, it’s a fairly gentle, inoffensive song which neither makes you want to turn off, or be in a hurry to listen to again.

The Netherlands - Milly Scott - Fernando En Philippo (Dutch)

Music/Lyrics: Kees de Bruyn/Gerrit den Braber

Conductor: Dolf van der Linden

A chirpy little number from the Dutch with a few silly sounds for good measure. Milly sings about Fernando and Philippo alternately.

Music/Lyrics: Rowland Soper/Rowland Soper

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Definitely not a ‘rock’ song. Dickie sung a pleasant ballad, whose title gives the theme of the song away.

United Kingdom - Kenneth McKellar – A Man Without Love (English)

Music/Lyrics: Cyril Ornadel/Peter Callander

Conductor: Hary Rabinowitz

Given the popularity of British pop music at the time, many have wondered why a more famous singer wasn’t asked to represent the United Kingdom. That said, and despite the outfit, Kenneth gave a good performance of this sincere ballad and can count himself unlucky not to have finished higher up the scoreboard.

Music/Lyrics: Johnny Holshuyzen/Karel Prior

Conductor: Dolf van der Linden

The Dutch song starts off full of energy but as it progresses, it loses a bit of the initial impact.

Music/Lyrics: Peter Lee-Sterling/Phil Peters

Conductor: Eric Robinson

After moving away slightly in the previous two years from contemporary music, the United Kingdom sent a 1960’s pop song.

Spain - Conchita Bautista - Qué Bueno, Qué Bueno (Spanish)

Music/Lyrics: Antonio Figueroa Egea/ Antonio Figueroa Egea

Conductor: Adolfo Ventas Rodriguez

A touch of the bull-fight his year for Spain. It gave a contest debut to that most Spanish of instruments, the castanets.

Music/Lyrics: Joe Harrigan and George Prendergast/Teresa Conlon

Conductor: Gianni Ferrio

Ireland’s debut was an inoffensive ballad, starting as they mean to go on perhaps.

Germany - Ulla Wiesner - Paradies, Wo Bist Du? (German)

Music/Lyrics: Barbara Kist and Hans Blüm/Barbara Kist and Hans Blüm

Conductor: Alfred Hause

The title, translated as Paradise Where Are You?, might lead you to expect something a little more solemn. The song has a 60’s movie feel to it.

Austria - Udo Jürgens - Sag Ihr, Ich Lass' Sie Grüßen (German)

Music/Lyrics: Udo Jürgens/Frank Bohlen

Conductor: Gianni Ferio

Udo returned for his second year in succession with another emotional, piano based ballad. The strings were used well in the arrangement and Udo deserved to be even higher than 4th.

Music/Lyrics: Jolly Kramer-Johansen/Jolly Kramer-Johansen

Conductor: Øivind Bergh

Kirsti sings with a smile on her face while the song has a wintery, perhaps even a Christmas feel to it.

Music/Lyrics: Jef van den Berg/Jaak Dreesen

Conductor: Gaston Nyuts

As the year ended in an odd number, it was the turn of Flemish to be the language of the Belgian song. The arrangement improves the song no end.

Music/Lyrics: Raymond Bernard/Jacques Mareuil

Conductor: Raymond Bernard

Monaco chose a soft ballad which is not a million miles away in style to Non Ho L’Eta. She even sings about being young, in the same way Gigliola had sung about being too young to fall in love.

Music/Lyrics: Dag Wiren/Alf Henriksson

Conductor: William Lind

Tenor Ingvar sings one of those songs whose title doesn’t appear in the song. It’s a pleasant ballad which Ingvar sang well sung and sensitively.

Music/Lyrics: Guy Mardel/ Françoise Dorin

Conductor: Franck Pourcel

The word jamais is sprinkled liberally throughout the song. The song moves along nicely and is not a typical French song.

Music/Lyrics: Carlos Nobrega e Sousa/ Jeronimo Bragança

Conductor: Fernando de Carvalho

Not put off after scoring zero at their first attempt, Portugal bravely returned with a dramatic ballad.

Italy – Bobby Solo – Se Piangi, Se Ridi (Italian)

Music/Lyrics: Satti Marchetti/ Giulio Rapetti

Conductor: Gianni Ferrio

The winner of the Sanremo festival again provided Italy with its Eurovision entry. Like a lot of Italian songs, it has aged well and could easily have brought Italy a second successive victory.  

Music/Lyrics: Jørgen Jersild/ Poul Henningsen

Conductor: Arne Lamberth

Quiet and understated are the words that spring to mind. It is a bit difficult to stay with the song until the end.

Music/Lyrics: Serge Gainsbourg/ Serge Gainsbourg

Conductor: Alain Goraguer

French rebel Serge Gainsbourg wrote this, Luxembourg’s second winner. In true Gainsbourg style, it was different to anything that had won the contest before and by far the most up tempo.

Music/Lyrics: Toivo Kärki/Reino Helismaa

Conductor: George de Godzinsky

The saxophone provides a bright, if slightly misleading opening. The jazz feel continues and the saxophone returns for the instrumental.

Music/Lyrics: Julijo Maric/ Zarko Roje

Conductor: Radivoj Spasic

Vice gives an emotive and sensitive performance of this strong ballad. Many would argue it deserved a lot better than twelfth.

Music/Lyrics: Bob Calfati/ Jean Charles

Conductor: Mario Robbiani

The cymbal is used quietly and constantly throughout the song, which is a lilting ballad.

Luxembourg - Hugues Aufray - Dès Que Le Printemps Revient (French)

Music/Lyrics: Hugues Aufray/Jacques Plante

Conductor:  Jacques Denjean

Although the song lasts for three minutes, by the end of the first minute, it has revealed everything it has to offer. Hugues sings a line or two, his backing singers repeat the last few words and then there is a bit of trumpet.

Music/Lyrics: Ted Powder/René de Vos

Conductor: Dolf van der Linden

The song starts off very promisingly but doesn’t quite deliver. A lively arrangement kept the orchestra fairly busy.

Music/Lyrics: Sigurd Jansen/Egil Hagen

Conductor: Karsten Andersen

Norway’s fifth entry is the first which could be described as up-tempo. It uses lots of brass which gives the song a big band atmosphere.

Music/Lyrics: Aksel van Rasmussen/Morgens Dam

Conductor: Kai Mortensen

The hosts went for two in a row with a song too dissimilar in construction to ‘Dansevise’. It moves along steadily with an arrangement mainly interspersed between the vocal lines. 

Music/Lyrics: Lasse Mårtenson/Sauvo Puhtila

Conductor: George de Godzinsky

From scoring zero the year before, Finland moved into the top half of the scoreboard with Lasse’s big band influenced song.

Music/Lyrics: Udo Jürgens/Udo Jürgens

Conductor: Johannes Fehring

It seems Austria suddenly wanted to win the contest. This beautiful piano based ballad is far superior to anything they had previously entered. Matt Monro reached number four in the UK with an English version of the song, ‘Walk Away’.

Music/Lyrics: André Popp/Pierre Cour

Conductor: Franck Pourcel

This is a simple, pleasant ballad sung with sensitivity by Rachel. The lyricist got a bit lazy, with a few da-da-da’s creeping in, but that doesn’t spoil the song too much.

Music/Lyrics: Tony Hatch/Tony Hatch

Conductor: Harry Rabinowitz

Crooner Matt had a bigger hit with an English version of Austria’s song than he did with this. ‘I Love the Little Things’ failed to chart. However, his voice is well suited to the style and the whole thing sounds quite cool.

Music/Lyrics: Rudi von der Dovenmühle/Niels Nobach

Conductor: Willy Berking

Germany had one of the most up-tempo songs in the 1964 contest. As with most German entries at that point in the history of the contest, like it or hate it, it stands out from the crowd.

Music/Lyrics: Francis Lai/Pierre Barouh

Conductor: Michel Colombier

With one exception, Monaco had so far put their faith into typical French ballads. This is possibly the best effort in their six attempts. The juries agreed.

Music/Lyrics: João Nobre/Francisco Nicholson and Rogério Braçinha

Conductor: Kai Mortensen

Portugal is one of the most unsuccessful countries in the contest, being the oldest participant never to have won. Their first entry sums up their history. It’s a beautiful song which deserved a lot better from the juries.

Music/Lyrics: Nicola Salerno/Mario Panzeri

Conductor: Gianfranco Monaldi

Sixteen year old Gigliola swept all before her, scoring more than double the points of the second place song. Some will argue her age won it; others will point to the commercial success of the song as proof that the song was stronger than its competitors.

Yugoslavia - Sabahudin Kurt - Zivot Je Sklopio Krug (Serbo-Croat)

Music/Lyrics: Srcan Matijevic/Stevan Raickovic

Conductor: Radivoj Spasic

Yugoslavia can count themselves unlucky not to have scored a single point. The song is an understated ballad which would certainly not make you want to switch off. The use of the alto-sax does spoil slightly the overall quality.

Switzerland - Anita Traversi - I Miei Pensieri (Italian)

Music/Lyrics: Giovanni Pelli/Sanzio Chiesa

Conductor: Fernando Paggi

While most of the countries upped their game in 1964, choosing songs which were more contemporary than in previous years, Switzerland continued where previous years had left off.

Belgium - Robert Cogoi - Près De Ma Rivière (French)

Music/Lyrics: Robert Cogoi/Robert Cogoi

Conductor: Henry Segers

Belgium chose a slow song whose pace remains more or less constant throughout, changing very briefly in the middle and towards the end.

Spain - Tim, Nelly and Tony – Caracola (Spanish)

Music/Lyrics: Fina de Calderón/Fina de Calderón

Conductor:  Rafael Ibarbia

While they might sound like children’s television presenters, the song would certainly not be used to entertain the kids, its serious Spanish fare. Tim and Tony are little more than backing singers.

Music/Lyrics: Philip Green/Norman Newell

Conductor: Eric Robinson

In contrast to his first Eurovision entry the year before, this is a sincere ballad. Slightly dated perhaps, but still not unpleasant to listen to.

Music/Lyrics: Pieter Goemans/Pieter Goemans

Conductor: Dolf Van der Linden

One of four songs to score zero, the Dutch were starting to make a habit of either winning or finishing near the bottom. Drawn second, it possibly got lost among the plethora of ballads it was up against.

Music/Lyrics: Charly Niessen/Charly Niessen

Conductor:  Willy Berking

The Germans were already showing that they were not afraid to be different and ‘Marcel’ works well. There is a slight circus feel to it but at least they are not stuck in the 1950s.

Music/Lyrics: Erwin Halletz/Peter Wehle

Conductor: Erwin Halletz

There are a few bursts of energy from the orchestra but other than that, this is quite an uneventful, steady ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Dag Kristoffersen/Dag Kristoffersen

Conductor: Øivind Bergh

Sporting a very 1960s hair style, Anita has the ‘honour’ of scoring Norway’s first ‘nul points’. She can count herself as little unlucky. She sang this nice ballad very clearly.

Music/Lyrics: Tony Renis/Alberto Testa and Giulio Rapetti

Conductor: Gigi Ciccherello

This is one of the most un-Italian songs they have ever entered, its cabaret style differing wildly from the traditional Italian sound. A brave song to try, but justified with the resulting third place.

Music/Lyrics: Börje Sundgren/Börje Sundgren

Conductor: George de Godzinsky

The first and last 30 seconds of Finland’s third entry consists almost exclusively of “la-la-la”. In between, Laila sings a very gentle, inoffensive ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Otto Francker/Sejr Volmer-Sørensen

Conductor: Kai Mortensen

The husband and wife team gave Denmark and Scandinavia their first winner. Jurgen’s guitar arrangement makes the song distinctive from its competitors, managing to be different enough to stand out but not too different to annoy the more conservative jurors.

Music/Lyrics: Mario Nardelli/Mario Nardelli

Conductor: Miljenko Prohaska

Like their first two entries, this is an international style ballad, but this year, a male represented them for the first time. The arrangement is quite dramatic at times.

Music/Lyrics: Géo Voumard/Emile Gardaz

Conductor: Eric Robinson

The song which finished second (or was it first? We’ll never know) is a lovely ballad. It’s certainly a cut above most of its rivals, supported mainly by piano and strings.

Music/Lyrics: Alain Barrière/Alain Barrière

Conductor: Franck Pourcel

OK, so France had already won twice by now, but this is arguably their best entry yet. A lovely ballad with a piano arrangement adding to its beauty.

Music/Lyrics: Fernando Garcia Morcillo/Camillo Murillo Janero

Conductor: Rafael Ibarbia

Not exactly third time lucky for Spain! ‘Algo Prodigioso’ wants to be a Spanish epic but doesn’t quite manage it.

Music/Lyrics: Bobbie Ericsson/Beppe Wolgers

Conductor: William Lind

Images of a Stockholm jazz club are conjured up listening to this. There were apparently no jazz fans on the juries as this didn’t score. 

Music/Lyrics: Hans Flower/Wim Brabants

Conductor: Francis Bay

This is a ballad in the classic style. It’s neither particularly interesting nor particularly boring.

Music/Lyrics: Françoise Hardy/Françoise Hardy

Conductor: Raymond Lefévre

As with the preceding Belgian song, this is a ballad typical of the day but clearly appealed more to the juries. Depending on your taste, it’s either dull or pure class.

Music/Lyrics: Raymond Bernard/Pierre Delanoë

Conductor: Eric Robinson

Greek born star Nana was one of the many foreigners to represent Luxembourg. The principality had sent standard French ballads up to now; this is one of them but is slightly superior.

Finland – Marion Rung – Tipi-tii (Finnish)

Music/Lyrics: Kari Tuomisaari/Kari Tuomisaari

Conductor: George de Godzinsky

Marion was appearing in the contest in the first of her two appearances. As well as plenty of “tipi-tii’s”, there are enough “la’s” to keep the cynics happy.

Music/Lyrics: Eric Channe/Tony Golan

Conductor: Henri Segers

This was the fourth year Belgium’s song was in French, so naturally it was Fud’s fourth appearance in the contest. It could have been any of the previous three and no-body would have been any the wiser.

MusicLyrics: Mario Selles/Miguel Portoles

Conductor: Antonia Moya

Spain’s first entry the year before could have come from anywhere in Europe. Their second effort has more of a Spanish feel about it.

Austria - Eleonore Schwarz - Nur in der Wiener Luft (German)

Music/Lyrics: Bruno Uher/Bruno Uher

Conductor: Bruno Uher

Soprano Eleonore went for Austria’s first win with a song which would have sounded dated even then.

Music/Lyrics: Kjeld Bonfils/Sejr Volmer-Sørensen

Conductor: Kai Mortensen

Denmark’s sixth entry passes by almost unnoticed. It’s quite slow and not easy to listen to today.

Music/Lyrics: Ulf Kjellqvist & Åke Gerhard/Ulf Kjellqvist & Åke Gerhard

Conductor: Ego Kjerrmann

By this time in the history of the contest, Sweden was establishing itself as the country to rely on for good, cheerful foot-tappers. This song certainly helps that reputation.

Music/Lyrics: Christian Bruhn/Georg Buschor

Conductor: Rolf-Hans Muller

For the second year running, the accordion was present, lending the song a fairground style of sound.

Music/Lyrics: Joop Stookkermans/Henny Hamhuis

Conductor: Dolf van der Linden

With beaming smiles, the Dutch duo skipped onto the stage. Their song was also a happy one.

Music/Lyrics: Claude Henri Vic/Roland Valade

Conductor: Franck Pourcel

An old-fashioned French ballad won in 1961 for Luxembourg, an old-fashioned French ballad won in 1962 for France. To be fair, this is more appealing than its predecessor.

Norway - Inger Jacobsen - Kom Sol, Kom Regn (Norwegian)

Music/Lyrics: Kjell Karlsen/Ivar Andersen

Conductor: Øivind Bergh

Norway’s third entry is a ballad. Strings are the most evident instruments in the arrangement.

Music/Lyrics: Géo Voumard/ Emile Gardaz

Conductor: Cedric Dumont

The orchestra were used sensibly during this ballad, which was an improvement on his first effort for France three years earlier.

Music/Lyrics: Jozé Privšek/ Dragutin Britvic

Conductor: Jozé Privšek

Yugoslavia’s approach was similar to their first song in 1961, a ballad sung by a female. The result was a little better.

Music/Lyrics: Syd Cordell/Stan Butcher

Conductor: Wally Stott

At first, the “Ring-a-Ding” refers to his reaction to first seeing his girl. As the song progresses, the “Ring-a-Ding” represents the wedding bells. Clever or corny – you decide.

Music/Lyrics: Jacques Datin/Maurice Vidalin

Conductor: Jean Roderes

If at first you succeed, try the same thing again. This time, it wasn’t quite as successful. Perhaps the spoken part didn’t help, or maybe was it Camillo's striking resemblance to Dracula?

Music/Lyrics: Domenico Modugno/ Franco Migliacci

Conductor: Cinico Angelini

Claudio is a legend in Italian music history. He and another legend, Domenico Modugno, won the Sanremo festival with this song, which Domenico also wrote. A powerful performance of a powerful song.