Turkey

Music/Lyrics: Enrico Ruggeri/Enrico Ruggeri

Conductor: Vittorio Cosma

Enrico won the 1993 Sanremo festival with a rock song, but went for something softer for the European stage. The lyrics are about the situation in what was by now the ex Yugoslavia.

Music/Lyrics: Burak Aydos/Burak Aydos

Conductor: n/a

Turkey was never going to be in the running to win with this song. It’s too messy, as is the performance by Burak and the two gentlemen who are effectively his backing musicians/singers. It looked like a bad audition for a talent show. 

Music/Lyrics: Stefan Zauner/Stefan Zauner

Conductor: Norbert Daum

Swirling strings make the German song burst into life from the start. The volume lowers for the first verse and builds gradually as the song progresses. Münchener Freiheit was one of the best known acts in the contest and much was expected of them.

Music/Lyrics: Christophe Duc/Jean Jacques Egli

Conductor: Marc Sorrentino

Switzerland made a strong attempt to win the contest for a third time with this very classy ballad. It was ‘quite simply’ Annie on the big stage; she was on her own and gave a strong performance.

Music/Lyrics: Tommy Seebach/Keld Heick

Conductor: Georg Keller

Tommy’s third contest entry is also his least successful. On some levels, it’s also his most appealing than his other two songs. He even managed to emerge from the whistling solo unscathed. 

Music/Lyrics: Dimosthenis/Dimosthenis

Conductor: Haris Andreadis

Kati was a big star in Greece at the time and continues to be. This is not one of the strongest songs in her repertoire, but it’s still a strong song with a good Greek feel about it. She was one of the best performers on show. 

Music/Lyrics: Marc Vleigen/Marc Dex

Conductor: Bert Candries

Fashion student Barbara designed her dress. It may have been wise to take advice from the pros as it was hard to take your eyes off the dress, and not for positive reasons. 

Music/Lyrics: William Mangion/William Mangion

Conductor: Joseph Sammut

William’s voice is well suited to his blues influenced song. It was a rare outing for a song of that genre in the contest.

Music/Lyrics: Jon Kjell Seljeseth/Fredrik Sturluson

Conductor: Jon Kjell Seljeseth

The Saxophone features prominently in Iceland’s jazz influenced ballad. This, combined with Inga’s sultry performance, created a memorable three minutes.  

Music/Lyrics: Christian Kolonovits, Johann Bertl

Conductor: Christian Kolonovits

Austrian broadcaster, ORF, asked Tony, who had sung in Malmö the year before, to again represent Austria. Maria Magdalena was a lot more up-tempo than his previous entry, and edges towards rock.

Music/Lyrics: Pedro Abrantes, Marco Quelhas/Pedro Abrantes, Marco Quelhas

Conductor: Armindo Neves

Anabela’s performance was full of charm. Her song is a grower that needs a few listens, not a good thing in a contest of this nature, when jurors may be listening to the song for the second or third time.

Music/Lyrics: Francois Valery/Francois Valery

Conductor: Christian Cravero

The French had experimented with different rhythms for the last three years but returned to more native ground. Patrick is from Corsica, and the use of an accordion and traditional guitar gave the song a very Corsican taste.  

Music/Lyrics: Lasse Holm/Gert Lengstrand

Conductor: Curt-Eric Holmquist

Arvingarna were four blond Swedish chaps who looked resplendent in jackets best described as interesting. The song is more than strong enough to divert attention away from the sartorial choices. Eloïse is more edgy than typical Swedish Schlager, but retains a very strong sing-along element.  

Music/Lyrics: Jimmy Walsh/Jimmy Walsh

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Ireland won for the second year in succession, the first time this had happened since Israel won in 1978 and 1979. When the Irish send a ballad, it’s usually a good one, and In Your Eyes sounds as good now as it did then, if not better.  

Music/Lyrics: Jimmy Martin, Patrick Hippert/Pedro Abrantes, Marco Quelhas

Conductor: Francis Goya

In the unlikely event that Luxembourg enters the contest again, then this will be the last entry from the Grand Duchy. Luxembourg usually entered a ballad, and this one is no more than adequate. This is not a fitting end for a country that has made a positive contribution to the quality of songs over the years.

Music/Lyrics: Cole Moretti/Tomaz Kosec

Conductor: Jozé Privsek

1X Band qualified by winning the pre-selection contest held in Ljubljana.  Despite that, Slovenia finished lower than the other two songs that had qualified from the pre-selection. Tih Dezeven Dan is more positive than the songs from the other Yugoslav republics. Perhaps this is a reflection of how much easier it was for Slovenia to achieve independence than it proved for some of the other Yugoslav republics. 

Finland - Katri-Helena - Tule Luo (Finnish)

Music/Lyrics: Matti Puurtinen/Jukka Saarinen

Conductor: Olli Ahvenlahti

This is an old fashioned Finnish song which also has a more contemporary flavour. Katri was making her second appearance in the contest, 14 years after her first.

Music/Lyrics: Dino Dervishalidovic/ Dino Dervishalidovic, Fahrudin Pecikoza

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Fazla arrived in Millstreet with a dramatic tale of running to the plane in Sarajevo under gunfire, their conductor failing catch the flight. Lead singer, Muhamed Fazlagic, took every opportunity to speak lovingly of his home country and what was happening to it. After the contest, he went to Sweden and claimed asylum! That aside, the song is a beautifully constructed piece of emotional heart tugging with an arrangement tinged with sadness.

Music/Lyrics: Dean Collinson, Brian Teasdale/Dean Collinson, Brian Teasdale

Conductor: Nigel Wright

The BBC stuck with the formula that nearly brought success to the United Kingdom the year before. Pop star Sonia was asked to take up the baton from Michael Ball. Naturally, the United Kingdom public chose an up-tempo song for her to sing. It’s fair to say she gave the performance of her life.   

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

Conductor: Harry van Hoof

Ruth sang all the songs in the Dutch final having been asked to represent her country by Dutch broadcaster, NOS. With hubby Humphrey Campbell (ESC 1992) among her backing group, Ruth’s performance was one of the strongest of the night. The same could definitely not be said of the song, despite it being one of the more modern in the contest.

Music/Lyrics: Andrej Basa, Dorde Novkovic/Andrej Basa, Dorde Novkovic

Conductor: Andrej Basa

Croatia’s first entry is a soft, melodic number that doesn’t quite hit the mark. Put displayed their newly acquired patriotism by dressing in traditional costume. The final line, "Don't ever cry, my Croatian Sky", reflected the pride Croats were feeling in their new nation.

Music/Lyrics: Carlos Toro/Carlos Toro

Conductor: Eduardo Leyva

Hombres was one of the most contemporary songs in the contest, but still remained very Spanish. The presentation on stage was not helped by choreography that, at times, made the dancers look like clockwork toys.

Music/Lyrics: Aristos Moschovakis/Rodoulla Papalambrianou

Conductor: George Theophanous

Perhaps in misguided anticipation of winning, Zymboulakis and Van Beke recorded their song in four languages. The rules dictated they had to sing their mid-tempo ballad in the Cypriot national language of Greek. 

Music/Lyrics: Shaike Paikov/Yoram Tahar-Lev

Conductor: Amir Fröhlich

This is very, very Israeli! There is lots of harmonising, one line solos, an anthemic chorus and a bringing together of the group at the end, except for the backing singer, who forced her way into the final camera shot, contrary to what had been rehearsed.

Music/Lyrics: Björn Erik Vige/Björn Erik Vige

Conductor: Rolf Lövland

Silje’s folk song was the dark horse of the contest. Her image of innocence added to the ambience of a song, which build gradually. Unusually, the two verses were sung first, followed by three choruses.

Music/Lyrics: Alfredo Valbuena, Luis Miguelez/Luis Miguelez

Conductor: Javier Losada

Serafin gave the contest a melodic and solid opening. Everything was uncomplicated, from the tune to the presentation.

Music/Lyrics: Claude Barzotti/Anne-Marie Gaspard

Conductor: Frank Fievez

Sixteen year old Morgane arrived in Malmö fresh from her debut single topping the Belgian charts. Nous On Veut Des Violons was her second release and she performed with the shy charm that had won over the accredited journalists all week during rehearsals. Given the title, there are no surprises contained within the arrangement.

Music/Lyrics: Kobi Oshrat/Ehud Manor

Conductor: Kobi Oshrat

Dafna came through one of the highest quality national finals of the year. Her backing singers had problems in rehearsals with the positioning of their microphones, which were eventually hung around their necks. Ze Rak Sport is up-tempo and was suitable in what was an Olympic year.

Music/Lyrics: Aldogan Simsekyay/Aylin Ucanlar~

Conductor: Aydin Özari

It was a family affair for Turkey. The composer (who somewhat worryingly hit the very high note every time) and his sons made up Aylin’s backing group. The song is flavoured with Turkish and European influences and is a bit underwhelming.  

Music/Lyrics: Christos Lagos/Christos Lagos

Conductor: Haris Andreadis

Traditional Greek rhythms and melody made this a strong contender, as did Cleopatra’s performance. 

Music/Lyrics: Kali/Rémi Bellenchombre

Conductor: Magdi Vasco Noverraz

This is the first, and so far last, Eurovision song to be sung in Creole. France continued its recent trend of entering songs with music from specific parts of the world. The tactic had earned it two successive second places, but didn’t work this time.

Music/Lyrics: Niklas Strömstedt/Niklas Strömstedt

Conductor: Anders Berglund

The hometown favourite had a lovely ballad. However, while it moves along freely and unspectacularly, it lacked the impact to make it memorable in a field of 22 songs. 

Music/Lyrics: Dina/Rosa Lobato de Faria

Conductor: Carlos Alberto Moniz

Diminutive Dina was very lively and so she should have been. There are more fruits than a supermarket in her song, which is a cheerful clap-along full of bounce. 

Music/Lyrics: George Theophanous/George Theophanous

Conductor: George Theophanous

Written by Evridiki’s husband, Teriazoume is quietly powerful. The false endings keep the listener guessing and Evridiki was seductive in her performance.

Music/Lyrics: Georgina Abela/Raymond Mahoney

Conductor: Paul Abela

Mary’s big ballad came across very well in the Isstadion, but unfortunately, some of the grandness was lost through the camera lens. Mary had the voice necessary to give the vocal performance the song needed to be a contender.

Music/Lyrics: Fredrik Karlsson, Grétar Örvarsson/Stefán Hilmarsson

Conductor: Nigel Wright

Heart 2 Heart was essentially Stjórnin, the group that represented Iceland in 1990, with a few more members. The song was a crowd pleaser and a mood lifter. 

Music/Lyrics: Pave/Heikki Haarma

Conductor: Olli Ahvenlahti

Pave seemed to have aspirations to be a rocker, but rock songs don’t have lyrics like Yamma Yamma does. The whole chorus is that one word repeated several times 

Music/Lyrics: Gordon Dent/Gordon Dent

Conductor: Roby Seidel

Daisy was only in the contest because the song that won the Swiss final was disqualified. They should have stuck with the other song! Mister Music Man is really just The Stripper with lyrics. 

Music/Lyrics: Jang Linster, Ab van Goor/Jang Linster, Ab van Goor

Conductor: Christian Jacob

Sou Fräi is only the second cong to represent Luxembourg is Luxembourgish instead of French. Her outfit looked not so much spray painted as splash painted. The song is a nice mid-tempo number which you will hum along to, but won’t make you dash for the ‘repeat’ button.

Music/Lyrics: Dieter Bohlen/Joachim Horn-Bernges

Conductor: Leon Ives

A big personality with a big voice; it’s one of Austria’s best, but perhaps it’s position in the running order, plonked immediately before the eventual top two, did it no favours. Tony’s voice sounded slightly strained in some sections of his epic ballad.

Music/Lyrics: Paul Davies, Tony Ryan, Victor Stratton/Paul Davies, Tony Ryan, Victor Stratton

Conductor: Ronnie Hazlehurst

Michael earned every penny of the large fee he was reported as having been paid by the BBC. His voice, charismatic stage presence and dynamic performance lifted One Step Out Of Time beyond where this up-tempo song would otherwise have finished. 

Music/Lyrics: Johnny Logan/Johnny Logan

Conductor: Noel Kelehan

Johnny Logan completed his hat-trick of victories with another ballad. Linda was an experienced singer and paced herself to be at her peak on the big night. 

Music/Lyrics: Carsten Warming/Carsten Warming

Conductor: Henrik Krogsgaard

This is not a lovey-dovey duet expressing eternal love. It’s a couple trying to sort out their relationship but, being Danish, it’s done in a jolly way.

Music/Lyrics: Giuseppe Dati/Giancarlo Bigazzi

Conductor: Marco Falagiani

Having finished second in the Sanremo festival, Mimì, as she was affectionately known, was asked to perform in the Eurovision Song Contest for the second time.  This is a true Italian song, full of sincerity, emotion, intensity, with a hint of desperation. 

Music/Lyrics: Rade Radivojevic/Gale Jankovic

Conductor: Anders Berglund

This proved to be Yugoslavia’s last entry. In fact, the country was already started to disintegrate.  It went out in style with a song that starts softly and builds verse by verse to end the song and Yugoslavia’s participation on a high musically, if not high on the scoreboard. 

Music/Lyrics: Robert Morley/Eva Jansen

Conductor: Rolf Lôvland

Perky Merethe won many friends with her jolly personality while she was in Malmö. She even found time to laugh while she performed her anthem to save the planet, a theme that would crop up with boring regularity in years to come. 

Music/Lyrics: Ralph Siegel/Bernd Meinunger

Conductor: Norbert Daum

The same name, but a very different line up to the Wind of the 1985 and 1987 contests. The subject matter is the same, ’peace for all’, but the result was more deserved than the previous two. 

Music/Lyrics: Edwin Schimscheimer/Edwin Schimscheimer

Conductor: Harry van Hoof

The accordion made a rare appearance. Wijs Me De Weg tries to be a floor filler of a dance tune, but doesn’t quite achieve it. That said, it’s still a worthy tune and may have benefited from using a backing track rather than the orchestra.