Blast from the past: Portugal 1974

Even though Portugal came joint-last in the 1974 contest in Brighton, the song had a wider significance back home. From Wikipedia:

“Despite the modest showing in Brighton at the Contest itself, the song achieved considerable fame as one of the two signals to launch the Carnation Revolution in Portugal against the Estado Novo regime of Marcelo Caetano – the other being the folk song “Grândola Vila Morena” by Zeca Afonso, which was the signal for the coup leaders to announce that they had taken control of strategic parts of the country.”

Here’s Paulo de Carvalho performing “E Depois de Adeus”:

Inquiry into Azerbaijani votes

The BBC is reporting that Azerbaijani authorities are “interviewing” citizens who voted for former foe Armenia in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest:

People in Azerbaijan who voted for a song by neighbouring Armenia in May’s Eurovision Song Contest have been questioned by the authorities.

One man told the BBC he was accused of being unpatriotic and a potential security threat, after he sent a text backing Armenia’s song, Jan Jan.

The Azerbaijani authorities said people had merely been invited to explain why they voted for Armenia.

The two states fought over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in the 1990s.

A Fistful of Euros goes into more detail, highlighting the fact that this action is broadly representative of Azerbaijan’s government. International Politics rearing its head in the Eurovision? Who’d have thunk it?!

Here’s the Armenian entry that got the voters in trouble – I wonder if they still think it was worth it?

Blast from the Past: Netherlands, 1994

Although this came 23rd out of 25 songs on the night, Willeke Alberti‘s entry for the Netherlands is still one of my favourite Eurovision entries of all time. Having said that, even the winning song (Ireland’s “Rock and Roll Kids”) was overshadowed by that year’s interval act in Dublin: Riverdance!

Here’s Willeke, singing “Waar is de zon?”, giving it her all for Nederland.

Blast from the Past: Belgium, 1975

A blast from the 1970s this time. The unlikely-sounding Ann Christy (real name Christiane Leenaerts) performs for Belgium here in 1975, singing “Gelukkig zijn“. This was her third and only successfull attempt to represent Belgium in the Eurovision. The contest was held in Stockholm and Belgium came a disappointing 11th out of 19 entries.

Christiane enjoyed a measure of musical success both before and after her Eurovision experience (which can’t be said for most participants!) illustrated by the fact that Bob Dylan wrote two songs for her. Christiane sadly passed away at the young age of just 38 back in 1984.

Ireland were pipped at the post by the Netherlands in 1975, who went on to win that year with the now-legendary “Boom Bang-a-bang”, which fuelled more Eurovision lyrics jokes than any other entry.

Eurovision 2010: Venue and dates announced

NRK today announced that the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Oslo and will be spread over the following dates:

• 25th May: First Semi-final

• 27th May: Second Semi-final

• 29th May: Eurovision Grand Final

Yes, it’s just over a year away. but it never hurts to be prepared. So get those dates in your diaries now! As the contest is finally taking place somewhere near me (relatively) I may just try to see it live in 2010. Watch this space.

You can read NRK’s original announcement (i norsk, selvfølgelig) here.

(Thanks to Eurovision.tv for the tip-off)

Blast from the Past: Italy, 1992

Though Italy hasn’t participated in the Eurovision for over a decade now, many Eurovision fans and the EBU hope they’ll stop sulking and come back some day. Here’s a clip of their fantastic 1992 entry, the sadly departed Mia Martini singing “Rapsodia”. This effort came fourth on the night in Malmo, and remains one of my all time Eurovision favourites. She had previously represented Italy in the contest in 1977, but only came 13th out of 18 songs (remember when the contest only had 18 countries?!).

And yes, she does sound like she’s been gargling with razor-blades and broken glass.

But I still love it.

In case you’re passionate about Italy’s participation (and let’s face it, what right-thinking person isn’t), there’s a Facebook group dedicated to bringing Italy back to the Eurovision.

Was Johnny Logan Ireland’s “Plan A”?

An interesting piece from Niamh Horan in the Irish Independent, recounting a rather awkward encounter with Mr. Eurovision (in Ireland, at least) Johnny Logan. Apparently, one badly-timed phone call was enough to push Herr Logan into passing up the Eurovision chalice. The result? Sinead Mulvey’s exit at the semi-final and just one more year where Ireland didn’t win the Eurovision.

Logan cited intrusion into his private life as the reason for his rejection – the journalist had contacted him on his private mobile phone. The truth, however, is much more banal:

Back to my feelings of guilt over costing Ireland the Eurovision. “What will my mother say?” I quivered at the thought.

Alas, a quick review of the tape put my conscience at ease.

Perhaps Johnny forgot that, at the start of our chat, he told me the real reason he had said no to RTE.

The sad reality is his refusal came down to cold, hard cash.

“Unfortunately they couldn’t afford to pay me,” he explained.

But would pure patriotism not tempt him to take us out of our misery? My idealistic reasoning is greeted with a very matter-of-fact response: “Patriotism doesn’t put food on the table,” came the stern reply.

Reading the entire article, I have to say Logan doesn’t come out of it looking too friendly. Mind you, I probably wouldn’t want a journalist tracking down my private phone number either.

Either way, I think we all owe Niamh Horan a drink – she inadvertantly rescued us from yet another Johnny Logan Eurovision performance.

Blast from the Past: Portugal, 1998

Portugal has always been the bridesmaid, never the bride. Despite entering some pretty good songs over the years, they’ve never won. But they keep coming back for more and for that alone, you have to admire them. Unlike certain countries (ahem, Italy) who stormed off when they failed to win, never to return, Portugal has been a fixture of the contest for decades now.

Here’s a nice little song from from the ’98 contest, which was held in Birmingham. It’s Alma Lusa, singing “Se Eu Te Pudesse Abracar”. Despite the splendid array of interesting instruments (most of which I’ve never seen in a performance since) this failed to win. Portugal came twelfth out of twenty-five songs that year, which was disappointing. But you have to remember, they were up against the irrepressible Dana International, who won for Israel. How could this song beat a transsexual wearing feathers, singing about being a diva?

Blast from the Past: Spain, 1969

One of my all time favourites: the song, the singer and that incredibly bad outfit. Salome sang for Spain in 1969, performing “Vivo Catando” accompanied by mildly annoying backing singers shouters. One of these singers went on to become Spain’s Minister for Finance in the 1980s*.

No spring chicken, even when the recording was made, Salome gives it her all, shimmying with the best of them.

And she won! All that shimmying paid off, I guess…

* Actually, no. He didn’t. I just made that up. I’m sorry, I’ve no idea what happened to any of Salome’s backing singers, but I suspect it involved dining out on their success and performing at friends’ weddings.

Plans already afoot for Eurovision 2010

A little over a week after their victory in Moscow, Norwegian authorities are hard at it planning for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The search for a venue has begun, and with a commitment that no new venue will be built for the event – surely a sign of theses economically difficult times – it looks almost certain that Oslo will host the competition again. Despite this cost-saving measure, Norway.com is reporting that Eurovision 2010 will have a budget of 17m euro, a not insignificant amount.

Aside from the “where”, the “when” also needs to be agreed. The proposed date of 22nd May clashes with the UEFA football final, and so needs to be changed. I’m not entirely sure that the viewers of these two events are mutually exclusive, but it’s probably not far off it. In any case, TV authorities will want to ensure viewing figures are as high as possible for both, so we’ll wait with baited breath for finalised Eurovision dates.

Eurovision 2010: the countdown has begun.

(Looks like I have my work cut out for me!)