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Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
   

1956-1959               1960               1961               1962               1963               1964               1965               1966               1967               1968               1969

Eurovision
Eurovision, or 'Television Continental Exchange' as the BBC put it, began life from June 6th to July 4th 1954 as a 'summer season of European television exchanges'. From the co-ordination centre in Lille, France (giving it the aka of 'Lille experiment' among engineers) links were established between eight European countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and West Germany, with programmes also from the Vatican. The first programme showed the Narcissus Festival from Montreux, Switzerland.

The Song Contest before 1960
The Eurovision Song contest began at the Teatro Kursaal, Lugano, Switzerland, on Thursday 24th May 1956, the realisation of a concept by Frenchman Marcel Baison, and has since produced many British chart hits and career boosts both for the British entries and the continental winners. There were only seven entrants in the first competition, each presenting two songs, all but two countries using two different performers. The U.K. was surprisingly not represented in that first contest, our first attempt being in 1957.


Eurovision Song Contest For some reason 1958 was another non-entry but the U.K. have competed every year since. Lys Assia from Switzerland won the first contest with 'Refrain', beating Belgium's 'The Drowned Men Of The River Seine'. The following year the contest was held in Frankfurt-Am-Maine and the UK entered for the first time with Patricia Bredin singing 'All', a composition which lasted less than two minutes and came 7th. The winning song, by Corry Brokken of The Netherlands, lasted 4 minutes 30 seconds!

In 1962 a three-minute time limit was set on entries. There is no restriction imposed on the nationality of the performers or songwriters performing for each country and current rules state that a maximum of six performers are permitted on the stage.
The UK did not compete in 1958 when the third-placed Italian song was released in a re-titled English version as 'Volare' and became the first Eurovision song to make the British pop charts. The 1958 winner was Andre Claveau of France, with 'Sleep, My Love'.

The UK bounced back in 1959, with the legendary Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson performing 'Sing Little Birdie' which was narrowly beaten by The Netherlands' Een Beetje. France's entry, 'Oui Oui Oui Oui', was only a single point further back in third place.
Fud Leclerc, a Belgian singer who represented his country no less than four times, was the first person to score 'nil points' in the competition, achieving this notorious feat in 1962 with a song called 'Ton Nom' ('Your Name'), an entry with a tune that bore little relation to the orchestral accompaniment. He had first represented Belgium in the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest of 1956 with 'Messieurs les noyés de la Seine' ('The drowned men of the Seine') and returned to the Eurovision stage in 1958 with the somewhat more happily titled 'Ma Petite Chatte' ('My Little Sweetie') which came fifth out of the 10 entries – his best result. In 1960 his offering was 'Mon Amour pour Toi' ('My love for you'), which came sixth out of 13 entries.
Fud Lewclerc 'Nil Points'

Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest              Eurovision Song Contest

May 24th 1956
Teatro Kursaal
Lugano, Switzerland

Presenter: Lohengrin Filpello
Winner: Switzerland
Winning Artist - Song: Lys Assisa - 'Refrain'
No U.K. entry
March 3rd 1957
Grosser Sendesaal Des Hessisches Rundfunk Frankfurt, West Germany

Presenter: Anaid Plikjan
Winner: Netherlands
Winning Artist - Song: Corry Brokken - 'Net Als Toen'
Patricia Bredin - 'All" (7th)
March 12th 1958
'VRO Studies
Hilversum, Netherlands

Presenter: Hannie Lips
Winner: France
Winning Artist - Song: Andre Claveau - 'Dors, mon Amour'
No U.K. entry
March 11th 1959
Palais des Festivals
Cannes, France

Presenter: Jacqueline Joubert
Winner: Netherlands
Winning Artist - Song: Teddy Scholten - 'Een Beetje'
Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson - 'Sing Little Birdie' (2nd)
     
       
       
1960 Eurovision Song Contest March 25th 1960
Royal Festival Hall, London, England
Introduced by Katie Boyle

  Winner
Jacqueline Boyer (France)
'Tom Pillibi'

U.K. Entry

Bryan Johnson
'Looking High High High'
1 France - 'Tom Pillibi' - Jacqueline Boyer
2 United Kingdom - 'Looking High High High' - Bryan Johnson
3 Monaco - 'Ce Soir La' - Francois Deguelt
4= Norway - 'Voi Voi' - Nora Brockstedt
4= Germany - 'Bonne Nuit, Ma Cherie' - Wyn Hoop
6 Belgium - 'Mon Amour Pour Toi' - Fud Leclerc
7 Austria - 'Du Hast Mich So Fasziniert' - Harry Winter
8= Italy - 'Romantica' - Renato Rascel
8= Switzerland - 'Cielo E Terra' - Anita Traversi
10= Sweden - 'Alla Andra Far Varann' - Siw Malmkvist
10= Denmark - 'Det Var En Yndig Tid' - Katy Bodtger
12 Netherlands - 'Wat Een Geluk' - Rudi Carrell
13 Luxembourg - 'So Laang We's Du Do Bast' - Camillo Felgen
1960 Eurovision Song Contest   1960 Eurovision Song Contest   1960 Eurovision Song Contest
     
       
       
1961 Eurovision Song Contest March 18th 1961
Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France
Introduced by Jacqueline Joubert

  Winner
Jean-Claude Pascal (Luxembourg)
'Nous, Les Amoureux'

U.K. Entry
The Allisons
'Are You Sure'
1 Luxembourg - Nous Les Amoureux - Jean Claude Pascal
2 United Kingdom - Are You Sure - The Allisons
3 Switzerland - Nous Aurons Demain - Franca di Rienzo
4 France - Printemps ( Avril Carillonne ) - Jean Paul Mauric
5= Denmark - Angelique - Dario Campeotto
5= Italy - Al Di La - Betty Curtis
7 Norway - Sommer I Palma - Nora Brockstedt
8 Yugoslavia - Neke Davne Zvezde - Ljiljana Petrovic
9 Spain - Estando Contigo - Concita Bautista
10= Finland - Valoa Ikkunassa - Laila Kinnunen
10= Monaco - Allons, Allons Les Enfants - Colette Dereal
10= Netherlands - Wat Een Dag - Greetje Kauffeld
13 Germany - Einmal Sehen Wir Uns Wieder - Lale Andersen
14 Sweden - April, April - Lill Babs
15= Austria - Sehnsucht - Jimmy Makulis
15= Belgium - Septembre, Gouden Roos - Bob Benny
1961 Eurovision Song Contest   1961 Eurovision Song Contest   1961 Eurovision Song Contest
     
       
       
1962 Eurovision Song Contest

March 18th 1962
Grand Auditorium de RTL, Villa Louvigny,
Luxembourg
Introduced by Mireille Delanoy

  Winner
Isabelle Aubret (France)
'Un Premier Amour'

U.K. Entry
Ronnie Carroll
'Ring A Ding Girl'

1 France - Un Premier Amour - Isabelle Aubret
2 Monaco - Dis Rien - Francois Deguelt
3 Luxembourg - Petit Bonhomme - Camillo Felgen
4= United Kingdom - Ring-a-Ding Girl - Ronnie Carroll
4= Yugoslavia - Ne Pali Svetla U Sumrak - Lola Novakovic
6 Germany - Zwei Kleiner Italiener - Conny Froboess
7= Finland - Tipi Tii - Marion Rung
7= Sweden - Sol Och Var - Inger Berggren
9 Italy - Addio, Addio - Claudio Villa
10= Denmark - Vuggevise - Ellen Winther
10= Norway - Kom Sol, Kom Regn - Inger Jacobsen
10= Switzerland - Le Retour - Jean Philippe
13= Austria - Nur In Der Wiener Luft - Eleonore Schwarz
13= Belgium - Ton Nom - Fud Leclerc
13= Netherlands - Katinka - De Spelbrekers
13= Spain - Llamame - Victor Balaguer

1962 Eurovision Song Contest   1962 Eurovision Song Contest   1962 Eurovision Song Contest

     
       
       
1963 Eurovision Song Contest

March 23rd 1963
BBC Television Centre, London, England
Introduced by Katie Boyle and David Jacobs
Produced by Harry Carlisle
Directed by Yvonne Littlewood

  Winner
Grethe and Jorgen Ingmann (Denmark) 'Dansevise'

U.K. Entry
Ronnie Carroll
'Say Wonderful Things'

1 Denmark - Dansevise - Grethe & Jorgen Ingmann
2 Switzerland - T'en Va Pas - Ester Ofarim
3 Italy - Uno Per Tutte - Emilio Pericoli
4 United Kingdom - Say Wonderful Things - Ronnie Carroll
5= France - Elle Etait Si Jolie - Alain Barriere
5= Monaco - L'Amour S'en Va - Francoise Hardy
7 Austria - Vielleicht Geschieht Ein Wunder - Carmela Corren
8 Luxembourg - A Force De Prier - Nana Mouskouri
9 Germany - Marcel - Heidi Bruhl
10 Belgium - Waarom? - Jacques Raymond
11 Yugoslavia - Brodovi - Vice Vukov
12 Spain - Algo Prodigioso - Jose Guardiola
13= Netherlands - Een Speeldoos - Annie Palmen
13= Norway - Solhverv - Anita Thallaug
13= Sweden - En Gang I Stockholm - Monica Zetterlund
13= Finland - Muistojeni Laulu - Laila Halme
1963 Eurovision Song Contest   1963 Eurovision Song Contest   1963 Eurovision Song Contest
     
       
       
1964 Eurovision Song Contest

March 21st 1964
Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark
Introduced by Lotta Waever

  Winner
Gigliola Cinquetti (Italy)
'Non Ho L'Eta Per Amarti'

U.K. Entry
Matt Monro
'I Love The Little Things'

1 Italy - Non Ho L'Eta - Gigliola Cinquetti
2 United Kingdom - I Love The Little Things - Matt Monro
3 Monaco - Ou Sont Elles Passees - Romuald
4 France - La Chant De Mallory - Rachel
4 Luxembourg - Des Que Le Printemps Revient - Hugues Aufray
6 Austria - Warum Nur Warum? - Udo Jurgens
7 Finland - Laiskotellen - Lasse Martenson
8 Norway - Spiral - Arne Bendiksen
9 Denmark - Sangen Om Dig - Bjorn Tidmand
10 Belgium - Pres De Ma Riviere - Robert Cogoi
10 Netherlands - Jij Bent Mijn Leven - Anneke Gronloh
12 Spain - Caracola - Nelly, Tim & Tony
13 Germany - Man Gewohnt Sich So Schnell An Das Schone - Nora Nova
13 Portugal - Oracao - Antonio Calvario
13 Switzerland - I Miei Pensieri - Anita Traversi
13 Yugoslavia - Zivot Je Sklopio Krug - Sabahudin Kurt

1964 Eurovision Song Contest   1964 Eurovision Song Contest   1964 Eurovision Song Contest

     
       
       
1965 Eurovision Song Contest

March 20th 1965
RAI Concert Hall, Naples, Italy
Introduced by Renata Mauro
(David Jacobs for U.K. Television)

  Winner
France Gall (Luxembourg)
'Poupee de Cire, Poupee de Son'

U.K. Entry
Kathy Kirby
'I Belong'

1 Luxembourg - Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son - France Gall
2 United Kingdom - I Belong - Kathy Kirby
3 France - N'Avoue Jamais - Guy Mardel
4 Austria - Sag Ihr, Ich Lass Sie Grussen - Udo Jurgens
5 Italy - Se Piangi, Se Ridi - Bobby Solo
6 Ireland - I'm Walking The Streets In The Rain - Butch Moore
7 Denmark - For Din Skyld - Birgit Bruel
8 Switzerland - Non A Jamais Sans Toi - Yovanna
9 Monaco - Va Dire A L'Amour - Marjorie Noel
10 Sweden - Absent Friend - Ingvar Wixell
11 Netherlands - 'T Het Is Genoeg - Conny Van Den Bos
12 Yugoslavia - Ceznja - Vice Vukov
13= Portugal - Sol De Inverno - Simone de Oliveira
13= Norway - Karusell - Kirsti Sparboe
15= Spain - Que Bueno, Que Bueno - Conchita Bautista
15= Germany - Paradies, Wo Bist Du? - Ulla Wiesner
15= Finland - Aurinko Laskee Lanteen - Viktor Klimenko
15= Belgium - Als Het Weer Lente Is - Lize Marke

1965 Eurovision Song Contest   1965 Eurovision Song Contest   1965 Eurovision Song Contest

     
       
       
1966 Eurovision Song Contest March 5th 1966
Grand Auditorium de RTL, Villa Louvigny, Luxembourg
Introduced by Josiane Shen

  Winner
Udo Jurgens (Austria )
'Merci Cheri'

U.K. Entry
Kenneth McKellar
'A Man Without Love'
1 Austria - Merci Cherie - Udo Jurgens
2 Sweden - Nygammal Vals - Lill Lindfors & Svante Thuresson
3 Norway - Intet Er Nytt Under Solen - Ase Kleveland
4= Belgium - Un Peu De Poivre, Un Peu De Sel - Tonia
4= Ireland - Come Back To Stay - Dickie Rock
6 Switzerland - Ne Vois Tu Pas? - Madeleine Pascal
7= Spain - Yo Soy Aquel - Raphael
7= Yugoslavia - Brez Besed - Berta Ambroz
9 United Kingdom - A Man Without Love - Kenneth McKellar
10= Finland - Play Boy - Ann Christine Nystrom
10= Germany - Die Zeiger Der Uhr - Margot Eskens
10= Luxembourg - Ce Soir Je T'Attendais - Michele Torr
13 Portugal - Ele E Ela - Madalena Iglesias
14 Denmark - Stop, Mens Legen Er Go - Ulla Pia
15 Netherlands - Fernando En Philippo - Milly Scott
16 France - Chez Nous - Dominique Walter
17= Italy - Dio Come Ti Amo - Domenico Modugno
17= Monaco - Bien Plus Fort - Tereza
1966 Eurovision Song Contest   1966 Eurovision Song Contest   1966 Eurovision Song Contest
     
       
       
Sandie Shaw 1967 Eurovision Song Contest April 8th 1967
Grosser Festsaal, Wiener Hofburg, Vienna, Austria
Introduced by Erica Vaal
(Rolf Harris for U.K. TV)
1967 Eurovision Song Contest

  Winner
Sandie Shaw (United Kingdom)
'Puppet On A String'
1 United Kingdom - Puppet On A String - Sandie Shaw
2 Ireland - If I Could Choose - Sean Dunphy
3 France - Il Doit Faire Beau La-Bas - Noelle Cordier
4 Luxembourg - L'Amour Est Bleu - Vicky
5 Monaco - Boum Badaboum - Minouche Barelli
6 Spain - Hablemos Del Amor - Raphael
7 Belgium - Ik Heb Zorgen - Louis Neefs
8 Germany - Anouschka - Inge Bruck
8 Sweden - Som En Drom - Osten Warnerbring
8 Yugoslavia - Vse Roze Sveta - Lado Leskovar
11 Italy - Non Andare Piu Lontano - Claudio Villa
12 Finland - Varjoon-Suojaan - Fredi
12 Portugal - O Vento Mudou - Eduardo Nascimento
14 Austria - Warum Es 100,000 Sterne Gibt - Peter Horten
14 Netherlands - Ringe Ding - Therese Steinmetz
14 Norway - Dukkemann - Kirsti Sparboe
17 Switzerland - Quel Couer Vas Tu Briser? - Geraldine
1967 Eurovision Song Contest   1967 Eurovision Song Contest   1967 Eurovision Song Contest
     
       
       
1968 Eurovision Song Contest

April 6th 1968
The Royal Albert Hall, London, England
Introduced by Katie Boyle

  Winner
Massiel (Spain)
'La La La'

U.K. Entry
Cliff Richard
'Congratulations'

1 Spain - La La La - Massiel
2 United Kingdom - Congratulations - Cliff Richard
3 France - La Source - Isabelle Aubret
4 Ireland - Chance Of A Lifetime - Pat McGeegan
5 Sweden - Det Borjar Verka Karlek Banne Mej - Claes-Goran Hederstrom
6 Germany - Ein Hoch Der Liebe - Wencke Myhre
7= Belgium - Quand Tu Reviendras - Claude Lombard
7= Monaco - A Chacun Sa Chanson - Line & Willy
7= Yugoslavia - Jedan Dan - Luci Kapurso and Hamo Hajdarhodzic
10 Italy - Marianne - Sergio Endrigo
11= Luxembourg - Nous Vivrons D'Amour - Chris Baldo and Sophie Garel
11= Portugal - Verao - Carlos Mendes
13= Austria - Tausend Fenster - Karel Gott
13= Norway - Stress - Odd Borre
13= Switzerland - Guardando Il Sole - Gianni Mascolo
16= Finland - Kun Kello Kay - Kristiina Hautala
16= Netherlands - Morgen - Ronnie Tober

1968 Eurovision Song Contest   1968 Eurovision Song Contest   1968 Eurovision Song Contest

     
       
       
1969 Eurovision Song Contest

March 29th 1969
Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain
Introduced by Laurita Valenzuela
(David Gell for U.K. Television)

Four Joint Winners

Lulu (United Kingdom)
'Boom Bang A Bang'

Salome (Spain)
'Viva Cantando'

Lennie Kuhr (Netherlands)
'De Troubadour'

Frida Boccara (France)
'Un Jour, Un Enfant'

1= Spain - Vivo Cantando - Salome
1= United Kingdom - Boom Bang-A-Bang - Lulu
1= France - Un Jour, Un Enfant - Frida Boccara
1= Netherlands - DeTroubadour - Lenny Kuhr
5 Switzerland - Bonjour Bonjour - Paola
6 Monaco - Maman Maman - Jean-Jacques
7= Belgium - Jennifer Jennings - Louis Neefs
7= Ireland - The Wages Of Love - Muriel Day and The Lindsays
9= Germany - Primaballerina - Siw Malmqvist
9= Sweden - Judy Min Vaen - Tommy Korberg
11 Luxembourg - Catherine - Romuald
12 Finland - Kuin Silloin Ennen - Jarkko and Laura
13= Italy - Due Grosse Lacrime Bianche - Iva Zanicchi
13= Yugoslavia - Pozdrav Svijetu - Ivan
15 Portugal - Desfolhada - Simone de Oliveira
16 Norway - Oj, Oj, Oj, Sa Glad Jeg Skal Bli - Kirsti Sparboe

      

1969 Eurovision Song Contest   1969 Eurovision Song Contest   1969 Eurovision Song Contest






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