Blast from the past

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: The Swarbriggs plus Two, participating in 1977. Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest Ireland has been a dominant force in the Eurovision Song Contest, boasting a record seven victories, the most by any participating country. Their winning streak began in 1970 when Dana serenaded audiences with “All Kinds of Everything.” A decade later, Johnny Logan emerged as a Eurovision legend for Ireland. He first won in 1980 with “What’s Another Year” and then again in 1987 with “Hold Me Now.” Furthermore, Logan wrote the winning song “Why Me?” which was performed by Linda Martin in 1992. The ’90s continued to be a golden era for Ireland. Following Linda Martin, Niamh Kavanagh captured the title in 1993 with “In Your Eyes.” The subsequent year, Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan triumphed with “Rock ‘N’ Roll Kids.” In 1995, Eimear Quinn’s ethereal voice won with “The Voice,” marking an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory for Ireland. Johnny Logan National Final Ireland chose their entry through the Irish National Song Contest on 20 February 1977. The show was hosted by Mike Murphy and was not held in a big hall but at the RTÉ TV Studios in Dublin. Eight songs and eight different artists competed: Jamie Stone, “If I Give My Love”, 19 pts, 2nd Dickie Rock, “I Can’t Go On Without You”, 8 pts, 6th Sunshine, “Look Before You Leap”, 0 pts, 8th D.J. Curtin, “You Cannot Stop The Music”, 5 pts, 7th The Swarbriggs Plus Two, “It’s Nice To Be In Love Again“, 25 pts, 1st Denis Allen, “Da-dum Da-dum I Love You So”, 12 pts, 5th Colm C.T. Wilkinson, “There Was A Dream“, 18 pts, 3rd Chips, “Goodbye Goodbye“, 13 pts, 4th Chips Note that former participants Dickie Rock (1966) and The Swarbriggs (1975) participated. Colm C.T. Wilkinson had to wait another year, as he represented Ireland in 1978. The singer of the group Chips is quite a famous one: Eurovision winner Linda Martin, who first took part in 1984, before she won in 1992. The Swarbriggs Plus Two The Swarbriggs Thomas “Tommy” and John James “Jimmy” Swarbrigg are renowned figures in Irish music, both as former pop artists and promoters.  In the early ’60s, Tommy showcased his trumpet skills with Joe Dolan’s showband, The Drifters, distinct from the famed American band. By 1969, after a split, The Times Showband emerged with Jimmy as the lead singer. Their distinctive approach of composing original tracks made them stand out in the showband scene. Their rise was meteoric, leading to their own TV show by 1973. By mid-’70s, they embarked on solo careers, eventually retiring in 1980. Known as The Swarbriggs, the duo graced the 1975 Eurovision stage with “That’s What Friends Are For”. By 1977, alongside Nicola Kerr and Alma Carroll as The Swarbriggs Plus Two, they presented “It’s Nice To Be In Love Again”, a song they authored. The brothers penned both their Eurovision entries and numerous top 20 hits throughout the ’70s, such as the chart-topping “Joanne” in 1976 and other memorable tunes like “Looking Through The Eyes Of A Beautiful Girl” and “If Ma Could See Me Now”. In subsequent years, the Swarbriggs transitioned into concert promotion, bringing to Ireland acts like Smokie, Leo Sayer, Meatloaf, and others. They’re even humorously credited as the muse for the “My Lovely Horse” video in the show “Father Ted”. Their song “If Ma Could See Me Now” found renewed popularity, featuring in the 2002-2008 “Mrs Brown’s Boys” film series. Nicola Kerr Nicola Kerr was, in those days, a wellknown and asked backing vocal and member of several groups. She had been a member of Chips before she joined The Swarbriggs in their song. As a solo singer, she did two attempts to go to Eurovision: in 1981 with “The One In My Life” and in 1989 with “This Isn’t War (It’s Revolution)“. But the biggest success for Nicola was being a backing vocal for Murray Head in the worldwide hit “One Night In Bangkok”. Alma Caroll  Alma began her musical journey at 15, performing solo in Dublin during 1965. By 1967, she joined Bing Crosby on his Dublin-filmed TV special with the “Young Dublin Singers” and even got her radio series on RTE. The next year, her song in the Irish National Song Contest, “Give Me All Your Love,” placed fourth but didn’t fare well on the charts. Alma’s TV presence grew, with appearances on shows like RTE’s “Steady As She Go-Goes” and BBC in Britain. Despite never having a solo chart-topping hit, Alma’s prominence in the entertainment world didn’t wane. She remained active in the early ’70s, releasing singles and making TV appearances. In 1973, she placed second in the National Song Contest with “Isn’t It Grand”. A highlight of her career was being part of Swarbriggs Plus Two in 1977, where their song “It’s Nice To Be In Love Again” ranked first in Irish charts and third in Eurovision.  By the early ’80s, her performances began to wane, with her last known record in 1982. Today, Alma is married to Penney’s founder, Arthur Ryan, and is a Director for UNICEF in Ireland. It’s Nice To Be In Love Again The song is emblematic of the upbeat, catchy melodies often associated with Eurovision entries. With its lively tempo and harmonious vocals, “It’s Nice To Be In Love Again” captured the euphoria and bliss of being in love. The performance was well-received, earning the group a respectable third place in the contest. The song, written and composed by Jimmy and Tommy Swarbrigg, received twelve points from Norway, the United Kingdom, Israel and Sweden. Finland was the only country not to give any points to the song at all.  

photo credits: Nationaal Archief, Den Haag We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: 1970 runner up Mary Hopkin. United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest We already talked about the British Eurovision winners in this blast from the past. But what we didn’t mention are the many times that the United Kingdom organized the contest because other countries couldn’t. That started already in 1960, when The Netherlands were not able to organize the contest so soon after their first time. The contest went to the Royal Festival Hall in London. Three years later France faced the same problem. The brand new BBC TV Studio in London was the place to be. When Monaco won the contest in 1971, Monegask tv was not able (or willing?) to organize the contest. We went to Scotland instead, to Edinburgh. Two years later, Luxembourg couldn’t have the contest for a second year in a row, so we went to Brighton. And most recently, when Ukraine won the contest in 2022 while at war, it was again the United Kingdom taking it over; this time in the Echo Arena in Liverpool. National final 1970 Six songs all were sung by Mary Hopkin on the 7th of March. Cliff Richard was the host of the contest. People were able to vote by postcard, and one week later the results were made public. Three ships, 60,330 votes, 3rd Early in the morning of your life, 15,090 votes, 6th I’m going to fall in love again, 74,640 votes, 2nd You’ve everything you need, 39,360 votes, 5th Can I believe? 42,180 votes, 4th Knock knock (who’s there?), 120,290 votes, 1st As you see, “Knock knock (who’s there?)” won with a landslide, having almost double the votes of the runner up “I’m going to fall in love again”. Mary Hopkin Mary Hopkin, born on 3rd May 1950 in Pontardawe, Wales, is a renowned British folk singer hitting the charts in the late 1960s and 1970s. Her journey to fame began in the late 1960s when she appeared on the British television talent show, “Opportunity Knocks”. Her ethereal performance caught the attention of none other than Paul McCartney, who was then looking for artists for the Beatles’ newly formed Apple Records label. McCartney signed her, and under his guidance, Hopkin released her chart-topping single “Those Were the Days” in 1968. The song quickly became an international sensation. Mary represented the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Knock, Knock Who’s There?”. Her debut album “Postcard”, also produced by McCartney, showcased her ability to blend folk with pop, creating a sound that was both fresh and reminiscent of older, simpler times. She took a hiatus from the music world in the mid-1970s to focus on her family. In the years that followed, Hopkin explored various musical avenues, collaborating with a range of artists and dabbling in different genres. Her collaborations with the famed producer Tony Visconti resulted in several acclaimed albums, including “Earth Song/Ocean Song”, which is considered by many as one of the seminal folk albums of the 1970s. Knock Knock (Who’s There?) “Knock, Knock Who’s There?” is a catchy, upbeat pop song that achieved considerable fame in the early 1970s. Its most significant claim to fame is being the United Kingdom’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970. The song was a strong contender in the competition, ultimately finishing in second place. Given Eurovision’s vast audience, this placement ensured that the song reached millions of listeners across Europe and beyond. The lyrics of “Knock, Knock Who’s There?” combine a playful, almost nursery rhyme-like quality in its chorus with verses that express themes of love, hope, and anticipation. The song’s arrangement, characteristic of the era, features a blend of pop and orchestral elements, giving it a full, melodious sound. Following its appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest, “Knock, Knock Who’s There?” enjoyed commercial success, especially in the UK where it reached the number two spot on the charts. Its popularity cemented Mary Hopkin’s status as one of the leading British singers of the time, complementing Mary Hopkins earlier success with hits like “Those Were the Days.”  

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today we talk about yet another winner: Denmark 2013. Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest Denmark made its debut in the contest in 1957. The country won its first Eurovision in 1963 with the song “Dansevise” performed by Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann. Denmark took a hiatus from the contest between 1966 and 1978 due to poor results and disagreement with the voting structure. After their return, it took a while but in 2000 the Olsen Brothers got to first place with “Fly On The Wings Of Love”. In 2013, the third Danish win was there: Emmelie De Forest sang “Only Teardrops”. Photo credits: Robin Skjoldborg National Final To select its entries for Eurovision, Denmark holds an annual national selection called Dansk Melodi Grand Prix. In 2013, it was held in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning on 26 January. The show was hosted by Lise Rønne, Louise Wolff and Sofie Lassen-Kahlke. The 10 competing songs were: “Jeg har hele tiden vidst det“, sung by Frederikke Vedel “Human“, sung by Brinck “I’m not alone“, sung by Kate Hall “Rejs dig op“, sung by Louise Dubiel “We own the universe“, sung by Daze “Stay awake“, sung by Simone “Invincible“, sung by Jack Rowan feat. Sam Gray “Only teardrops“, sung by Emmelie De Forest “Beautiful to me“, sung by Albin “Unbreakable“, sung by Mohamed Ali In a superfinal, 3 songs came out: “Stay awake”, sung by Simone (15 pts., 3rd) “Only teardrops”, sung by Emmelie De Forest (26 pts., 1st) “Unbreakable”, sung by Mohamed Ali (19 pts., 2nd)   Photo credits: Albin Olsson Emmelie De Forest Emmelie Charlotte-Victoria de Forest, born on 28 February 1993 in Randers, Denmark, has music in her blood, claiming descent from Queen Victoria of the UK. With a Swedish father and Danish mother, her multicultural roots have influenced her musical journey. Starting her singing career at a tender age, Emmelie found her passion in jazz classics from the 1930s and 1940s, performing in local festivals by the age of 14. Her moment of international recognition came in 2013 when she represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Only Teardrops.” Winning the competition, Emmelie became a sensation not only in Denmark but throughout Europe. This triumph was followed by her debut album of the same name and numerous tours across the continent. Further establishing her Eurovision legacy, Emmelie introduced “Rainmaker” in 2014, which became the official anthem for the Eurovision Song Contest the following year. Her commitment to music continued with her sophomore album and various singles. After parting ways with Universal Music Group in 2015, she joined Cosmos Music and shifted her focus to songwriting. Her lyrical contributions graced multiple Eurovision stages, including penning Lucie Jones’ “Never Give Up on You” in 2017. By 2018, Emmelie released her second album “History.” Her most recent endeavors include launching “Typical Love Song” in 2021 and making an appearance in the short film “Text Me When You Get Home.” Emmelie’s journey from a local festival singer to an international sensation underscores her enduring impact in the music industry. Only Teardrops The song combines a pop melody with folky undertones, particularly noticeable with the inclusion of the flute. Its catchy chorus and emotive lyrics discuss the complexities of love and conflict, suggesting that both love and understanding can be the solution to disputes.  At the Eurovision contest, “Only Teardrops” stood out both in terms of its melodic appeal and Emmelie’s spirited performance. Garnering a total of 281 points, the song allowed Denmark to clinch the Eurovision victory that year. Emmelie’s barefoot performance added a unique touch and became one of the memorable moments from the contest. After its Eurovision win, “Only Teardrops” became a hit across Europe, charting in multiple countries.    

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today: singers from six different countries coming together. Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest Switzerland participates in the Eurovision Song Contest since the very first moment, in 1956. They even organized the first contest, in the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano. They also won this contest in their own country. Lys Assia gained the first prize with her song “Refrain”. Lys took part twice after this, but didn’t win again. Until she passed away in 2018, she has been a welcome guest in the contest.The second, and last, Swiss victory was in 1988. Also this singer is not quite a nobody: it’s Celine Dion. Only famous in the French speaking countries in those days, the Canadian singer won for Switzerland with her song “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi”. A year later, she was the guest of honour in the contest. She sang “Where Does My Heart Beat Now”, which became her first worldwide hit.Although the country won only twice, Switzerland has a history with many top-5 places. The most recent one was in 2021, when Gjon’s Tears became 3rd with “Tout l’Univers”, getting the highest amount of votes from the juries. National final On 22 July 2005, SRG SSR idée suisse started accepting song submissions from interested composers, with the deadline set for 14th of October 2005. By 14th of December, it was revealed that the song chosen to represent Switzerland in Athens was penned by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger. The song’s selection process involved a jury made up of members from Switzerland’s three major broadcasters: SF DRS (Swiss-German/Romansh), TSR (Swiss-French), and TSI (Swiss-Italian). Between November 25-27 2005, auditions for the song’s performers were held at Munich’s Olympia Studios. Siegel, in collaboration with a panel from SF DRS, TSR, and RSI, picked six artists from six countries to form the group named six4one for the Eurovision competition. The chosen song, “If We All Give a Little,” was introduced to audiences on 18 March 2006 during the SF1 program, Benissimo. Six4One Six4One was formed specifically for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. The group’s name, which can be read as “six for one,” symbolized the unity of the six individual artists coming together for a single purpose, which was to represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest. Their members are: Andreas Lundstedt Andreas Lundstedt is a Swedish singer best known as a founding member of the pop group Alcazar. Born on May 20th, 1972, in Uppsala, Sweden, he embarked on a solo career in the 1990s, releasing several singles. Andreas gained widespread recognition with Alcazar’s disco-centric hits in the 2000s. Open about his HIV diagnosis, Andreas has been an advocate for destigmatizing the condition. His charisma and vocal prowess have secured his place in Swedish pop history. Tinka Milinović Tinka Milinović is a versatile Slovenian artist recognized for her endeavors in singing, television hosting, and acting. Born on September 18th, 1973, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, she kickstarted her career in music before branching out into television. Tinka’s presence earned her various hosting gigs, including for popular Slovenian TV shows. Beyond music and TV, Milinović also ventured into the world of opera.  Claudia D’Addio Claudia D’Addio is a Swiss singer who came into the limelight as a member of the band Six4One. Prior to her Eurovision stint, she was a participant in the third series of the reality show MusicStars in Switzerland, where she garnered attention for her vocal abilities. Post-Eurovision, Claudia continued her musical pursuits, but her presence in the mainstream media has been relatively limited. She remains a figure of interest in Swiss music circles. Keith Camilleri Keith Camilleri is a Maltese singer, most prominently recognized for his participation in the group Six4One. His versatile voice allowed him to experiment with various genres, cementing his place in the Maltese music scene. Besides Eurovision, Keith has been involved in local music events and productions in Malta. His commitment to his craft has made him a respected figure in Maltese entertainment. He took part in the Maltese preselections for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 and 2005. Marco Matias Marco Matias is a German singer of Portuguese origin. Born in Portugal, Marco showcased a penchant for music from a young age. His melodious voice and distinct style led him to explore various musical projects, both within Portugal and beyond. His involvement with Six4One was a significant milestone in his career, allowing him to connect with a wider audience. Outside of Eurovision, Marco’s contributions to the music scene are celebrated, especially in Portuguese-speaking circles. He participated in Internationalen Festival Jovem das Comunidades Portuguesas 2000 and in Die Deutsche Stimme 2003. Liel Kolet Liel Kolet is an Israeli singer who began her musical journey at a very young age. Born on July 11th, 1989, in Karmiel, Israel, she quickly gained recognition for her captivating voice and impactful performances. At just 14, Liel shared a stage with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, singing John Lennon’s “Imagine” in a peace rally. Her dedication to promoting peace through music led to collaborations with notable figures like Scorpions’ frontman Klaus Meine. If We All Give A Little “If we all Give A Little” was a typical Ralph Siegel ballad, with lyrics written by Bernd Meinunger. The song embodies a message of unity, peace, and understanding. As the title suggests, it emphasizes the power of collective effort, suggesting that even small contributions from everyone can lead to significant positive change. The lyrics speak to a global audience, urging cooperation and mutual support. In the contest, Switzerland was automatically placed for the final, due to a successful score in 2005. The song placed 16th in the final. 

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. And we immediately start off with something really old. We go back to France 1958! France in the Eurovision Song Contest No less than 5 times France won the Eurovision Song Contest. Not only André Claveau (1958), the man we will talk about today, won the contest. Two years later it was Jacqueline Boyer who won with “Tom Pillibi”. Again, two years later, in 1962, Isabelle Aubret won the contest with “Un premier amour”. Frida Boccara was one of the 4 winners in 1969 with “L’oiseau et l’enfant”. And the last one was Marie Myriam in 1977. She sang “L’oiseau et l’enfant”. But note also that in 1991 Amina had as much points as the winning Carola (Sweden). However, Sweden received more times 10 points, so Carola won. Marie Myriam National selection André Claveau was selected internally by French broadcaster ORTF. On the 7th of February, 5 singers (not Claveau himself) sang one song each. However, they knew they were not going to represent France in Eurovision, as André was already chosen. The songs were: Parigi Roma, sung by Charles Dumont (but not in the link) Héléna, sung by René Denoncin (again, the link brings you to the version of another singer) Musique magique, sung by Jocelyn Jocya Dors mon amour, sung by Hubert Giraud (this is Claveau’s version, no version of Hubert Giraud could be found) Tape dans tes mains, sung by André Richin (The song could not be found online) The full results of the contest are not known, but “Héléna” seems to be the runner up after “Dors mon amour”. Jocelyn Jocya André Claveau André Claveau, was born on 17th December 1911 in Paris. In the 1930s, he started performing in small clubs in and around Paris. By the 1940s, Claveau was already a household name in France, with a string of hits making regular appearances on French radio. The pinnacle of Claveau’s career came in 1958 when he represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest. He charmed the international juries and secured France’s first victory in the competition. Claveau was very down to earth: winning the Eurovision Song Contest didn’t mean he wanted to stay among the rich and wealthy. In stead, he was happy he could by a new cow for his farm! Parallel to his singing career, Claveau also demonstrated his talent as an actor. He starred in a number of French films in the 1950s, most notably the musical comedy Pas de vacances pour Monsieur le maire in 1951. His charm and charisma translated seamlessly to the silver screen, and his acting roles only increased his popularity. However, with the arrival of rock and roll in the 1960s, Claveau’s traditional style of music fell out of favour with the younger audience. His popularity waned, and he found it increasingly difficult to compete with the new musical wave. As a result, Claveau decided to retire from public life by the end of the decade. André Claveau, photo credits: Nationaal Archief Dors Mon Amour The title “Dors mon amour” translates to “Sleep, My Love” in English. This title reflects the tender sentiment of the song, which is essentially a lullaby sung by a lover to his beloved. The lyrics, written by Pierre Delanoë, depict the singer soothing his lover to sleep, promising that in her dreams she will find a world full of happiness and love. The composition by Hubert Giraud complements the lyrics with its gentle, melodic flow, effectively capturing the song’s warm and calming essence.

We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, we will have a look at 2002, when Afro-Dite represented Sweden with the song “Never let it go”. Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest Sweden is one of the most succesful countries in the Eurovision Song Contest. Their first entry came in 1958. Their first victory came in 1974 (Abba with “Waterloo“). The country also won the prize in 1984 (The Herreys with “Diggi-loo diggi-ley), 1991 (Carola with “Fångad av en stormvind“), 1999 (Charlotte Nilsson with “Take me to your heaven“), 2012 (Loreen with “Euphoria“) and 2015 (Måns Zelmerlöw with “Heroes“). National selection For the first time, the Swedish national selection did not last only one evening. Four rounds and a 2nd chance round (andra chancen) ended up in a final with 10 songs. Former participants Friends, Kikki Danielsson, Elisabeth Andreasson (Bettan), Lotta Engberg and Jan Johansen were among the candidates. This is the full list of the final: Afro-Dite sings “Never let it go“, 248 pts., 1st Brandsta City Släckers sing “Kom och ta mig“, 88 pts., 5th Javiera sings “No hay nada más“, 71 pt., 6th Barbados sings “Världen utanför“, 90 pts., 4th Hanna & Lina sing “Big time party“, 43 pts., 9th Östen med Resten sing “Hon kommer med solsken“, 33 pts., 10th Friends sing “The one that you need“, 46 pts., 8th Kikki, Bettan & Lotta, “Vem é dé du vill ha“, 100 pts., 3rd Jan Johansen, “Sista andetaget“, 65 pts., 7th Méndez, “Adrenaline“, 162 pts., 2nd Afro-Dite Afro-Dite is a Swedish pop group, which originally consisted of Gladys del Pilar, Blossom Tainton Lindquist and Kayo Shekoni. Gladys Del Pilar had previously participated in Melodifestivalen in 1994, where she became 2nd with her song “Det vackraste jeg vet“. The group won the Swedish Melodifestivalen in 2002 with the song “Never Let It Go.”. They also participated in Melodifestivalen 2003 with the song “Aqua Playa” and came seventh. In 2007 they released a new album which was released as a download on their website. Just in time for Stockholm Pride 2011, Jonas Hedqvist released a new version of the single “I am What I am” together with the group Afro-Dite. The group made a comeback and participated in Melodifestivalen 2012 with the song “The Boy Can Dance“. They came 5th in the first part of the competition and were thus eliminated. In 2015, Kayo Shekoni left the group and was replaced by Jessica Folcker. Never let it go The song “Never let it go” was a swinging, uptempo song. The song was written and composed by Marcos Ubeda, who previously wrote the winning lyrics of “Take me to your heaven” in 1999. After “Never let it go” Marcos wrote numerous songs for Melodifestivalen, but never won it again.