The Eurovision song contest has been covered here before; it’s sort of like the Olympics, but only Europe and parts of Africa and Asia enter. Today is the start of the semi-finals. Here’s three notable entries from the past:
-The Beatles never got the chance to represent England in the contest, but Welsh songstress (and McCartney protégé) Mary Hopkin did, with “Knock Knock, Who's There” in 1970. This song became a big hit on Apple Records (in Europe), and was her last high-profile UK hit before she married producer Tony Visconti (David Bowie) and semi-retired.
-Bucks Fizz, “Making Your Mind Up” (1981): This is from a UK special during which the public got to vote (I believe) for which song they wanted to represent their nation in Eurovision. Bucks Fizz – an Abba-lite act which was put together for this occasion – got the nod, and went on to have a string of hits. I include this only because 1) Britons seem to cringe at this now (sort of the way Americans view Tiffany and Debbie Gibson), and 2) there was a huge scandal when members of the band started shacking up. How is it that both men look like Andy Gibb, and yet they don’t look like eachother?!
-Luxembourg came in 13th in 1971, despite the fact that this song is super-catchy and would become a sizable European chart hit for Monique Melsen that year. I have heard tell of an English-language recording (“Apple Apple Apple” instead of “Pomme Pomme Pomme”?!), but never actually found it.
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