So hi!
I'd just like to discuss some songs that i'm currently obsessed with.
First up -
Germany 1962 - Zwei Kleine Italiener - Conny Froboess
How on earth did this song not win? I mean it's just such a perfect and amazing song. It's simple and folksy and catchy and unique. I simply can't understand how it didn't completely sweep the contest...especially when you consider the fact that the French Winner is completely tacky and boring and just well so "1960's Eurovision". Germany is by leaps and bounds better, just so much better...like their not even in the same league.
Sweden 1962 - Sol Och Vår - Inger Berggren
Ugh...this is the only song that can give Germany a run for it's money as my undesputed winner of Eurovision 1962. Soooo Awesome! I love how Inger completely expresses every emotion and word of this song with her awesome voice. Especially on the last "När det er sol och vår" when she puts a bit of whine and sorrow into her voice. Ugh....She's awesome.
Belgium 1966 - Un Peu De Poivre, Un Peu De Sel - Tonia
In the pretty decent year that was Eurovision 1966 (see Denmark, Luxembourg, Yugoslavia, Norway, Monaco and The Netherlands), this song has to be my absolute favorite. And i LOVE Tonia. She performs the whole song with a charm and charisma that just can't be matched. I love how this song just makes you want to girate your hips and move your arms.
Finland 1968 - Kun Kello Kay - Kristina Hautala
As much as ESC fans throw fits about the fact that the United Kingdom was well in the lead until Germany gave Spain 6 points and thus there was much scandal and claims of Vote rigging that continue to this day, the real tragedy was the fact that Finland finished second to last with only 1 point despite having just such an awesome song. Ugh...the curse of Finland. Send awesome songs and get nothing, but send a heavy metal band in monster masks and sweep the contest. Ugh. So tragic. Anywho, i simply adore this song. And Kristina's performance is dead on. She's just out there with her tragically 60's hot puke green dress, dancing around without taking a step...it's all in the arms :)
The United Kingdom 1967 - Puppet On A String - Sandie Shaw
Aw Sandie. Due to the popularity of the contest at the time, the BBC decided to depart from it's traditional method of selecting it's song through a contest of amateurs and select a popular Singer. That singer happened to be the awesome Sandie Shaw. Sandie performed 5 Songs and the winner was chosen by postcard voting. Despite "Puppet On A String" winning, Sandie was pissed because it was her LEAST favorite song out of the five song. Despite her misgivings, she took the song to Vienna, where she completely blew the other songs out of the water and won without any real challengers. On the evening of the contest, Sandie performed barefoot for some reason or another and just like that a Eurovision myth was born. A number of singers and acts have tried to copy her success by performing barefoot, but with less than perfect results. "Puppet On A String" went on to become a smash hit throughout Europe and became the first british song to win the contest after 5 2nd places in the previous years.
Luxembourg 1967 - L'Amour Est Bleu - Vicky
Oh Vicky. Vicky was born in Greece and made a good enough name for herself there...however back then, Greece didn't particapte in Eurovision and Eurovision is exactly where Vicky wanted to be. So she did what all singers whose home nations didn't compete in Eurovision did, she simply represented Luxembourg (Because come on, how many Luxembourgian singers who are talented can there be? like 7?). Anywho, she threw her hat into the ring with this awesome song and did an amazing job. Despite being a heavy favorite to win, she just couldn't compete against good ol' Sandie and only managed to place 4th. Despite that, the song went on to become a MASSIVE hit, not only all over Europe but in the US aswell. Since she sang it, it's been covered hundreds of times by artists ranging from Jeff Beck to Frank Sinatra. As far as her performance, it was spot on. Her voice was just AMAZING, but she wasn't that pretty so what choice did she have but be talented? Anywho, Vicky didn't let this songs failure to win stop her. She went on to compete for Luxembourg again in 1972 and win with the awesome "Après Toi" and go on to enjoy a celebrated and fruitful career in the French speaking world and even had some success in her Native Greece. She's awesome.
The United Kingdom 1969 - Boom Bang A Bang - Lulu
The BBC decided not to mess with their successful format of chosing a popular singer to represent them. Lulu was a young upstart singer who had recently become somewhat popular. She was sent to Eurovision with the nonsensically titled "Boom Bang A Bang". She was an early favorite to win the contest and bring it back to the United Kingdom, however no one could have predicted what happened. It won, but shared it's win with no less than 3 other Nations (France, The Netherlands and Home Country Spain). At the time, there was no rule or precedance to deal with a tie, so all 4 Nations were declared the winner and drew straws to host the next contest (The Netherlands won it) and it was swiftly declared that a Tie Break Rule would be created in case it ever happened again (If the rule which was put into effect following the contest, France would have won as it had recieved the most votes from the most countries). But that's beside the point. Lulu charmed the whole of Europe with her energetic and charming performance and "Boom Bang A Bang" became a pretty big hit throughout Europe and was by far the most successful of the 4 Wining songs of Eurovision 1969.
Spain 1969 - Viva Cantando - Salomé
Salomé performed the host entry and Franco (The Spanish dictator at the time) pulled out all the stops. Salomé caused a bit of a rucuss with her performance, as she chose to dance at certain points during the song (Dancing had until this point, been against Eurovision rules). In the end, She pulled off a joint Victory (Along with France, The Netherlands and The United Kingdom) and became the First nation to pull of a two victories in a row.
