The Eurovision song contest

[Cartman]

 Go on, who is going to own up to watching this?!

I did for a few years, in the 70s, partly because it was on and there was only three channels. I had given over bothering with it by about 82, the last UK entry I remember was by a duo called Bardo, memorably only because the girl in it was seriously fit

I remember Abba winning it in 74 with Waterloo and Bucks Fizz in 81 with Making your mind up. A few other entries I remember were The New Seekers in about 72 and the 1980 effort, I think the group were called Prima Donna, with Love Enough for Two.

Now I wouldn’t watch it under any circumstances, it’s terrible!

[Gene Hunt]

I watched it a number of times a few years back but mainly for Wogan's comments which were hilarious.

Gene.

[Arthur Pringle]

I used to enjoy watching it years ago, like 'Jeux Sans Frontieres'/'It's A Knockout' it was about as exotic as tv got. The poor sound quality of the audio commentary you used to get with live overseas coverage added to the atmosphere.

Not all the music was bad either. Here are a few of my favourites-

[Vienna]

I used to watch it quite a bit in the 90s when Ireland dominated the contest. I also remember buying the winning Katrina and the Waves single in 1997 - the last time that the UK won the competition 

Vi 

[Cartman]

Yes I remember the Dutch and French 75 and 77 winners which weren't bad. Also Ireland repeatedly winning in the 90s. Think it was probably the inspiration for Father Ted's My lovely horse!

[John Steed]

Oct 14, 2018 17:04:12 GMT Gene Hunt said:

I watched it a number of times a few years back but mainly for Wogan's comments which were hilarious.

Gene.

I remember one year when Wogan must have had several alcoholic drinks and he kept laughing and slurring his words ….. brilliant!


Steed

[D.C. Burtonshaw]

Two words;

"NIL POINT!"

But seriously can you remember any group actually getting that score? I think a country did in 1982 when Bardo were the UK entry, as the kids at school were talking about it but can't remember the country. The Bardo song still stays in my head too!

I remember Wogan used to present for a few weeks leading up to the contest, a weekly weekend preview of pop videos of many of the entries. He always pretty much played on his daily morning Radio 2 show that years Ireland entry a few times a week so I knew it as well as the British one! I seem to remember in particular, Johnny Logan. He is known as being the only performer to have won the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1980 and 1987. He also composed the winning song in 1992.

I used to think it was quite fascinating seeing how a sample of other countries pop music sounded.

[Cartman]

I'm pretty sure that the UK entry about 8 or 9 years ago got NIL point. Will check this out.

[Cartman]

Update. Checked this and a UK entry did get NIL, it was in 2003, some outfit called Jemini.

[Charles Bronson]

Oct 14, 2018 20:06:08 GMT John Steed said:

Oct 14, 2018 17:04:12 GMT Gene Hunt said:

I watched it a number of times a few years back but mainly for Wogan's comments which were hilarious.

Gene.

I remember one year when Wogan must have had several alcoholic drinks and he kept laughing and slurring his words ….. brilliant!


Steed

Yeah!  Terry used to have a bottle of wine alongside him during the show. I sensed he was going to pack it in on the last show he did. The blatant political voting patterns went well beyond a joke.

Charles