United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

This article deals with the history of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a participant in the Euro Vision Song Contest.

6.1 names

Regularity of participation

Britain is the country that so far the longest continuously participating in the Euro Vision Song Contest: since 1959 the United Kingdom was represented each year; only the very first and the third competition, the country was not there. This makes it to Germany and France, along with the country with the most appearances in the competition.

Success in competition

The United Kingdom won the contest five times: in 1967 with Sandie Shaw and the song Puppet on a string, 1969, the British singer Lulu with her song Boom bang- a- bang one of four winners (in addition to participants from France, Spain and the Netherlands ), 1976, the group Brotherhood of Man won with the song Save your kisses for me, 1981, the group Bucks Fizz with Making your mind up, and most recently in 1997 with Katrina and the Waves and the song Love shine a light. In addition, the British occupied in the 47 years of their participation in the competition as much as 15 times second place, a lonely record. As legendary is also the last place the duo Jemini with zero points in 2003. Previously, no participant was in last place and the sixteenth place the singer Nicki French in 2000, the worst result of the United Kingdom in the history of the competition. Despite a weaker phase ended in 1999 a total of 42 of the 56 entries, or 75 %, in the front half of the table, which the UK is probably the most successful country at the event.

List of posts

Color legend: - Victories. - A tie to the last place. - Contributions finals.

Language

All British contributions were of course also sung at times of the fixed voice control in English. In the years when each country could decide freely on the language, the songs were in most cases either in the national language or in English.

Commercial success

National

Some British contributions were big hits in the UK, four reached number one in the singles charts. From the late 1970s there was a long time only a few commercial successes, first Love City Groove 1995 and Gina G. 1996 again had great success on the charts, followed by the fifth British winners in the competition Katrina and the Waves 1997. According smoother chart positions were 2006 and 2007, the contributions chart success again.

Internationally

All five winning titles were very successful internationally, especially Save your kisses for me 1976: The song was in the charts worldwide and became the best-selling single of 1976 as well as the most commercially successful contest winner ever. Puppet on a string 1967 was Europe at number one on the charts and is considered one of the most successful singles in Europe in the 1960s. In addition to the other winners were international hits: Are you sure?, 1961 ( Europe ), Congratulations 1968 ( worldwide), Knock, knock, who's there? ( Europe ), Beg, steal or borrow 1972 ( Europe ), Power to all our friends in 1973 (worldwide), Long live love 1974 ( in Ireland and Australia), Rock bottom 1977 ( in Germany ), Better the devil you know (different countries), Ooh aah just a little bit in 1996 (in the U.S., Australia and Europe ) and Teenage life ( in the Netherlands and France).

National preliminary decisions

Most former British contributions to the Euro Vision Song Contest have been chosen as part of a national preliminary decision. Here, the BBC made use of various competitions.

In 1957 there were three, 1959 and 1960, two semi-final rounds held before the final. Every time managed the six best in the final, in which, finally, a jury selected the winner. From 1961 to 1963 "classic" Preliminary awards were held, in which several artists usually attended by a title. The winner was again determined by the jury. From 1964, the British representatives were selected internally before the preliminary decision and presented the preliminary round before six songs. 1964, a jury the winner, but in 1965 were allowed to choose their "Song for Europe" even the audience, namely by sending in postcards. Public interest in this staggered strong. So 242 350 postcards were among others in 1973 when Cliff Richard had been appointed as a representative, submitted in 1975 for the Shadows only 48 133. Also received the 1975 title winner fewer votes than 1973, the last place post.

1976 again the classic preliminary round was introduced from 1976 to 1980 each took part in twelve singers, from 1981 to 1986 there were eight, ten in 1987 and in 1988 again eight artists. Was chosen to 1987 by regional juries from 1988 by televoting. 1977 and 1979, the preliminary decisions were indeed discharged but not transmitted due to strikes on television. In the years 1992 to 1994, the artists were selected internally again like in the 60s and 70s, and each had before eight songs, was chosen by televoting continue. 1993 Sonia sang the songs do not live, they were instead recorded in the form of pre-recorded video clips.

1995-2003 again found preliminary decisions instead of classic, often with few participants ( between four and eight). Was voted by televoting. 1996 to 2001 were also held one semifinal round, but they were only broadcast in 1996 on television and in the other years only on the radio. From 2004 to 2007, the preliminary round will be held with slight changes, the number of participants is always now between five and six. Is chosen by televoting, which is split regionally and was in a few years supplemented by an Internet and a separate cell phone " jury ".

The preliminary decision in 2008 included three groups of two contributions, sorted by different categories. In a semi-final winners and a wild card from Terry Wogan came to, the best two sang afterwards in the final. Matched was always by telephone. Under the title Your Country Needs You! nominated the BBC each a well-known British composer ( 2009 Andrew Lloyd Webber, 2010 Pete Waterman ), who composed a song for the preliminary decision. Before that were chosen from six candidates three for the song. 2009 took place this over several weeks instead of, 2010, the format was held only in one evening.

Since 2011 there was no public preliminary decision, the artist and the title were determined internally. The contribution in 2014 was first introduced on British radio BBC Red Button on March 3 and transferred to the official ESC website.

Name

As of 1964, the preliminary decision the title A Song for Europe was for many years (rarely was read on the official logos only song for Europe). 1996-1999 The Trials as The Great British Song Contest was held from 2000 to 2003 again as Song for Europe. In 2004, with the other changes, the new name making your mind up introduced, was based on the British title winner of 1981 The preliminary round 2008 euro vision. Your Decision,

Aligned competitions

Britain was far also the most likely to host the Euro Vision Song Contest, because the BBC is often stood in for the broadcasters of other countries that the media spectacle could not organize for various reasons or wanted. Thus, the competition took place in 1960, 1963 and 1968, in London, in 1972 in Edinburgh, in 1974 in Brighton, 1977 in London, 1982 in Harrogate and 1998 in Birmingham instead. 1960, 1963, 1968 and 1974, he was hosted respectively by Katie Boyle, who thus has the Song Contest four times moderated as a single person.

Miscellaneous

With a length of just over two minutes Patricia Bredin sang the 1957 competition shortest post of all time.
Terry Wogan commented 1980-2008 for the BBC, each issue of the Euro Vision Song Contest. In addition, he was from the late 70s moderator of the preliminary decision, and in 1998 also of the ESC.

Swell

January Feddersen: A song can be a bridge, Hoffman und Campe, 2002

Documents

Former Participating countries: Andorra | Yugoslavia | Serbia and Montenegro

Redeemed participations or futile efforts: Lebanon | Liechtenstein

United Kingdom to the Euro Vision Song Contest

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