Eurovision 2008 - The National Finalists!

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:46 am

Glad you like them, so here are some more! Its lovely watching some of these old clips, when you can see the band warming up. Its such a shame that Matts clips been lost!

Ronnie Caroll -- Ring a ding girl - 1962

http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=100853

Ronnie Caroll - Say wonderful things to me - 1963

http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=119237

Connie Froboess - Germany - 1962 - Zwei Kleiner Italianer (we just like this - really charming n jolly!)

http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=99950

Mary Hopkin - Knock Knock whose there - 1970

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/mary- ... 1005557826

Clodagh Rogers - Jack in the box - 1971

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/jack- ... 2638814912

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:14 am

Thanks Mike, ...some memories there.

I have a photograph taken with Ronnie Carroll back in the Seventies, when he was enjoying a night and a day with the holiday makers at Warners

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:58 pm

Wow - another one of your L&H chance encounter with the stars!

We are off to this show in a fortnight:

http://www.jamesdixonproductions.com/our-shows.php - its a Eurovision show with 'all your favourite songs from the past' apparently! I'll let you know how it goes!

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:45 pm

I've dropped Michelle an email regarding Matts entry into Eurovision, and I am very excited by her reply! Apparently there is to be a whole chapter on his appearance in her book.

Now I REALLY can't wait to read it

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Fri May 02, 2008 8:57 pm

Hi Michael,
Just wondered if you saw Terry Wogan on Paul O' Grady's programme tonight talking about Eurovision. I came in half way through when he was saying he has to sit through the whole show three times.
They showed some clips of some of this year's entrants, France, Spain and Azerbaijan. They all looked really crazy!
Terry said his favourite was Sweden, as they take 10 weeks to choose their entry. This year, he said it is performed by "three blonde wallopers" and he thought the lead singer had been in the contest before.
He did think Andy Abrahams was good though, and hopes he might come in the top ten.

Marian

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Fri May 02, 2008 9:13 pm

I like the Swedish entry too, and yes she has been in the competition before, which Terry really should know! Charlotte Nilsen, as she then was, WON for Sweden in 1999 with Terry commentating. Obviously he'd had a few too many sherrys and can't remember.

I didn't see Terry tonight, but the other half did, and I am informed that his knowledge of Eurovision was pretty poor. I'd personally prefer to see Paddy O' Connell presenting, as he does have a genuine interest and passion for the Contest whereas Terry's comments about other countries are a bit cringeworthy in my opinion

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:25 pm

I also saw the Paul O'Grady show. Terry barely gave himself chance to sit down to announce that he is definitely not leaving Radio 2.
He is in the frame for a new quiz show ( yes another one ) to take over the Richard And Judy slot on channel 4 when they quit in the Autumn .
With the Eurovision coming up, he rated Andy Abrahams and suggested that we get together with the neighbouring countries to vote for each other.
He's done his bit, He's plugged Sweden for a start.

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Sat May 03, 2008 8:37 pm

Of course Terry likes Andy Abrahams - he rescued him from being voted off on 'Eurovision-Your Decision'. I wish Andy the best of luck, but he was the only contestant at the Eurovision Preview Party in London last week who got a rough ride from the mainly British crowd.

Terry raised the idea of a voting bloc, along the lines of NATO countries voting for each other. Sounds good in theory, and i would personally love to see Sweden win - its a great song and we'd love to be off to Stockholm for Eurovision 2009

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Mon May 05, 2008 1:39 pm

Just spotted this story on Yahoo news and thought it might be of interest.

Sir Cliff Richard was robbed of victory in the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest due to vote rigging by General Franco's fascist regime, a doc u m entary has claimed.

The British singer's tune Congratulations was beaten to the top spot by Spanish entrant Massiel in order to boost the country's international image, a film-maker said.

Sir Cliff's song had been a favourite with the judges during the competition held at the Royal Albert Hall, but lost out on the title by just one point following a last minute rally in votes for Spain.

In a documentary aired on Spanish TV on Sunday night, director Montse Fernandez Vila claimed Spain's win was "bought" by corrupt executives working for state-run television.

Ms Fernandez Vila told Spanish newspaper 20 Minutos that executives travelled round Europe pledging to buy series from other nations to help steer the voting.

She said there was evidence that Franco thought a win would help improve the Spanish regime's international standing.

Despite coming second to Massiel's La La La, Congratulations went on to become a UK number-one hit for Sir Cliff in 1968 and topped the charts in many other countries.

The song stayed at number one in Germany for seven weeks and sold more than one million copies.

Marian

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Mon May 05, 2008 8:00 pm

And you don't hear 'La La La' played at many weddings do you

Not even at out Civil Ceremony last year

In fact on the esctoday website, the Spanish members were saying that this documentary is all a load of a rubbish from a tabloid news network.

Cliff actually had to wait in the toilet while the voting went on, he was so nervous apparently.

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Mon May 05, 2008 10:52 pm

It probably is Michael.
Marian

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Mon May 05, 2008 11:51 pm

You don't hear LA LA LA too often at weddings Mike, and cant imagine many disco's booming out "On Days Like These" or " Song On The Sand"

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Tue May 06, 2008 7:53 pm

I've just seen this story on the news tonight!
What a fiddle!!!!

Maybe that also explains why 'flat as a pancake' Jemini polled zero points a few years back.

...hmmm...actually, thinking about it...

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:13 pm

From Saturdays Daily Telegraph:

He is as much a part of the Eurovision Song Contest as Boom Bang-a-Bang by Lulu, or Bucks Fizz ripping off their skirts.

However, Sir Terry Wogan's irreverent presentation has been criticised by the man in charge for making the annual event look "ridiculous".

Bjorn Erichsen, director of Eurovision television, has claimed that Wogan's commentary is a "problem" which undermines the contest's reputation.

The Dane accused the BBC and the British public of failing to treat the extravaganza with the seriousness it "deserved".

He said: "The UK has double standards in the contest. It is something you love to hate. It's something to laugh at. It's something continental. It's a scam. It's ridiculous. The British like to distance themselves from it."

He said: "Terry Wogan is a problem because he makes it ridiculous. I know he is very popular, and maybe that is the reason why a lot of people watch. But one day he will have to retire and the BBC will have to find someone else. It will be interesting to see if that attitude changes. The BBC gets a very large audience but it chooses to represent the contest in a certain way. They take it far more seriously in Sweden. They have a genuine love and respect for it."

Mr Erichsen said he had raised his concerns with the corporation. He spoke out ahead of next week's contest, from May 20 to 24, in Belgrade.

Wogan's caustic comments about the songs, the presenters and even the voting are a big hit with viewers, and one reason why the contest has regained the popularity it enjoyed in the Seventies.

Last year's show, from Finland, attracted more than 10 million viewers in Britain and in his introduction, the veteran broadcaster jokingly described the event as "the music lover's Hamlet". He then asked: "Who knows what hellish future lies ahead?" before adding: "Actually, I do. I've seen the rehearsals."

In 2001, when Denmark was the host, Wogan outraged Danes by describing the presenters, Soren Pilmark and Natasja Crone-Back, as Doctor Death and the tooth fairy.

But Wogan and the BBC appear unconcerned by the row. On a BBC website to promote this year's contest, Wogan describes Eurovision as a triumph of musical mediocrity.

Cheryl Baker, who was in Bucks Fizz when they won in 1981, said Wogan's approach was key to the contest's success in Britain. She said: "If it wasn't for Terry I don't think people would tune in in the numbers they do."

Paul Gambaccini, the rock critic and broadcaster, said: "Terry Wogan's commentary is inseparable from the British public's consumption of Eurovision. We have a particular way of enjoying it."

The contest ran into controversy last week when it was alleged that General Franco had bribed voting juries in 1968 to ensure that Spain's entry beat Sir Cliff Richard's Congratulations into second place.