0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Good luck everyone.- Run telecine. - Yes, camera A is ready.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Finland, can you hear me?
0:00:10 > 0:00:13THEY SPEAK IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES
0:00:16 > 0:00:20We were watching the votes and the room was getting hotter and hotter and hotter and hotter.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24- 'United Kingdom, seven votes.' - 'Germany 12 points. Norway...'
0:00:26 > 0:00:29'You surprise and astound me.'
0:00:29 > 0:00:31- 'These are the ABBA group.' - 'Nana Mouskouri.'
0:00:31 > 0:00:34- 'Julio Iglesias.'- 'Serge Gainsbourg' - 'Dana.'
0:00:34 > 0:00:37'There is going to be some celebrating tonight with the Irish party.'
0:00:37 > 0:00:42'United Kingdom have done it again and I'll take a small bet that this might well go to number one.'
0:00:42 > 0:00:47'What do you think of the standard of songs in recent years?'
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Very, very low indeed.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53'We are unity and we are unstoppable.'
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Your mum, dad, five of us, we would all sit,
0:01:11 > 0:01:16we were glued to the television which in those days was this size.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Every year Eurovision was a must.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22'My mother forced me... No, she didn't force me,'
0:01:22 > 0:01:24I really loved to watch Eurovision.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28'You'd be sitting on the carpet writing down your favourite ones.'
0:01:28 > 0:01:30It was a huge event. It was event TV.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35'It was the very first time that Europe came together, as it were,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38'on wings of song. The idea was'
0:01:38 > 0:01:41to unify the Continent with song
0:01:41 > 0:01:44and all it made manifestly clear was how far apart we were.
0:01:49 > 0:01:51My favourite one of all would be probably
0:01:51 > 0:01:55Mouth & MacNeal, I See A Star.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58# I see a star... #
0:01:58 > 0:02:00And it was the same year that ABBA won.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02# I feel like I win when I lose... #
0:02:02 > 0:02:06The favourite Eurovision song of all has to be Waterloo.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10# Waterloo, I was defeated You won the war... #
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Volare.
0:02:13 > 0:02:18# Volare... #
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Beautiful song.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Once there was a beautiful Italian song called Non Ho L'eta.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30# Non ho l'eta... #
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Celine Dion. For Switzerland.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36# Ne partez pas sans moi... #
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I mean, I love Celine Dion. Surprise(!)
0:02:39 > 0:02:42'It's almost impossible to explain Eurovision to someone'
0:02:42 > 0:02:45who doesn't know what it is or who had never seen before.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Because you've got to know how it got to where it is today.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04The ITA transmitter at Norwood
0:03:04 > 0:03:06near the Crystal Palace in south London
0:03:06 > 0:03:09and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. With typical French resource
0:03:09 > 0:03:13they have made this tourist attraction serve as a TV aerial, too.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25'There had been a couple of dreadful wars'
0:03:25 > 0:03:32and it was the very first attempt by Europe to bring itself together.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37How does it work? Have a look at the Eurovision control room in Brussels.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39IN FRENCH
0:03:41 > 0:03:45It's a magnificent foolish concept.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47That's fine, thank you.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50You might say the same about the European Union.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52You might say the same about the euro.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57'This your first sight of France by direct vision
0:03:57 > 0:04:00on this lovely summer night.'
0:04:04 > 0:04:08'And up shoot the glittering rockets right over the heads of the crowd.'
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Just like sport, music easily travels,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28so the EBU thought it would be a good idea to experiment with this,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31ask in that case, composers to come
0:04:31 > 0:04:37up with their best light music compositions and let them compete.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51In 1956 when the first contest took place the UK actually missed
0:04:51 > 0:04:52out on that one.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55The BBC were organising the British Festival Of Popular Song.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59# Everybody falls in love with someone
0:04:59 > 0:05:03# Why can't someone fall in love with me? #
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- Are you there, Birmingham? - 'Yes, we're here.'- How is it coming through?
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- 'Fine.' - What's the weather like up there?
0:05:08 > 0:05:13- 'Much better than it has been.' - A little bit rainy down here. Windy, too.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17'Song number three, four votes.'
0:05:30 > 0:05:33IN GERMAN
0:05:33 > 0:05:38SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:05:40 > 0:05:43THEY SING IN DANISH
0:05:57 > 0:06:03# All the golden dreams of yesterday... #
0:06:15 > 0:06:17SHE SINGS IN DUTCH
0:06:23 > 0:06:27HE SINGS IN ITALIAN
0:06:31 > 0:06:33Italy were absolutely robbed in 1958.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44'Domenico was fairly unique at that time, for actually'
0:06:44 > 0:06:48opening his arms out during the performance.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52Normally, Italian singers stood there with their arms by their side,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56but given the song was about flying, it was quite an inspired idea.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04HE SINGS IN ITALIAN
0:07:12 > 0:07:14SHOUTING
0:07:21 > 0:07:23# Sing, sing, sing, little birdie
0:07:23 > 0:07:25# Sing, sing, sing it... #
0:07:25 > 0:07:27# Sing, little birdie sing a song
0:07:27 > 0:07:29# La-la-la-la la-la-la. #
0:07:29 > 0:07:31# Sing, little birdie Sing your song
0:07:31 > 0:07:33# Sing and you help our love along
0:07:33 > 0:07:35# Sing, little birdie up above
0:07:35 > 0:07:37# Sing the sound of love... #
0:07:40 > 0:07:43'Good evening, this is David Jacobs speaking
0:07:43 > 0:07:45'from the Royal Festival Hall.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Alongside me in these boxes are ten commentators each interpreting
0:07:48 > 0:07:50'the scene in their various languages.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53'In a few seconds, the mistress of ceremonies, Miss Catherine Boyle,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55'will make her entrance and the show will begin.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57APPLAUSE
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Tonight, this programme is being televised to no less
0:08:05 > 0:08:06than 14 countries.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09# Sing me high, high, high Sing me low... #
0:08:09 > 0:08:11# Looking high, high, high. #
0:08:11 > 0:08:12Oh, yes, "Looking high."
0:08:12 > 0:08:16# Wondering why, why, why did she go, go, go
0:08:16 > 0:08:20# For if I, I, I Don't find my love I know
0:08:20 > 0:08:25# I shall die, die, die Cos I love her so. #
0:08:25 > 0:08:28HE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:08:38 > 0:08:42# Are you sure you won't be sorry? Comes tomorrow
0:08:42 > 0:08:49# You won't want me back again to hold you tightly... #
0:08:50 > 0:08:53THEY SING IN DUTCH
0:09:10 > 0:09:13SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:09:23 > 0:09:26APPLAUSE
0:09:31 > 0:09:35France had won twice and really couldn't take it on again,
0:09:35 > 0:09:39so the BBC came along and said, "We'll do it
0:09:39 > 0:09:41"because we've got this very nice set of new studios
0:09:41 > 0:09:46"which we're just building, called the Television Centre,"
0:09:46 > 0:09:48and I think they wanted to show them off.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52'It was I think the only time in its history that it's ever been
0:09:52 > 0:09:54'done in a studio.'
0:09:54 > 0:09:56'Viewers in the UK will recognise this building
0:09:56 > 0:09:59'but it will be less familiar to the 75 million
0:09:59 > 0:10:02'viewers from 17 other European countries.'
0:10:02 > 0:10:06We decided that we'd try and make the opening look...
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Show off, I think, the Television Centre.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13So we decided to try and get a helicopter shot
0:10:13 > 0:10:17of the building approaching at night.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24The standard of the artists were very high in those days.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29There were people like Francoise Hardy for Monaco...
0:10:29 > 0:10:33MUSIC: L'amour s'en va by Francoise Hardy
0:10:33 > 0:10:35..Alain Barriere from France...
0:10:35 > 0:10:39MUSIC: Elle etait si jolie by Alain Barriere
0:10:39 > 0:10:42HE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:10:42 > 0:10:45..and for Luxembourg was a Greek singer
0:10:45 > 0:10:47called Nana Mouskouri.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50MUSIC: A force de prier by Nana Mouskouri
0:10:50 > 0:10:54SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:10:54 > 0:10:57It all seemed to go pretty well,
0:10:57 > 0:10:58until we got to the end
0:10:58 > 0:11:01and then there was a bit of trouble with the voting.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05'Song number four, Denmark, two votes.'
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Well, hold on, Oslo, just one moment.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10I'm afraid I shall have to ask you
0:11:10 > 0:11:11to give these votes all over again,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15because first, you have to give the number on the board,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19then the number of... the name of the country.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Katie Boyle said, "Well, sort yourselves out
0:11:22 > 0:11:26"and we'll come back to you later and get your voting."
0:11:26 > 0:11:28We will go on to Italy.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29When we got to the end,
0:11:29 > 0:11:34Switzerland and the Danes were running neck-and-neck.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Well, now we have to go back to Norway for a very decisive vote.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Norway come back on at the end of all the voting
0:11:41 > 0:11:42and the second time round,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44the votes were completely different to the first time.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48'Denmark, four votes.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52'Song number ten, Switzerland, one vote.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55'And that completes the vote of the Norwegian jury.'
0:11:55 > 0:11:57AUDIENCE MURMURS
0:11:57 > 0:11:59There was a bit of drawing of breath.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02MURMURING
0:12:02 > 0:12:04I...thank you very much.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06APPLAUSE
0:12:06 > 0:12:11And the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest is...Denmark,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13with the song Dansevise.
0:12:13 > 0:12:14APPLAUSE
0:12:16 > 0:12:18An investigation by the EBU afterwards
0:12:18 > 0:12:21discovered the votes they did award in the end were correct.
0:12:26 > 0:12:31MUSIC: Non Ho L'Eta Gigliola Cinquetti
0:12:31 > 0:12:34SHE SINGS IN ITALIAN
0:12:38 > 0:12:41I was in the kitchen of our house
0:12:41 > 0:12:45and I was watching Eurovision on the black and white set
0:12:45 > 0:12:50and this beautiful young girl called Gigliola Cinquetti
0:12:50 > 0:12:54came on the stage and I was totally mesmerised by her.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58It was just magical.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:13:20 > 0:13:23MUSIC: Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son by France Gall
0:13:26 > 0:13:28SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Serge Gainsbourg!
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Serge Gainsbourg always had women hanging all over him.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Brigitte Bardot would be hanging onto him
0:13:52 > 0:13:55and smoking Je T'Aime cigarettes or something.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Jesus Christ!
0:13:57 > 0:13:59SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:14:04 > 0:14:09COMMENTATOR SPEAKS IN FRENCH
0:14:09 > 0:14:12On va entendre maintenant "A Man Without Love".
0:14:12 > 0:14:17# A man without love
0:14:17 > 0:14:22# Is only half a man... #
0:14:22 > 0:14:25If you look back to the UK music scene in the '50s and '60s,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28the UK was making some of the biggest music in the world,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31yet that wasn't coming through when it came to Eurovision.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35# A man without love... #
0:14:35 > 0:14:39I think it was our lovely head of department Tom Sloan
0:14:39 > 0:14:41who thought he should wear the kilt
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and I'm not too sure whether a lot of people
0:14:44 > 0:14:50in other European countries didn't find that a little bit...strange.
0:14:50 > 0:14:57# ..For a man without love. #
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Our entries look like they're from the decade previously.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Great songs, if you like, but sort of parlour songs
0:15:02 > 0:15:04and it was really '67 -
0:15:04 > 0:15:09they sent Sandie Shaw, barefooted, to just look like she belonged
0:15:09 > 0:15:12in the era that we were watching.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Once upon a time, an English song, for the first time,
0:15:16 > 0:15:18won the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20I was lucky enough to be the one who sang it.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24MUSIC: Strange Brew by Cream
0:15:25 > 0:15:30'67 was the Flower Power year and the songs were great.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32A Whiter Shade Of Pale,
0:15:32 > 0:15:35"if you go to San Francisco, wear flowers in your hair."
0:15:35 > 0:15:38It was quite extraordinary. Every song was a winner.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42# Strange brew... #
0:15:42 > 0:15:45The age group which buys records
0:15:45 > 0:15:47has got much lower
0:15:47 > 0:15:49in the last 25 or 30 years.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52And I believe that the standard of music
0:15:52 > 0:15:55has got correspondingly lower as the age groups got lower.
0:15:55 > 0:15:56But 30 years from now,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59the popular songs of today may be the popular songs then.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02With all due respect, I don't think the songs that you've written
0:16:02 > 0:16:03will be heard of or remembered
0:16:03 > 0:16:05or even thought about in 30 years' time.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07I was a songwriter in Tin Pan Alley
0:16:07 > 0:16:12and the very first year that they really put in a contemporary singer,
0:16:12 > 0:16:14everybody entered Eurovision,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16with the exception of about four teams,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18which was John Lennon and Paul McCartney,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Ray Davies, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
0:16:22 > 0:16:24and...who was the other one?
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Pete Townsend of the Who, he'd have punched you in the nose
0:16:26 > 0:16:28if you mentioned Eurovision.
0:16:28 > 0:16:34Do you think, as Tom Sloan has said, that Sandie Shaw represents 1967?
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Well, she doesn't for me,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38but I don't suppose I count, because I'm over 21.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Because she's a hit artist all over Europe and this is what we want -
0:16:41 > 0:16:43a hit song for the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45And this time, we'll win it.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48# I've known him almost two years... #
0:16:48 > 0:16:51It seems to be that the BBC picked you for this year's contest
0:16:51 > 0:16:53because you're very big in Europe.
0:16:53 > 0:16:54They explained that to me, you know -
0:16:54 > 0:16:57they wanted someone that represented the young pop scene
0:16:57 > 0:17:01and they thought that I was the best one, which is nice.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03# I had a dream last night
0:17:03 > 0:17:04# He's coming home
0:17:04 > 0:17:06# Had a dream last night
0:17:06 > 0:17:09# He's coming home
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- # Now I feel so sad - So sad
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- # So sad - So sad... #
0:17:15 > 0:17:19She had a strange manager called Evie Taylor.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21You think I'm very hard on you, but I'm not.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24- She's bringing me down. - I'm not bringing you down, cos you know it's the truth.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26And Evie says to me, I'm going to do something here.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29This is the night when we were performing the songs.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31I says, "What do you mean?"
0:17:31 > 0:17:34She says... "I'm going to do something."
0:17:35 > 0:17:38The band started - "Boop, boop, boop..."
0:17:38 > 0:17:41And then Sandie started with a long note.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43# I...
0:17:43 > 0:17:47And then Sandie said, "Stop.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50"I've come in at the wrong time. Can we start again?"
0:17:50 > 0:17:52And apparently,
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Evie had done something with the musician to...
0:17:54 > 0:17:56I don't know, but it stopped it.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01And it was an attention-getter.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04And to me, that was a winning thing.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07ANNOUNCER SPEAKS IN GERMAN
0:18:12 > 0:18:16I think Evie tried it again at the Eurovision and it never worked.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19ANNOUNCER SPEAKS IN GERMAN
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Her microphone didn't work at the beginning, if I remember rightly.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25The long note was silent.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28MUFFLED NOTE
0:18:28 > 0:18:31# I wonder if one day that you'll say that you care... #
0:18:31 > 0:18:34And I thought, "Oh, no! She's going to miss her moment!
0:18:34 > 0:18:36"It's going to be awful! How can she sing now?"
0:18:36 > 0:18:39# ..puppet on string... #
0:18:39 > 0:18:40It didn't put Sandie out.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43And she still did it, and did it brilliantly.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49# Love is just like a merry-go-round... #
0:18:49 > 0:18:53Who kept the microphone off?
0:18:53 > 0:18:57I don't know. It's interesting.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59# Then I'm up in the air... #
0:18:59 > 0:19:03United Kingdom, seven votes.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05From the UK point of view, it wasn't needed.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10Puppet On A String, Grossbritanien.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13The music business was gigantic.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16But from the BBC point of view, it was very important.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18# Like a puppet on a...
0:19:21 > 0:19:22# String. #
0:19:22 > 0:19:24The BBC were very keen to try
0:19:24 > 0:19:27and win the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31in order that they could stage the 1968 contest,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33which would be the first one to be broadcast in colour.
0:19:38 > 0:19:43We were basking in the limelight of being hit songwriters.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Having conquered Europe, we decided to slaughter them this time
0:19:47 > 0:19:51and Phil, my songwriting partner, he played about on the piano.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53He said, "I've written this for the Eurovision."
0:19:53 > 0:19:55And the title was I Think I Love You.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58# I think I love you I think I love you
0:19:58 > 0:20:00# I think the world is fine if you will say you're mine. #
0:20:00 > 0:20:03He said, "What do you think?" And I went, "Rubbish."
0:20:03 > 0:20:07He says, "Well, help it." And I says, "It's five syllables?"
0:20:07 > 0:20:12"Why don't we call it 'Congratulations and celebrations'?"
0:20:12 > 0:20:14And that's how it came about.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19And the two guitarists that played on the demos of Congratulations,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22it was Jimmy Page and John-Paul Jones.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23HE LAUGHS
0:20:23 > 0:20:25MUSIC: Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
0:20:25 > 0:20:29They hate being associated with Cliff's Congratulations -
0:20:29 > 0:20:31two of the best guitarists in the world.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Can you believe that?
0:20:34 > 0:20:37They were going... # Congratulations... #
0:20:37 > 0:20:40And they thought, "What's this load of nonsense?"
0:20:43 > 0:20:45The UK press were wildly speculating
0:20:45 > 0:20:47who was going to come second to the UK.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51There was a real confidence about the UK's chances of victory.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Cliff Richard was big star. He had the support of the home crowd
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and really, there was nothing stopping him.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00He looks great. He's charismatic.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02The only thing Cliff couldn't do was dance.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06# Congratulations
0:21:06 > 0:21:08# And celebrations
0:21:08 > 0:21:12# When I tell everyone that you're in love with me... #
0:21:12 > 0:21:14The UK were leading more or less
0:21:14 > 0:21:17most of the...certainly throughout the second half of the votes.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Bill Cotton came along, he says, "Up, you two. You've won it again."
0:21:21 > 0:21:26And...Cliff's there, all excited.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:21:28 > 0:21:31And then the last vote came in.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33I don't know how this happened,
0:21:33 > 0:21:34but this song won it.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37It came from nowhere.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40# La, la-la-la, la-la-la... #
0:21:40 > 0:21:45If you listen to La-la-la-la, I think there's 98 la-la-las in it.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48# La-la-la, la-la-la... #
0:21:48 > 0:21:51It was a fix, because Cliff had won this.
0:21:53 > 0:21:54There's various rumours
0:21:54 > 0:21:57that Franco desperately wanted to host Eurovision in Spain
0:21:57 > 0:21:59and bribed the judges.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Those have always been denied by both the European Broadcasting Union
0:22:02 > 0:22:05and, unsurprisingly, the winner from Spain, Massiel.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08However, Cliff Richard remained open-minded.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17# My heart goes boom bang-a-bang Boom bang-a-bang
0:22:17 > 0:22:19# When you are near
0:22:19 > 0:22:21# Boom bang-a-bang Boom bang-a-bang
0:22:21 > 0:22:23# Loud in my ear... #
0:22:23 > 0:22:27Spain was a dictatorship when Lulu went on in that little pink dress.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30I mean, what a joyful thing to think of.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32# It's such a lovely... #
0:22:32 > 0:22:34It's almost like she's just stepped out of a Mini
0:22:34 > 0:22:38and she's just swung onto these little European people and gone "Boom-Bang-A-Bang".
0:22:38 > 0:22:41# When I'm in your arms
0:22:41 > 0:22:45# Now you are near I wanna hear your heartbeat too
0:22:45 > 0:22:47# Boom bang-a-bang-bang
0:22:47 > 0:22:49# Boom bang-a-bang-bang
0:22:49 > 0:22:50# Boom bang-a-bang-bang
0:22:50 > 0:22:51# I love you
0:22:51 > 0:22:53# Ole! #
0:22:53 > 0:22:55APPLAUSE
0:22:55 > 0:22:57It was a great victory for the British
0:22:57 > 0:23:00in a year where everyone won.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Ireland was going through economically hard days
0:23:08 > 0:23:13and in the north, where I lived, very, very difficult days,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15that we now call the Troubles.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18There were running battles every day.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20GUNSHOT
0:23:20 > 0:23:24People were bewildered. On newspapers all around the world,
0:23:24 > 0:23:29all people saw of my town was street battles
0:23:29 > 0:23:33and friction and... just really terrible things.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37DOG BARKS
0:23:42 > 0:23:47The song was very like a folk song and I was basically a folk singer
0:23:47 > 0:23:50and it was written by two amateur writers.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54They were compositors in a Dublin newspaper.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56And I was an amateur. I was at school.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04I had to go to Amsterdam with schoolbooks in my suitcase.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07I never opened them, mind you, but I did take them!
0:24:07 > 0:24:10And I was a complete outsider.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13Did I think it would win?
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Absolutely not, because I didn't think I could win.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22SHE SINGS IN GERMAN
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Katja Ebstein sang for Germany.
0:24:28 > 0:24:29Julio Iglesias sang for Spain.
0:24:29 > 0:24:33# La-la, la-la-la... #
0:24:36 > 0:24:40And...I loved Mary Hopkin.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43# Knock-knock, who's there? #
0:24:43 > 0:24:45She was a very big star.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47So the presumption was that Mary would win
0:24:47 > 0:24:50and I was very happy with that, because I thought she was great.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53The moment we've all been waiting for. Dana...
0:24:53 > 0:24:55I was the last on.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58The little girl from Ireland on whom all our hopes are pinned.
0:24:58 > 0:25:03I just was talking to myself, saying "Don't forget the words,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05"don't slip going down that slope."
0:25:05 > 0:25:09And the stool was not a stool, it was a cylinder with no footrest.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11So, if you went too far, you fell off the back.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14If you didn't go up enough, you couldn't steady yourself.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16So practicalities...
0:25:16 > 0:25:20# Snowdrops and daffodils
0:25:20 > 0:25:23# Butterflies and bees
0:25:23 > 0:25:27# Sailboats and fishermen
0:25:27 > 0:25:30# Things of the sea... #
0:25:30 > 0:25:33'I remember visualising the faces'
0:25:33 > 0:25:37of family and friends back home in Derry.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42# All kinds of everything
0:25:42 > 0:25:46# Remind me of you. #
0:25:46 > 0:25:47Ireland, five votes.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Well, that certainly gets us off to a good start.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I...I wasn't really interested in the voting.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Irlande, neuve votes.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58CHEERING
0:25:58 > 0:26:03All of a sudden, the floor manager grabbed me by the wrist
0:26:03 > 0:26:07and started pulling me to the stage.
0:26:07 > 0:26:08And Ireland has won!
0:26:08 > 0:26:10And I'm pulling against him
0:26:10 > 0:26:13and he said, you know, "Come with me, you've won."
0:26:13 > 0:26:16And I said, "No, no, I haven't won, I couldn't have won."
0:26:16 > 0:26:19And then Mary Hopkin said, "You've won."
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- APPLAUSE - Our own Dana has won the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26From then on, it was like an unreal experience,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28an out-of-body experience.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31And, of course, there was pandemonium.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35I can tell you, here in Amsterdam,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38there's going to be some celebrating tonight with the Irish party.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:26:43 > 0:26:48Ireland hadn't had too much international success.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51Ireland was still an emerging nation, I suppose.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56It had a lot poverty, the Celtic Tiger hadn't roared,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00wouldn't roar for maybe another 10, 15 years.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Smiled on Saturday night. How about a big smile back?
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Ireland, back then, you couldn't imagine that we'd ever win anything.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08You know, we were not bred to win.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11We were bred to lose and be downtrodden.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14So, the fact that Europe decided little Dana
0:27:14 > 0:27:18was the best song in Europe, it was enormous.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20The whole country was en fete.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22CROWDS CHEER
0:27:25 > 0:27:27There was jubilation. I mean...
0:27:27 > 0:27:32It was a very bright light... in very dark days.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42At last, Saturday comes and excitement begins to build.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Backstage at the Gaiety fairly crackles with tension
0:27:45 > 0:27:46and it's all systems go.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Of course, we're all very conscious that we're showing
0:27:49 > 0:27:53the face of Ireland to the world - the audience for this programme
0:27:53 > 0:27:56is estimated at something between 500-1,000 million.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00Probably the largest audience ever for any entertainment programme.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02We'd like our country to appear to them
0:28:02 > 0:28:06as attractive and friendly, and also efficient.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Of course, we were watching it. This is our showcase to the world.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13- Good luck, everyone. Knock 'em dead.- Three, two...
0:28:13 > 0:28:19The BBC was tremendously supportive when Ireland had to host it,
0:28:19 > 0:28:21because we had black and white TV. We didn't have colour.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23Five seconds. What's next?
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Therefore, we didn't have colour cameras
0:28:26 > 0:28:29and they were loaned by the British.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40It was done in the little theatre on which I had trod the boards,
0:28:40 > 0:28:44the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin, which is a little music hall.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48Took about, I suppose.... If it took 1,000 people, I'd be amazed.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50and it had all the cameras and all the sound
0:28:50 > 0:28:53and all the commentary positions and everything
0:28:53 > 0:28:55and the two presenters sat in a box,
0:28:55 > 0:28:57in a theatre box just by the side, to present.
0:28:57 > 0:29:03And that was an example of how small it was in the early '70s.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06# Like a doll you throw away
0:29:06 > 0:29:12# So sad and lonely all by myself
0:29:12 > 0:29:15# I'm just your...
0:29:15 > 0:29:18# Jack in the box You know whenever love knocks
0:29:18 > 0:29:22# I'm gonna bounce up and down on my spring
0:29:22 > 0:29:24# A toy you start when it stops
0:29:24 > 0:29:27# I'm just your jack in the box
0:29:27 > 0:29:30# Because for your love I'd do anything. #
0:29:33 > 0:29:36MUSIC: Apres Toi by Vicky Leandros
0:29:36 > 0:29:38SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:29:58 > 0:30:01This Eurovision Song Contest has presented Luxembourg
0:30:01 > 0:30:03with its biggest security problem.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05MUSIC: Ey Sham by Ilanit
0:30:09 > 0:30:12SHE SINGS IN HEBREW
0:30:13 > 0:30:17The qualifying mechanic is that you're a member of the EBU,
0:30:17 > 0:30:19the European Broadcasting Union.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21So, for example, Israel is a member of the EBU,
0:30:21 > 0:30:23so it can participate.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27SHE SINGS IN HEBREW
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Some guards have even come from Israel itself,
0:30:34 > 0:30:39in case Black September terrorists try something this weekend.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43The concert hall was surrounded by soldiers, police,
0:30:43 > 0:30:45armoured vehicles...
0:30:45 > 0:30:47You know - an attack was expected.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- TERRY COMMENTATES:- So with every available digit crossed for Cliff,
0:30:50 > 0:30:54here it is now. For the United Kingdom, our entry...
0:30:54 > 0:30:59'Just before the show starts, the floor manager says,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02"Please remain in your seats when you're applauding.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05"Do not stand up, otherwise, you may be shot.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08"Because we have to take care."
0:31:08 > 0:31:12So, that was a fairly nerve-racking moment.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15# Power to all our friends
0:31:17 > 0:31:21# To the music that never ends
0:31:22 > 0:31:26# To the people we want to be
0:31:27 > 0:31:32# Baby, power to you and me. #
0:31:32 > 0:31:34# I see a star... #
0:31:34 > 0:31:36Camera A ready!
0:31:37 > 0:31:39Yes, Camera A's ready.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45PRESENTER SPEAKS IN SPANISH
0:31:51 > 0:31:561974 produced more chart hits in the contest in the UK
0:31:56 > 0:31:58than perhaps any other year.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01# Si... #
0:32:01 > 0:32:03The Italian entry in 1974
0:32:03 > 0:32:05was the closest I ever got, I think, with Eurovision,
0:32:05 > 0:32:07to a song that felt like something that
0:32:07 > 0:32:09I would want to have written -
0:32:09 > 0:32:13an incredibly tragic, heart-wrenching piece of drama.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17MUSIC: Si by Gigliola Cinquetti
0:32:39 > 0:32:44# Long, long live love
0:32:44 > 0:32:46# Love... #
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Olivia Newton John sang for the UK that year.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51She was an established artist and, even then,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54we were having problems getting established artists to sing
0:32:54 > 0:32:58in the Eurovision Song Contest - can't risk being beaten.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59But she did get beaten.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03# Love, love, love, love
0:33:03 > 0:33:04# Oh
0:33:04 > 0:33:06# Long, long live love... #
0:33:06 > 0:33:09I remember saying at the time, "Well, that's very plucky
0:33:09 > 0:33:11"of Olivia Newton John, you know?
0:33:11 > 0:33:15"I can't wait to see what's going to happen to her career now.
0:33:15 > 0:33:16"Probably downhill."
0:33:16 > 0:33:19And she went to Hollywood, starred in Grease
0:33:19 > 0:33:21and became a huge international star,
0:33:21 > 0:33:23which just shows that I know absolutely nothing.
0:33:23 > 0:33:31# Long live love. #
0:33:35 > 0:33:38- TERRY COMMENTATES: - These are the ABBA group.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40They made their first record in 1972
0:33:40 > 0:33:42and, if all the judges were men, which they're not,
0:33:42 > 0:33:45I'm sure this group would get a lot of votes.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47You'll see why in a minute. Their song is called...
0:33:47 > 0:33:49Oh! And it's Napoleon.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Napoleon - no wonder. Their song is called Waterloo.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54This is Sven-Olof Walldorf,
0:33:54 > 0:33:58who's entered into the spirit of it all, dressed as Napoleon,
0:33:58 > 0:34:04waiting for Waterloo by Abba for Sweden - watch this one.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06They came on and they knocked everybody out.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13The star-shaped guitar and the stack-heeled silver boots...
0:34:13 > 0:34:16The whole thing just looked extraordinary.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Not only was that, like, the first step
0:34:19 > 0:34:23in what became one of the most incredible pop careers ever,
0:34:23 > 0:34:26but the fact that it felt like a rock song
0:34:26 > 0:34:30and it wasn't a bouncy, typical Eurovision song.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32It felt exciting.
0:34:32 > 0:34:33# Waterloo
0:34:33 > 0:34:37# I was defeated, you won the war
0:34:38 > 0:34:40# Waterloo
0:34:40 > 0:34:43# Promise to love you forevermore...
0:34:43 > 0:34:48- Sweden, three votes. - La Suede, trois votes.
0:34:48 > 0:34:49Looking back now, of course,
0:34:49 > 0:34:53it seems fairly obvious that ABBA would win with Waterloo.
0:34:53 > 0:34:54No member of the British jury
0:34:54 > 0:34:57gave ABBA's Waterloo any points whatsoever.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01- Sweden, five votes.- Oy, oy, oy!
0:35:01 > 0:35:05Of course, we all think they were destined to win
0:35:05 > 0:35:08and they came fully formed, but they mightn't have won.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11And then, I guess, the course of history would be very different.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21APPLAUSE
0:35:22 > 0:35:26SWEDISH COMMENTATOR SPEAKS
0:35:32 > 0:35:35# When you feelin' all right Everything is uptight
0:35:35 > 0:35:38# Try to sing a song that goes ding ding-a-dong
0:35:42 > 0:35:45# Let's put an end to our ding-dang-dong
0:35:50 > 0:35:52# Ding-a-dong. #
0:35:52 > 0:35:54# Ding-a-dong, listen to it
0:35:54 > 0:35:56# Maybe it's a big hit
0:35:56 > 0:35:59# Even when your lover is gone, gone, gone
0:35:59 > 0:36:00# Sing ding-ding-dong... #
0:36:07 > 0:36:08GLASS SMASHES
0:36:08 > 0:36:10# The time is moving on
0:36:10 > 0:36:13# And I really should be gone
0:36:13 > 0:36:16# But you keep me hanging on for one more smile
0:36:18 > 0:36:21- # I love you- I love you
0:36:21 > 0:36:23# All the while
0:36:23 > 0:36:29# With your cute little wave Will you promise that you'll save
0:36:29 > 0:36:31# Your...kisses for me
0:36:31 > 0:36:35# Save all your kisses for me
0:36:35 > 0:36:40# Bye-bye, baby, bye-bye... #
0:36:40 > 0:36:42MUSIC ECHOES
0:36:44 > 0:36:46Rock Bottom is the name of the song
0:36:46 > 0:36:48sung by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52which you won't have seen winning the Song For Europe last night.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54The contest took place at the New London Theatre
0:36:54 > 0:36:58and was going to be seen by millions of viewers on BBC One,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01but minutes before airtime, it was blacked out
0:37:01 > 0:37:03because of an industrial dispute.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05# Where are we?
0:37:05 > 0:37:07# Rock bottom
0:37:07 > 0:37:09# Tragedies
0:37:09 > 0:37:10# We got 'em
0:37:10 > 0:37:12# Remedy
0:37:12 > 0:37:13# What do we...
0:37:13 > 0:37:17# Rub it out and start it again... #
0:37:17 > 0:37:18# Rock, rock
0:37:18 > 0:37:20# Rock bottom
0:37:20 > 0:37:21# Rock, rock
0:37:21 > 0:37:23# Rock bottom
0:37:23 > 0:37:24# Rock, rock
0:37:24 > 0:37:25# Rock bottom
0:37:25 > 0:37:28# Rub it out and start it again. #
0:37:28 > 0:37:31CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:37:36 > 0:37:39# All it took was one glance
0:37:39 > 0:37:42# To get my love, babe... #
0:37:42 > 0:37:45# I've tried to make you into someone
0:37:45 > 0:37:48# That you never wanted to be... #
0:37:48 > 0:37:53# All I offer is my solid love... #
0:37:55 > 0:37:58# Those were the bad old days
0:37:58 > 0:38:00# Before I had it... #
0:38:00 > 0:38:02'Back in the '70s'
0:38:02 > 0:38:05Eurovision didn't have that, kind of, cheesy stigma about it.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08It was still regarded with great affection
0:38:08 > 0:38:12and we always stood a good chance of being in the top five, at least.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14- # Doo-bee-doo - Doo-dee-doo-bee-doo... #
0:38:14 > 0:38:16At that time, I don't think we came less than the top five.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18# Those were the bad old days... #
0:38:18 > 0:38:24And we represented the UK in France in Paris, and we were tipped to win.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Singing the United Kingdom's entry
0:38:26 > 0:38:30at number eight with Alyn Ainsworth, Coco.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35# And you put all the good inside of me. #
0:38:35 > 0:38:38We came 11th which, at the time, was the worst the UK had ever done,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42so at the time, I thought, "I've let Queen and country down", you know?
0:38:42 > 0:38:44I was quite depressed about it.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48Having said that, it was my childhood dream, so I had fulfilled the dream,
0:38:48 > 0:38:53even though it... didn't match up to what I'd hoped.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56MUSIC: Mil Etter Mil by Jahn Teigen
0:39:11 > 0:39:14THEY SING IN HEBREW
0:39:26 > 0:39:28'Israel, eight points.'
0:39:28 > 0:39:30Israel, ten points.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32'Israel, douze points'
0:39:32 > 0:39:33Israel, 12 points.
0:39:35 > 0:39:36Israel, 12 points.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38APPLAUSE
0:39:38 > 0:39:42However, it was not universally popular across the Arabic countries.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44As soon as it became obvious that Israel was going to win,
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Jordan decide to replace the transmission
0:39:47 > 0:39:49with a photograph of a vase of flowers.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52BEEP
0:39:59 > 0:40:00And later on Saturday,
0:40:00 > 0:40:03in international control rooms like this throughout Europe,
0:40:03 > 0:40:07all eyes will be on Jerusalem for this year's Eurovision Song Contest.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13# Mary Ann, I'm gonna do what I can
0:40:13 > 0:40:17# But I can't do more than try
0:40:17 > 0:40:21# Tearin' my heart out tryin' to make it up to you
0:40:23 > 0:40:25# Mary Ann, I'm gonna do what I can
0:40:25 > 0:40:29# That's the truth and that's no lie
0:40:29 > 0:40:33# Cryin' my eyes out Gotta get it back with you. #
0:40:41 > 0:40:44This year's contest is being staged by Holland,
0:40:44 > 0:40:46from here in the Congresgebouw at The Hague.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50APPLAUSE
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Song 17, sung in English by Johnny Logan.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57# I've been waitin' such a long time... #
0:40:57 > 0:41:00I was absolutely rooting for him.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03The song What's Another Year was a departure
0:41:03 > 0:41:07from the songs of that era.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10# What's another year? #
0:41:10 > 0:41:11It was written by Shay Healy.
0:41:11 > 0:41:16He didn't write songs for a living. He was a broadcaster, journalist.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18But the words of that song, I believe,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20came from a very personal experience.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22He heard someone say the phrase
0:41:22 > 0:41:25and it struck a chord with him in his life.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27# What's another year? #
0:41:27 > 0:41:31He didn't sit down to write a Eurovision hit.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33And I do think you can...
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Something in you knows that.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37Ireland have done it, as you can see.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40There's Johnny Logan, kissing Katja Ebstein...
0:41:41 > 0:41:46..because...he comes on stage now, Johnny Logan.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49He's going to be jumping like that for quite a while.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54# For someone who is getting used to being...
0:41:54 > 0:41:59# Alone? #
0:41:59 > 0:42:02- APPLAUSE - Emotional performance from the winner, Johnny Logan.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05# Trust your inner vision... #
0:42:05 > 0:42:08They're Cheryl, Mike, Jay and Bobby and the venue is Dublin,
0:42:08 > 0:42:10where they're in competition
0:42:10 > 0:42:14with entrants from 19 other Eurovision countries.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16I was on the jury that year
0:42:16 > 0:42:19and as soon as we heard Bucks Fizz, we went, "That's the one."
0:42:19 > 0:42:21The Eurovision Song Contest,
0:42:21 > 0:42:24live from Dublin, starting at eight o'clock tonight
0:42:24 > 0:42:26on BBC One.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29But do you think, generally, because the stakes are so high now,
0:42:29 > 0:42:32that the Eurovision Song Contest is perhaps more important than it used to be?
0:42:32 > 0:42:35Because it gives you such an enormous, kind of...
0:42:35 > 0:42:36So many people see you...
0:42:36 > 0:42:38I think it's... How many? 500 million?
0:42:38 > 0:42:40500 million - that's such a...
0:42:40 > 0:42:44I mean, that's the biggest amount of press and publicity
0:42:44 > 0:42:46you could ever get in an hour or so.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48The lady who put us together
0:42:48 > 0:42:49took a lot of time,
0:42:49 > 0:42:51and she made sure all the details
0:42:51 > 0:42:53were right before we went together.
0:42:53 > 0:42:57He was the main ingredient, so we all had to be short and blonde.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00HE LAUGHS Yes, I am...
0:43:00 > 0:43:02I was 5' 10", then.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04- CHERYL SCOFFS - What, in your dreams?
0:43:04 > 0:43:06We were one of the first manufactured bands
0:43:06 > 0:43:08which, at the time, was scorned upon,
0:43:08 > 0:43:10but now, of course, it's kind of the norm.
0:43:10 > 0:43:11It's expected that protesters
0:43:11 > 0:43:15supporting the H Block hunger strikers will picket contestants
0:43:15 > 0:43:16before and after the concert.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18This report from Peter Gould.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21A police escort is being provided for the coaches bringing the performers
0:43:21 > 0:43:26to the Exhibition Centre where the Song Contest is being staged.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Because of this IRA threat, when we were travelling anywhere,
0:43:29 > 0:43:31we were in our own coach.
0:43:31 > 0:43:34We had two outriders and we were going through the red lights,
0:43:34 > 0:43:38not thinking of the danger, or the reason they were doing it,
0:43:38 > 0:43:40of being an IRA target. We were thinking,
0:43:40 > 0:43:43"Whoa, this is really exciting, it's like being the Queen!"
0:43:43 > 0:43:45Bucks Fizz, the group performing the UK's entry,
0:43:45 > 0:43:47are one of the favourites to win.
0:43:47 > 0:43:50# Blue, blue
0:43:50 > 0:43:52# Blue Johnny, blue... #
0:43:52 > 0:43:55SHE SINGS IN GERMAN
0:43:55 > 0:43:58I said, "Germany are going to win this."
0:43:58 > 0:44:01That German song was nice.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03It was competitive, definitely.
0:44:03 > 0:44:06I remember going and putting my make-up on backstage.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10There was definitely a few dagger looks from other competitors.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12And I just gave them back.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15APPLAUSE
0:44:16 > 0:44:19Of course, it's the most nervous you're going to be.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22# You gotta speed it up... #
0:44:22 > 0:44:25Representing your country and it meaning so much.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28But we started, we did the... # Gotta speed it...
0:44:28 > 0:44:29SHE MUMBLES THE WORDS
0:44:29 > 0:44:31- Oh, yeah. - # ...making you mind up. #
0:44:31 > 0:44:34And then Michael looked at me and went, "Here we go."
0:44:34 > 0:44:35Here we go!
0:44:35 > 0:44:39And I thought, "That's it" - just Mike Nolan and me and Jay and Bobby
0:44:39 > 0:44:41and we're just doing... we're just having some fun.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43# Get a run for your money and take a chance
0:44:43 > 0:44:46# And it'll turn out right... #
0:44:46 > 0:44:49And that... You know, the skirts dance move was genius.
0:44:49 > 0:44:50# You're making your mind up... #
0:44:50 > 0:44:54Jay wanted short skirts, because Jay is tiny,
0:44:54 > 0:44:58and so I didn't want to wear short skirts, I wanted to wear long.
0:44:58 > 0:44:59I've got footballer's legs.
0:44:59 > 0:45:02It was getting on my nerves, and I went "Oh...let's have both."
0:45:02 > 0:45:04And if remember rightly,
0:45:04 > 0:45:06it was the choreographer who said, "That's perfect!"
0:45:06 > 0:45:09# But if you wanna see some more
0:45:09 > 0:45:12# Bending the rules of the game will let you find... #
0:45:12 > 0:45:16The Bucks Fizz skirt was an enormous scandal, let me tell you,
0:45:16 > 0:45:24because...sex and nudity in Ireland was in its infancy, then -
0:45:24 > 0:45:26and, indeed, has remained so. And rightly so.
0:45:26 > 0:45:31Bucks Fizz, on the night, sounded so bad. They were really woeful.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34But because we'd heard the song a lot, it didn't matter.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37But if you were hearing it for the first time,
0:45:37 > 0:45:39that was not a winning performance.
0:45:39 > 0:45:41# For making your mind up. #
0:45:42 > 0:45:44APPLAUSE
0:45:44 > 0:45:47The first country that gave us votes was Austria.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49'Royaume Uni, quatre points.'
0:45:49 > 0:45:51United Kingdom, four points.
0:45:51 > 0:45:52They said four and I thought,
0:45:52 > 0:45:56"Well, we've got another 26 countries to go yet, don't let's all panic."
0:45:56 > 0:45:57THEY LAUGH
0:45:57 > 0:46:00'United Kingdom, eight points.'
0:46:00 > 0:46:02- That's a bit more like it. - Eight points.
0:46:02 > 0:46:03'We got lots of eights.'
0:46:03 > 0:46:05We won only by about, what, three points?
0:46:05 > 0:46:07- Four points.- Four points, yeah.
0:46:07 > 0:46:09Without that Austrian four, we shouldn't have won.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Heavens... Heavens, they've done it again
0:46:13 > 0:46:15with Making Your Mind Up.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17Another win for the United Kingdom.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20I'll take a small bet that this might well go to number one
0:46:20 > 0:46:22in the British Hit Parade.
0:46:22 > 0:46:25- And I was like a lunatic when we won, weren't we?- Yes, you were.
0:46:25 > 0:46:26- And you've never changed.- Yes.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29Yes, absolutely beside themselves.
0:46:29 > 0:46:34MUSIC: No Bombardeen Buenos Aires by Charley Garcia
0:46:47 > 0:46:50The Eurovision Song Contest is coming this year from the brand-new,
0:46:50 > 0:46:53multimillion-pound Harrogate Conference Centre in North Yorkshire.
0:46:53 > 0:46:56Bienvenue a Harrogate! Welcome to Harrogate.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59This is the question on all Europe's lips tonight.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01Ou est Harrogate? Wo ist Harrogate?
0:47:01 > 0:47:03HE LAUGHS
0:47:03 > 0:47:05That's the place, in North Yorkshire.
0:47:14 > 0:47:17Portugal want a ukulele, who's doing that?
0:47:17 > 0:47:19Yes - exhibition strokes.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21Do you think for the lads in the orchestra...?
0:47:21 > 0:47:24I mean, it's obviously very hard work this week,
0:47:24 > 0:47:26rehearsing and doing a live show.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28- But do you think it's a challenge for them?- Oh, yes.
0:47:28 > 0:47:30I think they're very proud to do it,
0:47:30 > 0:47:33because we consider ourselves to be the best.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36CHEERING Eurovision Song Contest is either
0:47:36 > 0:47:38a showcase for the best of international pop
0:47:38 > 0:47:41or a collection of instantly forgettable rearrangements
0:47:41 > 0:47:43of the same three chords,
0:47:43 > 0:47:45mostly sung in languages you can't understand.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47# One step further... #
0:47:47 > 0:47:49For one reason or another, the quality of the songs
0:47:49 > 0:47:51has now become something of a joke.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53This year's British entry, for instance,
0:47:53 > 0:47:56contains the immortal word "tooken", which is unlikely to appear
0:47:56 > 0:47:58in the new edition of Roget's Thesaurus.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01# I could've tooken one step further... #
0:48:01 > 0:48:04THEY HUM SONG
0:48:04 > 0:48:05You're both going to face this way.
0:48:05 > 0:48:09I think it's a very, very good song and people seem to like us,
0:48:09 > 0:48:11which is really, really nice, and the routine and everything,
0:48:11 > 0:48:15the whole package for the song, is so good.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17I think we stand a really, really good chance.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20- And it's exactly the same, but go round the other way.- The other way.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23And you look at her and... No, you go that way.
0:48:23 > 0:48:25'I got my first break last year'
0:48:25 > 0:48:26when I was asked to do Bucks Fizz
0:48:26 > 0:48:28and I didn't really want to do it at first,
0:48:28 > 0:48:31cos I've never choreographed with singers and it was fun,
0:48:31 > 0:48:35it was so exciting, you know, when they won.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38But it taught me this year, I think, that a gimmick always works.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44Bucks Fizz had won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest
0:48:44 > 0:48:46with the gimmick of ripping the skirts off
0:48:46 > 0:48:50and you can see, in 1982, that this continues with a number of acts
0:48:50 > 0:48:53and it almost becomes a Eurovision dance competition.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56But ultimately, the contest was won by a girl soloist,
0:48:56 > 0:48:58just sitting there,
0:48:58 > 0:49:00just performing the song straight to camera.
0:49:00 > 0:49:04MUSIC: Ein Bisschen Frieden by Nicole
0:49:04 > 0:49:08'It's a song about peace.'
0:49:08 > 0:49:10You can't run over the stage from this side to the other side,
0:49:10 > 0:49:13so you have to concentrate
0:49:13 > 0:49:15on the lyrics, the message.
0:49:15 > 0:49:18SHE SINGS IN GERMAN
0:49:18 > 0:49:20'I didn't see the audience'
0:49:20 > 0:49:24and I didn't want to know that 700 million people are looking out.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27- TERRY:- I'm inclined to think that Britain's Bardo
0:49:27 > 0:49:30must have a very good chance with One Step Further.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33It's entirely significant that throughout the hundred of years that
0:49:33 > 0:49:37I did the Eurovision Song Contest, I never once picked the winner.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41'And Germany, 12 points.'
0:49:41 > 0:49:43That's Ralph Siegel, there, with Nicole.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46'Hello, Jeanne. Hello, Harrogate. Jerusalem calling.'
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Really, most important for me...
0:49:50 > 0:49:56..it was the point that a German girl
0:49:56 > 0:50:00with a song about peace... got 12 points from Israel.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03Germany, 12 points.
0:50:03 > 0:50:07'Ralph took my hand and said, "That's incredible." '
0:50:07 > 0:50:10The first time Germany gets 12 points from Israel,
0:50:10 > 0:50:12and we know our history.
0:50:13 > 0:50:15- That was... - SHE EXHALES
0:50:16 > 0:50:20Ein Bisschen Frieden from Germany.
0:50:20 > 0:50:23'I went to the stage again.'
0:50:23 > 0:50:26- TERRY:- We'll hear a reprise of the winning song.
0:50:26 > 0:50:30And I sang it in four languages,
0:50:30 > 0:50:31but nobody knew that.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36'I had five seconds from the first to the refrain.'
0:50:36 > 0:50:39"Should I, should I not? Should I, should I not?
0:50:39 > 0:50:42"Should I or should I not? Yes.
0:50:42 > 0:50:43"I will make it."
0:50:45 > 0:50:48'I thought, "OK, we're in England, what about English?" '
0:50:48 > 0:50:52# A little loving, a little giving
0:50:52 > 0:50:56# To build a dream for the world we live in... #
0:50:56 > 0:51:00'So if you saw the video, you will see the faces of my musicians'
0:51:00 > 0:51:05looked at each other and said, "What's going on? What's going on?"
0:51:05 > 0:51:06'Then, I turned to French.'
0:51:08 > 0:51:10SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:51:13 > 0:51:16APPLAUSE
0:51:16 > 0:51:18- MALE REPORTER: - It's nearly six weeks now
0:51:18 > 0:51:21since the Israelis began their advance into Lebanon.
0:51:21 > 0:51:25Since then, international opinion against the war has hardened
0:51:25 > 0:51:27and Israeli casualties have mounted.
0:51:28 > 0:51:34I was invited to Tel Aviv to sing the songs in front of soldiers.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37It was a little bit dangerous, but I wasn't afraid.
0:51:39 > 0:51:40I knew I must do this.
0:51:42 > 0:51:47All the soldiers, young people, girls and boys, sat down
0:51:47 > 0:51:49in front of me on a hill.
0:51:49 > 0:51:53'When I started singing, they put down their weapons
0:51:53 > 0:51:59'and took each other's hand and listened.'
0:51:59 > 0:52:03# We are feathers
0:52:03 > 0:52:07# On the breeze... #
0:52:07 > 0:52:10'The wish in everybody's heart for peace was alive.'
0:52:10 > 0:52:13I think it will be ever alive, this wish.
0:52:18 > 0:52:20CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:52:20 > 0:52:24Great applause for Germany's Nicole from Saarbrucken.
0:52:24 > 0:52:2717 years of age.
0:52:27 > 0:52:28Marvellous victory.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40Welcome to the 28th Eurovision Song Contest in Munich.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42MUSIC: I'm Never Giving Up by Sweet Dreams
0:52:42 > 0:52:43# I'm never giving up
0:52:43 > 0:52:45# Not giving in... #
0:52:45 > 0:52:47Israel, huit points.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50As the votes started coming in, we were doing pretty well.
0:52:50 > 0:52:51United Kingdom, 12 points.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54Whoa, we did. United Kingdom get the 12 points.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57When the votes are coming in, you've got cameras on your face
0:52:57 > 0:53:00and you've got to go, "Oh, yes. We got ten points."
0:53:00 > 0:53:02"We got two points. Oh, well, you know, never mind.
0:53:02 > 0:53:04"We got two points, but we're still happy."
0:53:04 > 0:53:05Not really.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07Finally, Luxembourg, 12 points.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09When the votes started not to come in
0:53:09 > 0:53:11and Luxembourg started getting the 12s,
0:53:11 > 0:53:16you started noticing all the TV camera crews slightly moving away.
0:53:16 > 0:53:19For the fifth time, Luxembourg has won the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:53:19 > 0:53:21MUSIC: Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley by Herreys
0:53:21 > 0:53:23# Diggi-loo diggi-ley
0:53:23 > 0:53:25# Life is goin' my way
0:53:25 > 0:53:29# When I'm walkin' in my golden shoes... #
0:53:29 > 0:53:32MUSIC: Lenge Leve Livet by Dollie de Luxe
0:53:32 > 0:53:34THEY SING IN NORWEGIAN
0:53:37 > 0:53:39And, finally, are you ready?
0:53:39 > 0:53:41Norway, 12 points.
0:53:41 > 0:53:43You surprise and astound me(!)
0:53:43 > 0:53:46MUSIC: La Det Swinge by Bobbysocks!
0:53:46 > 0:53:47THEY SING IN NORWEGIAN
0:53:56 > 0:53:58I remember it very well.
0:53:58 > 0:54:00They won in their neighbouring country, Sweden,
0:54:00 > 0:54:03which also gave it a special touch.
0:54:03 > 0:54:07They drove back to Oslo, went across the border to Norway.
0:54:07 > 0:54:11People cheered with flags all the way from the border and up to Oslo.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13It was a fantastic moment.
0:54:18 > 0:54:20# Soon we will know
0:54:20 > 0:54:23# Who will be the best
0:54:23 > 0:54:29# In the Eurovision Song Contest. #
0:54:34 > 0:54:36MUSIC: J'aime La Vie by Sandra Kim
0:54:36 > 0:54:38THEY SING IN FRENCH
0:54:50 > 0:54:53MUSIC: Soldiers of Love by Liliane Saint-Pierre
0:54:53 > 0:54:56MUSIC: Boogaloo by Lotta Engberg
0:54:59 > 0:55:02MUSIC: Ja Sam Za Ples by Novi Fosili
0:55:02 > 0:55:04# ..This is OK
0:55:04 > 0:55:06# This is OK... #
0:55:06 > 0:55:08MUSIC: Shir Habatlanim by Datner & Kushnir
0:55:12 > 0:55:14The silly dressy-up, bing-bongy-bang idea,
0:55:14 > 0:55:19which sort of took hold from the '80s onwards,
0:55:19 > 0:55:21where everyone thought it was a bit of a joke
0:55:21 > 0:55:24and therefore we turned it into a bit of a joke.
0:55:24 > 0:55:25It was a great shame.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29# Just hold me now
0:55:29 > 0:55:33# And I will know though we're apart... #
0:55:33 > 0:55:37Dear Johnny Logan. When you think that he won it twice...
0:55:38 > 0:55:41..he should have been a bigger star than Elvis.
0:55:41 > 0:55:42Come on, Ireland.
0:55:42 > 0:55:46# What do you say when words are not enough...? #
0:55:46 > 0:55:50Perhaps it's an indication of how...
0:55:50 > 0:55:54lightly people take the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:55:54 > 0:56:01# What can I say now my words are not enough? #
0:56:01 > 0:56:03I can't sing any more. Thank you.
0:56:03 > 0:56:06CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:56:09 > 0:56:13TERRY SPEAKS IRISH
0:56:13 > 0:56:14Good evening and welcome to Dublin,
0:56:14 > 0:56:18scene of the 33rd running of the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:56:19 > 0:56:20Who said it wouldn't last?
0:56:20 > 0:56:24Dublin - one of the great ones.
0:56:24 > 0:56:28I remember it above all for the presence of Bruce Forsyth,
0:56:28 > 0:56:31who I had invited to come.
0:56:31 > 0:56:35His daughter Julie had written our entry that year, Go,
0:56:35 > 0:56:37sung by Scott Fitzgerald.
0:56:37 > 0:56:42# Go before you break my heart
0:56:42 > 0:56:45# Once more, I know... #
0:56:45 > 0:56:47Are Italy going to give United Kingdom...?
0:56:47 > 0:56:49They are. 12 points to the United Kingdom.
0:56:55 > 0:57:01As the voting was proceeding, we were still in chances for the gold.
0:57:01 > 0:57:03There's five points in it, I can tell you,
0:57:03 > 0:57:06between the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
0:57:06 > 0:57:10So, can Scott Fitzgerald hang on by the skin of his teeth
0:57:10 > 0:57:12or will Celine Dion catch up?
0:57:12 > 0:57:15Everything depends on Yugoslavia.
0:57:15 > 0:57:18It went absolutely to the wire
0:57:18 > 0:57:23and came down on the last vote to one point.
0:57:24 > 0:57:26We've got to get the 10 or the 12 to win it.
0:57:27 > 0:57:28Norway, 10 points.
0:57:29 > 0:57:3310 points to Norway. Who's getting the 12?
0:57:33 > 0:57:34Look at Bruce Forsyth.
0:57:36 > 0:57:37What a cliff-hanger.
0:57:39 > 0:57:40And finally, France.
0:57:40 > 0:57:42CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:57:46 > 0:57:49I'm still in recovery from that moment.
0:57:49 > 0:57:51Just pipped the United Kingdom with the closest finish
0:57:51 > 0:57:54I've ever seen in the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:57:54 > 0:57:56Pipped them by one point.
0:57:56 > 0:57:59There's the winner, Switzerland's Celine Dion.
0:57:59 > 0:58:01MUSIC: Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi by Celine Dion
0:58:01 > 0:58:03SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:58:06 > 0:58:07CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:58:10 > 0:58:12MUSIC: J'ai Vole La Vie by Nathalie Paque
0:58:13 > 0:58:16SHE SINGS IN FRENCH
0:58:16 > 0:58:19MUSIC: Derekh Hamelekh by Gili and Galit
0:58:19 > 0:58:21THEY SING IN HEBREW
0:58:29 > 0:58:34MUSIC: Give A Little Love Back To The World by Emma
0:58:34 > 0:58:37# We can't go on
0:58:37 > 0:58:39# Taking out forever
0:58:41 > 0:58:47# Give a little love back to the world
0:58:47 > 0:58:49# We've still got time
0:58:49 > 0:58:52# Let's do it together... #
0:58:54 > 0:58:57This one couldn't be anything else but Spanish.
0:58:57 > 0:58:59Azucar Moreno - Bandido.
0:59:01 > 0:59:02When you're ready.
0:59:04 > 0:59:06I don't like it. It's going too smoothly.
0:59:06 > 0:59:08Listen, will I hum you the first couple of bars
0:59:08 > 0:59:10while we're waiting here?
0:59:12 > 0:59:14MUSIC BEGINS
0:59:42 > 0:59:45They're applauding the tape technician now.
0:59:45 > 0:59:47Very nice.
0:59:54 > 0:59:55It has to be something...
0:59:55 > 0:59:58Not something that somebody would either love our hate,
0:59:58 > 1:00:00something that everybody, as a whole, will like
1:00:00 > 1:00:04and get a good feeling from, so it can't be too unique in its style.
1:00:04 > 1:00:06What do you think your chances are in the contest?
1:00:06 > 1:00:09There is no contest. We've got it.
1:00:09 > 1:00:12# And half the world have too much
1:00:12 > 1:00:16# Their only hunger is their greed... #
1:00:16 > 1:00:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:00:18 > 1:00:21It's a really plucky thing to do, cos you're an established star.
1:00:21 > 1:00:24I mean, you'll be expected to win, that's what I mean.
1:00:24 > 1:00:26Oh, really?
1:00:26 > 1:00:30I hope I do, but that's not the reason that I'm doing it.
1:00:30 > 1:00:33I'm trying to work out the reason that I am doing it right now.
1:00:33 > 1:00:38I went for Michael Ball. I mean, he has a miraculous voice
1:00:38 > 1:00:42and fine good looks. I thought there was a winning combination.
1:00:42 > 1:00:45So I invited him to come to Television Centre
1:00:45 > 1:00:48to have a meeting with him
1:00:48 > 1:00:52in order to propose that he should sing the British entry.
1:00:52 > 1:00:58I think there was a moment where it was almost palpable
1:00:58 > 1:01:00that the air was leaving his body
1:01:00 > 1:01:04as he understood what I was saying to him.
1:01:04 > 1:01:09He left my office saying, of course he would think about it,
1:01:09 > 1:01:11but that I shouldn't hold my breath.
1:01:11 > 1:01:15MUSIC: One Step Out Of Time by Michael Ball
1:01:15 > 1:01:20# One reason to put this love on the line... #
1:01:20 > 1:01:24And, again, to my sad disappointment,
1:01:24 > 1:01:27we got the silver, we came second.
1:01:29 > 1:01:32It's Ireland that's won it for the fourth time.
1:01:35 > 1:01:37Fourth win for Ireland.
1:01:37 > 1:01:39MUSIC: Why Me? by Linda Martin
1:01:45 > 1:01:48MUSIC: Go West by Pet Shop Boys
1:01:48 > 1:01:51The people, in the shape of the more adventurous demonstrators,
1:01:51 > 1:01:54started climbing aboard, the army caved in.
1:02:04 > 1:02:08Whatever Mr Gorbachev decides, the people are unlikely ever again
1:02:08 > 1:02:12to allow the Communist machine to dominate their lives.
1:02:12 > 1:02:20At that time, new nations were popping up like mushrooms,
1:02:20 > 1:02:25all of whom wanted to be in the Eurovision Song Contest.
1:02:28 > 1:02:30It's the Eurovision Song Contest tomorrow night,
1:02:30 > 1:02:32time to send the brain away for the weekend.
1:02:32 > 1:02:34The competition's got used to the sneers,
1:02:34 > 1:02:36but for the first time in a long while,
1:02:36 > 1:02:40the organiser's claims about building international understanding
1:02:40 > 1:02:42through music are being taken at face value,
1:02:42 > 1:02:44at least by one small country.
1:02:47 > 1:02:50The Bosnian team has arrived with a song and a story
1:02:50 > 1:02:52to prick the conscience of Europe.
1:02:52 > 1:02:55Their entry, entitled The Whole World's Pain,
1:02:55 > 1:02:59was written and rehearsed under gunfire in Sarajevo.
1:02:59 > 1:03:02Two months ago in the dead of night, they ran full pelt
1:03:02 > 1:03:06across the UN-controlled airfield in the city, braving sniper fire.
1:03:07 > 1:03:10People risking their lives to take part in a TV show
1:03:10 > 1:03:12is a way of saying, "We're here.
1:03:12 > 1:03:15"Despite all of this stuff that's going on, we're here
1:03:15 > 1:03:17"and this is what we've risked to get there."
1:03:17 > 1:03:19Although the group made it,
1:03:19 > 1:03:22six other people were shot dead trying to escape that night.
1:03:22 > 1:03:26We are not here to use that tragedy in our country.
1:03:26 > 1:03:29It did sound a bit like it, that's why...
1:03:29 > 1:03:32Maybe for you, but that's reality in my country.
1:03:32 > 1:03:35It's happened. It's already happened.
1:03:35 > 1:03:39That's happening now, you have to understand that.
1:03:39 > 1:03:41That's really happening.
1:03:41 > 1:03:42- Yeah, I do believe it.- Yes.
1:03:42 > 1:03:45But then what happened if every other country would do the same?
1:03:45 > 1:03:46This should be...?
1:03:46 > 1:03:49Oh, you are lucky you haven't this problem in your country.
1:03:49 > 1:03:51MUSIC: Sva Bol Svijeta by Fazla
1:03:51 > 1:03:53THEY SING IN BOSNIAN
1:03:57 > 1:04:00Well, that deserves to get the biggest roar of the night.
1:04:00 > 1:04:03MUSIC: In Your Eyes by Niamh Kavanagh
1:04:03 > 1:04:07# I see the light leading me home again... #
1:04:07 > 1:04:10The Irish have always been tremendously enthusiastic
1:04:10 > 1:04:13about Europe, and certainly about taking part
1:04:13 > 1:04:15in the Eurovision Song Contest.
1:04:15 > 1:04:18MUSIC: Rock'n'Roll Kids by Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan
1:04:18 > 1:04:21And that's been reflected in the enormous success they've always had.
1:04:21 > 1:04:24I mean, they've won it more times than anybody else.
1:04:24 > 1:04:27They've won it three times in succession.
1:04:27 > 1:04:32If you listen to those songs, they're all kind of different.
1:04:32 > 1:04:37I do think that that's perhaps why Ireland was very successful,
1:04:37 > 1:04:41cos the writers weren't writing to win Eurovision,
1:04:41 > 1:04:42they were writing what they felt.
1:04:42 > 1:04:44Ireland have done it.
1:04:44 > 1:04:48They can do this, and they've won it for the third time in succession.
1:04:48 > 1:04:50Unprecedented.
1:04:50 > 1:04:54In the end, it became a sort of national panic,
1:04:54 > 1:04:56because, you know winning's great,
1:04:56 > 1:04:58but Ireland couldn't afford to stage this thing.
1:04:58 > 1:05:01Because, you know, in the beginning you were able to just put
1:05:01 > 1:05:05a few cameras in a theatre, or do it in a convention centre
1:05:05 > 1:05:08or something, but it just grew and grew,
1:05:08 > 1:05:11as did the price of putting it on.
1:05:11 > 1:05:13SHOES CLACK
1:05:17 > 1:05:20I still think the greatest Irish contribution to
1:05:20 > 1:05:23the Eurovision Song Contest was Riverdance.
1:05:27 > 1:05:31It is still the best interval act there's ever been.
1:05:32 > 1:05:36Just extraordinary that it came from nowhere, that Bill Whelan
1:05:36 > 1:05:40just came up with that music, which you assume you knew.
1:05:40 > 1:05:42The first time you heard that song you just kind of thought,
1:05:42 > 1:05:44"Oh, this is obviously a traditional Irish song
1:05:44 > 1:05:46"that they've just vamped up." No, he wrote it.
1:05:46 > 1:05:52It took what was an everyday experience for Irish people
1:05:52 > 1:05:54and turned it into something magical.
1:05:55 > 1:06:00Like, you know, one Irish dancer, you think, well, that's boring,
1:06:00 > 1:06:04so you think, 100 Irish dancers, that'll be 100 times more boring.
1:06:04 > 1:06:07But instead, just...
1:06:07 > 1:06:08It was incredible.
1:06:11 > 1:06:14APPLAUSE
1:06:14 > 1:06:18Good grief. That brought the folk memories out.
1:06:18 > 1:06:21MUSIC: Love City Groove by Love City Groove
1:06:21 > 1:06:24This is Britain's attempt to bring the Eurovision Song Contest
1:06:24 > 1:06:26screaming into the '90s.
1:06:26 > 1:06:29# I'm glad that I been found Always wanted you around
1:06:29 > 1:06:31- # Keepin' me lost for words - Yeah, I know how that sounds
1:06:31 > 1:06:33# Now I been to many places and I seen many things
1:06:33 > 1:06:36# But nothin' that I know can ever make my heart sing like you do
1:06:36 > 1:06:38# It's like a voodoo You know what I'm sayin'?
1:06:38 > 1:06:41# Baby girl, I ain't playin'
1:06:41 > 1:06:43# I'm glad that I'm the one to rock your world
1:06:43 > 1:06:45# Cos, honey, yeah... #
1:06:45 > 1:06:47# Ooh, ah, just a little bit
1:06:47 > 1:06:48# Ooh, ah, a little bit more
1:06:48 > 1:06:50# Ooh ah, just a little bit
1:06:50 > 1:06:52# I'll give you love you can't ignore... #
1:06:54 > 1:07:00- Ireland is the winner. - There's the winner - Eimear Quinn.
1:07:00 > 1:07:04# I am the voice of your hunger and pain
1:07:04 > 1:07:08# I am the voice of the future
1:07:08 > 1:07:10# I am the voice... #
1:07:11 > 1:07:15# Things can only get better... #
1:07:15 > 1:07:20We have been elected as New Labour and we will govern as New Labour.
1:07:20 > 1:07:23The Labour government, Tony Blair's government,
1:07:23 > 1:07:25won the election
1:07:25 > 1:07:27so there was a kind of whole thing going on in the country
1:07:27 > 1:07:29at that point.
1:07:29 > 1:07:33Everybody was full of optimism, thinking, well, you know,
1:07:33 > 1:07:37"And, dammit, we're going to win the Eurovision Song Contest as well."
1:07:37 > 1:07:43# I used to think maybe you loved me Now, baby, I'm sure... #
1:07:46 > 1:07:50We had to consider quite carefully the move to do
1:07:50 > 1:07:52the Eurovision Song Contest,
1:07:52 > 1:07:55because we were aware of the obvious connotations of it
1:07:55 > 1:08:00being the kiss of death for an artist's career.
1:08:00 > 1:08:04And then the other comment we got from people was, "You'd better win."
1:08:04 > 1:08:09# Hey-oh, lowly, lowly, low lowly, low-ah...#
1:08:09 > 1:08:12I was going into it completely blindly
1:08:12 > 1:08:14cos I'd never seen it before.
1:08:15 > 1:08:18So I watched some of these tapes of Eurovision
1:08:18 > 1:08:20and that was an eye-opener.
1:08:20 > 1:08:24You know, it kind of went from juggling acts to acrobatics
1:08:24 > 1:08:25and I thought,
1:08:25 > 1:08:28"Well, this is just missing a couple of poodles and a clown."
1:08:28 > 1:08:31# He's up at four and early... #
1:08:31 > 1:08:33But when we got involved with it
1:08:33 > 1:08:36and we saw how passionately some countries...
1:08:36 > 1:08:39They put forward their very best music.
1:08:40 > 1:08:46There wasn't any leverage for being offhandish about it,
1:08:46 > 1:08:48we had to take it very seriously.
1:08:50 > 1:08:55It was suggested that I "tone down" my American accent.
1:08:56 > 1:08:59And I didn't know how I was going to do that unless, you know,
1:08:59 > 1:09:04I ended up sounding like Dick Van Dyke. Can you imagine?
1:09:04 > 1:09:09- IN A BRITISH ACCENT:- Oh, yeah, I've lived here since 1976, yeah.
1:09:11 > 1:09:13MUSIC: Encore Une Fois by Sash!
1:09:13 > 1:09:15It's a twister!
1:09:15 > 1:09:18From the second you are greeted at the airport,
1:09:18 > 1:09:21the enthusiasm was overwhelming.
1:09:21 > 1:09:23Hello...
1:09:23 > 1:09:27And I thought, "Oh, my God, this thing is huge."
1:09:27 > 1:09:31I was walking into it thinking, "No pressure," and all of a sudden
1:09:31 > 1:09:35I was thinking, "Oh, my God, there's a colossal amount of pressure."
1:09:35 > 1:09:39MUSIC: Bara Hon Alskar Mig by Blond
1:09:39 > 1:09:42Here we are in what is called the greenroom.
1:09:42 > 1:09:45Don't be fooled by the fact that it is blue.
1:09:45 > 1:09:48And we are now doing what, erm...
1:09:48 > 1:09:50you do an awful lot of when you're involved
1:09:50 > 1:09:53in the Eurovision Song Contest - and that is wait.
1:09:55 > 1:09:58Look, I'm sorry, but this is my favourite bit.
1:09:58 > 1:10:02Having sat through 23 other acts, they don't
1:10:02 > 1:10:07so much grow on you as they sort of lose their offensiveness.
1:10:07 > 1:10:09HE RAPS
1:10:09 > 1:10:13And so I was starting to get really attached to a lot of them
1:10:13 > 1:10:17and I thought, "Wow, now that's a really good Eurovision song."
1:10:17 > 1:10:19Oh, what did the Russian one do...?
1:10:19 > 1:10:23# Prima donna... #
1:10:23 > 1:10:25# Prima donna... #
1:10:25 > 1:10:27So, little by little, I was losing confidence
1:10:27 > 1:10:32and I turned to the two backup singers and I said,
1:10:32 > 1:10:36"Hey, how are you two so composed?" And they turned to me and they go,
1:10:36 > 1:10:37"Beta-blockers, darling."
1:10:37 > 1:10:41So, you know, you get out there and the music starts
1:10:41 > 1:10:44and I'm listening for the click and I just thought,
1:10:44 > 1:10:46"Well, now or never."
1:10:46 > 1:10:51# Love shine a light in every corner of my heart
1:10:51 > 1:10:57# Let the love light carry Let the love light carry... #
1:10:57 > 1:11:02But it was, hands down, the most nerve-racking
1:11:02 > 1:11:08and trouser-cacking 2 minutes and 58 seconds of my whole life.
1:11:08 > 1:11:11# Love shine a light in every corner... #
1:11:11 > 1:11:13United Kingdom... CHEERING
1:11:13 > 1:11:15That's the first douze points.
1:11:15 > 1:11:17- Hi, Mom and Daddy.- Hi.
1:11:17 > 1:11:19It was just absolute delight.
1:11:19 > 1:11:22I mean, it was a show I had always wanted to do,
1:11:22 > 1:11:25Terry had always wanted to win it, so I mean,
1:11:25 > 1:11:27he was ecstatic about it.
1:11:27 > 1:11:30First time since 1981.
1:11:32 > 1:11:35And then your life changes from there on, cos you've won
1:11:35 > 1:11:37the Eurovision Song Contest.
1:11:37 > 1:11:40- What a thing. - CHEERING
1:11:42 > 1:11:43# Viva...#
1:11:43 > 1:11:46A bitter row has erupted in Israel over the singer
1:11:46 > 1:11:49chosen to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest,
1:11:49 > 1:11:50which is due to be held in Birmingham.
1:11:50 > 1:11:53She's called Dana International
1:11:53 > 1:11:57and, until a sex change operation five years ago, Dana was a man.
1:11:57 > 1:12:00Orthodox Jews are outraged by her nomination,
1:12:00 > 1:12:02some fanatics have even threatened to kill her.
1:12:02 > 1:12:05I represent liberal Israel,
1:12:05 > 1:12:08Israel that accepts human beings, whoever they are.
1:12:08 > 1:12:10# Viva Victoria... #
1:12:11 > 1:12:13ULRIKA SPEAKS SWEDISH
1:12:13 > 1:12:16Toche, toche, mahogany gas pipe.
1:12:19 > 1:12:24# Viva la diva Viva Victoria, viva. #
1:12:24 > 1:12:26CHEERING
1:12:26 > 1:12:29One of the things that I had obsessed about was just trying to make
1:12:29 > 1:12:33the show run to time and smoothly and sort out what has often
1:12:33 > 1:12:36been a mess at the end when there's a winner and they kind of...
1:12:36 > 1:12:39You know, it takes ages to get them to the stage,
1:12:39 > 1:12:41so we'd rehearse that endlessly.
1:12:41 > 1:12:45Israel have won it by seven points over the United Kingdom.
1:12:45 > 1:12:49Dana International was declared the winner and cue the fanfare...
1:12:49 > 1:12:51FANFARE
1:12:55 > 1:12:59..and Dana is nowhere to be seen at all and you kind of think...
1:13:00 > 1:13:03Come on, quickly.
1:13:03 > 1:13:05Come on, quickly, let's go, we must go
1:13:05 > 1:13:07or you're not going to be on. You must go.
1:13:07 > 1:13:10She's decided to change her frock.
1:13:10 > 1:13:13I'm standing talking to about 80 million people with
1:13:13 > 1:13:15nothing in my head.
1:13:15 > 1:13:17Been a long time.
1:13:19 > 1:13:21God knows what I said, I can't remember a single thing about it
1:13:21 > 1:13:24but my whole life flashed in front of me.
1:13:24 > 1:13:26# Take me to your heaven... #
1:13:26 > 1:13:28Take Me To Your Heaven is the winner
1:13:28 > 1:13:31of the Eurovision Song Contest 1999.
1:13:31 > 1:13:35- Mazeltov! - APPLAUSE
1:13:35 > 1:13:38That's Dana International, of course, last year's winner.
1:13:38 > 1:13:44There she was, pretending to fall...
1:13:44 > 1:13:45and actually doing it.
1:13:45 > 1:13:48Welcome, Europe.
1:13:48 > 1:13:50CHEERING
1:13:59 > 1:14:02What no-one can really ever get a handle on
1:14:02 > 1:14:06until you go is the scale of it.
1:14:07 > 1:14:11Oh, it felt almost like just a barn dance when we did it,
1:14:11 > 1:14:14it's become such a colossal affair.
1:14:14 > 1:14:16It's Estonia!
1:14:18 > 1:14:20Thank you, Denmark!
1:14:22 > 1:14:25It's a very big responsibility. It's not very easy for Estonia
1:14:25 > 1:14:26but we will do it.
1:14:26 > 1:14:28Without no doubt, we will do it.
1:14:28 > 1:14:31And we will do it well.
1:14:32 > 1:14:34Hello, Europe.
1:14:34 > 1:14:36Since it began, Eurovision has reflected
1:14:36 > 1:14:37the changing political map of Europe
1:14:37 > 1:14:40- and that continues to this day. - Latvia.
1:14:40 > 1:14:43The expansion of the contest eastward projected new energies
1:14:43 > 1:14:47but also saw the UK's fortunes in Eurovision really changing.
1:14:47 > 1:14:50MUSIC: Cry Baby by Jemini
1:14:50 > 1:14:52Saddam Hussein is not cooperating with the inspectors
1:14:52 > 1:14:55and therefore is in breach of the UN resolution.
1:15:00 > 1:15:04Jemini came last and gained the dubious accolade of being
1:15:04 > 1:15:08- the worst UK result ever.- What about the political side of this?
1:15:08 > 1:15:10A lot of people are saying that this was about the Iraq war.
1:15:10 > 1:15:14I mean, we were told that there was some politics in Eurovision
1:15:14 > 1:15:17but hopefully, you know, we were hoping that we would go there,
1:15:17 > 1:15:19give it our best shot, which we did.
1:15:19 > 1:15:22# Love, love's not enough
1:15:22 > 1:15:23# I need your trust
1:15:23 > 1:15:25# But you don't try... #
1:15:25 > 1:15:29I think, probably when we started to not do so well
1:15:29 > 1:15:31was when, as a country, we thought, "Well, actually,
1:15:31 > 1:15:34"if we don't take it seriously then we won't be disappointed."
1:15:34 > 1:15:38# Bye-bye, baby You lied to me, baby... #
1:15:38 > 1:15:40As a nation, I think, musically, you know, we are
1:15:40 > 1:15:43one of the finest in the world and I think
1:15:43 > 1:15:47to not represent our country with that at the heart of what
1:15:47 > 1:15:50we're doing, I think it's a bit shameful, to be honest.
1:15:50 > 1:15:53I think, certainly, there is some resentment in Europe towards the UK.
1:15:53 > 1:15:56Certainly amongst the national broadcasters.
1:15:56 > 1:15:59They make a lot of effort, they put in their biggest stars
1:15:59 > 1:16:00and yet they see, perhaps,
1:16:00 > 1:16:03the UK entering novelty acts or songs that maybe don't reflect
1:16:03 > 1:16:08the wider UK charts and I think there is perhaps a little bit of suspicion
1:16:08 > 1:16:11or frustration at the fact that we're not entering our best.
1:16:12 > 1:16:18Boots, leather, whips - what a winning combination.
1:16:18 > 1:16:21MUSIC: Wild Dances by Ruslana
1:16:21 > 1:16:22Ukraine.
1:16:24 > 1:16:26# You're my lover
1:16:26 > 1:16:28# Undercover
1:16:28 > 1:16:32# You're my secret passion I have no other... #
1:16:32 > 1:16:34If you have a whole evening of songs,
1:16:34 > 1:16:36let's say you have 25 songs,
1:16:36 > 1:16:39and you have to decide what to vote for, you need what I would call
1:16:39 > 1:16:43a little anchor, something that you can remember it for.
1:16:43 > 1:16:45# My number one... #
1:16:45 > 1:16:48It's about how you can notch up any performance,
1:16:48 > 1:16:51whether it be a costume or a trick.
1:16:51 > 1:16:55You remember the guy with the funny hat
1:16:55 > 1:16:57or the lady in the beautiful dress or...
1:16:57 > 1:17:00those guys with a monster mask on.
1:17:00 > 1:17:04MUSIC: Hard Rock Hallelujah by Lordi
1:17:04 > 1:17:07I despaired of Eurovision that year.
1:17:07 > 1:17:09# The true believers
1:17:09 > 1:17:11# Thou shall be saved
1:17:11 > 1:17:14# Brothers and sisters Keep strong in the faith... #
1:17:14 > 1:17:17I thought that was a turning point
1:17:17 > 1:17:19and I thought Eurovision was going in the wrong direction.
1:17:19 > 1:17:21Congratulations.
1:17:21 > 1:17:23I think if you're trying to win it
1:17:23 > 1:17:25then you're going to do daft things, right?
1:17:25 > 1:17:27Cos it's about catching people's attentions
1:17:27 > 1:17:29for perhaps the wrong reasons.
1:17:29 > 1:17:32MUSIC: Dancing Lasha Tumbai by Verka Serduchka
1:17:32 > 1:17:36All right, so you're going to have a jet pack or you're going to go
1:17:36 > 1:17:38ice-skating or, you know, you're going to have
1:17:38 > 1:17:39sharks or whatever it is,
1:17:39 > 1:17:42you're going to do something which says, "Look at us.
1:17:42 > 1:17:44"We're going to make the biggest noise."
1:17:44 > 1:17:47That's if you want to win it,
1:17:47 > 1:17:50but I'm not sure that the winning of it is the point of it.
1:17:50 > 1:17:53It's over. And I can't say
1:17:53 > 1:17:56that we didn't predict it, this was going to be...
1:17:56 > 1:17:57Russia were going to be
1:17:57 > 1:17:59the political winners from the beginning.
1:17:59 > 1:18:01There'd always been block voting,
1:18:01 > 1:18:02the Scandinavians had always
1:18:02 > 1:18:04voted for each other, the Greeks had always
1:18:04 > 1:18:07voted for Cyprus, Cyprus had always voted for the Greeks.
1:18:07 > 1:18:09Nobody had voted for the United Kingdom.
1:18:11 > 1:18:13I think it's tremendously disappointing.
1:18:13 > 1:18:17From the point of view of the United Kingdom, we've come joint last.
1:18:17 > 1:18:21Some really ridiculous songs and you have to say...that this is
1:18:21 > 1:18:24no longer a music contest.
1:18:24 > 1:18:26Maria...
1:18:26 > 1:18:30What I do think is a big factor is the displaced voting factor,
1:18:30 > 1:18:32so I'm British,
1:18:32 > 1:18:36if I'm watching the show in the UK, I cannot vote for the UK entry.
1:18:36 > 1:18:39If I were to happen to be in Spain on the night of the show,
1:18:39 > 1:18:42I could vote for the UK entry in Spain.
1:18:42 > 1:18:47So countries whose populations are spread into other
1:18:47 > 1:18:51countries in bigger numbers are likely, just naturally,
1:18:51 > 1:18:55to be able to vote for their own country elsewhere.
1:18:55 > 1:18:57MUSIC: Believe by Dima Bilan
1:18:57 > 1:19:00Yes, they're voting for their neighbours, but they're also
1:19:00 > 1:19:04voting for a song that's been played to death on their radio.
1:19:06 > 1:19:08They probably know the person who's singing it
1:19:08 > 1:19:11because they're a star in their country,
1:19:11 > 1:19:15so it's not as simple as, "We always vote for this country."
1:19:15 > 1:19:19That does go on, but I think, normally, it's about... You vote
1:19:19 > 1:19:23for songs that you're familiar with because, you know, the more
1:19:23 > 1:19:27you hear any song, the more you like it until you grow to loathe it.
1:19:27 > 1:19:33# Can't stop me if I just believe
1:19:33 > 1:19:35# And we believe in
1:19:35 > 1:19:40# You. #
1:19:40 > 1:19:43MUSIC: Fairytale by Alexander Ryback
1:19:43 > 1:19:49When I was asked, obviously I wanted to do it, but it's scary,
1:19:49 > 1:19:53because, you know, Sir Terry had done it for ever.
1:19:55 > 1:19:58I was getting flights, off we went to Moscow, it's all, "Oh, isn't
1:19:58 > 1:20:02"this exciting?" And it was just as the opening credits went,
1:20:02 > 1:20:04it dawned on me,
1:20:04 > 1:20:08"Oh, this is going to be coming out of someone's telly in a minute."
1:20:08 > 1:20:13Good evening and welcome to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009.
1:20:13 > 1:20:16And you don't want to mess it up and there's no script,
1:20:16 > 1:20:18so you are just talking.
1:20:18 > 1:20:20I'm Graham Norton.
1:20:20 > 1:20:23I miss Terry, too. I'm sorry.
1:20:23 > 1:20:25And really, I think that first year
1:20:25 > 1:20:26I was doing a Terry Wogan impression.
1:20:26 > 1:20:28I was like, "What would Terry say?"
1:20:28 > 1:20:31SHE HOLDS A HIGH-PITCHED NOTE
1:20:31 > 1:20:35It's all right, you can let the dog back into the living room,
1:20:35 > 1:20:37it's all over.
1:20:37 > 1:20:40You see it on television, you see there's 15,000 people
1:20:40 > 1:20:43in the stadium and the set is enormous and everything.
1:20:43 > 1:20:46But what you don't see is all the sneaky things,
1:20:46 > 1:20:49like someone will be doing an amazing vocal...
1:20:49 > 1:20:50# You've got to live your life... #
1:20:50 > 1:20:54You have to sing live but, of course, nothing's stopping you
1:20:54 > 1:20:58from miming to a backing singer and, if you look, you can see them.
1:20:58 > 1:21:02# Ooh, ahh... #
1:21:02 > 1:21:06And that's... Well, it's not cheating, but it's cheating.
1:21:06 > 1:21:09MUSIC: Fairytale by Alexander Ryback
1:21:14 > 1:21:18CHEERING
1:21:20 > 1:21:23Song number 12 for the United Kingdom.
1:21:23 > 1:21:26Good luck to Josh Dubovie.
1:21:28 > 1:21:30# I don't know about you, but
1:21:30 > 1:21:34# That sounds good to me
1:21:34 > 1:21:36# Whoa... #
1:21:36 > 1:21:39Yes, I'm sure, I'm sure the UK could win again.
1:21:39 > 1:21:42Every year I feel pity for the UK because you have
1:21:42 > 1:21:44so much good pop music.
1:21:44 > 1:21:48# I can, I will... #
1:21:48 > 1:21:52I think it's extraordinary that the UK has not done better.
1:21:53 > 1:21:57If One Direction decided to do Eurovision or if Chris Martin
1:21:57 > 1:22:00from Coldplay thought it would be a laugh to do
1:22:00 > 1:22:02Eurovision - not just a laugh, actually, I could see Chris
1:22:02 > 1:22:05doing it and taking it quite seriously -
1:22:05 > 1:22:07then the UK could win it very easily.
1:22:07 > 1:22:12# So graceful and pure a smile bathed in light
1:22:12 > 1:22:14# No matter... #
1:22:14 > 1:22:18I think to reprezent, in the modern sense of the word, with a Z,
1:22:18 > 1:22:21you know, it's an important thing.
1:22:21 > 1:22:26# That's all fine if that's how you want it to be... #
1:22:26 > 1:22:29Why don't we just turn up with something beautiful and amazing
1:22:29 > 1:22:32and then if we win or we don't win, you know,
1:22:32 > 1:22:34that doesn't matter, that's not what we're there for,
1:22:34 > 1:22:37we're there to say, "This is what we can do."
1:22:37 > 1:22:42# It's a miracle... #
1:22:42 > 1:22:45Copenhagen last year was extraordinary.
1:22:45 > 1:22:50They had chosen a massive, derelict shipyard on an island.
1:22:50 > 1:22:54Inside it, they built the arena seating, a lighting grid,
1:22:54 > 1:22:59they made the whole back wall out of LED-screen material.
1:22:59 > 1:23:02# Ooh... #
1:23:02 > 1:23:05And all of this was controlled by computer software so that
1:23:05 > 1:23:10when a song was running, the cues for the screens, the lights,
1:23:10 > 1:23:13the visual effects and even the cutting of the cameras were
1:23:13 > 1:23:18all controlled off this software system and it ran like clockwork.
1:23:18 > 1:23:21They did a really, really good job.
1:23:21 > 1:23:23MUSIC: Rise Like A Phoenix by Conchita Wurst
1:23:25 > 1:23:28I was standing on the stage and I was fighting my tears
1:23:28 > 1:23:30because I always wanted to be there.
1:23:30 > 1:23:33# Waking in the rubble
1:23:33 > 1:23:36# Walking over glass... #
1:23:36 > 1:23:38And I thought, "I will do this for myself,
1:23:38 > 1:23:40"I don't care about anyone here.
1:23:40 > 1:23:42"I will sing and I will entertain myself
1:23:42 > 1:23:44"and if they think it's ridiculous, so what?
1:23:44 > 1:23:46"I'll have a great time."
1:23:46 > 1:23:50# You wouldn't know me at all
1:23:50 > 1:23:51# Today... #
1:23:51 > 1:23:53As far as Austria are concerned,
1:23:53 > 1:23:56what an amazing thing to do in an international arena.
1:23:56 > 1:24:00# Rise like a phoenix
1:24:00 > 1:24:01# Out of the ashes... #
1:24:01 > 1:24:04To put someone forward to say, "This is our person
1:24:04 > 1:24:06"that you need to take seriously."
1:24:06 > 1:24:10People didn't really know who or what Conchita was.
1:24:10 > 1:24:13Was Conchita a woman? Was Conchita transgender?
1:24:13 > 1:24:15Was Conchita a drag queen?
1:24:15 > 1:24:18Conchita is a drag queen with a beard - nothing more, nothing less.
1:24:18 > 1:24:21# Rise like a phoenix
1:24:21 > 1:24:25# But you're my flame... #
1:24:25 > 1:24:28some broadcasters said, "OK, well, we're not going to show that song.
1:24:28 > 1:24:34"We're going to opt out for those two and a half minutes."
1:24:34 > 1:24:39And hats off to the EBU, they said, "No, no.
1:24:39 > 1:24:43"You either show the whole thing or you don't show it at all."
1:24:43 > 1:24:46And, in the end, everyone caved.
1:24:46 > 1:24:48# Retribution... #
1:24:48 > 1:24:50They have their own opinion and that's fine with me.
1:24:50 > 1:24:53If they don't like it, I'm totally cool with that.
1:24:53 > 1:24:56They just have to respect that I'm here, like, we have
1:24:56 > 1:24:58to respect one and each other.
1:24:58 > 1:25:01# Rise like a phoenix
1:25:01 > 1:25:04# But you're my...
1:25:04 > 1:25:12# Flame. #
1:25:14 > 1:25:16CHEERING
1:25:16 > 1:25:18None of us expected Conchita to win.
1:25:18 > 1:25:21You know, we all said to each other beforehand,
1:25:21 > 1:25:22"Wouldn't it be great if...?
1:25:22 > 1:25:24"But, of course, that's not going to happen."
1:25:24 > 1:25:28Because all those Eastern European countries
1:25:28 > 1:25:31won't vote for, you know, the bearded drag-lady.
1:25:31 > 1:25:34But, of course, happily, we were wrong.
1:25:34 > 1:25:38We have done the math, it's no secret any more.
1:25:38 > 1:25:41We are ready to announce the winner.
1:25:41 > 1:25:42The winner is...
1:25:42 > 1:25:43Austria!
1:25:43 > 1:25:46I just feel so honoured that I'm the person who was
1:25:46 > 1:25:49standing in the centre of attention.
1:25:49 > 1:25:52You know, cos I love to be in the centre of attention. But, erm...
1:25:52 > 1:25:54Especially when it comes to that.
1:25:54 > 1:25:57Of course, for me, it was very important not just to stand
1:25:57 > 1:26:02and sing there but also to take this opportunity to say something.
1:26:02 > 1:26:06This night is dedicated to everyone
1:26:06 > 1:26:10who believes in a future of peace and freedom.
1:26:10 > 1:26:13CHEERING
1:26:15 > 1:26:16You know who you are.
1:26:16 > 1:26:21We are unity and we are unstoppable.
1:26:23 > 1:26:25Conchita's victory was hugely symbolic.
1:26:25 > 1:26:29The public, maybe not the juries, but the public voted for Conchita.
1:26:29 > 1:26:31We were crying, you know, we were crying.
1:26:31 > 1:26:36I know it sounds ridiculous, but it just...
1:26:36 > 1:26:37It felt important.
1:26:37 > 1:26:40It just felt that people, the people who live in places,
1:26:40 > 1:26:43the people who go to the shops
1:26:43 > 1:26:47and the people who just live their lives, had spoken
1:26:47 > 1:26:51and they were nicer people and more tolerant people
1:26:51 > 1:26:54than their governments let us think.
1:26:54 > 1:26:57CHEERING
1:27:01 > 1:27:07Even though we've managed a great deal of integration in Europe,
1:27:07 > 1:27:12especially since the Second World War, we're still not there yet.
1:27:12 > 1:27:15There are still a lot of differences between countries,
1:27:15 > 1:27:19we still don't fully grasp the depth of all our cultures
1:27:19 > 1:27:24and we have to keep evolving. I think Europe as a project is never
1:27:24 > 1:27:27ready, just like the Eurovision song Contest as a project is never ready.
1:27:27 > 1:27:32It's the only pan-European cultural event
1:27:32 > 1:27:35and it brings nations together like no other event.
1:27:35 > 1:27:38We laugh, we sing, we party.
1:27:38 > 1:27:44Eurovision will always be unique, because you're voting for countries
1:27:44 > 1:27:46and that's what gives it...
1:27:46 > 1:27:48I mean, "gravitas" is a big word,
1:27:48 > 1:27:51but that is kind of what gives it a certain level of seriousness.
1:27:51 > 1:27:55I think anything that brings people together,
1:27:55 > 1:27:58we shouldn't knock it, because there's so much that divides.
1:27:58 > 1:28:01Nowadays, you know, where we have to struggle with
1:28:01 > 1:28:04so many difficult things that happen
1:28:04 > 1:28:10all around the world, it's good to don't forget to celebrate life.
1:28:10 > 1:28:14I hope people understood that I always looked upon it with
1:28:14 > 1:28:17a kindly eye, and long may it last.
1:28:24 > 1:28:28That was great, thank you very much. Smashing, thank you.
1:28:28 > 1:28:31MUSIC: Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son by France Gall