Well, yesterday’s caused a flurry of people sending back the correct answer – hurrah!
In case you didn’t get it, the bearded lady herself – Conchita Wurst from Austria – was the winner!.
As yesterday, we have included a YouTube link to the performance at the bottom of the email, in case you’ve never seen this iconic moment!
Today is about two themes that Eurovision embody well – Peace and Love.
For a great deal of time, Eurovision winners had lyrics that spoke about peace, love, looking after our planet etc. The one thing a Eurovision song cannot do is be political. Some countries have pushed the envelope on this over the years – Spain for example used their entry (back in 1963) as the cue for a military coo. Franco (following this) was determined to get Spain to win and used a lot of ‘favours’ to do so. The year they hosted in Madrid, they had a sculpture created by Salvador Dahli specifically for the event! Russia fell foul of the Ukrainian travel ban (VERY long story) and their entrant was banned from entering and they also claimed foul play when their entrant Lazarev was beaten by the Ukraine with a song that was about Stalin! Oh the mind boggles.
However, back in the time of this particular entrants lyrics, the Eurovision was on fairly safe ground.
Bright colours, real orchestra, wild and wacky instruments, key changes and multiple costume changes were becoming the norm. This simple song cut through the glitz and became, for a time in the 1980’s, a song that was taught in primary schools across Europe. It embodied the image that every country wanted to portray.
It was also groundbreaking as this entry received 12 points from a country that had NEVER EVER voted for them before (you will understand why when you work it out or read the bottom of the email).
It was heralded as a watershed moment for European collectiveness and helped lower the political temperature both in Europe and in the UN. I have included the lyrics for the verse in English and the chorus in the original language. On the night, when they won, they sang it in every major language including the language of the country that had never given them 12 points. As it’s Friday – we
have posted the winner’s entry in the youtube videos so you’re not stressed about it over the weekend lol!
“Just like a flower when winter begins
Just like a candle blown out in the wind
Just like a bird that can no longer fly
I’m feeling that way sometime
But then, as I’m falling, weighed down by the load
I picture a light at the end of the road
And closing my eyes, I can see through the dark
The dream that is in my heart…
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Sonne
Für diese Erde, auf der wir wohnen
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Freude
Ein bisschen Wärme, das wünsch' ich mir
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Träumen
Und dass die Menschen nicht so oft weinen
Ein bisschen Frieden, ein bisschen Liebe
Dass ich die Hoffnung nie mehr verlier”
Conchita : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRUIava4WRM
Nicole – 1982 German Winner : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8K8wn3jZM
Israel gave them 12 points – which was the first time in the history of the contest.
Costume Changes! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrJDldFpXMU