 |
| Conchita Wurst, Austrian winner in 2014 |
The United Kingdom held a televised national pre-selection broadcast on BBC1 to choose the song that would go to the Eurovision Song Contest 1969 with Scottish singer Lulu chosen to represent the UK. After performing all six songs weekly on her eponymous TV series Lulu, the final was held on 22 February 1969 and presented by Michael Aspel.
Viewers cast votes on postcards via mail to choose the winner. The winning song, announced on March 1, with 56,476 votes, was Boom Bang-a-Bang. This was released on single, with the runner-up March! on the B-Side and reached No.2 in the UK singles chart, remaining Lulu's most successful solo single of her career in Britain.
More information: ESC-History
Boom Bang-a-Bang was the United Kingdom entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1969. It was sung by Lulu, and was co-written by Alan Moorhouse and Peter Warne.
Lyrically, the song is a plea from the singer to her lover to cuddle me tight. She then goes on to explain that my heart goes boom bang-a-bang boom bang-a-bang when you are near, complete with appropriate musical accompaniment. The single made No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was a major hit throughout Europe.
Over two decades after its first release, the song was included on a blacklist of banned songs issued by the BBC during the 1991 Gulf War.
More information: Eurovision World (Quiz)
Every year I go to see it and every year I say:
'Isn't it terrible? It's worse than last year!'
Terry Wogan
Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s. They won the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with Save Your Kisses for Me.
Created in 1969 by songwriter and record producer Tony Hiller, Brotherhood of Man was initially an umbrella title for a frequently-changing line-up of session singers. Early on, they scored a worldwide hit with the song United We Stand.
 |
| ABBA, Swedish winner in 1974 |
By 1973 the concept had run its course and Hiller formed a definite four-member line-up consisting of Martin Lee, Lee Sheriden, Nicky and Sandra Stevens.
This version of the group went on to score many hits around the world in the mid to late 1970s including Kiss Me Kiss Your Baby, Angelo, Oh Boy (The Mood I'm In) and Figaro.
They achieved perhaps their biggest success in their native UK with three number one singles and four top twenty albums. The group under this line-up still continues, performing shows throughout Europe. Altogether, they have released 16 studio albums, with worldwide sales topping 15 million records.
More information: Eurovision World
In early 1976, Hiller was keen for Brotherhood of Man to make an impact in the UK and decided to put Save Your Kisses for Me forward to the A Song for Europe competition. This year saw a change to the contest in that, since 1964, one specific artist had performed all the songs but 1976 saw the return to the format in which any artist was eligible to enter.
Save Your Kisses for Me made it to the final twelve songs and on 25 February, Brotherhood of Man took the title, beating the second placed act, Co-Co by two points. Now signed to Pye Records, Save Your Kisses for Me was released as a single in March and hit the No.1 spot two weeks before the Contest final.
On 3 April, the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest was staged in the Netherlands and Brotherhood of Man performed the song, dressed in red, white and black with simple choreography devised by Guy Lutman. Save Your Kisses for Me took the title with an overwhelming victory.
More information: BBC
I don't make the mistake of thinking it's a major musical event. I love the Eurovision Song Contest and it will continue long after I'm gone. Just please don't ask me to take it seriously.
Terry Wogan
No comments:
Post a Comment