Only the Light
Encyclopedia
"Only the Light", written and composed by Richard Peebles
, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1987
, performed by Peebles himself, who was credited at Eurovision as Rikki.
Rikki won the right to perform at Brussels
by winning the UK national final, A Song for Europe
, where he was the first singer to perform. At Brussels, the song was performed fourteenth on the night, after Luxembourg
's Plastic Bertrand
with "Amour Amour", and before France
's Christine Minier with "Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche
." At the end of judging that evening, "Only the Light" took the thirteenth-place slot with 47 points. It came as a huge disappointment to the United Kingdom as it was the lowest placement any of the country's entries had received up to that time.
Like the previous year, a rock song was in the offering, with an unclear theme (it is never explained what "the light" is, what kind of metaphor it is, why "the light" is after him or why he is avoiding it). On-stage that year were three backup singers and dancers, dressed in white, in addition to a keyboardist. Rikki, a native of Scotland
, also accessorised with a tartan
cloth slung over his shoulder.
The song placed at #96, not charting on the UK Singles Chart
(the Top 75 songs) but as an addenda on the "Next 25" version of the charts. This was the second year of dismal sales for the UK's Eurovision entrant.
Richard Peebles
Richard Peebles , working under the stage name Rikki, is a Glaswegian singer who won the BBC's A Song for Europe contest in 1987 with his own composition, "Only the light". Although he'd been writing and performing with the group Marmalade, at the time he was picked to represent the UK, he was a...
, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1987
Eurovision Song Contest 1987
The Eurovision Song Contest 1987 was the 32nd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1987 in Brussels, Belgium after Sandra Kim's win the previous year. The presenter was Viktor Lazlo. Johnny Logan was the winner for Ireland with the song "Hold Me Now"...
, performed by Peebles himself, who was credited at Eurovision as Rikki.
Rikki won the right to perform at Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
by winning the UK national final, A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe may refer to:*A Song for Europe, former name of British pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Eurovision: Your Country Needs You...
, where he was the first singer to perform. At Brussels, the song was performed fourteenth on the night, after Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
's Plastic Bertrand
Plastic Bertrand
Plastic Bertrand is a Belgian musician, songwriter, producer, editor and television presenter, best known for the 1977 international hit single "Ça plane pour moi".-Early life and bands:...
with "Amour Amour", and before France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Christine Minier with "Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche
Les Mots D'Amour N'Ont Pas De Dimanche
"Les mots d'amour n'ont pas de dimanche" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1987, performed in French by Christine Minier....
." At the end of judging that evening, "Only the Light" took the thirteenth-place slot with 47 points. It came as a huge disappointment to the United Kingdom as it was the lowest placement any of the country's entries had received up to that time.
Like the previous year, a rock song was in the offering, with an unclear theme (it is never explained what "the light" is, what kind of metaphor it is, why "the light" is after him or why he is avoiding it). On-stage that year were three backup singers and dancers, dressed in white, in addition to a keyboardist. Rikki, a native of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, also accessorised with a tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
cloth slung over his shoulder.
The song placed at #96, not charting on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
(the Top 75 songs) but as an addenda on the "Next 25" version of the charts. This was the second year of dismal sales for the UK's Eurovision entrant.