United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985
Encyclopedia
The 1985 edition of A Song for Europe
was held at the BBC Television Centre
on April 9, hosted by a suited Terry Wogan
. The theme music (as it has been in previous years) was Te Deum. There was an orchestra used to perform the songs, again this was off screen, and under the baton of conductor John Coleman
.
The artistes were introduced on stage with captions on screen, with another version of Making your mind up.
Terry Wogan was then entered on stage with a fanfare, as used in previous contests.
333 songs were originally submitted to the Music Publisher's Association, with 8 songs chosen. Song writers could only submit a maximum of four songs to the MPA, but the identity of the writers was not disclosed to the MPA judges. Another rule stated that no groups (more than 2 performers) were allowed, possibly due to the poor achievement of the previous trio groups that represented the UK. The songs were selected by around 90 people, DJs, producers and publishers.
Song Number 1 was written by Vikki Watson (from Hampshire), and James Kalleth(American born, raised in Liverpool and now living in London) Vikki
sang the song "Love is" with two on stage backing singers, the legendary Sunny and Sue, who had previously provided backing for Lulu
in 1969 and Joy Fleming
in 1975. Vikki would go on to win the heat, and would wear the same costume at the Eurovision Song Contest. There were minor differences in the arrangement of the song when compared to the live Eurovision version.
Song Number 2 was written by Irishman Jonathan Gregg, and sung by fellow Irishman Peter Beckett
. Titled "I'm crying" it would go on to be joint 7th after the voting. The song was a gentle slow ballad, performed solo on stage. He would later take part in the 1986 contest as part of the group Jump.
Song Number 3, The Clock on the wall", was written by Peter Vale and Mick Leeson, performed by the 40 year old Alvin Stardust
. This was representative of Stardust's style, an upbeat 50's style song. A backing group of guitarists and a drummer was also on stage. He came 3rd.
Song Number 4 was written by James Oliver
, a Scotsman from Glasgow. He also performed the song "What we say with our eyes." Backing singers could be heard, but were off stage. This song was a slow ballad, all about breaking up. He would later go on to appear in the 1988 and 1989 contests. He came 6th.
Song Number 5 was written by Clive Scott
(Coventry) and Des Dyer (Rugby). The pair of them had previously been in a group called Jigsaw
. Des performed the song on stage alone, although backing singers could be heard. The arrangement of the song was much different from the studio version, it being faster, in a different key and the instrumentation being very different. Des' voice screeched on one of the notes and he muttered an expletive! The song finished in 4th place.
Song number 6 was written by Paul Curtis
and Graham Sacher and performed by 19 year old Annabel
, who performed half the song sat on the floor. The song was called "Let me love you one more time" another slow love song and finished in 5th place.
Song number 7 was also written by Curtis and Sacher, performed by Kerri Wells, performing "Dancing in the night" alone on stage with off screen backing singers. It finished 2nd. It was an up tempo number.
Song number 8 was written by Mike Redway, who would team up with 29 year old Fiona Kennedy
, famous to Britain's kids as a presenter of BBC1's "Record Breakers", to sing "So do I", another ballad.
The UK
entered Vikki and "Love is" in the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest
and it came in fourth place, gaining 100 points overall.
Norway
's Bobbysocks won with the fifties-influenced "Let it Swing".
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...
was held at the BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
on April 9, hosted by a suited Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
. The theme music (as it has been in previous years) was Te Deum. There was an orchestra used to perform the songs, again this was off screen, and under the baton of conductor John Coleman
John Coleman
John Douglas Coleman was an Australian rules footballer and coach for Essendon in the Victorian Football League ....
.
Opening act
The show opened with a group of dancers, dancing to old Eurovision songs: Making your mind up, Waterloo, Puppet on a string, Save your kisses for me, Boom bang-a-bang and Congratulations.The artistes were introduced on stage with captions on screen, with another version of Making your mind up.
Terry Wogan was then entered on stage with a fanfare, as used in previous contests.
The Songs
The songs were first previewed in the previous week to the contest on the Wogan show.333 songs were originally submitted to the Music Publisher's Association, with 8 songs chosen. Song writers could only submit a maximum of four songs to the MPA, but the identity of the writers was not disclosed to the MPA judges. Another rule stated that no groups (more than 2 performers) were allowed, possibly due to the poor achievement of the previous trio groups that represented the UK. The songs were selected by around 90 people, DJs, producers and publishers.
Song Number 1 was written by Vikki Watson (from Hampshire), and James Kalleth(American born, raised in Liverpool and now living in London) Vikki
Vikki
Vikki may refer to:* Vikki, UK singer in the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Aeone* Vikki Bunce , field hockey forward* Vikki Carr , American singer* Vikki LaMotta , American model...
sang the song "Love is" with two on stage backing singers, the legendary Sunny and Sue, who had previously provided backing for Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
in 1969 and Joy Fleming
Joy Fleming
Joy Fleming is a German singer who is probably best-known for her performance in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975...
in 1975. Vikki would go on to win the heat, and would wear the same costume at the Eurovision Song Contest. There were minor differences in the arrangement of the song when compared to the live Eurovision version.
Song Number 2 was written by Irishman Jonathan Gregg, and sung by fellow Irishman Peter Beckett
Peter Beckett
Peter Beckett is an English musician and songwriter who has recorded written songs for many prominent recording artists and for several films, as well as produced solo work. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for 1970s soft rock group Player, which scored a U.S...
. Titled "I'm crying" it would go on to be joint 7th after the voting. The song was a gentle slow ballad, performed solo on stage. He would later take part in the 1986 contest as part of the group Jump.
Song Number 3, The Clock on the wall", was written by Peter Vale and Mick Leeson, performed by the 40 year old Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust is an English pop singer and stage actor.-Career:...
. This was representative of Stardust's style, an upbeat 50's style song. A backing group of guitarists and a drummer was also on stage. He came 3rd.
Song Number 4 was written by James Oliver
James Oliver
James Oliver may refer to:*Jamie Oliver , English chef*Jamie Oliver keyboards player of Welsh band Lostprophets*James C...
, a Scotsman from Glasgow. He also performed the song "What we say with our eyes." Backing singers could be heard, but were off stage. This song was a slow ballad, all about breaking up. He would later go on to appear in the 1988 and 1989 contests. He came 6th.
Song Number 5 was written by Clive Scott
Clive Scott
Clive Scott was a former keyboard player of the British 1970s pop / rock group, Jigsaw, as well as the composer of most of the group's recordings, together with the singer, Des Dyer...
(Coventry) and Des Dyer (Rugby). The pair of them had previously been in a group called Jigsaw
Jigsaw
Jigsaw may refer to:* Jigsaw , a tool used for cutting arbitrary curves* Jigsaw puzzle, a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of interlocking pieces- Film and television :* Jigsaw , a 1949 film noir...
. Des performed the song on stage alone, although backing singers could be heard. The arrangement of the song was much different from the studio version, it being faster, in a different key and the instrumentation being very different. Des' voice screeched on one of the notes and he muttered an expletive! The song finished in 4th place.
Song number 6 was written by Paul Curtis
Paul Curtis (musician)
Paul Michael Curtis is an English singer, songwriter, record producer from London, who holds the record for the most number of songs to make the finals of the A Song for Europe contest, the BBC's annual competition to choose the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, competing with 22 separate...
and Graham Sacher and performed by 19 year old Annabel
Annabel
Annabel is a female given name, a variant of Amabel probably influenced by Anna. It may also be also a combination of Anna and the French word Belle, which is sometimes used as a given name in the English language....
, who performed half the song sat on the floor. The song was called "Let me love you one more time" another slow love song and finished in 5th place.
Song number 7 was also written by Curtis and Sacher, performed by Kerri Wells, performing "Dancing in the night" alone on stage with off screen backing singers. It finished 2nd. It was an up tempo number.
Song number 8 was written by Mike Redway, who would team up with 29 year old Fiona Kennedy
Fiona Kennedy
Fiona Kennedy is a Scottish singer, actress and broadcaster, and the daughter of Scottish and Gaelic singers Calum Kennedy and Anne Gillies. As a child she appeared with her parents as they performed as a family, and this developed into a successful solo career.Kennedy has moved on to other areas...
, famous to Britain's kids as a presenter of BBC1's "Record Breakers", to sing "So do I", another ballad.
The UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
entered Vikki and "Love is" in the 1985 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
and it came in fourth place, gaining 100 points overall.
Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's Bobbysocks won with the fifties-influenced "Let it Swing".