The final selection of the entry for the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990 was made by popular vote from a choice of eight songs. The 1990 edition of 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...

 was held in London on March 30. 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...

 presided over the eight finalists and a panel of 'experts' was assembled to comment on each of the entries. The panel was composed of Gloria Hunniford

Gloria Hunniford

Gloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...

, Tim Rice

Tim Rice

Sir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice is an British lyricist and author.An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus...

, Cathy McGowan

Cathy McGowan

Cathy McGowan is a British broadcaster and journalist, presenter from 1964-6 of Rediffusion television’s rock music show, Ready Steady Go!-Ready Steady Go!:...

 and Gary Davies

Gary Davies

Gary Davies is a British broadcaster. During the 1980s and 1990s he was a BBC Radio 1 disc jockey and also a regular presenter of Top of the Pops.-Early career:...

.

The Songs

Opening the contest was Kelly with a power ballad called "Better Be Good to Me". At the time, Kelly Wilde was an established act on the gay circuit.

The second entry was a big show ballad, "That Old Feeling Again" performed by Stephen Lee Garden and composed by former UK entrant Mike Moran.

Thom Hardwell was the singer and composer of the uptempo "Never Give Up", a song which received unfavourable comments from panelist Cathy McGowan

Cathy McGowan

Cathy McGowan is a British broadcaster and journalist, presenter from 1964-6 of Rediffusion television’s rock music show, Ready Steady Go!-Ready Steady Go!:...

.

Composer 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...

, a familiar contest figure between 1975 and 1986, returned to the national final with "Give a Little Love Back to the World

Give a Little Love Back to the World

"Give a Little Love Back to the World", written and composed by Paul Curtis, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1990, performed by Emma...

". The performer of this anthemic number was 15-year-old Emma

Emma (singer)

Emma is a Welsh singer who sang the UK entry, "Give a Little Love Back to the World", in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990....

 from Bridgend

Bridgend

Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...

.

Perhaps the best-known competitor in 1990 was former Bay City Rollers

Bay City Rollers

The Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the 1970s. The British Hit Singles & Albums noted that they were "tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh", and were "the first of many acts heralded as the 'Biggest Group since The Beatles' and one of the most screamed-at...

 frontman Les McKeown

Les McKeown

Leslie Richard McKeown is a pop singer. He was the lead singer for the 1970s pop sensation the Bay City Rollers during their most successful period.-Biography:...

. His entry was a standard middle-of-the-road rock ballad called "Ball and Chain".

Jewish cantor Simon Spiro sang the ballad "Face in the Crowd".

Kim Goody

Kim Goody

Kim Goody , is an English actress, composer, singer and song writer.She has starred in television shows such as Play Away and No. 73. She wrote the music for The Magic House and the 1994 revival of Rainbow with her husband Alan Coates...

 was a familiar face on children's television in the seventies and eighties. In the national final she sang the nostalgic ballad "Sentimental Again".

Finally, another name from the 1970s, John Miles

John Miles (musician)

John Miles is an English rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, best known for his 1976 Top 3 UK hit single, "Music".-Career:...

. He performed another anthemic effort, "Where I Belong, accompanying himself at the piano.

The Voting

As in previous years, a national telephone vote decided the outcome of the contest. Emma won with a runaway 97,625 over John Miles who polled 38,966. Kim Goody came a distant third with 17,986 followed by Les McKeown with 15,171. Fifth place was awarded to Stephen Lee garden who scored 14,447 above sixth placed Kelly who received 13,179 votes. The bottom two acts were Simon Spiro with 5,551 and Thom Hardwell with 3,540.

Eurovision Song Contest 1990

The final was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on May 5. Emma was supported by several backing singers including Miriam Stockley

Miriam Stockley

Miriam Stockley is a British singer. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and her work is influenced by the African music in her home country. Her unique vocalese style gained international acclaim when Karl Jenkins' launched the "Adiemus" project with "Songs of Sanctuary", featuring...

. Despite being one of the favourites to win, "Give a Little Love Back to the World

Give a Little Love Back to the World

"Give a Little Love Back to the World", written and composed by Paul Curtis, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1990, performed by Emma...

" only received 87 points and 6th place.