For continental readers who may not be aware of the event - 'The Eurovision Song Contest' takes place in Moscow this weekend. It's an annual jamboree of performers and composers from most European nations (including Russia and Israel!?) competing to win this annual pageant of popular song - where highlights traditionally include..
Norway scoring 'Nil Points'
Britain's entry being harmless but hopeless
Someone with a moustache (male or female) pulling a pained face for the duration of some gabbled ballad
An act (usu:Scandanavian) of hi-randomness
It's an occasion with a history of hammy-camp and candyfloss, that's become diluted down to a parade of same-sounding, over-glossed production line pop. It wasn't always this way. Abba are probably Eurovision's most perfect-pop offspring.
So what's the point of my ramblings? Well simply - they don't write Eurovision winners like they used to (and if we're honest the didn't write many of them back then either), however here's a handful of songs that to these ears would have made pitch perfect 'A Song For Europe' entries (circa sometime in the seventies).
Sharon Tandy - Two Can Make It Together
Sounding like the sort of song accompanied by a Young Generation style duo vamping a hand-holding, wide-eyed, heavy-headed nodding routine - think: the blonde half of Guys and Dolls.
The Playthings - Stop What You're Doing
A Cheeky soul shuffler that would have to be sung by a girl with auburn Farah Fawcett flicks, wearing some sort of ripply-chiffon evening dress (perhaps red), and holding one of those mic's that looked like silver sponge finger - think:Tina Charles meets Baccara.
Barbara Jean English - I'm Living A Lie
Uptempo, pacy and anthemic - isn't that the template for a successful Eurovish sound. Should be sung by someone with a souly-but-sober look - think:Helen Shapiro meets Helen Reddy.
17 comments:
Very catchy tunes PM!
I wasn’t going to watch Eurovision this year; but maybe I will now just for the fun of it...?
Davy over at TGOE has posted an international lung buster of entry for this year comp - s'well worth a peep
I picked up Germany's 1966 winner last weekend hoping for Euro gold I'm not so sure :( 'fraid not big on ESC chez BLTP we use try to eat selected cured meats and beer from the competing countries but the music is now dreadful (but not in good way) the voting tedious. But anyway each there own it's not anything important so everyone have fun and see if you can find some Estonia salami!
I've always heard of Eurovision. Being an American back here at home, I've never seen it at all though.
Like that Playthings song alot. I will be watching on Saturday night of course. Not sure why exactly, but I will...
PS Just back from Spitalfields Record Fair, having narrowly avoided buying a Leonard Nimoy LP.
BL/Cocktails I think only I've watched Eurovision twice since the late seventies. It's like watching Miss World - fun in theory, but in excruciating in practice..
It's a toss up between giving The Playthings and Sharon Tandy my vote.
PS - wot no Spock?? Did you bag anything though cocktails?
Keith - highlights are available on youtube , but be warned there have been some truly dreadful entries like...
'L-imħabba' - Helen & Joseph
Or
De oude muzikant- Ben Cramer
No, I was on my best behaviour today. Although I did see a fab record of 'the sounds of London' from the early 60s. Buying records of sound effects is the beginning of the end though.
Or you know you've got it bad when you see a classic album you've already got at a mad price - say, Lou Reed's 'Transformer' £2.99, so buy another copy and justify with something like 'always useful for the car'
Piley's the worst he had mulitple copies of Tainted Love can't remember why though..
PS there's an album of all the Hanna Barbera fx well worth grabbing, and Star Trek too if you're tempted.
We don't really get the Eurovisions here but I love the idea of it... extreme 'American Idol' it sounds like? :)
My favorite of your post is 'I'm Living A Lie' by Barbara Jean English. So disco. I'm a sucker for disco on a Friday morning!
Have a lovely weekend dear Mondo!xo
will be givin it the traditional 'wide berth' here at Piley Towers... the beeb can hype it up as much as they like, it's still dull as ditchwater!
P
I'm Living A Lie is mighty tune - I'll be posting something else from Sharon Tandy next week Gabbi, so check back for that...
I think 82 was the last one I saw P. when some folkstrel called Nicole won it - given it the widest of swerves ever since...
heyy, thank you for sending me the link to "curly" - i'm enjoying it soo much.
glad youre digging my site, i'm diggin yours!
Glad it's rocking your boots Molly..and how wrong was I with my prediction of..'Norway scoring 'Nil Points'
They only won the blooming thing....
Didn't watch it - I was out thank God. My daughter and neice stayed up... but the world is not right is it... Norway won... yes won not one! And we came 5th - I thought the new tradition was we came last as everyone in Eurovision land hates the Brits now we've given them football violence and 18-30 holiday makers.
Wow! Your blog is amazing! :) Must come back for a more detailed look!
I can't take the voting it's agony isn't it F-Ron, sort of like watching the stage hands slowly clear away the sets when the panto's finished..
Bless you Sam you're too kind - love the fab photography on your blog..
damn that playthings number is fine fine fine - is it too late to vote ?
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