The Eurovision Song Contest: The UK Entries

UK commentator, Terry Wogan, hints at the United Kingdom pulling out of the Eurovision Song Contest, along with other Western European countries, due to blatant friendly and political voting by the former Eastern Bloc nations.

The UK did not participate in the Song Contests of 1956 and 1958, so here are its entries for 1957 and 1959.

1957: All - performed by Patricia Bredin. Final Position 7th.

1959: Sing Little Birdie - performed by Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson. Final position 2nd.

The decade in which the United Kingdom won the Contest on two occasions (1967 and 1969), and perhaps should have won more.

Some big names of the day took part in the Contest (Cliff Richard, Kathy Kirby, Sandie Shaw and Lulu), giving the extravaganza some level of respectability and acceptability.

1960: Looking High, High, High - Bryan Johnson. Final position: 2nd
1961: Are You Sure? - The Allisons. Final position: 2nd
1962: Ring-a-Ding Girl - Ronnie Carroll. Final position: 4th
1963: Say Wonderful Things - Ronnie Carroll. Final position: 4th
1964: I Love the Little Things - Matt Monroe. Final position: 2nd
1965: I Belong - Kathy Kirby. Final position: 2nd
1966: A Man Without Love - Kenneth McKellar. Final position: 9th
1967: Puppet on a String - Sandie Shaw. Final position: 1st (Winner)
1968: Congratulations - Cliff Richard. Final position: 2nd
1969: Boom-Bang-A-Bang - Lulu. Final position: 1st (Winner)

A great decade for the UK - eight Top 4 placings. Perhaps Co-Co should have placed higher, but Black Lace was instantly forgettable...the video for this song is truly awful, perhaps a little worse than the song.

1970: Knock, Knock, Who's There? performed by Mary Hopkin. Final position: 2nd.
1971: Jack in the Box performed by Clodagh Rogers. Final position: 4th.
1972: Beg, Steal or Borrow performed by The New Seekers. Final position: 2nd.
1973: Power To All Our Friends performed by Cliff Richard. Final position: 3rd.
1974: Long Live Love performed by Olivia Newton-John. Final position: 4th.
1975: Let Me Be the One performed by The Shadows. Final position: 2nd.
1976: Save Your Kisses for Me performed by Brotherhood of Man. Final position: 1st (Winner).
1977: Rock Bottom performed by Lynsey de Paul & Mike Moran. Final position: 2nd.
1978: Bad Old Days performed by Co-Co. Final position: 11th.
1979: Mary Ann performed by Black Lace. Final position: 7th.

The 80s was, perhaps, not the best era for UK entries, but we managed a winning song in 1981 with Bucks Fizz (who had to overcome stiff competition in the UK heats from second placed band, Liquid Gold, with their entry for the Contest, "Don't Panic"), as well as two second places in 1988 and 1989.

1980: Love Enough for Two performed by Prima Donna. Final position: 3rd.
1981: Making Your Mind Up performed by Buck's Fizz. Final position: 1st (Winner).
1982: One Step Further performed by Bardo. Final position: 7th.
1983: I'm Never Giving Up performed by Sweet Dreams. Final position: 6th.
1984: Love Games performed by Belle & the Devotions. Final position: 7th.
1985: Love Is performed by Vikki. Final position: 4th.
1986: Runner in the Night performed by Ryder. Final position: 7th.
1987: Only the Night performed by Rikki. Final position: 13th.
1988: Go performed by Scott Fitzgerald. Final position: 2nd.

Perhaps one of the best UK entries to not have won.

Why Do I Always Get It Wrong? performed by Live Report.

Three second place songs and a winner in 1997 add up to a good decade for the UK.

The international hit by Gina G. surprisingly only managed eighth place. Go figure!

1990: Give a Little Love Back performed by Emma. Final position: 6th.
1991: A Message to Your Heart performed by Samantha Janus. Final position: 10th.
1992: One Step Out of Time performed by Michael Ball. Final position: 2nd.
1993: Better the Devil You Know performed by Sonia. Final position: 2nd.
1994: Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free) performed by Frances Ruffelle. Final position: 10th.
1995: Love City Groove performed by Love City Groove. Final position: 10th.
1996: Ooh Ah, Just a Little Bit performed by Gina G. Final position: 8th.
1997: Love, Shine a Light performed by Katrina and the Waves. Final position: 1st (Winner).
1998: Where are You? performed by Imaani. Final position: 2nd.

1999: Say it Again performed by Precious. Final position: 12th.

The United Kingdom has pretty much given up on winning the Contest in the past few years. It has become very political...and the entries reflect how seriously it is now taken in the UK.

Here's the proof...

2000: Don't Play That Song Again performed by Niki French. Final position: 16th.
2001: No Dream Impossible performed by Lindsay Dracass. Final position 15th.
2002: Come Back performed by Jessica Garlick. Final position: 3rd.
2003: Cry Baby performed by Jemini. Final position: 26th (Last with zero points awarded).
2004: Hold On To Our Love performed by James Fox. Final position: 16th.
2005: Touch My Fire performed by Javine. Final position: 22nd.
2006: Teenage Life performed by Daz Sampson. Final position: 19th.
2007: Flying the Flag (For You) performed by Scooch. Final position: 22nd.
2008: Even If performed by Andy Abraham. Final position: 25th (last).

Jade, 21, was chosen as the UK's entry for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest, after winning a live public vote on BBC television, following her performance during the national final: "Eurovision: Your Country Needs You".

The song, "It's My Time", has been composed and written by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren, and Lloyd Webber intends to accomapany Jade on piano at the Contest.

The 2009 Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Moscow on 16 May, 2009 and will feature 43 countries.

Jade gives an interview in Athens after winning the 2009 United Kingdom ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest.