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 UK History 50s - 70s |
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50s...
The Eurovision Song Contest began in 1956 with only seven entrants - hard to imagine compared to the 26 now - but the UK wasn't among them. It was the following year that the UK made its Eurovision debut with plucky Patricia Bredin singing 'All', a song that lasted less than two mintues, and came seventh… out of ten. The UK didn't compete the following year but was back in 1959 with Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson's 'Sing Little Birdie' which came second (a position that we've found regularly over the decades!). Keeping it in the family, a year later Teddy's brother Bryan Johnson performed 'Looking High High High' in London - the first time that the contest had come to our shores. He also came second.
60s…
In 1961 The Allisons, Britain's answer to the Everly Brothers, took the UK into second place again, out of 16 nations taking part in Cannes. Then came a two year sting by Millicent Martin's husband, Ronald Cleghorn, better known as Ronnie Carroll, who came fourth both times. For the next two years it seemed as though the UK was destined never to win as Matt Monro and Kathy Kirby both brought us second. In 1966 a kilted Kenneth McKellar fell to ninth place, but triumph came the following year when Sandie Shaw's barefoot rendition of 'Puppet On A String' gave the UK its first victory. Cliff Richard sang 'Congratulations' in 1968, but it was too soon to be celebrating as he missed the top spot by one point. The UK rounded off the decade on a high though, when Lulu Boom Bang A Banged her way to the top in 1969, although the glory was shared with three other countries in a four-way tie.
70s…
Mary Hopkin, Clodagh Rogers and The New Seekers all sang their socks off in the first three years of the 70s but second place was the best we could manage. In 1973 Cliff Richard returned to the contest singing 'Power To All Our Friends' but this time got third place. A year later in Brighton, hosted by Katie Boyle, Olivia Newton-John struggled into fourth with 'Long Live Love', and in 1975, not Cliff this time but The Shadows sang 'Let Me Be The One' - 'no' unfortunately was the answer as they came second. However, in 1976 the UK recorded a third Eurovision victory with Brotherhood Of Man's chart-topping 'Save Your Kisses For Me' - who can forget the fancy footwork! In 1977 Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran avoided 'Rock Bottom', finishing second instead, and in 1979 Black Lace (yes THE Black Lace!) launched their career with the seventh-placed 'Mary Ann'.
Read about the 80s through to 2001 >> |
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History
