So, You're a Star? Funny Eurovision Trivia
Eurovision Protests - Italy boycotted the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, saying that it was too old fashioned,
while the following year France ducked out saying that the cost was too great for such mediocre results.
Meaningful lyrics - Some of the most popular entries to the Eurovision Song Contest have included wonderful
titles like, 'Boom Bang-aBang' (UK, 1969), 'A-Ba-Ni-Ba' (Israel, 1978), 'Bana Bana' (Turkey, 1989) and 'Bourn Badaborun' (Monaco,
1967).
Lucky Old Norway - In the 1978 competition,
Norway became the first country to not receive a single vote for their entry, 'Mil Etter Mil' (Mile after Mile).
Inspired words - 1983 Turkish Eurovision entry, 'Opera' consisted entirely of the word 'Opera' being repeated
over and over while Spain's cleverly titled, 'La La La' contained no fewer than 138 la's.
Jury tampering - In the 1968 event Britain complained that Spain had not voted for their entry (Cliff
Richard's 'Congratulations') to make it lose. In 1966 Scandinavians Sweden & Norway, who finished second &
third respectively, were accused of 'teaming up' to help each other.
Social Commentary - Norway entered the 1980 competition with a song written about the construction of a
hydro-electric power station. Finland, not to be outdone by their Scandinavian neighbours who scored 'nul points' in the 1982
competition with a song protesting about the building of a nuclear power station.
Youngsters win votes - The youngest ever winner of the Eurovision Song Contest was 13 year old Sandra Kin from
Belgium in 1986. A natural result of this was that contestants started to get younger until a furore occurred in 1989 with
France's 11 year old and Israel's 12 year old entries.
And unfortunately, My Lovely Horse never made it as an Irish Entry for Eurosong.