ABU Popular Song Contest

ABU Popular Song Contest
Genre	Music competition
Based on	Eurovision Song Contest by the European Broadcasting Union
Production
Production company	Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
Original release
Release	12 October 1985 (1985-10-12) – 26 September 1987 (1987-09-26)
Related
ABU Song Festivals, ABU Radio Song Festival, ABU TV Song Festival

The ABU Popular Song Contest (also known as the Asia Broadcasting Union Song Contest) was a competitive song contest created by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) based on the Eurovision Song Contest. It ran for three editions from 1985 to 1987. ^[1]

Background and development

Prior to the ABU Popular Song Contest, there was the short-lived, Pacific Song Festival. In 1979, there were seven entries, one each from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Philippines with New Zealand winning with the song "Nothing but Dreams", written by Carl Doy and performed by Tina Cross. ^[2]

In 1980, Cross entered again for New Zealand, coming second with the song "Once Again With You". Australia came first. ^[3]

Editions

1985

• Date: 12 October 1985 ^[1]
• Location: Singapore ^[1]
• Hosts: Naseer Kamaruddin and Jenny Teo ^[1]

Participants: ^[1]

1.   Fiji – Danny Costello
2.   Australia – Robby Krupsi
3.   Turkey – Ahmet Ozhan
4.   Thailand – Anchalee Chong Khadikij
5.   Indonesia – Vina Panduwinata "Burung Camar" ("Seagull")
6.   Hong Kong – Danny Summer
7.   Pakistan – Muhammad Ali Shehki & Allan Faoeer
8.   Philippines – Ivy Violand
9.   New Zealand – Rob Winch
10.   Brunei – Johari Hj Omar
11.   India – K. P. Udayabhanu
12.   Singapore – Peter Chua
13.   South Korea – Chung Eun Sook & Koo Chang Mo
14.   Japan – Hiromi Iwasaki
15.   Malaysia – Sudirman Hj Arshad – "Pesta Dunia"

1986

• Date: 1986
• Location: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, New Zealand ^[4]
• Debuting Counties:   Sri Lanka
• Winner:   New Zealand ^[4]

Participants:

1.   Singapore – Kay Hamid
2.   Japan – Yoshie
3.   Brunei – Salmaya Hj.Hussein
4.   Hong Kong – Anthony Lun
5.   Australia – Andrea Lee & Michael
6.   Fiji – Daniel Res Stello
7.   Sri Lanka – Ivod Dennis & Angelina
8.   Malaysia – Kathijah Ibrahim
9.   Indonesia – Diana Nasution & Melke Goeslkow
10.   South Korea – Choi Jin Hee
11.   New Zealand – Bunny Walters – "Taken By Love"

1987

• Date: 26 September 1987 ^[5]
• Location: Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ^[5]
• Winner:   Australia. First prize was trophy and $10,000AUD. ^[5]

Participants:

1.   South Korea – Chang Deok – "Dang sin eul ki da lil li" (I Will Wait for You)
2.   Australia – Catherine Ceberano – "Time Can't Keep Us Apart" (Allan Zavod)– 1st ^[5]
3.   Indonesia – Elfa's Singers – "Pesta" (Party)
4.   Hong Kong – Blue Jeans – "No Such Reason”"
5.   New Zealand – Annie Crummer – "It's That What Friends Are For" (Geoff Cavander) – 3rd ^[5]
6.   Philippines – Dulce – "Langit" (Heaven) – 2nd ^[5]
7.   Japan – Miyuku Utsumi – "Kokuhaku" (My Truth)
8.   Singapore – Robert Fernando – "Back in Love Again"
9.   Malaysia – Francissa Peter & William Clark – "Cinta Abadi"
10.   Brunei – Joffry & Norhayati – "Kedamaian" (Peace and Quiet)

References

1. "ABU Popular Song Contest". Euroviox. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
2. "PACIFIC SONG CONTEST 1979". Ngatonga. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
3. "Tine Cross". Audio Culture. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
4. "The kid from Katikati, singer Bunny Walters". Stuff. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
5. "Representing Australia". 1987. Retrieved 1 January 2025.