"Bad Old Days" | |
---|---|
Eurovision Song Contest 1978 entry | |
Country | |
Artist(s) |
|
As | |
Language | English |
Composer(s) |
|
Lyricist(s) |
|
Conductor | |
Finals performance | |
Final result | 11th |
Final points | 61 |
Entry chronology | |
◄ "Rock Bottom" (1977) | |
"Mary Ann" (1979) ► |
"Bad Old Days" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed in English by Co-Co.
The song, written by Stephanie de Sykes and Stuart Slater was an uptempo love song, with the narrator recalling the 'bad old days' before they met their current partner. [1]
On the night of the final, 22 April, the song was performed eighth, following Spain's José Vélez with "Bailemos un vals" and preceding Switzerland's Carole Vinci with "Vivre". At the close of voting, it had received 61 points, placing 11th in a field of 20. [2]
At the time, this was the worst showing yet for the UK in Eurovision, lower than the 9th place in 1966 which until 1978 had held the dubious distinction. "Bad Old Days" held the ignominious title until 1987, when the UK finished 13th. Of all the UK entries submitted from 1975-1993, this was the only UK song that did not receive either a 12 or a 10 point score at least once in the voting sequence. The highest score awarded to "Bad Old Days" was 8 points from Germany.
"Bad Old Days" was succeeded as British representative at the 1979 contest by Black Lace with "Mary Ann".
The single reached No.13 in the UK during a seven-week chart run. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at no.39 for the week the contest was staged. In the following week, it rose rapidly to no.16. Its eventual peak of 13 occurred three weeks after their failure in the contest. [3] It was to be the group's only hit.
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Singles Official Charts Company [4] | 13 |
The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 with the song "The Bad Old Days", written by Stephanie de Sykes and Stuart Slater, and performed by the band Co-Co. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final.
The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 with the song "Say It Again", written by Paul Varney, and performed by the group Precious. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), organised a public selection process to determine its entry for the contest, The Great British Song Contest 1999. Eight songs competed over two rounds, with four songs selected through a radio-broadcast semi-final to advance to the televised final round, held on 7 March 1999, where viewers selected the winning entry through televoting. "Say It Again" performed by girl group Precious received the most votes and was selected to represent the nation in the contest.
"Love Shine a Light" is a song by British rock band Katrina and the Waves written by Kimberley Rew. It represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 held in Dublin, resulting in the country's fifth and most recent win at the contest. It was released as a single on 28 April 1997 and later included on the band's ninth studio album, Walk on Water (1997), serving as the album's lead single.
Eurovision: You Decide is the most recent name of a BBC television programme that was broadcast annually to select the United Kingdom's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The show had previously gone under several other names, including Festival of British Popular Songs (1957), Eurovision Song Contest British Final (1959–1960), The Great British Song Contest (1996–1999), Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up (2004–2007), Eurovision: Your Decision (2008), and Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (2009–2010), but was known, for most of its history, as A Song for Europe.
"Teenage Life" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, which was sung by Daz Sampson in English.
"Boom Bang-a-Bang" is a song recorded by Scottish singer Lulu, with music composed by Alan Moorhouse and lyrics by Peter Warne. It represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1969, held in Madrid, and became one of the four winning songs. It made No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and was a major hit throughout Europe.
"Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" is a song recorded by Swedish trio Herreys –brothers Per, Louis, and Richard Herrey–, with music composed by Torgny Söderberg and Swedish lyrics written by Britt Lindeborg. It was produced by Anders Engberg and Torgny Söderberg. It represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1984, held in Luxembourg, winning the contest.
"A-Ba-Ni-Bi" is a song recorded by Israeli group Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, with music composed by Nurit Hirsh and Hebrew lyrics written by Ehud Manor. It represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 held in Paris, winning the contest.
"Non ho l'età ", usually given as just "Non ho l'età" is a song recorded by Italian singer Gigliola Cinquetti, with music composed by Mario Panzeri and lyrics by Nicola Salerno. It represented Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 1964, held in Copenhagen, winning the contest, having previously won that year's Sanremo Music Festival.
"Un banc, un arbre, une rue" is a song recorded by French singer Séverine, with music composed by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre and French lyrics written by Yves Dessca. It represented Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest 1971 held in Dublin, resulting in the country's only ever win in the contest.
"Après toi" is a song recorded by Greek singer Vicky Leandros, with music composed by her father Leo Leandros under his pseudonym Mario Panas, and German composer Klaus Munro, with French lyrics by Yves Dessca. It represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 held in Edinburgh, winning the contest.
"Save Your Kisses for Me" is a song recorded by British group Brotherhood of Man, written by Tony Hiller with band members Lee Sheriden and Martin Lee. It represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 held in The Hague, winning the contest.
"Parlez-vous français ?" is a song recorded by Spanish disco duo Baccara –Mayte Mateos and María Mendiola–, with music composed by Rolf Soja and lyrics written by Frank Dostal and Peter Zentner. It represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, held in Paris.
Prima Donna were the United Kingdom representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980. The group comprised sisters Kate and Jane Robbins, Sally Ann Triplett, Danny Finn, Alan Coates and Lance Aston. Finn was a former member of The New Seekers and was married to fellow ex-New Seeker Eve Graham. Robbins later embarked on a successful career as a comedian, impressionist and actress.
"Why Do I Always Get it Wrong?", written and composed by Brian Hodgson and John Beeby, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1989, performed by the sextet Live Report, led by Ray Caruana.
"A Message to Your Heart", written and composed by Paul Curtis, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1991, performed by singer and actress Samantha Janus. The song finished in 10th place with 47 points. Paul Curtis had also penned the previous year's entry, "Give a Little Love Back to the World".
"One Step Out of Time", written and composed by Paul Davies, Tony Ryan, and Victor Stratton, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1992, performed by Michael Ball.
"Mary Ann" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, performed in English by Black Lace.
"Rock Bottom" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in English by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran. It was also written and produced by de Paul and Moran and released on the Polydor record label. Originally it was written for the group Blue Mink; and submitted unbeknown to de Paul and Moran as an entry for A Song For Europe by the publishers; when it was selected, de Paul agreed to perform the song if Moran would join her. On 9 March 1977, "Rock Bottom" was selected to represent the UK at the A Song for Europe 1977 event held at the New London Theatre, presented by Terry Wogan.
The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy. British singer-songwriter Sam Ryder represented the country with his song "Space Man", which he co-wrote with Max Wolfgang and Amy Wadge. He was selected as the 2022 UK entrant by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in collaboration with record label TaP Music and their management company.