United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1984

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Eurovision Song Contest 1984
Participating broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
National selection
Selection process A Song for Europe 1984
Selection date(s)4 April 1984
Selected artist(s) Belle and the Devotions
Selected song"Love Games"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result7th, 63 points
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄198319841985►

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 with the song "Love Games", written by Paul Curtis and Graham Sacher, and performed by Belle and the Devotions. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final.

Contents

Before Eurovision

A Song for Europe 1984

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used once again the television show A Song for Europe to select its entry, as it had since its debut at the contest in 1957.

The BBC held the national final on 4 April 1984 at Studio 1 of the BBC Television Centre in London, hosted once again by Terry Wogan. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of John Coleman as conductor accompanied all the songs, but all the music was pre-recorded. Of the entrants, songwriter Paul Curtis had no less than four of the eight entries (going on to take three of the top four places). The votes of eight regional juries based in Edinburgh, Norwich, Belfast, London, Cardiff, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham decided the winner. Each jury region awarded 15 points to their favourite song, 12 points to the second, 10 points to the third and then 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 points in order of preference for the songs from 4th to 8th. [1] In an plan to modernise the show, computer graphics where used for the first time during the voting.

Singers Sinitta and Hazell Dean would later go on to become successful chart acts - both under the producership of Stock Aitken Waterman. [2] The latter scoring her first top 10 hit just a few weeks after the contest. [3]

A Song for Europe 1984 4 April 1984 [4]
DrawArtistSongSongwriter(s)PointsPlace
1Caprice"Magical Music"Mike Finesilver606
2Nina Shaw"Look at Me Now"Jeremy Paul783
3Bryan Evans"This Love Is Deep"Steve Glen, Mike Burns, Nicky Chinn 538
4 Belle and the Devotions "Love Games" Paul Curtis, Graham Sacher1121
5First Division"Where the Action Is" Paul Curtis, Graham Sacher792
6Miriam Anne Lesley"Let It Shine" Paul Curtis 625
7 Sinitta "Imagination" Paul Curtis, Tony Hiller 774
8 Hazell Dean "Stay in My Life" Hazell Dean, Mike Bradley557
Detailed Jury Votes [4]
DrawSong
Edinburgh
Norwich
Belfast
London
Cardiff
Manchester
Bristol
Birmingham
Total
1"Magical Music"95785109760
2"Look at Me Now"8108915971278
3"This Love Is Deep"7696775653
4"Love Games"1515151510121515112
5"Where the Action Is"12861281581079
6"Let It Shine"107125956862
7"Imagination"612101012612977
8"Stay in My Life"59576810555
Jury Spokespersons [4]
JurySpokesperson
Edinburgh Ken Bruce
Norwich Judi Lines
Belfast Diane Harron
London Colin Berry
Cardiff Iwan Thomas
Manchester Alan Yardley
Bristol Vivien Creegor
Birmingham Paul Coia

UK Discography

  • Nina Shaw - Look At Me Now: Red Bus RBUS90.
  • Bryan Evans - This Love Is Deep: Charisma CB413.
  • Belle & The Devotions - Love Games: CBS A4332 (7" Single)/TA4332 (12" Single).
  • First Division - Where The Action Is: Panther PAN3.
  • Miriam Anne Lesley - Let It Shine: RCA RCA403.
  • Sinitta - Imagination: Magnet MAG258.
  • Hazell Dean - Stay In My Life: Proto ENA116.

At Eurovision

Belle & the Devotions were booed at the Contest partly as reaction after English football fans had run riot in Luxembourg a few months earlier, causing extensive damage to the city and by the Dutch delegation in protest that the three backing singers for the group who were in fact performing the song were never seen by the TV viewers (the BBC maintained that this was because one was pregnant) whereas the two members of the Devotions, Laura James and Linda Sofeld, were miming their vocals. Despite the reception, the group finished 7th with 63 points and reaching no.11 in the UK singles chart, the highest chart placing of any UK entry between 1983 and 1994. [5] Sweden ended up winning the competition with the song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley".

Terry Wogan once again provided the television commentary for BBC 1, for the second consecutive year Radio 2 opted not to broadcast the contest, however the contest was broadcast on British Forces Radio with commentary provided by Richard Nankivell. The BBC appointed again Colin Berry as its spokesperson to announce the results of the British jury.

Voting

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurovision Song Contest 1984</span> International song competition

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The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1973 with the song "Power to All Our Friends", written by Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett, and performed by Cliff Richard. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally. Richard had previously represented the United Kingdom in 1968.

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 with the song "Save Your Kisses For Me", written by Tony Hiller, Lee Sheriden, and Martin Lee, and performed by Brotherhood of Man. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final titled A Song for Europe 1976. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest.

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1977 with the song "Rock Bottom", written and performed by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, the BBC was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Wembley Conference Centre in London, after winning the previous edition with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man.

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song "Making Your Mind Up", composed by John Danter, with lyrics by Andy Hill, and performed by Bucks Fizz. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final titled A Song for Europe 1981. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest.

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 with the song "One Step Further", written by Simon Jefferis, and performed by the band Bardo. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, the BBC was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Harrogate International Centre in Harrogate, after winning the previous edition with the song "Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz.

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1983 with the song "I'm Never Giving Up", written by Ron Roker, Phil Wigger, and Jan Pulsford, and performed by the band Sweet Dreams. 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 1985 with the song "Love Is...", written by Jimmy Kaleth and Vikki Watson, and performed by Vikki herself. 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 1986 with the song "Runner in the Night", composed by Brian Wade, with lyrics by Maureen Darbyshire, and performed by the group Ryder. 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 1988 with the song "Go", written by Julie Forsyth, and performed by Scott Fitzgerald. 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 1991 with the song "A Message to Your Heart", written by Paul Curtis, and performed by Samantha Janus. 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 1993 with the song "Better the Devil You Know", written by Brian Teasdale and Dean Collinson, and performed by Sonia. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally.

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 with the song "Lonely Symphony ", written by George De Angelis and Mark Dean, and performed by Frances Ruffelle. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final, after having previously selected the performer internally.

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with the song "Where Are You?", written by Scott English, Phil Manikiza, and Simon Stirling, and performed by Imaani. In addition, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on 9 May 1998 after it won the competition in 1997 with the song "Love Shine a Light" performed by Katrina and the Waves. The BBC organised a public selection to select its entry for the contest, The Great British Song Contest 1998. Eight songs competed over two rounds, with four songs selected through a radio-broadcast semi-final advancing to the televised final round, held on 15 March 1998, where viewers selected the winning entry through televoting. Imaani received the most votes and was selected to represent the UK in the contest with the song "Where Are You?". She performed 16th at the international contest, and at the close of the voting process the UK finished in second place with 166 points, the nation's 15th second-place finish since its debut.

The United Kingdom competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, held on 29 May 1999 at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem, Israel. 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. Girl group Precious received the most votes and were selected to represent the nation in the contest with the song "Say It Again".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest</span> BBC TV show

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley</span> 1984 song by Herreys

"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.

Belle and the Devotions were a British pop group, ostensibly a group named after the singer Kit Rolfe. Under this name, she released the singles "Where Did Love Go Wrong?" and "Got to Let You Know" in 1983.

Sweden was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 with the song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley", composed by Torgny Söderberg, with lyrics by Britt Lindeborg, and performed by Herreys. The Swedish participating broadcaster, Sveriges Television (SVT), selected its entry through Melodifestivalen 1984. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest.

Paul Michael Curtis is an English singer, songwriter, record producer from London, who holds the record for the highest number of songs to make the finals of the A Song for Europe contest, the BBC's annual competition to choose the UK's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, competing with 22 separate songs from 1975 to 1992.

References

  1. Songs4europe - 1984 Song for Europe
  2. Official Charts Company - Sinitta(Link redirected to OCC website)
  3. Official Charts Company - Hazell Dean(Link redirected to OCC website)
  4. 1 2 3 Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 181–198. ISBN   978-1-84583-118-9.
  5. "Final of Luxembourg 1984". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Results of the Final of Luxembourg 1984". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.