29 Mar 2012

Musings – Legacy under strange circumstances

Musings, Uncategorized

“Dansevise” sung by Grethe and Jørgen Ingmann won the Eurovision in 1963 under controversial circumstances.

There were “technical” issues in calling up the Norwegian jury as the Danes & Swiss jostled for top spot.

BBC presenter Katie Boyle said she couldn’t hear the votes properly, so she would return to Oslo.

The confusion was partly because Norway had a jury that was too big (20 members not the EBU stipulated 10) and, as a result, Oslo was in uproar when called to declare its votes.

When Norway came back, lo & behold, the number of votes for Denmark from its near neighbours was four rather than the original two announced. 

And the Swiss, imagine their surprise, got one vote when originally Oslo had given them three.

The switcheroo that stuck in the Swiss craw.

It meant a win for the bewitching “Dansevise” and nowt for “T’en va pas” sung by Israeli Ester Ofarim.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUxdyl2rE7I]

To some, the legacy “Dansevise” is forever tarnished, but for mine it is one of the best of the winners of the ESC’s first quarter century.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnxLqOGzCV8]

The second winner of the Grand Prix, Corry Brokken, chose to give it her own special treatment.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtTCdCX9jIQ]

Its longevity is for all to see and hear almost four decades after its win. 

Dame Birthe Kjaer performed it at a Danish music festival and the crowd was right on board with the lyrics.

They hadn’t forgotten.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDYGdqBHlHg]

And to demonstrate its robust nature, here is Danmarks Radio’s Melodi Grand Prix Kor giving “Dansevise” the choral once over.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Eppi1-kPo]

And, the Norwegians still like it …

Here Sissel Kyrkjebø takes it on.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3cUQlgmLb0]

It’s another occasion when Eurovision has taken us on a merry dance.

But what if those technical difficulties had never happened ?

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