Yesterday Once More

22 Nov 2016

Eurovision Hits

Hi Listeners

This week’s program presents songs which were entered into the Eurovision contest and were later released as singles. Each song achieved some international success on the charts.

The most remarkable Eurovision story is that of ‘Volare’, written and performed by Italian singer, Domenico Modugno. The song finished third in the 1958 Eurovision contest, was released as a single and became an international hit selling more than 22 million copies worldwide. Even more remarkable was the fact that it was sung and released by Modugno in the original Italian language (although English versions appeared later). Another successful Eurovision hit was ABBA’s ‘Waterloo’. Their distinctive sound won the 1974 Eurovision contest and the song went on to become their first big hit, making the Top Ten in the USA. In the same year, Olivia Newton-John, representing the UK, sang ‘Long Live Love’.
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In 1970 the UK representative ‘Knock Knock Who’s There’ sung by Mary Hopkin came second in the Eurovision contest. In Australia, it became a hit for Liv Maesson. Another foreign language song ‘Apres Troi’ from Greek singer. Vicky Leandros representing Luxembourg in 1972, was translated into English and re-named ‘Come What May’. It scored international success for Vicky Leandros who also sang it in English.

Vicky Leandros also entered Eurovision with ‘L’Amour Est Blue’ (Love Is Blue) in 1967. The song was re-arranged as an instrumental by band Leader, Paul Mauriat and became a huge international hit for him. Other popular songs from Eurovision were Cliff Richard’s ‘Congratulations’, The New Seekers ‘Beg Steal or Borrow’, Brotherhood Of Man’s ‘Save Your Kisses For Me’ and Sandie Shaw’s ‘Puppet On A String’.

Playlist

* Making Your Mind Up – Bucks Fizz
* All Kinds Of Everything – Dana
* Save Your Kisses For Me – Brotherhood Of Man
* Come What May – Vicky Leandros
* Love Is Blue – Paul Mauriat Orch
* Volare – Domenico Modugno
* Beg Steal or Borrow – New Seekers
* Waterloo – ABBA
^ Congratulations – Cliff Richard
* Long Live Love – Olivia Newton- John
* Puppet On A string – Sandie Shaw
* Knock KNock Who’s There – Liv Maesson