#BIRTHDAY: Bill van Dijk from the Netherlands is 73 today As we know, next year’s contest – a riotous cavalcade of quality song if ever there was one – will be in the Netherlands. The Dutch have been at all-but-four of the contests, so are firmly in love […]
#BIRTHDAY: Karmen Stavec from Slovenia is 47 today Do you wonder why some songs change the language they’re sing in between the selection and the contest? It could be because of the worry that a language might not sound right to a wider audience. It can sometimes work, […]
#BIRTHDAY: Gigliola Cinquetti from Italy is 73 today Our friends in Italy are an interesting case study. Their relationship with the Eurovision Song Contest seems more love/hate than most. And there’s a school of thought that thinks RAI could win any time they want to. They have had […]
#BIRTHDAY: Mihai Trăistariu from Romania is 41 today Some countries have flirted with that first win, but it’s never actually happened. But as we often say, past form is no guide to future form. In the early part of the 21st Century, it looked like Romania could achieve […]
#BIRTHDAY: Gromee from Poland is 42 today Our friends in Poland ‘get’ the Junior version of our favourite TV show. Back-to-back wins are testament to that. But the big one is a different kettle of fish. As you’ll know, Poland started its Eurovision story with a runner-up spot. […]
#BIRTHDAY: Ulla Wiesner from Germany is 80 today All countries have good times and bad times at our favourite TV show. Those that were doing well in the 1990s might be having it less good today. And good form and become less good form very easily. Our friends […]
#BIRTHDAY: Franca di Rienzo is 82 today What do you do if your country doesn’t pick you to represent them at our favourite TV show? You find someone else who will. It helps if you can sing in a selection of languages too. Today’s birthday girl Franca di […]
BIRTHDAY: Ellen Nikolaysen from Norway is 69 today In the 1970s, for a few short years, a repertory company had things sewn up for Norway. Think of Thomas G:son of their day and you’ll get the idea. This ‘company’ included today’s birthday girl Ellen Helen Nikolaysen. In 1973 […]
#BIRTHDAY: Lasse Holm from Sweden is 77 today Long before a certain Thomas G:son among others, Sweden (remember them?) had a number of people who could turn out Eurovision entries quicker than you can list your favourite song(s) by Carola. Since 1978, Melodifestivalen has been the occasional haunt […]
BIRTHDAY: Charlie McGettigan from Ireland is 70 today As you’ll know, unless you’ve been living in a crater on Mars, Ireland has won our favourite TV show seven times. That’s more than any other country taking part. Yep, even more than [insert country here]. One of those seven […]