Destiny's similar way
European Broadcasting Union triumphed as much as Abba in historic 1974 song contest
EVEN before it became one of the world’s television megashows, the Eurovision Song Contest had a reputation – in the UK if nowhere else – for schmaltz.
This weekend’s 50th anniversary of Abba’s bravado in Brighton on Saturday April 6, 1974 – for it was there in the regency resort on England’s south coast – that Waterloo saw not defeat for France or victory for Britain but success for Sweden.
While French emperor Napoleon may have been defeated and captured at the battle in Belgium in 1815, France did not take part in the 1974 contest – because President Georges Pompidou had died four days earlier.
Resorting to the seaside
Originally, ‘Eurovision’ was the name, coined by UK journalist George Campey, for the network for sharing programme material between the Western European public service broadcasters who came together in another south of England seaside resort – Torquay – to form the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in 1950.
Now, the ‘Eurovision’ has become entirely synonymous with the contest that began in the Swiss lakeside resort of Lugano on May 24, 1956, with 10 national broadcasters transmitting live coverage of a song-writing competion between seven nations.
Cost pressures and geopolitics
Organisational challenges had made the 1974 event historic before before anyone had learned that Abba was based on the initials of Agnetha (Fältskog), Björn (Ulvaeus), Benny (Andersson), and Anni-Frid (Lyngstad) – with a sequence of events that began 364 days earlier, when Anne-Marie David won the 1973 contest for Luxembourg with Tu te reconnaîtras ('You'll Remember Yourself').
Luxembourg had also won the 1972 with Vicky Leandros performing Àpres Toi ( ‘After You’). Unsurprisingly, the said no to hosting the event a third time as it would cost too much.
The EBU asked Spain, who came second in 1973. They too said no.
Cliff Richard had come third, with Power to All Our Friends, so the UK was asked next. The BBC’s commercial rivals ITV put in a bid, as did the Israel Broadcasting Authority. Geo-politics and poorer technical facilities ruled that out.
With only one entry per country, an ITV production would have prevented a BBC entry, so the BBC put in a late bid.
Two months past between the 1973 contest and finding a host broadcaster. Again, unsurprisingly, finding an available venue in 10 months was also difficult. The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden in London and the Royal Albert Hall, used in 1968, were booked. The little known Dome in Brighton was chosen in July 1973.
A president and a referendum …
Politics’ impact didn’t end with the Israeli disappointment. France pulled out after the death of President Georges Pompidou on Tuesday April 2. National broadcaster ORTF believed the contest would be inappropriate on the day of mourning and state funeral.
Although Italy took part, the La Stampa newspaper reported that show would not be broadcast live because Radiotelevizione italiana (RAI) did not regard the Italian entry Si – ‘Yes' – as impartial ahead of an imminent referendum on abolishing divorce.
‘The brief statement, which is repeated in the text 14 times, could cause involuntary “pressures” on the television audience,' said La Stampa on Saturday April 6, 1974, adding that: 'The seemingly harmless tune could turn into illicit publicity to the theses of anti-divorce (campaigners).
‘The decision of RAI has aroused conflicting opinions, and some ironic controversy,' the paper concluded.
Once the original Si lyrics had been sent to EBU members, they could not be changed.
The show didn't air in Italy until after the referendum on May 12.
… and voting chaos
Plans to introduce a new voting system that would have seen the order of country results being drawn by lottery after all the performances was regarded as too lengthy, complicated and costly and was withdrawn at the last minute.
Unlike the long build-up to 21st century Eurovision Song Contests, no one arrived in Brighton until the Tuesday before the live show on Saturday April 6, testing performers, musicians and the BBC’s production team.
The Brighton show was the fourth and last presented by Katie Boyle and saw an interval performance from The Wombles.
And to think that people remember skintight costumes, knee-high boots, a star-shaped guitar and a composer-conductor wearing a tricorn hat as Napoleon …