United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959
- Stan Butcher
- Syd Cordell
◄1957 • | 1959 | • 1960► |
The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) organised a national final to select the United Kingdom's entry for the contest. The song selected was "Sing, Little Birdie", performed by Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson. The song placed second in the contest, at the time the United Kingdom's best result in the competition, and remained so until their first victory in 1967.
Before Eurovision
Prior to the 1959 contest, the United Kingdom had participated in the contest once, in 1957, represented by Patricia Bredin with the song "All". The song placed 7th in a field of 10 entries.[1] The country declined to take part in the inaugural contest in 1956, as the BBC had created their own contest, the Festival of British Popular Songs, aspects of which influenced the 1957 contest. The BBC initially intended to participate in 1958 but ultimately withdrew.[2]
Eurovision Song Contest British Final
Eurovision Song Contest British Final 1959 | |
---|---|
Host | |
Venue | BBC Television Theatre |
Presenter(s) | Pete Murray |
Host broadcaster | BBC |
Participants | |
Number of entries | 12 |
Vote | |
Winning song | "Sing Little Birdie" by Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson |
Eurovision Song Contest British Final |
The Eurovision Song Contest British Final was a national final organised by the BBC to select the United Kingdom's entry for the contest. The selection consisted of two semi-finals held on 2 February and 5 February 1959, and a final held on 7 February 1959, broadcast on BBC Television and presented by Pete Murray.[3]
The songs were scored by seven 14-member regional juries representing the South of England, the Midlands, Northern England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the West of England.
Competing entries
Twelve entries were shortlisted by the BBC for the contest. "I'll Be With You" was originally scheduled to be performed by Alma Cogan, but was replaced by Marion Keene.
Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) |
---|---|---|
Don Rennie | "How Could I Know" | Tommy Sampson, Barbara Nelson |
Glen Mason | "Suddenly" | Michael Pratt |
John Hanson | "Success" | Ralph Ruvin, Harold Irving, Dick James |
Lester Ferguson | "This I Will Tell My Son" | Terry and Irene Roper |
Lita Roza | "This Is My Town" | John S Rossiter, Harold Cornelius, Dominic John, Bob Halfin |
Marion Keene | "I'll Be With You" | Lee Lennox |
Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson | "Sing Little Birdie" | Stan Butcher, Syd Cordell |
Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson | "That's It, That's Love" | Sam Johnson |
Rosemary Squires | "Cha Cha Chocola" | Max Francis, Bill Craig |
Sheila Buxton | "Love Me, Love Me" | Norman Percival |
Steve Martin | "One Lonely Heart" | Peter Callander, Dick James |
Valerie Shane | "Oh, Oh, Reckon I Must Be In Love" | Michael Pratt |
Shows
Semi-final 1
Semi-final 1 was held on 2 February 1959. The highlighted songs qualified for the final.[3]
Semi-final 1 – 2 February 1959 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
1 | Sheila Buxton | "Love Me, Love Me" | Eliminated |
2 | Steve Martin | "One Lonely Heart" | Advanced |
3 | Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson | "Sing, Little Birdie" | Advanced |
4 | Don Rennie | "How Could I Know" | Eliminated |
5 | Glen Mason | "Suddenly" | Advanced |
6 | Marion Keene | "I'll Be With You" | Eliminated |
Semi-final 2
Semi-final 2 was held on 5 February 1959. The highlighted songs qualified for the final.[3]
Semi-final 2 – 5 February 1959 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Draw | Artist | Song | Result |
1 | Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson | "That's It, That's Love" | Eliminated |
2 | John Hanson | "Success" | Advanced |
3 | Rosemary Squires | "Cha Cha Chocola" | Eliminated |
4 | Lester Ferguson | "This I Will Tell My Son" | Eliminated |
5 | Valerie Shane | "Oh, Oh, Reckon I Must Be In Love" | Advanced |
6 | Lita Roza | "This Is My Town" | Advanced |
Final
The final was held on 7 February 1959 at 19:30 GMT.[3]
Final – 7 February 1959 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Draw | Artist | Song | Place |
1 | Valerie Shane | "Oh, Oh, Reckon I Must Be In Love" | 5 |
2 | Steve Martin | "One Lonely Heart" | 4 |
3 | Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson | "Sing Little Birdie" | 1 |
4 | John Hanson | "Success" | 6 |
5 | Glen Mason | "Suddenly" | 3 |
6 | Lita Roza | "This Is My Town" | 2 |
At Eurovision
In the final, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson performed tenth in the running order, following Austria and preceding Belgium. At the close of the voting "Sing Little Birdie" had received 16 points, placing United Kingdom 2nd in a field of 11 entries. The British jury awarded 5 of its 10 points to Switzerland.[4]
Voting
|
|
References
- ^ "Final of Frankfurt 1957 - Eurovision Song Contest". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ^ "Shining a light on the United Kingdom: 60 Years at Eurovision". eurovision.tv. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Eurovision Song Contest of 1959: British Final". songs4europe.com. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ^ ESC History - Eurovision - United Kingdom 1959
- ^ a b "Results of the Final of Cannes 1959". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
External links
- UK National Final page
- v
- t
- e
- 1957
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
2020- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- Andy Abraham
- Olly Alexander
- The Allisons
- Michael Ball
- Bardo
- Belle and the Devotions
- Black Lace
- Blue
- Patricia Bredin
- Brotherhood of Man
- Bucks Fizz
- Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson
- Ronnie Carroll
- Co-Co
- Josh Dubovie
- Electro Velvet
- Emma
- Jade Ewen
- Scott Fitzgerald
- James Fox
- Nicki French
- Jessica Garlick
- Gina G
- Mary Hopkin
- Engelbert Humperdinck
- Imaani
- Samantha Janus
- Javine
- Jemini
- Joe and Jake
- Bryan Johnson
- Lucie Jones
- Katrina and the Waves
- Kathy Kirby
- Lindsay
- Live Report
- Love City Groove
- Lulu
- Kenneth McKellar
- Molly
- Matt Monro
- Mike Moran
- Mae Muller
- The New Seekers
- James Newman
- Olivia Newton-John
- Lynsey de Paul
- Precious
- Prima Donna
- Michael Rice
- Cliff Richard
- Rikki
- Clodagh Rodgers
- Frances Ruffelle
- Ryder
- Sam Ryder
- Daz Sampson
- Scooch
- The Shadows
- Sandie Shaw
- Sonia
- SuRie
- Sweet Dreams
- Bonnie Tyler
- Vikki
- "All"
- "Are You Sure?"
- "The Bad Old Days"
- "Beg, Steal or Borrow"
- "Believe in Me"
- "Better the Devil You Know"
- "Bigger than Us"
- "Boom Bang-a-Bang"
- "Children of the Universe"
- "Come Back"
- "Congratulations"
- "Cry Baby"
- "Dizzy"
- "Don't Play That Song Again"
- "Embers"
- "Even If"
- "Flying the Flag (For You)"
- "Give a Little Love Back to the World"
- "Go"
- "Hold On to Our Love"
- "I Belong"
- "I Can"
- "I Love the Little Things"
- "I Wrote a Song"
- "I'm Never Giving Up"
- "It's My Time"
- "Jack in the Box"
- "Knock, Knock Who's There?"
- "Let Me Be the One"
- "Long Live Love"
- "Looking High, High, High"
- "Love City Groove"
- "Love Enough for Two"
- "Love Games"
- "Love Is..."
- "Love Shine a Light"
- "Love Will Set You Free"
- "Making Your Mind Up"
- "A Man Without Love"
- "Mary Ann"
- "A Message to Your Heart"
"My Last Breath"- "Never Give Up on You"
- "No Dream Impossible"
- "One Step Further"
- "One Step Out of Time"
- "Only the Light"
- "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"
- "Power to All Our Friends"
- "Puppet on a String"
- "Ring-A-Ding Girl"
- "Rock Bottom"
- "Runner in the Night"
- "Save Your Kisses for Me"
- "Say It Again"
- "Say Wonderful Things"
- "Sing, Little Birdie"
- "Space Man"
- "Still in Love with You"
- "Storm"
- "Teenage Life"
- "That Sounds Good to Me"
- "Touch My Fire"
- "We Will Be Free (Lonely Symphony)"
- "Where Are You?"
- "Why Do I Always Get It Wrong"
- "You're Not Alone"
- Note: Entries scored out signify where the United Kingdom did not compete