VENUE Congresgebouw, The Hague		ENTRIES 19
HOST Marlous Fluitsma		DEBUTS Morocco

During the first five decades of the contest before the advent of "semi-finals", some countries, like Luxembourg and Monaco, participated in Eurovision for many years and then pulled out. Others like many of the old Eastern bloc, were relative latecomers to the contest but are now regulars. But 1980 is the only instance of a country's one sole appearance in the event as Morocco sneaked in with a very ethnic song that, perhaps predictably, fared very poorly, picking up just seven points, all of them from Italy.  Post semi-finals era, both Belarus and Bulgaria share the same distinction though each has fallen at the preliminary hurdle.  Several Arabic countries, as members of the EBU, have been potential entrants but the presence of Israel has been a deterrent. 

In 1980 Israel, the winners in the two previous contests, declined to defend their crown as the date of the contest coincided with their Holocaust Memorial Day, and so the Netherlands took up hosting duties.  One presentational quirk this year was each song being introduced in their native tongue by a TV personality or musician from their country.  Noel Edmonds did the duties for the UK's Prima Donna.   

One of the most striking things about the contest was the juxtaposition of some really ethnic songs (Norway, Morocco, Finland) with some of the blandest pap you have ever heard, Luxembourg's "Papa Penguin", and a slew of frothy boy-girl disco numbers. Invariable, the formulaic pap won the day. There were songs called 'Cinema', 'Theater' and, amazingly, 'Eurovision'. Johnny Logan rose above all this exotica with a classic ballad, the first male soloist to win since 1966, if you discount Izhar Cohen. He was certainly knocking back a few drinks during the voting, and was memorably emotional when reprising his song after the voting.    

WINNER: Ireland

WHAT'S ANOTHER YEAR by Johnny Logan

Voting

IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK:

The USA imposes sanctions against Iran in the wake of the kidnap of American hostages.

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