No Shadows on eurovision

[Syd62]

The other evening I was watching 60 years of Eurovision. I saw from Sandie Shaw onwards but because it was quite late I thought I'd stop at the Shads so watched all the acts upto Abba then waited with baited breath and then Brotherhood of Man. What no Shadows. Anyone know why? I do know Bruce got his lines wrong but come on it was live.

[MikeAB]

The airbrush always comes out with The Shads and Eurovision for some reason. Pity a better song wasn't selected for them by the UK voters - but 'One' was probably the best choice for the competition with the 'Euro clap along beat' right for the time - sad as that is. 'Cool Clear Air' was my choice.

[Fenderman]

Thank God they didn't choose 'This house runs on sunshine' or they would possibly have walked away with zero points!
The Shadows are never mentioned in these Eurovision programmes, it's almost as if it never happened!
My personal favourite was 'Don't throw it all away'. That was a good song but probably not suitable for the contest.

[iefje]

Some years ago, I bought the various double DVD "Congratulations – 50 Years Of The Eurovision Song Contest – All The Winners + Favourites – 1956-1980" from 2005, which features both performances by Cliff, as well as the one by The Shadows, all taken from the actual Eurovision Song Contests. There was a second volume, covering the period 1981 to 2005, but I didn't buy that. In my opinion, the very best Eurovision Song Contest performances are from the first 24 years, not only because of Cliff's participation and The Shadows' participation, but the music was better overall. I have watched this year's song contest yesterday, but there were only a couple of songs that were memorable. The winning song from Ukraine, was an absolute disgrace. I know the lyrics have an important historical and even political meaning (even though I think this isn't even allowed at the contest), but the music and the singing were pretty horrific.

[Graham C. Marshall]

It seems to me the quality of the music has been sacrificed in favour of kitschy spectacle on a grand and camp scale. To be honest, I cannot remember the last time I watched the Eurovision Song Contest in its entirety.

[drakula63]

Let Me Be The One was/is a brilliant song. Very catchy and the kind of song you remember after having only heard it once.

The perfect Eurovision song.

As I understand it, it could/should/would have won, had it not been for 'tactical voting' late in the day by the Dutch. Their song won, by the way!

[iefje]

Let Me Be The One was/is a brilliant song. Very catchy and the kind of song you remember after having only heard it once.

The perfect Eurovision song.

As I understand it, it could/should/would have won, had it not been for 'tactical voting' late in the day by the Dutch. Their song won, by the way!

I think it also had something to do with the fact that all participants were allowed to sing English, rather than their native language. Also, the 1975 edition was the only one where my father wished The Netherlands would not win!

[drakula63]

Let Me Be The One was/is a brilliant song. Very catchy and the kind of song you remember after having only heard it once.

The perfect Eurovision song.

As I understand it, it could/should/would have won, had it not been for 'tactical voting' late in the day by the Dutch. Their song won, by the way!

I think it also had something to do with the fact that all participants were allowed to sing English, rather than their native language. Also, the 1975 edition was the only one where my father wished The Netherlands would not win!

Well, he obviously had (and I'm sure still has) impeccable taste and judgement.

[Iain Purdon]

Is this thread is about the 60 Years of Eurovision concert? If so, it was made by the BBC on behalf of the EBU and was therefore, i'm guessing, intended for a Eurovision-wide audience.

The UK's Sandie Shaw, Lulu, Brotherhood of Man, Bucks Fizz and Katrina -- plus ABBA etc -- all won the contest. The Shadows did not. Maybe that's why?

[Syd62]

Hi Ian I don't think Lulu won Eurovision but Cliff was on it twice and he didn't win it either.