United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1983
Encyclopedia
The United Kingdom was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 1983 by Sweet Dreams
with the song "I'm Never Giving Up
". It was chosen as the British entry through the A Song for Europe national selection process and placed sixth at Eurovision, receiving 79 points.
was once again the host and the show was staged at the Television Theatre on Thursday 24 March.
, two girls and a boy with an uptempo, stereotypical British Eurovision effort called "I'm Never Giving Up
". The group had a sport image, all sweat bands and jogging pants but most of the attention was focussed on the dance routine, performed on three kitchen stools.
After this bright start came a low point. Despite having a strong writing pedigree, "I'm going home" was a saccharine ballad given a weak performance by Sam Childs
.
Things did not improve with "All Around the World" performed by Stuart Slater
and co-written by him with Stephanie de Sykes
.This was a slightly miserable offering, sung with the accompaniment of a cellist.
The group Casablanca
featured lead vocals from Des Dyer. He had previously appeared in the charts as a member of Jigsaw
who scored a memorable hit with the Eurovision-sounding "Sky High
". For 1983 he sang "With love", a romantic ballad performed falsetto style. He was aided by two female vocalists dressed as cleaners, complete with mops. Casablanca went on to perform the song on Miss United Kingdom 1983.
Mirror was another one man-two women ensemble and one which came courtesy of the legendary Paul Curtis
. "We've got all the time in the world" was a catchy Eurosong of the UK style. Lots of quirky dance moves and a man pretending to play a guitar - what more could you want?
New Seekers' Marty Kristian
was responsible for the next song, "Love on your mind". This was performed by a trio of two boys and a girl, the latter being another New Seeker, Cathy-Ann Rae. One of the men was Lance Aston, formerly of 1980 Uk entrants Prima Donna
. The song itself was well-performed and catchy although the dance routine was a little distracting.
"When the kissing stops" was to have been performed by 1976 Eurovision winners Brotherhood of Man
. However, after deciding that it would be better to be remembered as song contest winners as opposed to UK heat flops, they were replaced by a trio called Rubic. The song was given a cute performance.
Finally came three boys and three girls called Ritzy with "Keeping our love alive". To say this was performed with gusto would be an understatement. The singers raced through the song, accompanied by some of the most manic dancing ever seen in the contest.
Sweet Dreams (band)
Sweet Dreams were a British vocal trio comprising teenagers Carrie Gray, Helen Kray and Bobby McVay who represented the UK in Eurovision 1983 with the song "I'm Never Giving Up"....
with the song "I'm Never Giving Up
I'm Never Giving Up
"I'm Never Giving Up", written and composed by Ron Roker, Jan Pulsford, and Phil Wigger, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1983, performed by the trio Sweet Dreams....
". It was chosen as the British entry through the A Song for Europe national selection process and placed sixth at Eurovision, receiving 79 points.
A Song for Europe 1983
The television show A Song for Europe was used once again to select the British entry, as it had since the United Kingdom's debut at the Contest in 1957. Terry WoganTerry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
was once again the host and the show was staged at the Television Theatre on Thursday 24 March.
Entries
First onstage were Sweet DreamsSweet Dreams (band)
Sweet Dreams were a British vocal trio comprising teenagers Carrie Gray, Helen Kray and Bobby McVay who represented the UK in Eurovision 1983 with the song "I'm Never Giving Up"....
, two girls and a boy with an uptempo, stereotypical British Eurovision effort called "I'm Never Giving Up
I'm Never Giving Up
"I'm Never Giving Up", written and composed by Ron Roker, Jan Pulsford, and Phil Wigger, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1983, performed by the trio Sweet Dreams....
". The group had a sport image, all sweat bands and jogging pants but most of the attention was focussed on the dance routine, performed on three kitchen stools.
After this bright start came a low point. Despite having a strong writing pedigree, "I'm going home" was a saccharine ballad given a weak performance by Sam Childs
Sam Childs
Samuel Beresford Childs was a Major League Baseball first baseman for the 1883 Columbus Buckeyes. He appeared in one game for the Buckeyes on May 31, 1883, and was hitless in four at-bats. He played college ball at Yale University and played in the minors for Hartford from 1884–1885.-External...
.
Things did not improve with "All Around the World" performed by Stuart Slater
Stuart Slater
Stuart Slater is a former professional footballer who played as a winger and forward for West Ham United, Celtic, Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Watford. He also represented England at under-21 and B level....
and co-written by him with Stephanie de Sykes
Stephanie de Sykes
Stephanie de Sykes is a British singer, and was once a girlfriend of Angus Deayton.-Biography:She attended Brays Grove School in Harlow, Essex; she returned to the school for a final reunion in June 2008 as guest of honour. She had a hit in 1974 with the Simon May penned "Born With a Smile on My...
.This was a slightly miserable offering, sung with the accompaniment of a cellist.
The group Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
featured lead vocals from Des Dyer. He had previously appeared in the charts as a member of Jigsaw
Jigsaw (band)
Jigsaw were an English pop music group, fronted by the singer-songwriter duo of Clive Scott and Des Dyer. In Australia the group was called "British Jigsaw" due to the existence of a local band of the same name.-Overview:...
who scored a memorable hit with the Eurovision-sounding "Sky High
Sky High (song)
"Sky High" is the name of a 1975 single by British pop music group, Jigsaw. The song, the main title theme to the film entitled The Man from Hong Kong, was a world-wide hit in the latter part of 1975, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and #9 in the UK Singles Chart.Two...
". For 1983 he sang "With love", a romantic ballad performed falsetto style. He was aided by two female vocalists dressed as cleaners, complete with mops. Casablanca went on to perform the song on Miss United Kingdom 1983.
Mirror was another one man-two women ensemble and one which came courtesy of the legendary Paul Curtis
Paul Curtis (musician)
Paul Michael Curtis is an English singer, songwriter, record producer from London, who holds the record for the most number of songs to make the finals of the A Song for Europe contest, the BBC's annual competition to choose the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, competing with 22 separate...
. "We've got all the time in the world" was a catchy Eurosong of the UK style. Lots of quirky dance moves and a man pretending to play a guitar - what more could you want?
New Seekers' Marty Kristian
Marty Kristian
Marty Kristian is a German-born Australian musician, he was a singer and 1970s heartthrob who was best known as a member of The New Seekers....
was responsible for the next song, "Love on your mind". This was performed by a trio of two boys and a girl, the latter being another New Seeker, Cathy-Ann Rae. One of the men was Lance Aston, formerly of 1980 Uk entrants Prima Donna
Prima donna
Originally used in opera or Commedia dell'arte companies, "prima donna" is Italian for "first lady." The term was used to designate the leading female singer in the opera company, the person to whom the prime roles would be given. The prima donna was normally, but not necessarily, a soprano...
. The song itself was well-performed and catchy although the dance routine was a little distracting.
"When the kissing stops" was to have been performed by 1976 Eurovision winners Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s, most notably by winning the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisses for Me"....
. However, after deciding that it would be better to be remembered as song contest winners as opposed to UK heat flops, they were replaced by a trio called Rubic. The song was given a cute performance.
Finally came three boys and three girls called Ritzy with "Keeping our love alive". To say this was performed with gusto would be an understatement. The singers raced through the song, accompanied by some of the most manic dancing ever seen in the contest.
Voting and results
Regional juries were based in Cardiff, Belfast, Norwich, Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and London. They awarded 15,12,10,9,8,7,6 and 5 points. Sweet Dreams were clear winners, scoring 109 points. Their closest competition came from Mirror who were second with 91 points. Casablanca were third with 72 points, Audio fourth with 68 points, Rubic fifth with 63 points, a place they shared with Stuart Slater. Ritzy's ditzy dancing scored 60 points and a seventh place whereas Sam Childs came last with 50 points.At Eurovision
After Bardo's "One Step Further" in 1982 Eurovision Song Contest, the United Kingdom placed one spot better, sixth place, scoring 79 points, with "I'm Never Giving Up" by Sweet Dreams.See also
- United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
- Eurovision Song Contest 1983Eurovision Song Contest 1983The Eurovision Song Contest 1983, the 28th in the series, was held in Munich, then West Germany, on 23 April 1983. The presenter was Marlene Charell. Corinne Hermes was the winner of this Eurovision with the song, "Si la vie est cadeau". This was Luxembourg's fifth victory in the contest which...