United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Encyclopedia
The United Kingdom
selected their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1996
in Oslo
, Norway
with a new show, the Great British Song Contest. The winning entry was Gina G
with "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit
".
. It was announced that the four songs with the highest number of telephone votes would qualify for the final.
The contestants in the for the pre-selection of the "Great British Song Contest" were as follows:
At the Eurovision final in Oslo things were not so rosy and Gina had to contend with an eighth place, scoring 77 points.
Despite this result, 'Just a Little Bit' is one of the most successful of the UK's entries at Eurovision, not only topping the UK singles chart
but also finding success in America, where the song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 1998.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
selected their entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1996
Eurovision Song Contest 1996
The Eurovision Song Contest 1996 was the 41st Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 18 May 1996 in Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway. The presenters were Ingvild Bryn and Morten Harket. Harket, lead singer of a-ha, opened the show with a performance of his single "Heaven's Not For Saints". Eimear...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
with a new show, the Great British Song Contest. The winning entry was Gina G
Gina G
-Albums:*1997 Fresh! — #12 UK #40 Norway.*1998 Gina G Remix Album *2005 Get Up & Dance -Singles:...
with "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit
Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit
"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" is a song written by British songwriters Simon Tauber and Steve Rodway, and performed by Australian singer Gina G. Released as a single on 25 March 1996, it reached number one in the United Kingdom on 19 May 1996....
".
Semi-final
The qualifying round for the contest was broadcast on BBC1 on 1 March 1996 and was hosted by Nicky CampbellNicky Campbell
Nicholas Andrew Argyll "Nicky" Campbell is a Scottish radio and television presenter and journalist. He is known for his time presenting on programmes such as the consumer affairs programme Watchdog...
. It was announced that the four songs with the highest number of telephone votes would qualify for the final.
The contestants in the for the pre-selection of the "Great British Song Contest" were as follows:
- LaylaLayla"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally released by their blues-rock band, Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs...
sang Find Love - Written by Marcus Vere & Simon Wilkinson - Code RedCode Red (band)-Formation:Phillip Andrew Rodell, Neil James Watts, Lee John Missen, and Roger Ratajczak formed themselves as the lineup for the vocal group, and they were signed by Polydor Records...
sang I gave you everything - Written by Deni Lew, Nicky Graham & Wayne Hector - EssenesEssenesThe Essenes were a Jewish sect that flourished from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE which some scholars claim seceded from the Zadokite priests...
sang I never knew - Written by S Elliot & R Driscoll & M Connaris - Dan AndersonDan AndersonDan Anderson is an American voice actor and freelance writer, he is well known for having played the voice of Dad Asparagus in the computer animated Christian series VeggieTales for Big Idea Productions...
sang Sometimes it rains - Written by Louisa Scott & Ronnie James Scott - LoisLoisLois was a popular female baby name particularly in North America and other areas in the English speaking world during the first half of the 20th century, named after the pious grandmother of Saint Timothy mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:5. The original name in Greek is Λωΐς , meaning "desirable",...
sang I just want to make love 2U - Written by Ben Keen, Paul Thompson & Mike Connaris - Twin Hazey sang Louise - Written by Keith Summers, David Whitehouse & Michael Flaherty
- Zeitia Massiah sang A little love - Written by Pam Sheyne & Eliot Kennedy
- Gina GGina G-Albums:*1997 Fresh! — #12 UK #40 Norway.*1998 Gina G Remix Album *2005 Get Up & Dance -Singles:...
sang Just a little bit - Written by Steve Rodway & Simon Tauber
Final
Out of these songs, the TV viewers chose their four favourites, which performed on British television again in order for the TV viewers to vote their number one:- 1st Just A Little Bit - Gina GGina G-Albums:*1997 Fresh! — #12 UK #40 Norway.*1998 Gina G Remix Album *2005 Get Up & Dance -Singles:...
- 113,576 votes - 2nd I Gave You Everything - British boyband Code RedCode Red (band)-Formation:Phillip Andrew Rodell, Neil James Watts, Lee John Missen, and Roger Ratajczak formed themselves as the lineup for the vocal group, and they were signed by Polydor Records...
- 41,791 votes - 3rd A Little Love - Zeitia MassiahZeeteah MassiahZeeteah Massiah is a singer who is known in the United States as the lead vocalist on the Arizona US No. 1 Billboard Dance Chart track "Slide On The Rhythm" from 1993. She has recorded several dance / house tracks throughout the years...
- 41,105 votes - 4th Find Love - Layla - no votes were announced
At Eurovision
The increased interest in participating in Eurovision meant that, with the exception of hosts Norway, all other countries had to present their song in an audio only semi-final held in late March. Gina G was placed third with 153 points.http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/national_finals_90s_00s/Presel1996.html&date=2009-10-26+02:40:22At the Eurovision final in Oslo things were not so rosy and Gina had to contend with an eighth place, scoring 77 points.
Despite this result, 'Just a Little Bit' is one of the most successful of the UK's entries at Eurovision, not only topping the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
but also finding success in America, where the song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 1998.