Eurovision Rewatch: Birmingham 1998 - 20.00 GMT tonight (25/3)

GinAg (39)

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Now we're all locked inside (aside from the Swedes, currently enjoying dinner out followed by a night on the town), let's go way back, before 9/11 but after Diana to a simpler time: 1998.

Back in the time of analogue, the UK still occasionally won. Fresh off their win with Love Shine A Light by Katrina and the Waves, we arrive in the LAND OF CADBURY'S and CURRY - Birmingham.

Watch the magical show where we meet Dana International and her backing singers for the first time, Ulrika shows what a complete bitch she is and Chiara begins a career of Eurovision what if's.



The link is a TV recording with UK commentary :)
 
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I think this was the first year I was actively MAD EXCITED for it, having watched it since childhood. Dana International had made the news in the run-up and the UK was hosting. It all felt very thrilling. I think it awoke something VERY GAY deep inside of me.
 
Oh this is when Dana won, right! She totally eclipsed everything else I can't remember very little. Great.
 
I think this was the second one I watched. Is this the year we entered GINA G?!?
 
Oh I'm well up for this but 8pm doesn't really suit

*watches now*
 
I thought they started later! When was the first ESC cd released?

Officially each country had to agree to be on the compilation CD in from 2000 onwards. This was the first one released with all the songs, and a CD has been released every year since. An Israeli record company released an official CD in 1999 but it was missing a few songs (UK, Poland, Cyprus, Netherlands). There was also an unofficial CD in 1998 but it only had 13 of the songs (plus a cover version of Germany)

However there were unofficial compilations released from 1985-1991 in Scandinavia on Vinyl and Cassette (and on CD from 1988-1991 - these go for a packet now) - these contained all the songs of the year, though some of them were in the English language version instead. I am sure there would have been LPs released in the 60s and 70s too.
 
I own what I think is a Swedish CD with all the winners 1956-1999, which was an early gateway into Eurovision past for me. Although my grandfather had a Eurovision covers album from about 1973 which was also an early guide. I've known Poupee as long as I can remember.

As for the yearly CDs where absolute staple for me back in the mid 00s.
 
I love this year, though before I started. 1999 was the first year I remember watching. :)

Watching the UK National Final that year was another early memory. Although I like Precious, still sad about Sister Sway though. :(
 
I've got ALL the annual CDs but haven't even opened the past two, so it's time to stop.

I should get round to flogging them, to be honest, I can't think I'll ever throw a Eurovision CD on again.
 
There was a quite interesting documentary that was about the preparations of ESC 1998:


Notable points being:
- The deluded composer of the Greece song making complete self-entitled ass of himself which led to him having his permissions for the Final revoked and forced to watch the Final from a hotel room.
- Turkey going over the 3 minutes time limit during rehearsal and almost getting disqualified as the conductor was struggling to arrange it to fit the time.
- Interview with Dana and Dana's dress changing between rehearsals and the night of the Final.
- Finland had a higher note at the end originally but the singer didn't try go for it (she had a cold on the night if memory serves well)
 
Now we're all locked inside (aside from the Swedes, currently enjoying dinner out followed by a night on the town), let's go way back, before 9/11 but after Diana to a simpler time: 1998.

Speaking of Swedes and Diana, their entry that year was written as a tribute to her. :eyes:
 
An angel passed,
In heaven, so free.
But she left her smile,
On our earth.
Like a sun that keeps us warm,
Like a celestial starlight,
So that we can consider what happens in life,
With faith,
Love is.

The People’s Princess always and forever. Love you Diana xx
 
We'll get to it, but Karleken är sounded SO much better at Melfest that year than at Eurovision and I can't figure out why. Bad orchestral arrangement maybe?

They also inexplicably frumped her up something rotten.

Melfest:


Eurovision:
 
I've just finished indoor cycling to greatest 21st century Eurovision song 'Together' by Ryan O'Shaughnessy and I am ready.

It's this or Masterchef with the parents.
 

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