A Song for Europe

A Song for Europe is the British national preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest. This is broadcast by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). Over the years, this has has gone through many names such as the more widely known "Song For Europe", "The Great British Song Contest" and its current guise "Making Your Mind Up", which is also the title of the 1981 winning entry by Bucks Fizz.

Related Topics:
British - Eurovision Song Contest - BBC - Bucks Fizz

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"Song For Europe" has gone through many mutations with the format of the competition and with the way the winner has been chosen. In its early days, they were a round of semis and the winner would be chosen by regional juries situated across the country. This was used up until 1960. In 1961 the winner was chosen by a jury of 140 people, but from 62-3, it was back to the regional juries again.

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From 1964 up until 1975, an artist would be chosen by the BBC, and the artist would sing all six songs in the selection, and the public (bar 1964 and 1971) would choose by postcard which song they would like to represent them in the contest. In its early days using this format, only "light enterainment" singers were used such as Kenneth McKellar and Kathy Kirby, however the poor result of McKellar in Luxembourg prompted the BBC to use well known artists, which was them implemented and lead to a successful run of results for the UK. This idea was set to have been dropped because of the low numbers of postal votes scored in The Shadows selection in 1975.

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In 1976, a new system was put into force. Twelve songs would be performed and the winner would be chosen by the regional juries across the country. The 1979 "A Song For Europe" final was never broadcast on television, due to a strike by BBC staff, so the songs were presented on Terry Wogan's radio show with the juries having to judge with casette recordings of the songs. The 1980 result led to a tie break between Prima Donna's "Love Enough For Two" and Maggie Moone's "Happy Everything". This had to be resolved with every jury being called back to announce their favourite. Prima Donna had 8 juries saying it was their favourite, while Maggie Moone had 6.

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By 1981, the number of songs had dropped, and interest started to wane. The 1984 event had five of the eight songs written by Paul Curtis. Unsuprisingly, Paul Curtis was responsible for the winning song "Love Games".

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After a poor result from Rikki in 1987, the regional juries were disbanded, and instead the public had the final say on who they wanted to represent the country. This had prove to be a success with two second places and a sixth place in Zagreb in 1990. However, a dissapointing 10th place in Rome obtained by Samantha Janus, led the BBC to rethink the way this was being run.

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Instead, the system that was used between 1964-1975 was resurrected. One artist singing all the songs in the selection. Michael Ball was the first to do so in 1992, and with this he obtained second place. Sonia was also second the year after. However in 1994 it had all started to go downhill, when a then unknown Frances Ruffelle was offered the job. Interest was low, and her final position in the Eurovision Song Contest held in Dublin was a dissappointing 10th.

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A dramatic modernisation was introudced in 1995 to help boost the profile. Pop supremo Johnathan King was drafted in, and with this overhaul he made the event more modern. The 1995 event had a diverse range of songs and some realtively known acts performing such as Londonbeat who had a hit with "I've Been Thinking About You", pop-combo Deuce and former Page 3 icon and singer Samantha Fox. These were all beaten by rap act "Love City Groove" who self-titled song could only manage a disappointing 10th in Dublin. On a positive note, the songs by Love City Groove and Deuce made the top 10 of the UK singles charts, while the entries from Dear John, Londonbeat and Sox reached the lower reaches of the charts.

Related Topics:
Johnathan King - Londonbeat - Samantha Fox

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The following year, a semi-final was introduced. All eight songs were performed on "Top of The Pops" on March 1st, and to decide which four go through to the final the public were allowed to vote. The results of which were announced the following day, but there was no idea who finished where. On the 8th of March the final was held, with Gina G winning very easily with her dance number "Ooh Ahh Just A Little Bit". The song became an instant hit in the charts, but not in the Eurovision itself. In Oslo, Gina could only manage 8th place, but the consolation was she had a Europe-wide hit with the song.

Related Topics:
Top of The Pops - Gina G

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This format was continued through again, but with a twist. All eight would be heard on Ken Bruce's radio show on Radio 2, with the public deciding which four would go through to the final. The four would be performed on "The National Lottery Show" (until 1998), and "Top of the Pops" (1999). The final itself would just consist of the performers that were made in the above shows, in a special show on a Sunday afternoon. This produced a win for Katrina and the Waves in 1997, and a second for Imaani in 1998, but disappointment in 1999 for Precious.

Related Topics:
Top of the Pops - Katrina and the Waves

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In 2000, the same format contuined, but the final four songs were performed live in "A Song For Europe". It was still shunted to a graveyeard Sunday afternoon slot, but the result proved disappointing. Nicki French got the UK's worst ever placing at the time, a mere 16th in Stockholm with "Don't Play That Song Again". Many people had their doubts about this format, yet it was still contuined the following year, but with another poor showing for the UK. Lindsay D only got one place higher than Nicki French in Copenhagen, and many fans were starting to wonder, what was the point of having a format, that is producing poor results. It can be said that the entries from Six Chix in 2000 and Luke Galliana which didnt make the 2001 final became minor hits, with the latter just failing to make the Top 40, but became a popular hit on cable request line music channel The Box.

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The 2002 "A Song For Europe" generated a lot of publicity, because three of the four acts that made the final were relatively well-known. Surf "n" Turf consisted of Jonathan Maitland who is a TV presenter of consumer advice shows such as "Watchdog" and "House of Horrors". Tricia Penrose is an actress who plays Gina in the 60's retro drama "Heartbeat" on ITV1, and Jessica Garlick had made the final stages of another ITV1 show "Pop Idol". The standard of songs was stronger than previous years, and Jessica Garlick had a runaway victory of nearly 70 000 votes with her ballad "Come Back". The song was also a success in Eurovision with it finishing joint third with hosts Estonia.

Related Topics:
Jonathan Maitland - Watchdog - House of Horrors - Tricia Penrose - Heartbeat - Pop Idol

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2003 saw disappointment, but a new voting format. The standard of the songs was very poor indeed. All four of the live performances were very poor and the new voting system of regional televoting, where 9, 10 and 12 points were awarded to the top three songs, led to a medicore winner. Jemini's "Cry Baby" won by two points over the much stronger "Help Me" by Emily Reed. Confidence in the UK entry was low for both fans and the public, and in the actual contest held in Riga, Jemini picked up the UK's worst-ever showing. Jemini scored "nul points" and finished last, due to a very poor performance and a medicore song.

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Changes had to be made, just to make sure disaster was never to happen again, and for the 2004 selection there was a big revamp. Gone away was the "Song For Europe" name, and welcome to "Making Your Mind Up". The radio semi-final was done away with, and six songs would be performed live in a Saturday night show. This has raised the image of the competition, although there was much criticism with the fact that four of the six acts were from reality TV shows. The winner which was chosen by 70% regional televoting (regions awarding 0,2,4,6,8 and 12 points) and 30% SMS and Interactive voting was James Fox, who finished fourth in the second series of "Fame Academy" which was a BBC show with his gentle ballad "Hold On To Love". Faith in James was mixed, and the song itself could only finish 16th at the contest in Istanbul. Some fans were content, but some critised the BBC saying they should use well-known acts.

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For 2005, the songs dropped from six to five, and the show was relegated to an early Saturday evening slot on March 6th, because they didn't want a clash with "Celebrity Fame Academy", but it did raise apress attention. The press had focused on two performers. Javine Hylton who is a realtivly well known urban singer and Katie Price aka Jordan, a large-breasted page 3 model. The voting itself which was the same format as last year, but this time an online jury was between the two, with Javine coming on top with her ethno-urban song "Touch My Fire". Fans were divided with the decision, and at the 50th Eurovision Song Contest held in Kiev, Javine finished 22nd out of 24 particpants in the final. It had shown that "Making Your Mind" up, has not worked at all, when it comes to success in Eurovision.

Related Topics:
Celebrity Fame Academy - Javine Hylton - Katie Price

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Whether the current system will be used in 2006 is unknown, but many Eurovision fans and the public believe a well-known artist should be used, and instead of a national selection, the performer will have to find their own song.

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