Cliff & Eurovision '68

[Vincent]

It's a few weeks now since Eurovision, but I was reminded of Cliff Richard's attempt in 1968, beaten controversially by just one point by Spain. In 2019 the UK came last..bottom of the pile. Someone should have taken a hint from '68 and not bothered entering this contest at all..withdraw altogether as it's an insult. In the past, organisers tried to get serious musicians involved, inc. Paul McCartney, Morrisey and others. They did well to stay away !

[iefje]

The contests of 1968 and 1973 did give Cliff big hits. In 1975, The Shadows had their first hit in eight years. All of these were bigger hits than the winners of the contests.

[Iain Purdon]

The hits were spin-off benefits. It is supposed to be a song contest, not an artiste contest, but I suspect the judges go by the whole package these days.

I don't think there's a hope of the UK coming out of it. It's one of the few things that encourages international friendliness and the audiences are huge, suggesting that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks!

[MikeAB]

Didn't Spain eventually admit Cliff was cheated out of winning?

[Didier]

As Hank Marvin said : "Cliff lost the Eurovision twice, we only lost it once !"

Didier

[neil2726]

I thought that was Bruce - Didier?

[Iain Purdon]

It was Bruce