FANTASY EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 1974

EUROPEAN POP LYRICS

This year it’s the fiftieth anniversary of ABBA’s famous win at Eurovision. For my fantasy version I’ve retained ABBA and the other two acts who placed in the top three. However, there are plenty of new acts as well as some unexpected countries.

01: United Kingdom: Queen – Killer Queen

Eurovision and glam rock seems like a natural combination in retrospect, so I’ve invited Queen to start the party.

02: France: Dani – La Vie à 25 ans

Dani was one of the coolest yé-yé girls in the 1960s. In 1974 she was due to perform this song at Eurovision, but France withdrew from the contest when President Pompidou died. To make up for this she was scheduled to perform in 1975, singing the Serge Gainsbourg song “Comme un boomerang”. However, it was banned for being too raunchy and she missed out again. Dani died in 2022, having never performed at Eurovision.

03: West Germany: Udo Lindenberg – Jonny Controlletti

Moving away from their customary schlager, Germany send in Udo Lindenberg, who was the first person to really sell rock records singing in German.

04: Spain: Morena Y Clara – No Llores Mas

The actual Spanish entry this year (by Peret) had a bit of a flamenco flavour, but this track is much cooler. In 1976 Morena y Clara entered the selection contest to represent Spain at Eurovision, but they weren’t chosen. After this indignity they faded from view.

05: Italy: Gigliola Cinquetti – Si

This is from the actual contest and it finished second. Cinquetti had already won Eurovision, back in 1964 aged just 16. This song was banned in her home country as people though it might influence a referendum on divorce.

06: Ireland: Horslips – Dearg Doom

Folk rock was also popular at this time, so it would have been cool if the Irish had sent in Horslips. NB The original single release was in 1973.

07: East Germany: Nina Hagen – Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen

This year I’ve spiced things up by having both East and West Germany compete. Hagen would get a lot wilder later on, but here she is reasonably Eurovision friendly.

08: Netherlands: Mouth & MacNeal – I See a Star

From the original contest. They were favourites to win but ended up in third place.

09: Portugal: Raul Seixas – Gita

The Portuguese recruit the Brazilian singer Raul Seixas. He was into mysticism at this time, and the title is a reference to Hinduism. Plus, he’s wearing a Santa outfit!

10: Andorra: Jeanette – Porque te vas

Here Jeanette represents Andorra (well, I had to get another Spanish language song into the contest somehow). This Eurovision friendly song could give ABBA a run for their money.

11: Belgium: Michel Polnareff – Tibili

Here the legendary Polnareff represents Belgium. He’s rocking that glam look and singing Eurovision friendly gibberish lyrics won’t harm his chances.

12: Poland: Anna Jantar – Tyle słońca w całym mieście

Poland must have crept under the iron curtain when in I let East Germany in. The title translates as ‘So Much Sun in the Whole City’.

13: Greece: Demis Roussos – Forever & Forever

This was the first year that Greece took part in the contest. Here they send in Roussos, already an international star. NB The song was originally released in 1973.

14: Sweden: ABBA – Waterloo

It seems natural to end with ABBA. Can they win both the real and fantasy contests?

NB Seven of these artists have previously featured on this blog and translations of four of the songs are available (in red).

NO HAY A QUIEN CULPAR by ABBA

This is perhaps the most effective of the 15 songs that the Swedish group ABBA recorded in Spanish. The original version of ‘When All Is Said And Done’ appeared on their final album ‘The Visitors’ in 1981.

Here you can compare the Spanish and English lyrics. A lot of the meaning has been changed:

e.g. the literal translation of the new title is ‘Nobody Is To Blame’. Also, the memorable ‘not too old for sex’ lyric got lost in translation!

NO HAY A QUIEN CULPAR . Por los dos brindo aquí la cuenta se saldo lo que fue calidez el frío invadió aves al pasar tú y yo migramos con el sol hacia un verano nuevo sin oscuridad Hoy que todo terminó no hay a quien culpar . Somos dos que ayer vivimos soledad nuestra unión se quebró con toda dignidad aún buscamos cielo azul en nuestro caminar gracias por un gran amor y la felicidad Hoy que todo terminó no hay a quien culpar . Bien se da que al caer hay posibilidad de surgir otra vez y ver la realidad todo claro al final no hay nada por cobrar en el cruce del camino solo un nuevo andar Hoy que todo terminó no hay a quien culpar

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE . Here's to us one more toast and then we'll pay the bill Deep inside both of us can feel the autumn chill Birds of passage, you and me We fly instinctively When the summer's over and the dark clouds hide the sun Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done . In our lives we have walked some strange and lonely treks Slightly worn but dignified and not too old for sex We're still striving for the sky No taste for humble pie Thanks for all your generous love and thanks for all the fun Neither you nor I'm to blame when all is said and done . It's so strange when you're down and lying on the floor How you rise, shake your head, get up and ask for more Clear-headed and open-eyed With nothing left to try Standing calmly at the crossroads, no desire to run There's no hurry any more when all is said and done