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| Eurovision Song Contest 1990 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participating broadcaster | British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) | |||
| Country |  United Kingdom | |||
| National selection | ||||
| Selection process | A Song for Europe 1990 | |||
| Selection date(s) | 30 March 1990 | |||
| Selected artist(s) | Emma | |||
| Selected song | "Give a Little Love Back to the World" | |||
| Selected songwriter(s) | Paul Curtis | |||
| Finals performance | ||||
| Final result | 6th, 87 points | |||
| United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest | ||||
| ||||
The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1990 with the song "Give a Little Love Back to the World", written by Paul Curtis, and performed by Emma. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final.
Before Eurovision
A Song for Europe 1990
The eight songs in contention to represent the United Kingdom were presented during Terry Wogan's Wogan chat show on BBC1. Two songs were presented during each of four broadcasts between 21 and 28 March. The songs were also featured in various programmes on BBC Radio 2.
A separate results show was broadcast on BBC1 the same evening. BBC Radio 2 simulcast the final and also broadcast the results show, both with commentary by Ken Bruce.
Final
The BBC held the 1990 edition of A Song for Europe on 30 March at Studio 1 of the BBC Television Centre in London. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of Alyn Ainsworth as conductor accompanied all the songs, but despite performing live, the orchestra were off-screen, behind the set. Terry Wogan presided over the eight finalists and a panel of celebrities was assembled to comment on each of the entries. The panel was composed of Gloria Hunniford, Tim Rice, Cathy McGowan, and Carl Davis.
As in the last two years, a national telephone vote decided the outcome of the contest. Emma won with a runaway phone poll of 97,625 calls over John Miles, who polled 38,966.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Songwriter(s) | Televote | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly | "Better Be Good to Me" | John Springate | 13,179 | 6 |
| 2 | Stephen Lee Garden | "That Old Feeling Again" | Mike Moran | 14,447 | 5 |
| 3 | Thom Hardwell | "Never Give Up" | Thom Hardwell | 3,540 | 8 |
| 4 | Emma | "Give a Little Love Back to the World" | Paul Curtis | 97,625 | 1 |
| 5 | Les McKeown | "Ball And Chain" | John Griggs | 15,171 | 4 |
| 6 | Simon Spiro | "Face In The Crowd" | David Reilly | 5,551 | 7 |
| 7 | Kim Goody | "Sentimental Again" | Mo Foster, Kim Goody | 17,986 | 3 |
| 8 | John Miles | "Where I Belong" | John Miles, Michael Scanlon-Pratt | 38,966 | 2 |
UK Discography
- Kelly - Better Be Good to Me: Loading Bay LBAY25 (B Side).
- Emma - Give a Little Love Back to the World: Big Wave BWR33 (7" Single)/BWRT33 (12" Single)/BWRCD33 (CD Single)/BWRC33 (Cassette).
At Eurovision
The final was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on 5 May. Emma was supported by several backing singers including Miriam Stockley (later a backing vocalist for Katrina and the Waves in 1997) and Sam Blue (who competed against Katrina and the Waves in the 1997 national final). Despite being one of the favourites to win, "Give a Little Love Back to the World" had to settle for sixth place with 87 points. The British jury voting was quite idiosyncratic awarding no points to Italy or France (unlike neighbours Ireland who gave Italy 12 points and France 8) and 12 points to Iceland who finished 4th as well as awarding Ireland 10 points.
The contest was broadcast on BBC1 and BBC TV Europe with commentary by Terry Wogan, and on BBC Radio 2, with commentary by Ken Bruce. It was also shown on SSVC Television for the British troops who are stationed in Germany.
Voting
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References
- Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 11–32. ISBN 978-1-84583-163-9.
- "Final of Zagreb 1990". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- "Eurovision Song Contest 90 – BBC One". Radio Times. 5 May 1990. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via BBC Genome Project.
- "TV lørdag" [TV Saturday]. Moss Dagblad (in Norwegian). Moss, Norway. 5 May 1990. pp. 32–33. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via National Library of Norway.
- "Eurovision Song Contest – BBC Radio 2". Radio Times. 5 May 1990. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via BBC Genome Project.
- "Radio en televisie zaterdag" [Radio and television Saturday]. Limburgs Dagblad (in Dutch). Heerlen, Netherlands. 5 May 1990. p. 51. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via Delpher.
- ^ "Results of the Final of Zagreb 1990". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
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