As we all know Morocco took part in the Eurovision only once, back in 1980 when Israel skipped the contest after two victories in a row. But did you notice they came second to last the last one being Finland as usual? Therefor Finland has the questionable honor of being the only country ever to have lost to Morocco (too) in Eurovision? 7-6 in points...
Anyways, Samira Ben Said who sung Bitaqat hob has made a long and very succesful career despite the result (well, so has Vesa-Matti Loiri for that matter...) and is one of the biggest names in the whole Arabic world. She has just released her 33rd album Ayam hayati after four years of silence. In 2003 she won the World Music Award as well as the BBC Award for the best album in the middle east region and some 40 other awards in the Arabic world over the years.
She has also broken taboos by talking about AIDS. She has organized concert in the suburbs of Paris after the riots, toured Gaza and other places where stars don't usually go. She has sung for Pope in Vatican - the only Arab artist - and helped earthquake victims in northern Africa.
Watch her wonderful message d'amour in Eurovision 1980 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8xXAH6Ld7w
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