Yogoslavia hosted the 35th Eurovision in Zagreb on May 5, 1990 just before falling apart. 22 countries were taking part just like the year before. Only major change in rules was the age limit of 16 after the 2 child stars in the 1989 edition. Just to be on the sure side the presenters were propably the oldest ever. Helka -"I don't have them" from 1981 - Vlahovic and Oliver Mlakar did rather ok job in the end. Yogoslavia was facing a lot of problems during the preparation and financial ones not being the least of them. Stage and lights were of Italian production and design and therefor very beautiful, but the Italian entrant came in town alone without even backing singers and half finished song. He quickly got together chorists from Zagreb. The show started badly when Spain's Azucar Moreno's backing track didn't start. Confused sisters left the stage and the show had to restart after a moment of general commotion. Ketil Stokkan was there but the others were debutants. The biggest name was Toto Cutugno who ended up singing for Italy by accident, him being already on RAI's payroll as TV-host and time running out. Once he took the stage on final night it was clear he was going to win. France had a song by Serge Gainsbourg and stunning performance by Joelle Ursull but it wasn't enough. It was even more Italian night as the Italian jury gave very strange votes, and even introduced itself as the Spanish jury. Many wonder still today if there ever was an Italian jury that night and who gave those votes? EBU investigate the matter but declared that even if Italy gave 12 to France or Ireland (they gave zero to both) Italy would have won anyways so case was closed.Yogoslavia hosted the 35th Eurovision in Zagreb on May 5, 1990 just before falling apart. 22 countries were taking part just like the year before. Only major change in rules was the age limit of 16 after the 2 child stars in the 1989 edition. Just to be on the sure side the presenters were propably the oldest ever. Helka -"I don't have them" from 1981 - Vlahovic and Oliver Mlakar did rather ok job in the end. Yogoslavia was facing a lot of problems during the preparation and financial ones not being the least of them. Stage and lights were of Italian production and design and therefor very beautiful, but the Italian entrant came in town alone without even backing singers and half finished song. He quickly got together chorists from Zagreb. The show started badly when Spain's Azucar Moreno's backing track didn't start. Confused sisters left the stage and the show had to restart after a moment of general commotion. Ketil Stokkan was there but the others were debutants. The biggest name was Toto Cutugno who ended up singing for Italy by accident, him being already on RAI's payroll as TV-host and time running out. Once he took the stage on final night it was clear he was going to win. France had a song by Serge Gainsbourg and stunning performance by Joelle Ursull but it wasn't enough. It was even more Italian night as the Italian jury gave very strange votes, and even introduced itself as the Spanish jury. Many wonder still today if there ever was an Italian jury that night and who gave those votes? EBU investigate the matter but declared that even if Italy gave 12 to France or Ireland (they gave zero to both) Italy would have won anyways so case was closed.
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