Before 2020, the 1977 edition of Eurovision has been propably the most troubled one. The contest was postponed thanks to BBC's strike, the native language rule returned but only after Belgium and Germany had already chosen their songs (in English), the voting was interrupted several times due to errors, there were no postcards... This was also the first ESC held in May.
Pink was the color as besides white and black (and Marie Myriam's yellow) it seemed to be the only other color (some ugly marrow is spotted on occasion, too). BBC tried some camera effects (Monaco) and the contest was dominated by groups and choreographies and some unwanted comic (Spain). Mia Martini stuck out as rock chick and Monica Aspelund didn't quite reach her high note as hoped as she had high fever. However, she scored the first 12 points of the evening - and Finland's last until Lordi in 2006! Think about that and the trauma Finns had as we didn't hear "Finland 12 points, Finland douze point!" for 29 (twentynine) years....
I don't have as vivid memories of this contest as I do of 1976 and 1978, but I remember Finland's 12 points and because L'oiseau et l'enfant is The Song that remains my very first ESC love. It was also the only song that scored points from every country and therefor emerged as a winner after UK ruling the scoreboard the first half of the voting. Also Lapponia is legendary but the rest hasn't left any everlasting mark in my mind. Israel almost got into my top-4 though.
For once, the winning reprise is even better than the original performance in competition once after a long wait Marie makes it to the stage again.....
France - Marie Myriam - L'oiseau et l'enfant
(Winner with 136 points)
Greece - Paschalis, Marianna, Robert & Bessy - Mathima solfege (Μάθημα σολφέζ)
(5th with 92 points)
Finland - Monica Aspelund - Lapponia
(10th with 50 points)
Austria - Schmetterlinge - Boom boom boomerang
(17th with 11 points)
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