Eurovision 1979 moved to Jerusalem and for some reason I remember the theme music and opening so well. I remember loving the then high tech stage figure rotating in the background and also the palmstrees etc in the hosts corner. The postcards were very fynny back then, now not so much. One can spot Fredi (who also composed the Finnish entry) saluting in the audience after Italy who were the first to perform without any orchestra backing. The artists names appeared on screen besides the song titles! I remember most of the songs so well, and those picked here below are the top ones but I can't forget Portugal, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland.... France, Belgium, Netherlands.... A good year for sure! Watching again now the Spanish kids seem a bit weird but back then they were cool. And oh my, there was someone on stage for the first time who didn't sing at all! No microphone! Of course the Dschingis Khan himself! I was totally in love with them and I was so pissed Israel won again. I remember taking the cassette I had recorded the songs from radio after the show was over to listen the winning song again that night trying to understand Why oh why? These days I've learned to like it and it's final notes are rather boombastic live. As for Denmark the backing singer (is it Debbie Cameron?) is really having the time of her life and boogies it away like there's no tomorrow compared to the others. And hey, is that young Anna Vissi backing Elpida?! And poor Finland, once again deserving so much more....
The voting was one of the most exciting ever being all over the place at first. There was no sight of Spain until the second half of the voting and all of sudden it was leading. The top2-3 were pretty clear for most of the time but then after that half the songs were there at some point of the voting right behind them. France lost it changes with the last two votes while Anne-Marie David (and Anita Skorgan) were featured all the time and living for the voting with all their hearts and emotions. Come Spanish votes last and they hand the trophy back to Israel..... What a night! And Dschingis Khan became the first Eurovision act I bought singles and albums later, Moskau is still one of my all time favorite songs! Ralph Siegel at his best.
Germany - Dschingis Khan - Dschingis Khan
(4th with 86 points)
Denmark - Tommy Seebach - Disco tango
(6th with 76 points)
Greece - Elpida - Sokrates
(8th with 69 points)
Finland - Katri Helena - Katson sineen taivaan
(14th with 38 points)
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