This is the second part of the history of Eurovision Song Contest 1991, first part can be found here.
12. PORTUGAL Dulce Pontes – Lusitana Paixão
Portugal had more luck in this year’s contest than normally, country came 8th with 62 points. Dulce Pontes sings about Portuguese traditional music style, Fado. Eurovision Song Contest was Pontes’ first appearance in the spotlight which opened many opportunities in her career. She is currently making new music and will release her new album later.
13. DENMARK Anders Frandsen – Lige der hvor hjertet slår
Before Eurovision, Anders Frandsen worked as an actor in theatre performances. He was chosen to represent Denmark with a love ballad and joined on stage by five backing vocalists. Denmark received 8 points and came 19th. After the contest, Frandsen hosted many events including 1992 national final. Anders Frandsen passed away in January 2012 at the age of 51. He committed suicide at home in Copenhagen.
14. NORWAY Just 4 Fun – Mrs. Thompson
Another Nordic country was up next. Group Just 4 Fun consisted of four members, including Eiríkur Hauksson who returned in 2007 for Iceland and Hanne Krogh who represented Norway already in 1971 and in 1985. Group was selected internally by NRK as the broadcaster felt that their entries in previous years were too low in terms of quality. The decision was weird and Norway only came 17th.
15. ISRAEL Duo Datz – Kan
“Here” was the English title of the Israel’s 17th entry. Married couple Orna and Moshe Datz were known as Duo Datz and their entry in 1991 Eurovision Song Contest came third with 139 points, just behind France and Sweden. This cheery and typical Israeli entry did impress the juries and it received full 12 points from Turkey, Spain and Yugoslavia. Couple divorced in 2006.
16. FINLAND Kaija Kärkinen – Hullu yö
The Finnish entry contained many difficult letters for foreigners and the Finns have speculated if that was one reason why this entry came only 20th. Kaija Kärkinen was still unknown in Finland when she represented the country but shortly after the contest her career took off and she also found her partner during the 1991 contest.
17. GERMANY Atlantis 2000 – Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben
Group Atlantis 2000 won the German pre-selection and therefore represented the country in Rome. Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben” (“This dream must never die”) didn’t impress national juries and only received 10 points, six of them from Denmark, which was enough for 18th place. It was their worse result by then and that’s why the group broke up right after the contest and never returned on stage together.
18. BELGIUM Clouseau – Geef het op
This Belgian boy band was formed in 1987 and their latest album was released in 2009. Group had gained popularity in Belgium already before May 1991 and Eurovision Song Contest participation resulted in a European breakthrough. Belgium got 23 points in the final and finished 16th.
19. SPAIN Sergio Dalma – Bailar pegados
If Eurovision was a good thing for Clouseau, it was that for Sergio Dalma, too. He had been singing in restaurants and clubs before the contest and recorded one album which didn’t gain any popularity in Spain. However, his Eurovision entry came fourth which speeded up record sales and was his road to fame.
20. UNITED KINGDOM Samantha Janus – A message to your heart
As always, hopes were high in United Kingdom. At the age of 18, Samantha Janus won the local pre-selection and was to represent UK at the Eurovision Song Contest 1991. Short skirts didn’t help and joint tenth place was reserved for UK. After the contest, Samantha focused on acting which is her job nowadays.
21. CYPRUS Elena Patroklou – SOS
Elena Patroklou, born in 1968, is singing behalf of the earth about pollution and poor condition of our globe. Surprisingly, the song received 12 points from France, Greece and Malta and finished 9th right after Portugal.
22. ITALY Peppino di Capri – Comme è ddoce ‘o mare
The host country was drawn to perform last before the interval act. Peppino di Capri sung in Napoletano and title literally means “how sweet is the sea”. Peppino di Capri was an experienced artist already in 1991 and that was clearly visible on stage. No surprises that he got the biggest applauses of the show, but the juries ranked him 7th.
After all the 22 performances, it was time for the interval act. This time we didn’t see video like in 1990, but Arturo Brachetti who is known for his ability to change costumes in just few seconds and do magic tricks.
The show was running behind the schedule but our hosts didn’t seem to mind it. The voting was something I never want to see again in the Eurovision Song Contest as they didn’t show the scoreboard at all and the hosts just wanted to chit-chat with everyone. At least it was very exciting voting and 1991 contest can be remembered from the tie between France and Sweden.
Next week we’ll take a look at the 1992 contest, hosted by Sweden!
