United Kingdom In The Eurovision Song Contest
The United Kingdom is one of the most successful countries to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. They first participated in the second contest in 1957. The BBC had wanted to take part in the first contest in 1956, but had submitted their entry to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) after the deadline had passed. The UK has entered every year since 1959, and has won the contest a total of five times. Along with Sweden is the only country with Eurovision victories in four different decades. Furthermore, the UK has finished as runner-up on a record fifteen occasions.
Up to and including 1998, the UK had only twice finished outside the top 10 (in 1978 and 1987). Since 1999, the year in which the rule was abandoned that songs must be performed in one of the official languages of the country participating, the UK has had less success, only finishing within the top ten twice. Jessica Garlick in 2002 and Jade Ewen in 2009 have been the only two entrants to have succeeded in earning a top five finish since 1998, and Ewen in particular was praised after her performance of "It's My Time" for ending the run of poor results it had suffered for much of the decade. For the 2011 contest, BBC chose boy band Blue to perform for the United Kingdom, they finished in 11th place with 100 points. For the 2012 contest the United Kingdom selected veteran singer Engelbert Humperdinck as its entrant. He finished in 25th place with only twelve points.
The United Kingdom has finished last in three contests. The infamous 2003 "nul points" result was the first time that the country had come last in the contest, something that was then repeated in 2008 and 2010.
Read more about United Kingdom In The Eurovision Song Contest: Records, United Kingdom and The "Big Four/Five", Contestants, Congratulations: 50 Years of The Eurovision Song Contest, Voting History (1975-2012), Hostings, Commentators and Spokespersons, Separate Entrants
Famous quotes containing the words united, kingdom, song and/or contest:
“The veto is a President’s Constitutional right, given to him by the drafters of the Constitution because they wanted it as a check against irresponsible Congressional action. The veto forces Congress to take another look at legislation that has been passed. I think this is a responsible tool for a president of the United States, and I have sought to use it responsibly.”
—Gerald R. Ford (b. 1913)
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.”
—Bible: New Testament, Matthew 6:9-13.
“The city sleeps and the country sleeps,
The living sleep for their time, the dead sleep for their time,
The old husband sleeps by his wife and the young husband sleeps by his wife;
And these tend inward to me, and I tend outward to them,
And such as it is to be of these more or less I am,
And of these one and all I weave the song of myself.”
—Walt Whitman (1819–1892)
“Another danger is imminent: A contested result. And we have no such means for its decision as ought to be provided by law. This must be attended to hereafter.... If a contest comes now it may lead to a conflict of arms. I can only try to do my duty to my countrymen in that case. I shall let no personal ambition turn me from the path of duty. Bloodshed and civil war must be averted if possible. If forced to fight, I have no fears from lack of courage or firmness.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)