Olivia at Eurovision Song Contest
Derby Evening Telegraph, April 6 1974, UK
WILL the United Kingdom 'be the bridesmaid yet again, or will Olivia continue her successful wooing?
Millions will watch in earnest tonight as pretty Olivia Newton-John takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest (BBC 1, 9.30) with our entry, Long Live Love. The contest, staged by the BBC at the Dome, Brighton, will be watched by 500-million viewers in Europe, behind the Iron Curtain and in other parts of the world. France have pulled out of the contest because of the death of President Pompidou.
Evening Post, April 6 1974, UK
TONIGHT Olivia Newton-John, representing the United Kingdom, sings Long Live Love
in The Eurovision Song Contest.
Staged by the BBC at the Dome, Brighton, the programme will be watched by some 500 million viewers in Europe, behind the Iron Curtain, in Africa, Iceland, South Korea and Japan; more than 30 countries throughout the world.
Viewers who have watched the previews will already have their own favourites but it will be the ten jury members in each country who decide the winners (song writers and singers) of the Grand Prix who, in addition to their Eurovision Gold Medals, stand to win a great deal in terms of record sales.
Voting this year will return to the original system of juries voting by telephone lines from their own countries. We thought that much of the excitement of the contest came from the Are you there, Norway? element.
explains Bill Cotton, head of BBC-TV Light Entertainment, so we decided to use that system again this year.
(If by any chance Norway ー or any other country are not there on the night, then their votes are discounted).
Katie Boyle will present the Eurovision Song Contest and, for British viewers, David Vine is the commentator.
Evening Sentinel, April 6 1974, UK
Olivia Newton-John sings Britain's Britain song in tonight's Eurovision Song Contest. Olivia is expected to start the contest as favourite to win with her computerised
song for Europe Long Live Love.
Herald Express, April 6 1974, UK
SEVENTEEN EVENTEEN singers will compete for a financial bonanza in record sales tonight when the BBC stages the Eurovision Song Contest at Brighton.
Songs in the contest are plugged before 500,000,000 viewers throughout the world. The winner is guaranteed an international hit record and a fat purse for the songster, song writer and record company.
Olivia Newton-John, Britain's singer, was expected to start the contest as favourite to win with her computerised
song for Europe, Long Live Love.
A late and strong challenger was the Italian entry to be sung by Gigliola Cinquetti. The decision will rest finally with the 170-strong jury-10 people from each country voting from their home studios. Much depends on whether they go for glamour or for the song. It has been claimed that pretty girl nearly always wins the contest with a stunning stage performance.
If that is true, Britain is well up in the glamour stakes. If the jury goes for a strong ballad, then the Monaco entry sung by Romauld Roma must stand a great chance.
This year's runners in the order they will be seen on the screens are Finland, with Carita singing Keep Me Warm
Britain, Olivia Newton-John singing Long Live Love.
; Spain, Peret singing Canta Y Se Feliz
; Norway, with the Bendix Singers and The First Day of Love.
Greece, Marinella singing Krassi, Thalassa Ke T'Agori Mou;
Israel, with the group Poogy singing Natati la Khaiai; Yugoslavia. The Korni Group singing Generation 42;
Sweden, also with a group, Abba, singing Waterloo;
Luxembourg, British singer Ireen Sheer with Bye Bye I Love You;
Monaco, Romauld singing Celui qui Reste;
Belgium, Jacques Hustin with Fleur de Liberte
; Netherlands, Mouth and MacNeal with I See a Star;
Ireland, Tina singing Cross Your Heart;
Germany, ma Cindy and Bert with The Summer Melody;
Switzerland, Piera Martell with Mein Ruf Nach Dir;
Portugal, Paulo de Carvalho with E Depois Do Adeus;
and Italy, Gigliola Cinquetti with Si.
Harrod Observer, April 6 1974, UK
British hopes in the Eurovision Song Contest (BBC-1, Sat.) hang on Olivia Newton-John and Long Live Love
. The contest comes this year from the Dome, Brighton, and will be watched by an estimated audience of 500 million in 30 countries throughout the world - including Iceland, Africa, South Korea and Japan. This year the voting goes back to the Are you there, Norway?
system of juries voting by telephone from their own countries. Katie Boyle again does all the languages and David Vine is the commentator for British viewers.