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United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981

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Eurovision Song Contest 1981
Participating broadcasterBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country United Kingdom
National selection
Selection processA Song for Europe 1981
Selection date(s)11 March 1981
Selected artist(s)Bucks Fizz
Selected song"Making Your Mind Up"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result1st, 136 points
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1980 1981 1982►

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song "Making Your Mind Up", composed by John Danter, with lyrics by Andy Hill, and performed by Bucks Fizz. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final titled A Song for Europe 1981. The entry eventually won the Eurovision Song Contest.

Before Eurovision

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A Song for Europe 1981

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The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reduced the number of finalists from twelve to eight in 1981. Terry Wogan hosted the national final on 11 March at the BBC Television Theatre in London. 581 songs were submitted to the Music Publisher's Association to pick eight songs. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of John Coleman as conductor accompanied all the songs, but all the music was pre-recorded. The show was the 16th most watched programme of the week with a rating of 12.4 million viewers, the highest for three years.[1] Johnny Logan was scheduled to appear as a guest on the programme, but had to cancel shortly before the air date.

Seven regional juries voted on the songs. The regional juries voted internally and awarded 15 points to their favourite song, 12 points to the second, 10 points to the third and then 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 points in order of preference for the songs from 4th to 8th. Before the reprise, Terry Wogan incorrectly read the title of the winning song as "Where Are You Now." The prizes were presented by Wogan to John Danter, one of the songwriters, and to Mike Nolan, one of the performers.

A Song for Europe 1981 – 11 March 1981[2]
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place
01 Headache "Not Without Your Ticket (Don't Go)" Luís Jardim, Jean Gilbert 50 7th
02 Gary Benson "All Cried Out" Gary Benson 63 4th
03 Unity "For Only a Day" John Dawson Read, Christopher Gunning 38 8th
04 Beyond "Wish" Steve Elson, Don Gould 67 3rd
05 Bucks Fizz "Making Your Mind Up" Andy Hill, John Danter 97 1st
06 Gem "Have You Ever Been in Love?" Andy Hill, Peter Sinfield, John Danter 63 4th
07 Lezlee Carling "Where Are You Now" Lindsey Moore 56 6th
08 Liquid Gold "Don't Panic" Adrian Baker 70 2nd
Detailed Jury Votes[2]
Draw Song
Birmingham
Cardiff
Manchester
Belfast
Edinburgh
London
Bristol
Total
1 "Not Without Your Ticket" 7 5 10 10 6 5 7 50
2 "All Cried Out" 12 8 8 8 8 10 9 63
3 "For Only a Day" 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 38
4 "Wish" 15 9 6 9 12 8 8 67
5 "Making Your Mind Up" 10 15 15 15 15 15 12 97
6 "Have You Ever Been in Love" 8 10 7 12 7 9 10 63
7 "Where Are You Now" 6 12 9 7 9 7 6 56
8 "Don't Panic" 9 7 12 5 10 12 15 70
Jury Spokespersons[2]
Jury Spokesperson
Birmingham David Stevens
Cardiff Iwan Thomas
Manchester John Mundy
Belfast Peter Dickson
Edinburgh Jim O'Hara
London Ray Moore
Bristol Andy Batten-Foster

UK Discography

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Unusually for the UK competition, three of the finalists reached the UK Singles Chart. "Making Your Mind Up" spent three weeks at number one, whilst the runner-up, "Don't Panic!" reached number 42 at more-or-less the same time. "Have You Ever Been in Love?" was a UK no.10 hit for Leo Sayer in 1982, also reaching no.4 in Australia. The track was covered by many other artists, including Peter Cetera and Westlife. "For Only A Day" was later used as the theme song for Miss World 1983, performed live by all the contestants during the broadcast.

  • Gary Benson – All Cried Out: Warner Bros./WEA K17773.
  • Unity – For Only A Day: Epic A1066.
  • Beyond – Wish: Radioactive RAD102.
  • Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up: RCA PB5339.
  • Paris – Have You Ever Been in Love?: RCA PB5475.
  • Leo Sayer – Have You Ever Been in Love?: Chrysalis CHS2596 (1982).
  • Liquid Gold – Don't Panic: Polo POLO12-8.

At Eurovision

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"Making Your Mind Up" performed by Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest 1981. It received 136 points from the 19 juries, beating Germany's "Johnny Blue" by Lena Valaitis.[3]

Members of the British jury included Norman Harper, S. Andrew, David Bratt, P. Green, A. Harmann, J.P. Robinson, D. Ruteledge, S. Tapper, I. Tyler, G. Wallbank, and Conor E. Young.[2]

Voting

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References

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  1. ^ Television's Greatest Hits, Network Books, Paul Gambaccini and Rod Taylor, 1993. ISBN 0 563 36247 2
  2. ^ a b c d Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 56–83. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.
  3. ^ "Final of Dublin 1981". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Dublin 1981". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
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