Eurovision Song Contest 1985

Background

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition, held every year by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with participants representing primarily European countries. The contest has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956, making it one of the longest-running television programmes in the world. The Eurovision Song Contest 1985 was the 30th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest.

Location

The contest took place in Gothenburg, Sweden, following the country's victory at the 1984 contest with the song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley" by Herrey's. This was the second time that Sweden hosted the contest, the first being in 1975. The contest was held at the Scandinavium, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Gothenburg.

An indoor view of the Scandinavium arena, showing the stage set up for a concert.

Format

The contest's format remained largely unchanged from previous years. Each country's entry was performed live by the artist(s), accompanied by a national commentator who provided information about the song and the performers. The performances were followed by a recap of all the songs, after which the telephone lines were opened for the public to vote. The voting process was overseen by scrutineers, who were responsible for ensuring that the voting was conducted fairly.

Participants

Twenty countries participated in the contest, with Greece returning after a one-year absence, and Cyprus withdrawing. The United Kingdom, France, and Spain were among the countries that participated, as they were part of the "Big Five", countries that are automatically qualified to participate due to their financial contribution to the EBU.

Songs and Performances

Each participating country submitted a song to be performed on live television and radio. The songs were required to be original and not to exceed three minutes in length. The performers were required to sing live, and the use of live instruments was mandatory.

Results

The winner of the contest was Norway with the song "La det swinge" performed by Bobbysocks!, marking Norway's first win in the contest. The song received a total of 123 points, 18 points ahead of the second-placed Germany. The United Kingdom finished in fourth place, while France and Spain finished in 10th and 14th place respectively.

Aftermath and Legacy

The 1985 contest is remembered for Norway's first victory, after years of poor results. The winning song, "La det swinge", became a hit in several countries, and Bobbysocks! enjoyed a successful career after the contest. The contest also marked the beginning of a period of Scandinavian dominance in the contest, with Sweden and Denmark winning in the following years.