United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1989

Eurovision Song Contest 1989
Eurovision Song Contest 1989
Participating broadcaster	British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country	United Kingdom
National selection
Selection process	A Song for Europe 1989
Selection date(s)	24 March 1989
Selected artist(s)	Live Report
Selected song	"Why Do I Always Get It Wrong"
Selected songwriter(s)	Brian Hodgson; John Beeby;
Finals performance
Final result	2nd, 130 points
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1989 with the song "Why Do I Always Get It Wrong", composed by John Beeby, with lyrics by Brian Hodgson, and performed by Live Report. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final.

Before Eurovision

A Song for Europe 1989

A Song for Europe 1989 was a very dis-jointed final. The original singer chosen for "Back in the Groove" was to have been Garry Gibb; the song "Shame" was to have been sung by its writer, Marwenna Haver, and the song that won had its name and the name of the performer changed.

The BBC held the final on 24 March 1989 at Studio 6 of the BBC Television Centre in London, featuring eight songs and hosted by Terry Wogan on BBC1. A separate results show was broadcast on BBC1 the same evening. BBC Radio 2 simulcast the final and also broadcast the results show, both with commentary by Ken Bruce.

The eight songs in contention to represent the United Kingdom were premiered in various programmes on BBC Radio 2 between 20 and 23 March.

The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of Ronnie Hazlehurst as conductor accompanied all but the winning song, but despite performing live, the orchestra were off-screen, behind the set. Hazlehurst conducted two live keyboard players who accompanied the UK entry’s backing track at the Eurovision final in Lausanne.

For the second year running, the BBC convened a panel to pass comment on each of the songs. The panel comprised Deke Arlon, Gary Davies, Leslie Bricusse, and former Eurovision winner Lulu.

There were 300,000 televotes cast in 90 minutes of telephone lines being open for voting.

*A Song for Europe 1989* – 24 March 1989^[1]
Draw	Artist	Song	Songwriter(s)	Televotes	Place
1	Frankie Johnson	"Back in the Groove"	Bradley James, Stewart James	10,731	6
2	James Oliver	"Can't Stop Loving You"	James Oliver	9,110	7
3	Jane Alexander	"Shame"	Marwenna Haver, Peter Oxendale	47,664	3
4	Danny Ellis	"Just for the Good Times"	Les Reed, David Reilly	6,777	8
5	Julie C	"You Stepped Out of My Dreams"	Bill Jessop, Jason Havenhand	51,449	2
6	Live Report	"Why Do I Always Get It Wrong"	Brian Hodgson, John Beeby	111,996	1
7	The Pearls	"Love Come Down"	Joe Ortiz, Pauly Moore	33,279	4
8	Linda Carroll	"Heaven Help My Heart"	Clark Sorely	17,084	5

UK Discography

Frankie Johnson - Back In The Groove: Polydor FJ2 (7" Single)/FJX2 (12" Single).
Elkie Brooks - Shame: Telstar STATS2394.
Julie C - You Stepped Out Of My Dreams: Sonet SON2343 (7" Single)/SONL2343 (12" Single).
Live Report - Why Do I Always Get It Wrong: Brouhaha CUE7 (7" Single)/12CUE7 (12" Single).

At Eurovision

The 1989 contest was staged at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne, Switzerland on 6 May. 22 countries participated, and the UK performed seventh on the night. Live Report took second place with 130 points, seven points behind the winners, Yugoslavia.^[2]

Voting

Points awarded to the United Kingdom^[3]
Score	Country
12 points	France Germany Luxembourg Norway Portugal
10 points	Spain Sweden
8 points	Austria
7 points	Israel Netherlands
6 points	Finland Italy Yugoslavia
5 points
4 points	Ireland
3 points
2 points	Cyprus Greece
1 point	Denmark Turkey

Points awarded by the United Kingdom^[3]
Score	Country
12 points	Yugoslavia
10 points	Denmark
8 points	Switzerland
7 points	Spain
6 points	Cyprus
5 points	Greece
4 points	Sweden
3 points	Netherlands
2 points	Israel
1 point	Germany

References

^ Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 351–369. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.
^ "Final of Lausanne 1989". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Results of the Final of Lausanne 1989". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

[Roxburgh-1] Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 351–369. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.

[2] "Final of Lausanne 1989". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

[1989detailed-3] "Results of the Final of Lausanne 1989". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

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v t e United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
Discography National selection (Contestants)
Participation	1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 ~~2020~~ 2021 2022 2023 2024
Artists	Andy Abraham Olly Alexander The Allisons Michael Ball Bardo Belle and the Devotions Black Lace Blue Patricia Bredin Brotherhood of Man Bucks Fizz Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson Ronnie Carroll Co-Co Josh Dubovie Electro Velvet Emma Jade Ewen Scott Fitzgerald James Fox Nicki French Jessica Garlick Gina G Mary Hopkin Engelbert Humperdinck Imaani Samantha Janus Javine Jemini Joe and Jake Bryan Johnson Lucie Jones Katrina and the Waves Kathy Kirby Lindsay Live Report Love City Groove Lulu Kenneth McKellar Molly Matt Monro Mike Moran Mae Muller The New Seekers James Newman Olivia Newton-John Lynsey de Paul Precious Prima Donna Michael Rice Cliff Richard Rikki Clodagh Rodgers Frances Ruffelle Ryder Sam Ryder Daz Sampson Scooch The Shadows Sandie Shaw Sonia SuRie Sweet Dreams Bonnie Tyler Vikki
Songs	"All" "Are You Sure?" "The Bad Old Days" "Beg, Steal or Borrow" "Believe in Me" "Better the Devil You Know" "Bigger than Us" "Boom Bang-a-Bang" "Children of the Universe" "Come Back" "Congratulations" "Cry Baby" "Dizzy" "Don't Play That Song Again" "Embers" "Even If" "Flying the Flag (For You)" "Give a Little Love Back to the World" "Go" "Hold On to Our Love" "I Belong" "I Can" "I Love the Little Things" "I Wrote a Song" "I'm Never Giving Up" "It's My Time" "Jack in the Box" "Knock, Knock Who's There?" "Let Me Be the One" "Long Live Love" "Looking High, High, High" "Love City Groove" "Love Enough for Two" "Love Games" "Love Is..." "Love Shine a Light" "Love Will Set You Free" "Making Your Mind Up" "A Man Without Love" "Mary Ann" "A Message to Your Heart" ~~"My Last Breath"~~ "Never Give Up on You" "No Dream Impossible" "One Step Further" "One Step Out of Time" "Only the Light" "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" "Power to All Our Friends" "Puppet on a String" "Ring-A-Ding Girl" "Rock Bottom" "Runner in the Night" "Save Your Kisses for Me" "Say It Again" "Say Wonderful Things" "Sing, Little Birdie" "Space Man" "Still in Love with You" "Storm" "Teenage Life" "That Sounds Good to Me" "Touch My Fire" "We Will Be Free (Lonely Symphony)" "Where Are You?" "Why Do I Always Get It Wrong" "You're Not Alone"
Note: Entries scored out signify where the United Kingdom did not compete

v t e Eurovision Song Contest 1989
Countries	Austria Belgium Cyprus Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom Yugoslavia
Artists	Nino de Angelo Kiev Connolly and the Missing Passengers Da Vinci Thomas Forstner Furbaz Gili and Galit Daníel Ágúst Haraldsson Ingeborg Britt Synnøve Johansen Birthe Kjær Live Report Marianna Tommy Nilsson Nina Anna Oxa and Fausto Leali Pan Nathalie Pâque Park Café Justine Pelmelay Fani Polymeri and Yiannis Savvidakis Riva Anneli Saaristo
Songs	"Apopse as vrethoume" "Avrei voluto" "Bana Bana" "Blijf zoals je bent" "Conquistador" "Derekh Hamelekh" "La dolce vita" "Door de wind" "En dag" "Flieger" "J'ai volé la vie" "Monsieur" "Nacida para amar" "Nur ein Lied" "The Real Me" "Rock Me" "Það sem enginn sér" "To diko sou asteri" "Venners nærhet" "Vi maler byen rød" "Viver senza tei" "Why Do I Always Get It Wrong"