United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990

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United Kingdom in the
Eurovision Song Contest 1990

Eurovision Song Contest 1990
Participating broadcaster| British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country|  United Kingdom
Selection process| A Song for Europe 1990
Selection date| 30 March 1990
Competing entry
Song| "Give a Little Love Back to the World"
Artist| Emma
Songwriter| Paul Curtis
Placement
Final result| 6th, 87 points
Participation chronology
| ◄1989 • | 1990 | • 1991►

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The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1990 with the song "Give a Little Love Back to the World", written by Paul Curtis, and performed by Emma. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final.

## Before Eurovision

[edit]

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Find sources: "United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2025)

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### A Song for Europe 1990

[edit]

The eight songs in contention to represent the United Kingdom were presented during Terry Wogan's Wogan chat show on BBC1. Two songs were presented during each of four broadcasts between 21 and 28 March. The songs were also featured in various programmes on BBC Radio 2.

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.

#### Final

[edit]

The BBC held the 1990 edition of A Song for Europe on 30 March at Studio 1 of the BBC Television Centre in London. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of Alyn Ainsworth as conductor accompanied all the songs, but despite performing live, the orchestra were off-screen, behind the set. Terry Wogan presided over the eight finalists and a panel of celebrities was assembled to comment on each of the entries. The panel was composed of Gloria Hunniford, Tim Rice, Cathy McGowan, and Carl Davis.

As in the last two years, a national telephone vote decided the outcome of the contest. Emma won with a runaway phone poll of 97,625 calls over John Miles, who polled 38,966.

A Song for Europe 1990 – 30 March 1990[1] Draw  | Artist  | Song  | Songwriter(s)  | Televote  | Place

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1 | Kelly | "Better Be Good to Me" | John Springate | 13,179 | 6
2 | Stephen Lee Garden | "That Old Feeling Again" | Mike Moran | 14,447 | 5
3 | Thom Hardwell | "Never Give Up" | Thom Hardwell | 3,540 | 8
4 | Emma | "Give a Little Love Back to the World" | Paul Curtis | 97,625 | 1
5 | Les McKeown | "Ball And Chain" | John Griggs | 15,171 | 4
6 | Simon Spiro | "Face In The Crowd" | David Reilly | 5,551 | 7
7 | Kim Goody | "Sentimental Again" | Mo Foster, Kim Goody | 17,986 | 3
8 | John Miles | "Where I Belong" | John Miles, Michael Scanlon-Pratt | 38,966 | 2

## At Eurovision

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The contest was broadcast on BBC1 and BBC TV Europe with commentary by Terry Wogan,[2][3] and on BBC Radio 2, with commentary by Ken Bruce.[4] It was also shown on SSVC Television for British Army troops stationed in Germany.[5]

The final was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on 5 May. Emma was supported by several backing singers including Miriam Stockley (later a backing vocalist for Katrina and the Waves in 1997) and Sam Blue (who competed against Katrina and the Waves in the 1997 national final). "Give a Little Love Back to the World" placed sixth place with 87 points.[6]

### Voting

[edit]

Points awarded to the United Kingdom[7] | Score  | Country

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12 points  |  Belgium
10 points  |

*  France
*  Israel
*   Switzerland
*  Yugoslavia

8 points  |
7 points  |  Spain
6 points  |

*  Ireland
*  Italy

5 points  |  Greece
4 points  |
3 points  |

*  Cyprus
*  Denmark
*  Luxembourg

2 points  |
1 point  |

*  Austria
*  Germany

Points awarded by the United Kingdom[7] | Score  | Country

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12 points  |  Iceland
10 points  |  Ireland
8 points  |  Austria
7 points  |  Germany
6 points  |  Sweden
5 points  |  Yugoslavia
4 points  |  Netherlands
3 points  |  Luxembourg
2 points  |  Portugal
1 point  |  Spain

## References

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1. ^ Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 11–32\. ISBN 978-1-84583-163-9.
2. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 90 – BBC One". Radio Times. 5 May 1990. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via BBC Genome Project.
3. ^ "TV lørdag" [TV Saturday]. Moss Dagblad (in Norwegian). Moss, Norway. 5 May 1990. pp. 32–33\. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via National Library of Norway.
4. ^ "Eurovision Song Contest – BBC Radio 2". Radio Times. 5 May 1990. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022 – via BBC Genome Project.
5. ^ "Radio en televisie zaterdag" [Radio and television Saturday]. Limburgs Dagblad (in Dutch). Heerlen, Netherlands. 5 May 1990. p. 51. Retrieved 26 September 2024 – via Delpher.
6. ^ "Final of Zagreb 1990". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
7. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Zagreb 1990". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.

* v
* t
* e

United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest

National selection (former; contestants)

Participation|

* 1957
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* ~~2020~~
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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
* Remember Monday
* 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)"
* "What the Hell Just Happened?"
* "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. Italics indicate an entry in a future contest.
* See also: UK Eurovision discography

* v
* t
* e

Eurovision Song Contest 1990

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|

* Anastasiou
* Azúcar Moreno
* Beat
* Christos Callow
* Céline Carzo
* Toto Cutugno
* Lonnie Devantier
* Edin-Ådahl
* Egon Egemann
* Emma
* Kayahan
* Chris Kempers and Daniel Kovac
* Philippe Lafontaine
* Maywood
* Nucha
* Liam Reilly
* Rita
* Simone
* Stjórnin
* Ketil Stokkan
* Tajči
* Joëlle Ursull

Songs|

* "Bandido"
* "Brandenburger Tor"
* "Eitt lag enn"
* "Frei zu leben"
* "Fri?"
* "Give a Little Love Back to the World"
* "Gözlerinin Hapsindeyim"
* "Há sempre alguém"
* "Hajde da ludujemo"
* "Hallo Hallo"
* "Horis skopo"
* "Ik wil alles met je delen"
* "Insieme: 1992"
* "Keine Mauern mehr"
* "Macédomienne"
* "Milas poli"
* "Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus"
* "Quand je te rêve"
* "Shara Barkhovot"
* "Som en vind"
* "Somewhere in Europe"
* "White and Black Blues"

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