Eurovision Song Contest 1983

Infobox Eurovision
name = Eurovision Song Contest 1983


final = 23 April 1983
presenters = Marlene Charell
conductor = Dieter Reith
director = Rainer Bertram
host = flagicon|West Germany ARD
venue = Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle, Munich, West Germany
winner = flag|Luxembourg
"Si La Vie Est Cadeau"
vote = Each country awarded 12, 10, 8-1 points to their 10 favourite songs
entries = 20
debut = None
return = flag|France
flag|Greece
flag|Italy
withdraw = flag|Ireland
null = flag|Spain
flag|Turkey
interval = Marlene Charell
opening = Marlene Charell introducing each act and calling all of them on stage together.
con = Eurovision Song Contest
pre = ◄1982
nex = 1984►

The Eurovision Song Contest 1983, the 28th in the series, was held in Munich, then West Germany, on 23 April 1983. The presenter was Marlene Charell, who delivered her introductions in German, English and French. Corinne Hermes was the winner of this Eurovision with the song, "Si La Vie Est Cadeau". This was Luxembourg's fifth victory in the contest which equalled the record set by France in 1977.

The set that year was rather peculiar, with a quite small, arc-shaped stage surrounding the orchestra section, and a large background resembling giant electric heaters, which lit up in different sequences and combinations depending on the nature and rhythm of the songs.

Voting

Toward the end of the voting, it became evident that Luxembourg was going to win, but early on, Germany, Sweden, and Yugoslavia all threatened to take Luxembourg's lead, which they earned halfway through the jury vote. At one point, murmurs and boos arose from the crowd at the Greek jury's decision to give host country Germany only one point; at another point, most of the other teams applauded the Dutch jury's choice to give Luxembourg only one point, causing host Marlene Charell to chuckle nervously at the crowd reaction.

Language troubles

Due to Charell's choice to announce points in three languages instead of the traditional two, the voting went on for nearly an hour, stretching the Eurovision contest past three hours for the first time ever. [http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=66&event=299 Eurovision 1983 facts] ] In addition, Charell made 13 language mistakes throughout the voting, [http://www.eurovision.tv/index/main?page=66&event=299 Eurovision 1983 facts] ] some as innocuous as mixing up the words for "points" between the three languages, some as major as nearly awarding points to "Schweden" (Sweden) that were meant for "Schweiz" (Switzerland).

The language problems also occurred during the contest introductions, as Charell introduced Norwegian conductor Sigurd Jansen as "...Johannes...Skorgan...",Boom-Bang-a-Bang: Eurovision's Funniest Moments, BBC-TV, hosted by Terry Wogan] having been forced to make up a name on the spot as she could not pronounce "Sigurd."

ong success

Ofra Haza from Israel, who took the second place, had an enduring success with her song "Khay" which became a hit in Europe, launching her career. This year also marked the first performance of Sweden's Carola Häggkvist, who took the third place and went on to win the contest in 1991 and represented her country again in 2006 (coming fifth). Her song, "Främling", became very popular in Sweden and in various other European countries. In The Netherlands, the song reached the top five, coupled with a Dutch language version ("Je ogen heben geen geheimen meer") which was performed by Carola herself. The 4th placed Džuli, also became a mega hit in Europe. Singer Daniel released an English language version as "Julie".

Nul points

This year's "nul points" were shared by Spain and Turkey. Spain's Remedios Amaya presented a song which was a stark departure from popular tastes and conventional perception of melody and harmony. Turkey's entry, "Opera", performed by Çetin Alp & the Short Waves, could on the other hand be said to fit in well with the spirit of Eurovision of that time. Nevertheless, the overinterpretation of the theme of the song, as well as the fact that the lyrics of the song consisted for the most part of the often-repeated word "opera" and names of well-known operas and composers, and Çetin's breaking into operatic "lay lay la", prompted extensive derision of the song, including the usual sardonic words from BBC commentator Terry Wogan ("a nicely understated performance there").

Interval act

The interval show was a dance number set to a medley of German songs which had become internationally famous, including Strangers in the Night. The host, Marlene Charell, was the lead dancer.

Results

Voting structure

Each country had a jury who awarded 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points for their top ten songs.

core sheet

		Results
	France		3	0	0	10	0	0	10	6	7	2	3	4	4	0	1	3	0	0	3
	Norway	0		5	3	0	6	0	0	0	0	8	0	0	1	8	4	6	3	7	2
	United Kingdom	5	5		12	2	5	0	8	0	5	5	0	6	3	5	0	2	10	0	6
	Sweden	6	12	8		8	7	2	5	10	10	3	1	7	12	10	8	4	8	5	0
	Italy	7	0	0	2		4	3	0	1	2	0	8	1	0	0	6	7	0	0	0
	Turkey	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Switzerland	0	1	0	0	7	0	1		0	0	0	7	0	0	0	0	0	6	1	5
	Finland	1	2	6	0	0	3	0	4		8	0	0	0	7	0	7	0	2	0	1
	Greece	3	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	5		0	0	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Netherlands	2	7	1	6	4	2	0	12	3	0		5	5	2	4	3	0	4	2	4
	Yugoslavia	0	8	12	0	1	12	10	0	12	6	7		8	6	12	10	0	1	12	8
	Cyprus	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	6		5	1	5	0	0	4	0
	Germany	10	10	7	8	6	0	0	2	4	1	10	0	0		3	0	8	7	6	12
	Denmark	0	0	2	7	0	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	2	0		0	0	0	0	0
	Israel	8	6	10	5	3	0	6	7	7	3	12	10	0	10	7		10	12	10	10
	Portugal	4	0	0	1	0	0	5	6	2	0	6	2	0	0	0	0		0	0	7
	Austria	0	0	3	4	5	10	0	0	0	4	4	4	3	0	6	2	5		3	0
	Belgium	0	0	4	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		0
	Luxembourg	12	0	0	10	12	8	7	3	8	12	1	12	10	8	2	12	12	5	8
THE TABLE IS ORDERED BY APPEARANCE

pokespersons

* France - Marie Myriam
* Norway - Sverre Tinnå
* United Kingdom - Colin Berry
* Sweden - Agneta Bolme-Börjefors
* Italy - TBC
* Turkey - Fatih Orbay
* Spain - Rosa Campano
* Switzerland - Michel Dénériaz
* Finland - Solveig Herlin
* Greece - TBC
* Netherlands - Flip van der Schalie
* Yugoslavia - TBC
* Cyprus - Anna
* Germany - Lotti Ohnesorge
* Denmark - Bent Henius
* Israel - Daniel Pe'er
* Portugal - Artur Agostinho
* Austria - Tilia Herold
* Belgium - Monique Delvaux
* Luxembourg - Fernand Mathes

Map

References