Eurovision Echoes: Harrogate '82

🎤 The Event

The Eurovision Song Contest 1982 marked the 27th iteration of this prestigious international music competition. It convened on 24 April 1982, hosted at the Harrogate International Centre in Harrogate, United Kingdom. The event was orchestrated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the host broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), who earned the hosting rights after securing victory in the 1981 contest with Bucks Fizz's \"Making Your Mind Up\".

🌍 Global Reach

This edition featured 18 participating nations, a relatively low number that would not be surpassed in subsequent contests. Notably, Greece and France were absent; Greece withdrew due to internal disagreements regarding the selected entry's quality, while France's absence was attributed to telecommunications law reforms and a perceived lack of quality in submissions, leading to a temporary hiatus for the nation.

🎶 The Winning Melody

The contest culminated in a historic victory for Germany with the song \"Ein bißchen Frieden\", performed by Nicole. This marked Germany's first-ever win in the competition's history. The song, composed by Bernd Meinunger and Ralph Siegel, achieved a significant margin of victory, underscoring its widespread appeal and establishing a benchmark for future performances.

🔢 Entry Count

A total of 18 countries submitted entries for the 1982 contest. This number represented a relatively modest participation, marking the last time the contest would feature such a limited number of entries.

❌ Notable Absences

Greece, initially slated to participate with \"Sarantapente kopelies\" by Themis Adamantidis, withdrew shortly before the event. Reports indicated that the Greek Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri, expressed dissatisfaction with the chosen song's quality. Similarly, France, represented by TF1, initially declined participation due to concerns over song quality and contest format, though Antenne 2 later took over representation for subsequent years.

🔄 Returning Artists

Several artists had prior Eurovision experience, either as lead performers or backing vocalists for their respective nations. Notable returnees included Norway's Anita Skorgan and Jahn Teigen, Portugal's Fatima Padinha and Teresa Miguel (as part of Gemini), the UK's Sally Ann Triplett (as part of Prima Donna), Cyprus's Anna Vissi (who previously represented Greece), and Belgium's Stella Maessen (who represented both the Netherlands and Belgium in earlier contests).

🏆 Germany's Triumph

Following consecutive second-place finishes in 1980 and 1981, Germany, represented by Nicole with \"Ein bißchen Frieden\", secured its inaugural Eurovision victory. The performance was dominant, leading the scoring from the outset and ultimately amassing 161 points, significantly outscoring the runner-up, Israel, by 61 points. This victory was a landmark moment for Germany, watched by an estimated 13 million viewers domestically.

🎤 The Winning Song's Impact

Nicole's rendition of \"Ein bißchen Frieden\" resonated deeply, leading to a multilingual reprise in German, English, French, and Dutch. The English version, \"A Little Peace\", achieved considerable international success, topping the UK Singles Chart and cementing its status as a memorable Eurovision winner. The song's composers, Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, became celebrated figures in German Eurovision history.

📊 Voting System

The contest employed a jury-based voting system, wherein each participating country's jury awarded points ranging from 1 to 12 to their ten most preferred songs. This system ensured a nuanced evaluation of entries across different national tastes.

⭐ Top Scores

Germany's winning entry, \"Ein bißchen Frieden\", received the highest number of 12-point scores, garnering this maximum from nine countries. This widespread appreciation across multiple national juries significantly contributed to its commanding victory. Israel also performed strongly, receiving 12 points from two countries.

12 Point Allocations

N.	Contestant	Nation(s) giving 12 points
9	Germany	Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Yugoslavia
2	Cyprus	Netherlands, Norway
	Israel	Finland, Germany
	United Kingdom	Austria, Luxembourg
	Yugoslavia	Sweden

📢 Key Spokespersons

The official spokespersons for each country played a crucial role in relaying the jury votes during the live broadcast. These individuals served as the direct link between the national juries and the audience, announcing their country's points.

💡 Key Details

The following notes provide additional context and specific details related to the Eurovision Song Contest 1982:

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📜 Important Notice

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