Part 2: 1958 ("Volare" comes 3rd!?!).
Continues tomorrow.
THE BIGGEST
CONTROVERSIES
Of the
EUROVISION
SONG CONTEST
(1956
- 2019)
From its
inaugural year, the Eurovision Song Contest has had more than its fair share of
controversial moments. This is a special look back on 30 significant upsets in chronological order.
1958
“Nel
Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)” comes third!?!
Most of the entries from Eurovision’s fledgling years were dreary
and forgettable. The one shining exception was the Italian entry from the 1958
Contest. “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu” is better known today as “Volare”.
The song was a worldwide success, even in countries unfamiliar
with the ESC. Performed in Italian by Domenico Modugno, “Volare” reached #1 in
Australia and the U.S.A. The disc sold 2 million copies in America alone.
In 1958, the first Grammy Awards were presented and the song
collected the trophies for Record and Song of the Year. This remains the only
time a foreign language recording has received these awards.
“Volare” is still the only Eurovision song to earn a Grammy. It
is also the Contest’s most covered entry. It is difficult to comprehend how such
an infectious and timeless song failed to win at Eurovision. Italy’s entry finished
in third place. Today, few would recall which 2 songs received a higher score.
For the record, France won with “Dors, Mon Amour” and Switzerland’s “Giorgio”
(by first winner Lys Assia) was the runner-up that year.
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