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United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982

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Eurovision Song Contest 1982
Participating broadcasterBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country United Kingdom
National selection
Selection processA Song for Europe 1982
Selection date(s)24 March 1982
Selected artist(s)Bardo
Selected song"One Step Further"
Selected songwriter(s)Simon Jefferis
Finals performance
Final result7th, 76 points
United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1981 • 1982 • 1983►

The United Kingdom was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 with the song "One Step Further", written by Simon Jefferis, and performed by the band Bardo. The British participating broadcaster, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, the BBC was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Harrogate International Centre in Harrogate, after winning the previous edition with the song "Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz.

Before Eurovision

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A Song for Europe 1982

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The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used once again the television show A Song for Europe to select its entry, as it had since its debut at the contest in 1957. Terry Wogan once again hosted the contest, which was held on 24 March at Studio 1 of the BBC Television Centre in London. Eight songs were shortlisted from those submitted to the Music Publishers Association. Bucks Fizz were guests at the show, singing their current single "My Camera Never Lies" in a pre-recorded performance. The group were interviewed by Terry Wogan live during the show and group member Bobby G performed backing vocals for the winning artists, Bardo. The BBC Concert Orchestra under the direction of Ronnie Hazlehurst as conductor accompanied all the songs, but despite performing live, the orchestra were off-screen, behind the set. The set itself gave a suggestion as to the main Eurovision stage in Harrogate which also used light columns and mirrors,[1] in addition this set was partially recycled for the Doctor Who adventure Snakedance, broadcast almost a year later.

Paul Curtis planned to perform two of his three entries himself and recorded the two tracks for his forthcoming album. "Different Worlds, Different People" was to be performed by Curtis with a backing trio, but he opted not to sing the song himself due to the running order, and Bobby McVay sang the song in the competition with Samantha Spencer Lane and two other singers under the group name Lovin' Feeling. McVay returned to win the contest the following year as a member of Sweet Dreams. Curtis returned on several more occasions as a songwriter, winning the contest in 1984, 1990 and 1991. Curtis' third song was performed by family group The Weltons, who were the only act taking part in the 1982 final that had any prior performing or recording experience, having released several singles, including "Down at Shorty's Place", "Hang 10, Hang10", and "Sweet Rock 'n' Roller", although none of them had reached the UK singles chart, but they had been promoted on German television and radio.[2][3][4] The quartet 'Good Looks' featured Lewis and Lavinia Rodgers, the brother and sister of former UK Eurovision entrant Clodagh Rodgers. Although formed for the competition to sing Dave Mindel's "Every Day of My Life", the group stayed together and recorded the closing theme song for Jim'll Fix It, also composed by Mindel. On one edition of that show, the group performed the song with a viewer who'd asked Jim to fix it for him to sing the song.

Bardo's victory meant that Sally-Ann Triplett became only the third singer to win the Song for Europe contest twice, having already won the 1980 contest as part of Prima Donna. (Cliff Richard had represented the UK twice in Eurovision, but did not participate in a contest to determine the British artist). Triplett remains the only artist to have participated multiple times to win the contest at all attempts.

The regional juries voted internally and awarded 15 points to their favourite song, 12 points to the second, 10 points to the third and then 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 points in order of preference for the songs from 4th to 8th. The juries were based in Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast, London, Manchester and Cardiff.[5]

A Song for Europe 1982 – 24 March 1982[6]
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place
1 Q-Feel "Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)" Brian Fairweather, Martin Page 59 6th
2 Paul Curtis "No Matter How I Try" Paul Curtis 60 4th
3 The Touring Company "Every Step of the Way" David Mindel 69 2nd
4 Lovin' Feeling "Different Worlds and Different People" Tony Hiller, Paul Curtis 60 4th
5 Good Looks "Every Day of My Life" Patrick Burston, David Mindel 69 2nd
6 Rich Gypsy "You're the Only Good Thing in My Life" Elaine Saffer, John Carrington 53 8th
7 Bardo "One Step Further" Simon Jefferis 76 1st
8 The Weltons "How Long" Paul Curtis, Graham Sacher 58 7th
Detailed Jury Votes[6]
Draw Song
Glasgow
Birmingham
Bristol
Belfast
London
Manchester
Cardiff
 Total
1 "Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)" 15 8 8 7 10 5 6 59
2 "No Matter How I Try" 12 6 6 15 5 9 7 60
3 "Every Step of the Way" 6 15 15 6 12 6 9 69
4 "Different Worlds and Different People" 7 9 7 8 7 7 15 60
5 "Every Day of My Life" 8 10 10 12 9 12 8 69
6 "You're the Only Good Thing in My Life" 5 7 5 10 6 15 5 53
7 "One Step Further" 10 12 12 9 15 8 10 76
8 "How Long" 9 5 9 5 8 10 12 58
Jury Spokespersons[6]
Jury Spokesperson
Glasgow Ken Bruce
Birmingham David Freeman
Bristol Andy Batten-Foster
Belfast David Olver
London Ray Moore
Manchester John Mundy
Cardiff Iwan Thomas

UK Discography

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  • Q-Feel - Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop): Jive JIVET7 (7" Single)/JIVETS7 (12" Single).
  • Paul Curtis - No Matter How I Try: RCA RCA215.
  • The Touring Company - Every Step Of The Way: Radioactive RAD504.
  • Lovin' Feeling - Different Worlds, Different People: Dazzle DAZS7.
  • Paul Curtis - Different Worlds, Different People: RCA PB9961.
  • Good Looks - Every Day Of My Life: Radioactive RAD503.
  • Rich Gypsy - You're The Only Good Thing In My Life: Splash/CBS A2290.
  • Bardo - One Step Further: Epic A2265.
  • The Weltons - How Long?: Carrere CAR233.

At Eurovision

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The BBC hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 in Harrogate, presented by Jan Leeming. The British entry, "One Step Further" by Bardo, only gained 76 points and was positioned seventh over all, despite being in the top three for most of the point awarding. The winner of the contest was Germany with "Ein bißchen Frieden" by Nicole.[7]

Voting

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References

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  1. ^ @HgtConventions (8 August 2014). "It's 1982 and HIC's main auditorium hosts the Eurovision Song Contest. Another pic from our archives... #harrogate" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ fritz51318 (30 January 2014). "The Weltons - Down at Shorty's Place 1981". YouTube. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Unknown". YouTube. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. ^ Potzn Panz (24 January 2014). "The Weltons - 'Hang 10 Hang 10' (1972)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021.
  5. ^ "A Song for Europe 1982". Songs 4 Europe. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009.
  6. ^ a b c Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 104–124. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.
  7. ^ "Final of Harrogate 1982". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Harrogate 1982". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
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