The Eurovision Song Contest 1959 was the fourth edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, held on 11 March 1959 in Cannes following the country's victory the previous year.
Monaco made its debut while the United Kingdom returned. Luxembourg withdrew from competing.
It was won by The Netherlands with the song "Een beetje", performed by Teddy Scholten. This was the second win of the decade for the country and the entry's lyricist Willy van Hemert was also the lyricist of "Net als toen", which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 in Frankfurt am Main.
Location[]
The event took place in Cannes, France, with the venue being the original building of Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, after France got the right to host this edition of the Eurovision Song Contest for winning its previous 1958 edition with the song "Dors, mon amour" performed by André Claveau. Cannes, a city located on the French Riviera, is a busy tourist destination and known worldwide for hosting the annual Cannes Film Festival, with the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès also hosting the Film Festival. The original building was built in 1949 and was located on the boulevard of Promenade de la Croisette, on the present site of the JW Marriott Cannes.
Format[]
A new rule was created for this Eurovision, ensuring that no professional publishers or composers were allowed in the national juries. Italy gave one point to France, no points to the UK and seven points to the Netherlands placing them just three points ahead of the UK. Later on France gave only three points to Italy and four points to the Netherlands giving them a five-point lead over the UK, who were only one point ahead of France, leaving Italy behind in sixth position, behind Denmark, on nine points. Something that occurred this year, but never again, was that more than the winning entry was performed once again. The second and third placed songs, United Kingdom and France, were allowed to sing again at the end of the show, together with eventual winner, the Netherlands.
Participants[]
Returning artists[]
Artist | Note |
---|---|
Birthe Wilke | Represented Denmark on its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 in Frankfurt am Main alongside Gustav Winckler with the song "Skibet skal sejle i nat", which finished in 3rd place with 10 points. |
Domenico Modugno | Represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest 1958 in Hilversum with the song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu", which finished in 3rd place with 13 points. |
Results[]
Draw | Country | Performer(s) | Song | Language | Translation | Place | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | France | Jean Philippe | "Oui, oui, oui, oui" | French | Yes, yes, yes, yes | 3 | 15 |
02 | Denmark | Birthe Wilke | "Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig" | Danish | Oh, I'd wish I were you | 5 | 12 |
03 | Italy | Domenico Modugno | "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)" | Italian | It's raining (Bye, bye baby) | 6 | 9 |
04 | Monaco | Jacques Pills | "Mon ami Pierrot" | French | Mon ami Pierrot | 11 | 1 |
05 | The Netherlands | Teddy Scholten | "Een beetje" | Dutch | A little bit | 1 | 21 |
06 | Germany | Alice & Ellen Kessler | "Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n" | German | Tonight We Want to Go Dancing | 8 | 5 |
07 | Sweden | Brita Borg | "Augustin" | Swedish | Augustine | 9 | 4 |
08 | Switzerland | Christa Williams | "Irgendwoher" | German | From somewhere | 4 | 14 |
09 | Austria | Ferry Graf | "Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien" | German | The K and K Calypso from Vienna | 9 | 4 |
10 | United Kingdom | Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson | "Sing, Little Birdie" | English | - | 2 | 16 |
11 | Belgium | Bob Benny | "Hou toch van mij" | Dutch | Do love me | 6 | 9 |
Scoreboard[]
Gallery[]