USC 1964 - review

Sweden open the 9th United Song Contest and Italy close this music contest. Thirteen countries compete for a victory. The fanclub OGAU have had a secret telephone investigation on how songs are appealed to audiences in different countries. Also the first USC winner Siw Malmqvist (who participated in melosong 1964) was also in this expert panel on commenting on the songs.

Since we entered the new decade there has been very slow developments of modern music in USC but still this contest is much more up to date than the old fashioned Eurovision.


GeorgieFree review:

1.SWEDEN open strong with the energetic singer Lill Babs. A true schlager with a very catchy melody but after a few listenings it get a bit repetitive but still Lill is an eminent artist.



2.GERMANY prove that USC is no old traditional folkmusic contest. Here we have psychedelico craziou style of music. This would be a great and modern winner and Drafi is fantastic on stage. This rocks. Shake hands, shake your bum, dance all night long! Go Germany.



3.SPAIN still tend to send their ballada singers but now with Conchita they have send one of the very few pop songs spain has seen. We are told that the stage show will be something very revolutionary. 4 dancers move around Conchita instead of the old way to have 4-5 choir singers in the background. This is a new year indeed. Bravo Spain.



4.SLOVENIA is the first ballada in this year. How nice it is with a passionate singer. But this is a pop music contest and this can not do well at all.



5.HUNGARY also send an up tempo pop a la 64 that will work good with the audiences but if the jury will like or not is another question. This is quality and maybe the jury are as sophiststicated to realise it is a song for the top position in 1964. The instrumental parts give it an even greater party feeling and they are said to be performe in costumes beyond this world….don’t miss this one.



6.FYR of MACEDONIA has taken one gamble with Nina when they sing this love song of the French and Italian movies. You can picture the unlucky and the kiss good bye on the screen while listening to this great song. But this is not a sad love movie. Violins are very well arranged. Good voice. Sleepy song.



7.NETHERLANDS go duet with Willy and Willeke and it works. It works very well. This kind of song is the kind that for example Belgium still would die to send for USC or Eurovision even 44 years from now. Short and intensive. A song you simple must hear again! On stage they have a passion that burst flames of fire out from the television set.



8.AUSTRIA has Freddy “The voice” and must be considered as one of the most popular by jury. But this is the kind of songs that you should listen for Christmas holiday and no longer than at most to January 6th and now we are long gone into may.



9.FRANCE send a diva. Dalida will sparkle on stage and she is not only singing fantastic but also has charisma and voice to score high, very high. And now she even has a song that will bring her to the absolute top. Paris in 1965 wouldn’t surprise me nor would it be bad. On contraire, J’espoir ca!



10.POLAND has Alibabki, a jazz mix of church choir and happy feet song. Hmm….I fear it will be too different and strange for most jurys.



11.GREECE send another superstar. Nana is fantastic and is just as shining as Dalida but this song is too sleepy for a victory and also jury could not be positive that greeks flirt with international by singing in English. Here Germans, Swedish and French are at least holding on to their native language. But it deserves a place above bottom 3 at least.



12.LUXEMBOURG and their “Sacre Charlemagne” sing with children on stage with the charming young France Gall who will lay Europe at her feet. This will be a hit song no matter what happens in contest. One of the few you can sing and hum after the listening through. My favourite but jury will probably think it is way to optimisticastic and will they be charmed by the children?


13.ITALY send passion. Mina is pure sensuality and here we have a song to fight for the top position as well. Verses are the best of the contest but chorus is a bit weaker.


This year is really so good that you can hardly predict outcome. I promise you, the voting will be a thrilling event and every single point will be of greatest importance.

OGAU telephone poll results:

FRANCE 98p
HUNGARY 96p
POLAND 91p
GERMANY 68p
ITALY 64p
AUSTRIA 63p
NETHERLANDS 62p
LUXEMBOURG 59p
SWEDEN 41p
SPAIN 35p
FYROM 29p
SLOVENIA 14p
GREECE 5p

Just as I said there seams to be a very close race here this year, but somehow I think Luxembourg and spain and Germany is getting too little from OGAU. Jury must reward more. Also very surprised to see Poland fight for a win in OGAE.

Siw Malmkvist says: “I like Sweden, Poland and Greece the most. France and Austria is also very very good. Oh Italy is fine too.”

Good luck to every one!