Eurovision Song Contest 1958

André Claveau

Date: March 12, 1958
Venue: AVRO Studios Hilversum, Netherlands
Presenter: Hannie LipsOrchestra: Metropole orkest
Conductor: Dolf van der Linden
Director: Piet te Nuyl
Scruteneer: -
Host broadcaster: NTS
Price presenter: J.V. Rengeling
Interval act: Metropole orkest
Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Number of entries: 10
Debuting countries: Sweden
Withdrawing countries: UK
Winning Song: Dors Mon Amour - André Claveau, France
Voting system: Each country had 10 jury members who each awarded 1 point  to their favourite song

Entries:

01. Italy: Domenico Modugno - Nel Blu Diplnto Di Blu (3rd place, 13 points)
02. Netherlands: Corry Brokken - Heel De Wereld (9th place, 1 point)
03. France: André Claveau - Dors, Mon Amour (1st place, 27 points)
04. Luxembourg: Solange Berry - Un Grand Amour (9th place, 1 point)
05. Sweden: Alice Babs - Lilla Stjärna (4th place, 10 points)
06. Denmark: Raquel Rastenni - Jeg Rev Et Blad Ud Af Min Dagbog (8th place, 3 points)
07. Belgium: Fud Leclerc - Ma Petite Chatte (5th place, 8 points)
08. Germany: Margot Hielscher - Für Zwei Groschen Musik (7th place, 5 points)
09. Austria: Liane Augustin - Die Ganze Welt Braucht Liebe (5 th place, 8 points)
10. Switzerland: Lys Assia - Giorgio (2nd place, 24 points)

Corry Brokken

The Eurovision Song Contest 1958 was the third Eurovision Song Contest and was held on March 12 1958 in Hilversum. The convention that the winning country from a year hosted the following year's contest was introduced in this year. France's win was their first. André Claveau sang Dors, Mon Amour which was written by  Hubert Giraud and Pierre Delanoë. It was the last time to date that the United Kingdom did not enter the contest. Unlike the competition in 1956, 1957 limited one song per country, they were still limited to entering a single song in 1958, which has remained the policy to date. Together with 1956, it is the only contest that has not featured a single song in the English language.

Sweden, a country that would later be one of the most successful in the contest, debuted this year.

Location

The venue chosen to host the third contest, was the broadcasting studios AVRO (Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep or "General Association of Radio Broadcasting"). The studios belong to the Dutch public broadcasting association operating within the framework of the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep system.

The Netherlands, where the contest was broadcast from, means flowers, and the organizers did not disappoint. The stage was decked out with flowers to such an extent that they outnumbered the small audience.

Format

Once the songs had all been sung, juries sent their results via telephone. The Italian entry was not picked up properly in some of the other countries, which meant that after all the other songs had been presented, Domenico Modugno had to sing it again. Later on, it became very successful in the United States, where it has become commonly known as Volare, and got two Grammy Awards. It is one of few Eurovision songs that has reached no.1 in the US singles charts. At the 50th anniversary show Congratulations in 2005, it was elected the 2nd best Eurovision entry ever.

The interval acts was music by the Metropole Orkest, under the lead of conductor Dolf van der Linden. This year, there were two interval acts; one in the middle, one after all the songs were played.

Voting

The juries were not in the studio as in 1956. As in 1957, this year they stayed in their own countries, listening to the event. Each country had 10 jury members who each awarded 1 point to their favourite song.

It was  the only year that the host country came last, and the first time more than one country came last.

Returning artists

Corry Brokken and Lys Assia also participated at the ESC 1956 and 1957. Margot Hielscher also represented Germany in 1957.