More than half a century on from ABBA’s Eurovision victory in Brighton with Waterloo, some music fans are only just realising who the Swedish superstars beat in the final
The Eurovision final is almost upon us once more. Thursday (May 15) saw 16 nations compete in the second semi final including Finland (Erika Vikman), Denmark (Sissal) and Ireland (Emmy).
Ten acts went through to the grand final, which takes place in Basel, Switzerland on today. Tuesday’s first semi final, meanwhile, saw Sweden qualify and it’s their country’s illustrious history in the competition that has resulted in online intrigue in recent times.
Back in 1974, ABBA’s Eurovision victory with ‘Waterloo’ proved the catalyst for them to go onto become pop superstars. Indeed, Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny and Anna-Frid would go on to release nine studio albums and have record sales in excess of 385 million.
READ MORE: Eurovision viewers issue brutal complaint as they’re left fuming over ‘robbed’ act
Some music fans are only just realising, however, that on that night in Brighton in 1974, the group saw off competition from another huge name, who would go on to find fame most notably in a musical on the big screen.
That film was Grease, and the artist was Olivia Newton-John. ABBA won the night, with 24 points, whilst Italy were runners-up on 18. The Netherlands finished third, whilst Luxembourg, Monaco and the United Kingdom tied in fourth – with the latter represented by Olivia, who sang ‘Long Live Love’.
A number of videos of her performance have been shared to TikTok, three years on from the Cambridge-born star’s death aged 73. “It wouldn’t have mattered who represented the UK or what the song was, Waterloo was way ahead of the rest,” one person wrote.
A second person gushed: “She was an angel even here.” A third added: “Four years later she donned the spandex and immortalised herself as Sandy Olsen. Hard to think it’s the same person.”
A fourth TikTok user recalled: “After she lost Eurovision, Terry Wogan heard she’d moved to USA and said on radio, ‘I suppose that’s the last we’ll hear of her!’ How wrong was he?” Whilst a fifth admitted: “It’s so insane that two of my favourite artists performed at the same Eurovision.”
‘Long Live Love’ had previously been one of six songs introduced by Olivia on BBC One’s Clunk Click, hosted by the now infamous, Jimmy Savile.
The public were invited to cast votes on which track she should sing at the final, with ‘Long Live Love’ (27,387 votes) pipping Olivia’s favourite ‘Angel Eyes’ (18,018) to the post.
Source: Mirror
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