The only reason I know the Eurovision contests exist, is because I was in the Navy in 1979, and purchased a few cassettes with Eurovision contestants. I was in Portugal on shore leave at that time. It was a very pleasant collection of various styles popular back then. Some approaches I’d never heard before.
I am glad that multi-European contests still go on today, especially with everyone so over sensitive to any show of independence. Sometimes, politics does sneak into that competition. I seem to recall a lot of controversy of when someone from Israel won a prize.
In 1983, when I left the service, there was much talk about a popular cross over hit from a German performer.
Yes, I am speaking of the infamous 99 Luftballons by Nena.
Some got tired of hearing it, but I always liked the song and the performance as she sang with that exotic accent.
Weird. I was just listening to some Nena songs. I've got Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann stuck in my head.