Eurovision 1985 - UK - May 2nd 2025

Hello everyone ! It's the UK calling to talk about the first UK entry featured in this blog ! We're going back 40 years to 1985 and the 30th Eurovision Song Contest. A time of big hair, big shoulder pads and some very fun and campy Eurovision entries!! 

The 30th edition of the contest was held in Göthenborg, Sweden on May 4th. Hosted by Lill Lindfors, an icon not only for being in Eurovision 1966 for Sweden but for her famous dress stunt before the voting. 19 songs competed this year for the Eurovision prize and the entry we will be discussing is the UK's ! Already a Eurovision powerhouse at this point of time, they also achieved a great result this year too ! 

I have a soft spot for 80's Eurovision ( my 2 favourite songs of all time come from this decade ! ) and 1985 is no exception to being a fun and campy time ! But before I get ahead of myself, let's get some facts and a link to remind you of the performance if you don't know it or have forgotten it!!! 

Song: Love Is
Artist: Vikki Watson 
Place: 4th 
Points : 100


The UK this year organised another edition of Song for Europe to select their entrant. Held on April 9th 1985 at BBC Television Centre ( I've been there!!), 8 songs battled it out for a chance to represent the nation. Vikki was the clear winner with the runner up placing 23 points behind her. She also cowrote the song too ! 

She performed 14th on the night between the entries from Norway and Switzerland. The conductor of the song was John Coleman. The song tells the story of two lovers who are too scared to confess their feelings to each other. To quote the song ' Love is the danger, of meeting a stranger, of taking a chance' Vikki performs starting on a white chair before moving around it and then walking down the little staircase for the final chorus. Her backing singers are off to the back of the stage, leaving her to dance around her chair in peace! 

The song has just the right amount of kitsch without straying into corny territory. And it wouldn't be a Eurovision entry with the obligatory final chorus key change. But it works with a lead in with the instrumentation before the vocal comes in. Performing in a powder blue dress and heels with a big necklace, vikki looks sophisticated and poised. It's a vocally strong performance too ! 

I'm a big fan of this song and 1985 to me has a lot of great songs that I'm fond of. But this one is my favourite of the year! It might not be as fun as the winner or as memorable but it's still fantastic and sometimes overlooked ! 

The UK didn't receive any 12 points during the voting this year but did get points from all countries but Cyprus which is still pretty impressive. Their top scores of 10 points came from Switzerland and Turkey as well as 2 sets of 8 from Luxembourg and Italy . The UK gave their 12 points to contest winners Norway. 

So to sum this song up in 3 words then. I'd say charming, sweet and kitsch ! Sometimes it's the simple love songs that just hit the spot ! 

Until next time, remember history is important especially if it's Eurovision History!!

Ellie x 


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