Black  Lace

 THE SONG 

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After recording the bands first single ´Mary Ann’ for EMI Records, the song’s publishers—ATV Music— decided that the song would be perfect for the infamous `Eurovision Song Contest` and without any discussion with Black Lace, entered the song.

 

     When the band was told that, Mary Ann could well be the UK’s entry to the 1979 Eurovision song contest, they were less than happy that neither, EMI or ATV Music had consulted them, and the fact that the contest was by now, taken les seriously, than in previous years. It could do the band more harm than good. However it wasn't long before both, Terry and Col had warmed greatly to the idea, as winning the ‘Prestigious’ Eurovision song contest, World certainly put Black Lace, on the International ‘Showbiz map’

 

     It was still a long way to go before Eurovision. As the song along with another 600 applicants were voted for by the ‘Publishers association’ But, as the bang thought ‘against all the odds’ Mary Ann’ reached the final 12, and a position on the TV show that would choose the final entry, the ‘Song For Europe’

 

A SONG FOR EUROPE

 

     The ‘Song for Europe’ was planed to take place at the ‘Royal Albert Hall’ on March 8th. There was however, stiff competition, as besides other ‘unknown’ acts, such as Black Lace, there were also some more successful names such as ; ‘Guys & Dolls’—Herby Flowers (Top session bass player) and The ‘Nolans’. But after a days rehearsals at the ‘Royal Albert Hall’ a strike by BBC technicians stopped the show. The 12 songs were then voted for by the regional panels listening to tapes. Black Lace won the ’Song for Europe’ by the greatest margin of points in the competitions history.

 

EUROVISION

    

     The24th Eurovision Song Contest was held on the 31st March 1979, at ‘Binyaney Ha’ouma centre in Jerusalem, Israel. Which was Terry’s birthday. Coincidently, Terry’s wife —Jacky, had her birthday on the 8th of March (The day of the ‘Song for Europe) Black Lace were the 3rd song on the contest, a position that was regarded as the best place. As the voting started things looked good for the band, and then a series of zero points put Black Lace into a final 7th place. The winners of the 1979 Eurovision Song contest, was the host country’s entry- —’Milk & Honey’— with the song ‘Hallelujah’ (Which was not surprising, as it was the week of the Israel/Arab, Peace treaty signing in Washington.

     The lowest scores of the competition, was, Austria and Belgium, with a mere 5 points each out of a possible 216.