Eurovision Song Contest 1990

Infobox Eurovision
name = Eurovision Song Contest 1990


final = 5 May 1990
presenters = Helga Vlahović Brnobić
Oliver Mlakar
conductor = Igor Kuljerić
director = Nenad Puhovski
host = flagicon|Yugoslavia JRT / RTZ Radio Televizija Zagreb
venue = Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, Zagreb, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia
winner = flag|Italy
""
vote = Each country awarded 12, 10, 8-1 points to their 10 favourite songs
entries = 22
debut = None
return = None
withdraw = None
null = None
interval = "Yugoslav Changes" – a film about tourism in the country.
opening = Nenad Puhovski's short film "Zagreb: City of Music"
con = Eurovision Song Contest
pre = ◄1989
nex = 1991► The Eurovision Song Contest 1990, the 35th in the series, was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) on 5 May 1990. The presenters were Helga Vlahović Brnobić and Oliver Mlakar.cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/contest-details?event=306|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1990|accessdate=2008-09-19|publisher="EBU"] Toto Cutugno was the winner of this contest with the song "". This was the second and most recent victory for Italy, the first one having been "Non ho l'età", performed by Gigliola Cinquetti in 1964's contest.

The lyrics of several entries celebrated the whirlwind of democratisation that had engulfed central and eastern Europe with bewildering speed in the preceding months, focusing especially on the iconic moment of the Berlin Wall being breached in November 1989. However, the winning song was an even more sweeping evocation of European unity, in anticipation of the completion of the European single market, due at the end of 1992.

There was a slightly uncomfortable beginning to the rehearsal week when, offended by press comments concerning their ages (Brnobić being 45 at the time and Mlakar being 54), the two presenters quit the show. They were briefly replaced by Rene Medvešek and Dubravka Marković, who were decades younger than them, but the misunderstandings got sorted out quickly and Brnobić and Mlakar returned to the contest.

A notorious mishap occurred at the start of the first song, when a mysteriously long delay caused by problems with the backing track was followed by the Spanish singers missing their cue as the song didn't start from the very beginning. They walked off the stage in barely concealed annoyance and the audience was left in confusion for a moment, but the song was then restarted without any further problems.

The contest was the first to feature an official mascot, called "Eurocat".

Voting summary

During voting, Italy was not immediately evident as a leader. They consistently placed either second or third behind Ireland and, depending on the specific time during the vote, Iceland as well.

With six juries left to go, however, Ireland held onto the lead with only four points separating them from Italy. Ireland was the next jury to give their points, which they gave the full twelve to Italy, conceding their lead.

Italy would hold on to the lead for the next five juries, although with two juries left to go, their lead was in danger as Ireland came within one point of tying for first place. Cyprus, the second to last jury, awarded Italy the twelve points while giving Ireland nothing, effectively sealing Italy's win.

Italy's win in the 1990 Contest emerged victorious despite receiving the fewest 12 point designations in the Contest's history at that time (only three countries awarded Italy 12 points). Linda Martin in 1992 and later Dana International in 1998 would share the same distinction.

Toward the end of the voting, there was a confusing moment as Oliver Mlakar called Italy, and the Italian jury representative announced that he was giving the votes of the "Spanish" jury, in slightly slurred speech. While the hosts were trying to figure out if they actually had Italy on the line, the representative continued to read the first three votes, even after scrutineer Frank Naef told him to stop. After more than a few pleas to start over, the Italian representative finally obliged, citing "technical difficulties." After the Italian vote, Mlakar tried to make small talk to the representative, but the line to Rome had been disconnected by then. Immediately afterward, Austria's representative called with their votes, with startled co-host Brnobić as she was not ready.

Commentators

* Spain - Luis Cobos
* Greece - Dafni Bokota
* Belgium - Claude Delacroix (RTBF), Luc Appermont (BRT)
* Turkey - Başak Doğru
* The Netherlands - Willem van Beusekom
* Luxembourg - TBD
* United Kingdom - Terry Wogan (BBC TV), Ken Bruce (BBC Radio 2)
* Iceland - TBD
* Norway - TBD
* Israel - TBD
* Denmark - Jørgen de Mylius
* Switzerland - TBD
* Germany - Fritz Egner
* France - Richard Adaridi
* Yugoslavia - TBD
* Portugal - Ana do Carmo
* Ireland - Jimmy Greeley and Cliona Ni Bhuachaila
* Sweden - Jan Jingryd
* Italy - Peppi Franzelin
* Austria - TBD
* Cyprus - Evi Papamichail
* Finland - Erkki Pohjanheimo & Ossi Runne

pokespersons

* Spain - Matilde Jarrín
* Greece - Fotini Yiannoulatou
* Belgium - Georges Moucheron
* Turkey - Korhan Abay
* The Netherlands - Joop van Os
* Luxembourg - Fernand Mathes
* United Kingdom - Colin Berry
* Iceland - TBD
* Norway - Sverre Tinnå
* Israel - Daniel Pe'er
* Denmark - Bent
* Switzerland - Michel Dénériaz
* Germany - Sabine Sauer
* France - Marie Myriam
* Yugoslavia - TBD
* Portugal - Artur Agostinho
* Ireland - Eileen Dunne
* Sweden - Jan Ellerås
* Italy - TBD
* Austria - Tilia Herold
* Cyprus - Anna
* Finland - Solveig Herlin

Map

References