- Skibet skal sejle i nat
"Skibet Skal Sejle I Nat" (English translation: "The Ship Is Leaving Tonight") was the Danish entry in the
Eurovision Song Contest 1957 , performed in Danish byBirthe Wilke andGustav Winckler .The song was performed ninth on the night (following
France 'sPaule Desjardins with "La Belle Amour " and precedingSwitzerland 'sLys Assia with "L'Enfant Que J'Étais "). At the close of voting, it had received 10 points, placing 3rd in a field of 10.The song is a love duet, with the singers parting before one of them takes a sea voyage on the ship of the title. Additionally, the song is famous for the kiss the duo exchanged at the end of the performance - the longest stage kiss in Contest history, made so by a stagehand omitting to signal for it to end.
While the Contest was still predominantly a radio show at the time, the conservative social mores ensured that this event has entered Eurovision folklore. Indeed, at the late 2005 Congratulations special, hosts
Katrina Leskanich andRenars Kaupers pretended to re-enact it, only to have Wilke herself appear between them.It was succeeded as Danish representative at the 1958 Contest by
Raquel Rastenni with "Jeg Rev Et Blad Ud Af Min Dagbog ".
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