Congratulations (song)

This article is about the Cliff Richard song. For other songs with the same title, see Congratulations (disambiguation).

"Congratulations"
Single by Cliff Richard
B-side	"High n Dry" (Cook-Greenaway)
Released	20 March 1968
Format	7", 45rpm
Recorded	3 February 1968 Abbey Road/London
Genre	Pop
Length	2:33
Label	Columbia DB8376
Writer(s)	Bill Martin, Phil Coulter
Producer	Norrie Paramor
Cliff Richard singles chronology
"All My Love" (1967) "Congratulations" (1968) "I'll Love You Forever Today" (1968)
"Congratulations" Eurovision Song Contest 1968 entry Country United Kingdom Artist(s) Cliff Richard Language English Composer(s) Bill Martin, Phil Coulter Lyricist(s) Bill Martin, Phil Coulter Conductor Norrie Paramor Finals performance Final result 2nd Final points 28 Appearance chronology ◄ Puppet on a String (1967)    Boom Bang-a-Bang (1969) ►

"Congratulations" is a song written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter as the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 on 6 April with Cliff Richard performing.

Phil Coulter originally wrote the song as "I Think I Love You", but was unsure of the lyrics and got together with Bill Martin (the same team that wrote "Puppet on a String"), who changed it to "Congratulations".^[1] The song was immediately popular in the UK and became a number one single. On the day of the contest, it was the favourite to win, so much so that the British press were posing the question: "What will come 2nd to 'Congratulations'?"

During the voting, "Congratulations" was leading for much of the way until the penultimate vote when Germany gave Spain six points, putting them one point ahead of the United Kingdom.^[2] It finished second losing to Spain's entry "La, la, la" by just one point, and was a huge hit throughout Europe. In 2008, documentary film-maker Montse Fernandez Vila claimed that the loss was the result of rigging of the Spanish vote by state television on behalf of General Franco's fascist regime.^[3]

The song is still popular and was chosen to lead the show which celebrated 50 years of Eurovision and which was named after it: Congratulations. Also, Cliff Richard performed the song as part of the commemorations for the 50th anniversary of VE Day in 1995, despite its having been written long after the war's end.

George Harrison's song "It's Johnny's Birthday" from All Things Must Pass is based on this song.

References

1. ^ Nul Points...?!, BBC Television, 1992
2. ^ The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. O'Connor, John Kennedy. Carlton Books 2007 ISBN 978-1844429943
3. ^ Fiona Govan (5 May 2008). "How Franco cheated Cliff out of Eurovision title". Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/1926993/Franco-'rigged-Eurovisison-to-stop-Cliff-Richard-winning'.html. 

See also

• Congratulations (Eurovision)

Preceded by "Lady Madonna" by The Beatles	UK number one single (Cliff Richard version) 10 April 1968 for two weeks	Succeeded by "What a Wonderful World"/"Cabaret" by Louis Armstrong
Preceded by Puppet on a String	United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968	Succeeded by Boom Bang-a-Bang