Jack in the Box (song)

Infobox ESC entry
artist = Clodagh Rodgers
song = flagicon|United Kingdom Jack in the Box
country = United Kingdom
year = 1971
as =
with =
language = English
languages =
composer = John Worsley
lyricist = David Myers
conductor = Johnny Arthey
place = 4th
points = 98
lyrics = [http://www.diggiloo.net/?1971uk from Diggiloo Thrush]
place_semi =
points_semi =
clip =
prev = Knock Knock, Who's There?
prev_link = Knock Knock, Who's There?
next = Beg, Steal or Borrow
next_link = Beg, Steal or Borrow

"Jack in the Box", written by David Myers and composed by John Worsley, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, performed by the Northern Irish singer Clodagh Rodgers.

On February 20, 1971, Clodagh Rodgers sang six songs at the UK National Final, "A Song for Europe", which was aired on the television series "It's Cliff Richard!". [http://www.geocities.com/national_finals_70s_80s/UK1971.html Geocities.com - 1971 Song for Europe final] ] Rodgers was chosen by the BBC to be the United Kingdom's representative for that year, with the intent to ease tensions between Great Britain and Northern IrelandO'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books, UK. 2007 ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3] (severe fighting due to The Troubles had strained relations). Due to a postal service strike, regional juries voted and picked "Jack in the Box," the third song performed that evening, to accompany Rodgers to Dublin.http://www.geocities.com/national_finals_70s_80s/UK1971.html] Rodgers later stated that she received death threats from the Irish Republican Army for representing the United Kingdom at Eurovision.O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books, UK. 2007 ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3]

1971 was the first year "preview" videos were required to be shown by each national broadcaster; the BBC used footage from "It's Cliff Richard!" to showcase during Preview Week. At Dublin, the song was performed ninth on the night, after Luxembourg's Monique Melsen with "Pomme, Pomme, Pomme", and before Belgium's Lily Castel and Jacques Raymond with "Goeiemorgen, Morgen." For the performance Rodgers wore a pink frilly top and spangled hot pants. [ [http://www.lastfm.com.br/music/Clodagh+Rogers Lastfm.com - Rodgers' appearance] ] At the end of judging that evening, "Jack in the Box" took the fourth-place slot with 98 points. [ [http://www.esctoday.com/annual/1971/participants.php#story Esctoday.com | Eurovision 1971 scores] ]

The singer expresses her strong feelings of love to a man who treats her like a toy, thus providing the "jack in the box" simile, as she feels that in exchange of his love, she would gladly "bounce on a spring" like the aforementioned toy (but isn't so thrilled to do it without reciprocation). At the end of the song, however, she lets this man know that one day she will be fed up enough to leave, so she hopes he will tell her he loves her, as she will do anything (within a reasonable time frame) to hear those words. [ [http://www.esc-history.com/details.asp?key=275 "Jack in the Box" Song lyrics] ]

After Eurovision, the song placed at #4 on the UK Singles Chart. [ [http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=5570 Chartstats.com - UK Chart details] ] It remains her most famous hit. [ [http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirc/clodaghr.htm 45-rpm.org | Clodagh Rodgers feature] ]

This song was heard in many sketches of the "Monty Python's Flying Circus" episode, The Cycling Tour, in which an injured motorist believes, as a result of head trauma, that he is Clodagh Rodgers.

References