The first ever Eurovision Song Contest was held on May 24th, 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland. Seven countries participated in the inaugural event: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Switzerland. The contest was organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and was held at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano.
The contest featured two rounds. In the first round, each country performed two songs, and in the second round, the top song from each country competed against each other. The winning song was “Refrain” performed by Lys Assia representing Switzerland. The song was written by Géo Voumard and Ralph Siegel, with lyrics by Voumard.
The song is a charming ballad, which showcases Assia’s powerful vocals. The lyrics, which are in French, express a longing for love and companionship. The song received 18 points from the jury, the highest number of points received by any song in the first round.
Another notable song from the inaugural event was “Amours mortes (tant de peine)” performed by André Claveau representing France. Thesong was written by Léo Ferré, with lyrics by Ferré and Paul Eluard. Thesong is a powerful and emotional ballad that showcases Claveau’s powerful vocals. The lyrics, which are in French, express a longing for love and companionship. Thesong received 13 points from the jury, the second highest number of points received by anysong in the first round.
The first Eurovision Song Contest was a historic event that marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition of bringing music and performers from different European countries together on one stage. The contest has since grown to include more than 40 countries, and it continues to be an important cultural event in Europe.
It was a successful event, where the audience could enjoy different styles of music and different languages and cultures. The contest has evolved over time, but the spirit of the inaugural event remains the same: to bring Europe together through music.
This article is part of a series of articles about the Eurovision Song Contest, each reviewing a different year of the contest. The series will take a look back at some of the most memorable moments and performances from the past and highlight the significance of the contest in the context of European culture and history. The series will culminate with a review of the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, which is set to take place in Liverpool, United Kingdom from May 9th to May 13th. With the contest just around the corner, the series offers an exciting preview of what is to come and a look back at the rich history of the contest.