A Song For Europe
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| “A Song For Europe” | |
|---|---|
| Father Ted episode | |
 "...polish your hooves every single day, and bring you to the horse dentist..." |
|
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 5 |
| Guest stars | Peter Caffrey (Charles Hedges), Jon Kenny (Fred Rickwood), Maurice O'Donoghue (Father Dick Byrne), Don Wycherley (Father Cyril McDuff) |
| Written by | Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathews, Neil Hannon ("My Lovely Horse" lyrics) |
| Directed by | Andy DeEmmony, Declan Lowney |
| Original airdate | 3 April, 1996 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Old Grey Whistle Theft" | "The Plague" |
| List of Father Ted episodes | |
"A Song For Europe" was the 5th episode of the second season of the Channel 4 television sitcom Father Ted. It is generally considered one of the best episodes: indeed a 1999 poll named it the best, with 22% of the poll. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Synopsis
Dougal has "Eurosong fever", even though the competition (obviously based on the Eurovision Song Contest) isn't on until May. After hearing that his arch-nemesis Dick Byrne plans to enter a song to represent Ireland, Ted decides himself and Dougal can write a song too. After several hours' effort, they write "My Lovely Horse", a tuneless dirge with ridiculous lyrics. After Ted steals a tune from an obscure Norwegian Eurosong entry from the 1970s, they are confident they can defeat the Rugged Island priests. Dick Byrne's entry "The Miracle Is Mine" is extremely impressive, with a huge band and a passionate performance from Byrne. Ted is worried and goes backstage for a smoke, where he hears the Norwegian tune playing a lift. He is horrified, realising that the song is well-known, and he and Dougal are forced to adopt "Plan B": singing the dreadful original version.
However the Irish Eurosong boss Charles Hedges awards "My Lovely Horse" first place, because it is too expensive for Ireland to host the competition every year and wants Ireland to lose. (Ireland won the real Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996, and so had to host it in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997.) The episode closes at the Eurosong contest, with Ted, Dougal, Jack and Mrs. Doyle listening to every country awarding them nul points.
[edit] Trivia
- Ted and Dougal previously defeated Dick and Cyril in "Competition Time".
- The entries for "Song for Ireland 1996" were: (only songs 1 & 2 are shown; the names of 3 to 6 are seen on a sign)
- 1 "The Miracle is Mine" by Fr. Dick Byrne and Father Cyril McDuff
- 2 "My Lovely Horse" by Fr. Ted Crilly and Fr. Dougal McGuire (winner)
- 3 "If I could wear my Hat like my Heart" by The Grand Girls
- 4 "You Dirty English Bastards" by The Hairy Bowsies
- 5 "The Drums of Africa are calling me home" by Sean O'Brien
- 6 "Sha la la la la la la la la la la la" la by Death Pigs
- According to the writer's commentary, the video for "My Lovely Horse" was based on a 1970s lifestyle video for the Swarbrigs song "That's What Friends are For" which they claim is the funniest music video of all time. Some of the shots are even copied down to every last detail.
- Steve Coogan was intended to play compère Fred Rickwood, but couldn't make it so Irish comic Jon Kenny stepped in.
[edit] Goofs
- When Dougal plays the record, he puts the needle on and music plays, but it's clear the turntable is not moving.
- In the music video, Ted's chest hair is still dry when they are in the swimming pool.
