Ding-A-Dong

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Ding-A-Dong
French 7-Inch single cover.
Eurovision Song Contest 1975 entry
Country	Netherlands
Artist(s)	Teach-In
Language	English
Composer(s)	Dick Bakker
Lyricist(s)	Will Luikinga, Eddy Ouwens
Place	1st
Points	152
Lyrics	from Diggiloo Thrush

Ding-A-Dong was the English title of the winning song in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975. It was sung by Teach-In, representing the Netherlands, and was written by Dick Bakker, Will Luikinga & Eddy Ouwens. The song was notable for consolidating the tradition of Eurovision winners that had quirky or entirely nonsensical titles and/or lyrics, following in the footsteps of Massiel's La La La in 1968 and Lulu's Boom Bang-A-Bang in 1969, and paving the way for the Herreys' Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley in 1984. Also of note was the fact that the song was the first winner under the now-familiar Eurovision voting system whereby each country awards scores of 1-8, 10 and 12. Additionally, the fact that this victory was achieved having performed first on the night is an unusual fact, as success has tended to come to songs performed later in the evening.

The song, performed entirely in English, was an up-tempo ode to positive thought. The band (only the second to win the Contest after ABBA the year before) sing that one should "sing a song that goes ding ding-a-dong" when one is feeling happy.

It was performed first on the night (preceding Ireland's The Swarbriggs with That's What Friends Are For). At the close of voting, it had received 152 points, placing 1st in a field of 19.

The song was succeeded in 1976 as Contest winner by Brotherhood of Man singing Save Your Kisses For Me representing the United Kingdom.

It was succeeded as Dutch representative at the 1976 Contest by Sandra Reemer with The Party's Over.

[edit] Audio sample

Preceded by Waterloo by ABBA

Eurovision Song Contest winners 1975

Succeeded by Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood Of Man