Ding-A-Dong
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| Ding-A-Dong | ||
|---|---|---|
 French 7-Inch single cover. |
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| 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 | |
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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. According to author and historian John Kennedy O'Connor's The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, this was the first of three occasions when the first song would win the contest, ironically, the second coming the following year in 1976.[1]
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.
Almost immediately, the song's lyrics became a source of ridicule, particularly in the UK, because the word "dong" is slang for penis. This did not stop the song from hitting number 13 in the UK singles chart.
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
[edit] References
- ^ O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History. Carlton Books, UK. 2007 ISBN 978-1-84442-994-3
Teach-In - Ding A Dong excerpt
| Preceded by Waterloo by ABBA |
Eurovision Song Contest winners 1975 |
Succeeded by Save Your Kisses for Me by Brotherhood of Man |
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