Love Shine a Light
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “Love Shine a Light” | |||||
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| Single by Katrina and the Waves | |||||
| Released | 1997 | ||||
| Recorded | Unknown | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Writer(s) | Kimberley Rew | ||||
| Katrina and the Waves singles chronology | |||||
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 Love Shine a Light |
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| Eurovision Song Contest 1997 entry | ||
| Country | United Kingdom | |
| Artist(s) | Katrina & the Waves | |
| Language | English | |
| Composer(s) | Kimberly Rew | |
| Conductor(s) | Don Airey | |
| Place | 1st | |
| Points | 227 | |
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◄ Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (1996) |
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"Love Shine a Light" was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, performed by Katrina and the Waves for the United Kingdom, composed by Kimberley Rew. It is the group's biggest success since "Walking on Sunshine" 12 years earlier.
Rew composed the song following a request from the brother of Alex Cooper (the band's drummer) for an anthem for The Samaritans.[1] The song was selected as the UK's Eurovision entry by public vote on 15 March 1997. It received 69,834 votes, 11,138 more than the second place song.[2]
The contest was held on 3 May 1997 in the Point Theatre, Dublin. The song was awarded maximum (12) points by ten countries, scoring 227 of a possible 288, in what was at the time the largest ever Eurovision win in terms of points won; it is still considered the most successful Eurovision entry ever, due to only 25 countries voting; as opposed to the current 37 that Finland broke the record with in 2006.
Katrina Leskanich, lead singer of the band, commented that it was the second landslide of the week - the Labour Party led by Tony Blair had won the UK general election held two days earlier, on 1 May 1997.
The song was succeeded in 1998 as Contest winner by Dana International representing Israel performing Diva. This song was also performed as part of a medley in the introduction of the 50th anniversary show for the ESC in Copenhagen as well as the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, in Athens.
A remix of the song was performed during the UK selection process final of 2008, Eurovision: Your Decision.
[edit] Cover versions
- On the 1997 album Ett hus med många rum Kikki Danielssons orkester, featuring Kikki Danielsson on lead vocals, covered the song with lyrics in Swedish by Christer Lundh and Mikael Wendt, as Låt ett ljus få brinna (translated "Let a candle burn").
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "The Voice" by Eimear Quinn |
Eurovision Song Contest winners 1997 |
Succeeded by "Diva" by Dana International |
| Preceded by Gina G |
UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 |
Succeeded by Imaani |
