Eurovision Song Contest 1959
The Eurovision Song Contest 1959 was the fourth Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Cannes, following the French victory the previous year.
A new rule was created for this Eurovision, ensuring that no professional publishers or composers were allowed in the national juries.
The Netherlands' win was their second and the first time a country had won the contest twice. Willy van Hemert was also the lyricist of "Net als toen", which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1957. Van Hemert was the first person to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice.
Luxembourg withdrew from the contest for the first time. The United Kingdom returned after missing the previous contest (appearing on the scoreboard as "Grande Bretagne") and finished second for the first time. The UK would have 15 second-place finishes in the country's history in the contest. Monaco made its debut in the contest, but came last.
In the press it was suggested that Italy and France gave more points to the Netherlands because neither of those two countries wanted the other to win. This has never been verified.
Italy gave one point to France, no points to the UK and seven points to the Netherlands placing them just three points ahead of the UK. Later on France gave only three points to Italy and four points to the Netherlands giving them a five point lead over the UK, who were only one point ahead of France, leaving Italy behind in sixth position, behind Denmark, on nine points.
Something that occurred this year, but never again, was that more than the winning entry was performed once again. The second and third placed songs, United Kingdom and France, were allowed to sing again at the end of the show, together with eventual winner, the Netherlands.
Individual Entries
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Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959
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Results
| Draw |
Country |
Language |
Artist |
Song |
English translation |
Place |
Points |
| 01 |
France |
French |
Jean Philippe |
"Oui, oui, oui, oui" |
Yes, yes, yes, yes |
3 |
15 |
| 02 |
Denmark |
Danish |
Birthe Wilke |
"Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig" |
Oh, I wish I were you |
5 |
12 |
| 03 |
Italy |
Italian |
Domenico Modugno |
"Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)" |
It's raining (Bye, bye baby) |
6 |
9 |
| 04 |
Monaco |
French |
Jacques Pills |
"Mon ami Pierrot" |
My friend Pierrot |
11 |
1 |
| 05 |
Netherlands |
Dutch |
Teddy Scholten |
"Een beetje" |
A little bit |
1 |
21 |
| 06 |
Germany |
German |
Alice & Ellen Kessler |
"Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n" |
Tonight we want to go dancing |
8 |
5 |
| 07 |
Sweden |
Swedish |
Brita Borg |
"Augustin" |
– |
9 |
4 |
| 08 |
Switzerland |
German |
Christa Williams |
"Irgendwoher" |
From somewhere |
4 |
14 |
| 09 |
Austria |
German |
Ferry Graf |
"Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien" |
The K and K calypso from Vienna |
9 |
4 |
| 10 |
United Kingdom |
English |
Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson |
"Sing, Little Birdie" |
– |
2 |
16 |
| 11 |
Belgium |
Dutch |
Bob Benny |
"Hou toch van mij" |
Please love me |
6 |
9 |
Score sheet
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Results |
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France |
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4 |
1 |
2 |
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4 |
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1 |
1 |
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2 |
| Denmark |
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1 |
1 |
1 |
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4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
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| Italy |
3 |
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1 |
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1 |
3 |
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1 |
| Monaco |
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1 |
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| Netherlands |
4 |
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7 |
1 |
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2 |
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3 |
1 |
3 |
| Germany |
2 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
| Sweden |
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1 |
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3 |
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| Switzerland |
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2 |
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1 |
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1 |
3 |
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1 |
5 |
1 |
| Austria |
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1 |
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2 |
1 |
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| United Kingdom |
1 |
1 |
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2 |
5 |
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3 |
2 |
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2 |
| Belgium |
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2 |
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1 |
1 |
3 |
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2 |
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| THE TABLE IS ORDERED BY APPEARANCE |
Conductors
Host conductor in bold
Returning artists
Spokespersons
- NOTE: This is the reverse order
References
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Songs of the Eurovision Song Contest 1959
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(songs arranged by final results)
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