United Kingdom "Rock Bottom"
Cover of vinyl single
Eurovision Song Contest 1977 entry
Country
Artist(s)
With
Language
English
Composer(s)
Lynsey de Paul / Mike Moran
Lyricist(s)
Lynsey de Paul / Mike Moran
Conductor
Finals performance
Final result
2nd
Final points
121
Entry chronology
◄ "Save Your Kisses for Me" (1976)
"Bad Old Days" (1978) ►

"Rock Bottom" was the British entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in English by Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran. It was also written and produced by de Paul and Moran and released on the Polydor record label. Originally it was written for the group Blue Mink;[1] and submitted unbeknown to de Paul and Moran as an entry for A Song For Europe by the publishers; when it was selected, de Paul agreed to perform the song if Moran would join her.[2] On 9 March 1977, "Rock Bottom" was selected to represent the UK at the A Song for Europe 1977 event held at the New London Theatre, presented by Terry Wogan.

History

The song says that when people are in a bad situation they should work to solve problems and not be pessimistic about tragedies.

Eurovision 1977 was almost cancelled due to budget restrictions and it was delayed by five weeks due to a strike by cameramen and technicians.[3] The BBC, who had to host the contest that year, did not give the song its whole-hearted support because it was the favourite to win the contest and, if it had won, then they would have to finance and host the 1978 contest,[4] inspiring the plot used in the movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.[5] Eurovision: Secrets & Scandals, a one hour long Channel 5 documentary, shown on 13 May 2022, also confirmed that the BBC was secretly relieved that "Rock Bottom" did not win because they definitely did not want to host the 1978 contest.[6][7]

The song contest was planned to take place on 2 April due to the cameramen and technicians being on strike, but it was rescheduled and finally took place on 7 May.[8][9] The song was performed ninth on the night, following Portugal's Os Amigos with "Portugal no coração" and preceding Greece's Pascalis, Marianna, Robert & Bessy with "Mathima solfege". At the close of voting, it had received 121 points, placing second in a field of 18 entries. Lionel Blair choreographed de Paul and Moran's piano seated performance, as he had done for the programme deciding the UK's entry that year.[10] In an interview with Gala magazine, Marie Myriam, the contest winner stated that she loved "Rock Bottom".[11]

It was preceded by "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man as the British representative at the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest and succeeded by Co-Co with "Bad Old Days" in 1978. De Paul was the last established and well-known international artist to enter the contest for the UK, until Scott Fitzgerald in 1988.

"Rock Bottom" charted in several European countries, topping the charts in Switzerland, number 2 in Austria, number 4 in Germany, number 4 in Portugal,[12] number 6 in Sweden (number 4 on the Poporama chart),[13] number 7 in Ireland and Norway, number 8 in Belgium[14] and number 10 in France and Israel. In the UK Singles Chart, it reached number. 19[15] but on the UK Juke Box Top 20 it reached number 8.[16] It also made number 7 on the Europarade chart,[17] number 13 on the Radio Luxembourg Top 30.[18] On the basis of sales from the record-buying public of Europe, it was the winning entry, outperforming the contest's winner,[19][20] a quarter of a million copies being sold in Germany alone,[21] where it was the 38th best selling single of 1977.[22] It was the 61st best selling single in the French 1977 year end chart.[23] The single was also released on the Polydor label in Japan in July 1977.[24] After the Eurovision Song Contest, it was released as one of the tracks on an EP in Portugal entitled "Conjunto Pentagrama" ("Pentogram Set"), together with the French entry "L'Oiseau Et L'Enfant", the Irish entry "It's Nice To Be In Love Again" and the Monaco entry "Une petite française".[25]

In a ranking by The Daily Telegraph of all of the UK's Eurovision Song Contest entries over the last 59 years, "Rock Bottom" came in at number 9[26] and a year later they wrote "Not just a fun, honky-tonk tune, but also a rather memorable performance. Moran and de Paul were dressed in fetching Edwardian morning-suits, sat back-to-back playing a pair of duelling grand pianos."[27] In an analysis of all Eurovision Song Contest songs that entered the German singles chart, it was ranked number 20, based on number of weeks on the chart and chart positions achieved.[28] In 2021, PRS for Music revealed a top 20 of most played UK Eurovision entries and "Rock Bottom" was number 13.[29]

The duo also recorded a German version of "Rock Bottom" called "Für Immer" with German lyrics by Marianne Rebesky,[30] which also had healthy sales figures in German speaking countries,[20] and this version was covered by the band Wir.[31] De Paul and Moran's version of "Für Immer" appeared on the CD Greatest Hits - Lynsey de Paul[32] as well as on a number of compilation albums.[33][34][35] Instrumental versions of the song also appeared on James Last's album Auf Last Geht's Los. Other versions have been recorded by the Studio Group, Armi & Danny (in Finnish as Päin Seinää), Jörgen Petersenin Orkesteri, Ted Weber, Brothers Of The World, Leni, Günter Noris, Inger Lise & Stein (in Norwegian as Norsktoppen), Daniel Janin, Annette Klingenberg & Johnny Reimar, Bingos, and The Hiltonaires and, most recently by jazz guitarist Denny Wright.[36]

The song has featured on Eurovision compilation albums such as This Is... Eurovision,[37] Ultimate Eurovision Party!,[38] Favoriet Van Follet - 18 Unieke Eurovisiesongs (18 unique Eurovision songs)[39] and Stars Of Eurovision,[40] as well as a number of de Paul's compilation CDs. It was also a track on the CD double album Die Ultimative Chart Show - Die erfolgreichsten Piano-Hits aller Zeiten in 2010, which made the Swiss and Austrian albums charts.[41] In 2018, the song was one of 16 songs chosen as 1970s Eurovision classics on a specially released vinyl album that also featured ABBA, Brotherhood Of Man, Baccara, The New Seekers, Anne-Marie David and Gigliola Cinquetti.[42] It was also included as a track on the 2021 album, Now That's What I Call Eurovision, which reached number one on the UK Official Compilations Chart.[43]

In 2023, BBC Radio 2 conducted a listener vote to discover the UK’s favourite Eurovision entry and "Rock Bottom" was voted number 20 Ultimate UK Eurovision Song.[44][45]

Charts

References

  1. ↑ "Lynsey de Paul Exclusive FemaleFirst Interview". Femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Rock Bottom - From the Album 'Hit Singles Album' - LdP Music Store". Lynseydepaul.com. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest London 1977". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "BBC hoped to come Rock Bottom in Eurovision Song Contest". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Watch Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga". Netflix.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "My5". Channel5.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  7. ↑ Davies, Alex (13 May 2022). "BBC bosses secretly 'relieved' UK 70s act lost Eurovision 'Definitely didn't want to host'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Eurovision Song Contest London 1977". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Billboard, 16 April 1977, page 66
  10. ↑ "Eurovision United Kingdom: Retrospective for Lynsey de Paul". Esctoday.com. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "INTERVIEW – Marie Myriam : "Si ma vie devait recommencer, je referais l'Eurovision" - Gala". Gala.fr. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "Billboard World Chart" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 9 July 1977. p. 89. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "May 19, 1977 - Poporama.nu". Poporama.nu. 19 May 1977. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  14. ↑ "28 mei 1977 week 22 - 0370". Muziebank.be.
  15. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 145. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  16. ↑ Music Week, 16 April 1977 and 23 April 1977
  17. ↑ "HITDOSSIER". Hitsallertijden.nl. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  18. ↑ "Radio Luxemburg Top 30 (UK) – 1977". Hitnoteringen.nl. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  19. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Lynsey de Paul & Mike Moran - Rock Bottom". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  20. 1 2 Record World, Spotlight on Germany, 21 January 1978, page 20
  21. ↑ Billboard, 3 December 1977
  22. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "Le Top 100 Singles des années 70". Chartsinfrance.net. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran - Rock Bottom". Discogs.com. July 1977. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  25. ↑ "Conjunto Pentagrama - Eurovisao". Discogs.com. 1977. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  26. ↑ Tristram Fane Saunders (12 May 2017). "Eurovision: every single UK entry ranked, from worst to best". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  27. ↑ Saunders, Tristram Fane (5 May 2017). "Eurovision: every single UK entry ranked, from worst to best". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "Eurovision-Hits Deutschland - Top 100 Auswertung (ab Monat 06/1959". Chartsurfer.de. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  29. ↑ "Iceland withdraw from live Eurovision shows, PRS announces 2020's most played UK entries". Completemusicupdate.com. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  31. ↑ "WIR [DDR] - Rock Bottom". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  32. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul - Greatest Hits". Discogs.com. 1994. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  33. ↑ "Various - Die Grossen 20". Discogs.com. 1977. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  34. ↑ "Various - Hit-Fabrik 77/78". Discogs.com. 1978. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  35. ↑ "Various - Feuerwerk Der Stars". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "Denny Wright - Trad Jazz Feelings (CD)". Discogs.com. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  37. ↑ "Various - This Is... Eurovision (CD)". Discogs.com. 1997. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  38. ↑ "Various - Ultimate Eurovision Party! (CD)". Discogs.com. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  39. ↑ "Discogs Login". Discogs.com. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  40. ↑ "Various - Stars Of Eurovision (CD)". Discogs.com. 1999. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  41. ↑ "- Die ultimative Chart Show - Die erfolgreichsten Piano-Hits aller Zeiten". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  42. ↑ "Seventies Euro Classics (Vinyl) - Demon Music Group". Demonmusicgroup.co.uk. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  43. ↑ "Official Compilations Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  44. ↑ "BBC Radio 2's listeners crown Sam Ryder's Space Man their favourite ever Eurovision UK entry". Bbc.com. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  45. ↑ "Sam Ryder's Space Man voted favourite ever UK Eurovision entry". Music-news.com. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  46. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  47. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  48. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  49. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom". Tracklisten. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  50. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  51. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  52. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom". VG-lista. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  53. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  54. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  55. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  56. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran – Rock Bottom" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  57. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 1977". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  58. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1977". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  59. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
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