| 1958, the second and last time
that the United Kingdom failed to take part, and Sweden's debut year,
is notable mainly for the presence of the internationally successful
song "Volare", here disguised under its original name: "Nel blu dipinto
di blu", and being conducted by Semprini. Establishing themselves as early regulars were Corry Brokken (NED), Margot Hielscher (GER), Fud Leclerc (BEL), and Lys Assia (seemingly the only singer in Switzerland). Her performance, somewhere between a yodel and the theme-tune to Bonanza was the first polyglot entry in the contest. The winner on the night was André Claveau, seemingly the French Kenneth Williams, who delivered a competent but somewhat dull little piece of archly camp chanson. For us it was the worst of the night, though it was by no means rubbish. But far superior was Margot Hielscher's classic performance as Miss Juke Box, rotating her tiny stack of 45s while singing us through another run of what has proved to us to be a truly unforgettable chorus. For each year's songs we apply our points in the 12-10-8 style of the modern contest, irrespective of how the voting functioned at the time. In brackets is the position the song came on the night:
With one or two crucial exceptions, our scoring here is notably consistent with that of the judges on the night. |
 # Volare / Oh-oh #  The human jukebox, Margot Hielscher.  # Polentapolentapolentapolenta #  André Claveau sniffs his invisible stilton. |
