Ten countries submitted songs to this contest-the seven from 1956 along with Austria, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. The contest was broadcast from Frankfurt am Main, Germany and each country performed one song, supposed to clock in at a time of three minutes.
The problem is that a number of countries didn't follow that rule, and this contest set records for song length.
Nunzio Gallo "Corde Delle Mia Chitarra" Italy
Italy's Nunzio Gallo sang a song that lasted 5 minutes and 9 seconds, the longest song ever performed at the Eurovision Song Contest, and was cited as the reason that a strict 3 minute rule has been in place since.
But Nunzio's longwinded song was balanced out by the United Kingdom's entrant
Patricia Bredin "All"
Coming in at only 1 minute and 52 seconds, it's the shortest song ever performed in the Eurovision Song Contest.
But there's a story even more importantly to Eurovision lore, the first scandal associated with the contest happened in the performance of one of the songs.
Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler "Skibet skal sejle i nat"
Although now, this love song about a man leaving his love to go in a sea voyage seems tame, the prolonged kiss at the end supposedly scandalized viewers who were watching on television sets throughout Europe.
But none of these were the winner, with the juries--ten listeners in each country selecting their favorite song--favored the Dutch song by a margin of almost two to one margin.
Corry Brokken "Nel als toen"
And suprisingly, Alaska's Choice is the same as the juries. If fact our top three were identical to the juries, with Paule Desjardins from France coming second and the kissing Danes third. I guess it proves there is some kinship between the 49th State and Europe.
So congratulations to the Netherlands and their win. I can't wait to find out who we choose as the winner in 1958...
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