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In 1980, the ESC was about to never take place.
Israel, previous winner country, didn't want to host the contest
because of financial embarrassment.
But, at the last moment, the Netherlands took over, spending an amount of
725.000 dollars, back then.
Nowdays, that's just the cost of the hostesses' dresses.
Since this aproarious contest we've met Mr. Eurovision:
Johnny Logan on "What's Another Year?".
1981. The UK wins for the 4th time with "Making Your Mind Up",
wich was mainly based of the fact that the boys took the girls' skirts off.
This means we had an on-stage wardrobe change for the first time.
Now you can see everyone doing it. - Our Sakis did it too.
In Constantinople, in 2004, he had his jacket ripped out.
- Well, then... no matter the years passing by, the on-stage wardrobe change
remains a fresh and elegant trick like the first time, in 1981.
- Why you have the same knot as me?
- I've had it since my pre-puberty days, and you notice it now?
1982. Germany, after having tried every carnival mood,
from clowns, to disco queens and Mongol warriors, without any good result,
has finally sent a 18 year-old Nicole... - So they had her dressed up
the most simple way... - ...Just like us.
- ...well. They made her sit on a footstool, gave her a guitar
and told her: "do your damnedest"!
As a result, Germany won for the first and only time,
scoring the biggest points difference in Eurovision history 'till then.
In 1983, Luxembourg wins for the 5th and last time.
Corinne Hermès with "Si la vie est cadeau"
and with two of the biggest shoulder paddings to have ever appeared on ESC
-but we have even bigger ones, thanks!-
has confirmed those who believed she would win.
It was among the rare times that an absolute favorite actually made it to the top.
Since 1983 though, an adverse fortune would have it that
all the winner songs to come wouldn't have any further success
Suddenly, the contest stopped from being popular.
- It turned out to be qualitative? - Are you crazy?
- Why?
1984. Sweden, 10 years after ABBA makes it again to the top
with the unique boyband to have ever won.
The Herreys brothers are the first to appear on stage that night,
with the song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley".
- None of that night's 18 songs couldn't overshadow "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley".
It was phenomenal.
The juries were mesmerized by "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley".
Everything that came later was a flop,
because there was only one "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley",
and it's been engraved in everybody's memory,
'cause it was "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley".
And what could ever be compared to "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley"?
What a song, holy mother!
1985 was a turning point for Norway.
After having finished at the last position for 6 consecutive contests,
Norwegians win with Bobbysocks and "La det swinge".
It was a joyful rhythmic song, with a nice presentation,
supported by everybody in the house,
since it was a friend-country hosting the evening, Sweden...
- Previous winner of the Eurovision with the song "Diggi-Loo Diggi-Lee".
- "-Ley"...
1986. Belgium wins for the first and unique time
with Sandra Kim and "J'aime la vie".
Sandra has been lying about being 15, while she was just 13 years old.
When she revealed the truth, some years later, there was controversy in Switzerland.
Suisse people might not have adopted a stance about the two World Wars,
but this was too hard to swallow for them
so they've asked for the repeal of this participation.
Finally, their objection was rejected.
Get the rhythm, honey!
1987. Johnny Logan. "Hold Me Now".
- Is that Céline Dion? - Yes.
- No, it can't be her. - It's her. Be quiet. Let's go.
1989. Maybe the biggest outsider to have ever won.
It was Yugoslavia with "Rock Me".
Riva, a group from Croatia, brings the contest in Balkans for the first time.
The song had not a further success,
and at the end of this decade, the ESC seems to have lost
all the glam and the fame of its beginnings.