Amsterdam (Eurovision song)
Encyclopedia
"Amsterdam" was the Dutch
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980
, performed in Dutch
by Maggie MacNeal
. This was MacNeal's second participation in the Contest; in 1974
she had finished 3rd with "I See a Star
" as one half of the duo Mouth & MacNeal
.
The song is in praise of the Dutch capital
, with MacNeal singing that it is one of the great cities of the world, due in no small part to the atmosphere it creates due to its age. The uncharacteristically patriotic tilt of the lyrics can be explained by the fact that the Contest that year took place in The Hague
.
The song was performed 15th on the night, following Portugal
's José Cid
with "Um grande, grande amor
" and preceding France
's Profil
with "Hé, hé M'sieurs dames". At the close of voting, it had received 93 points, placing 5th in a field of 19.
MacNeal recorded the song in four languages; Dutch, English, German and French - all versions with the same title, except the German "Amsterdam, Amsterdam, nur da bin ich zuhaus".
It was succeeded as Dutch representative
at the 1981 Contest
by Linda Williams
with "Het is een wonder
".
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
, performed in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
by Maggie MacNeal
Maggie macneal
Maggie MacNeal is a Dutch singer.-Biography:After her first solo record in 1971, she teamed up with Willem Duyn, and the duo became known as Mouth & MacNeal...
. This was MacNeal's second participation in the Contest; in 1974
Eurovision Song Contest 1974
The Eurovision Song Contest 1974 was the 19th Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in the seaside resort of Brighton on the south coast of the United Kingdom...
she had finished 3rd with "I See a Star
I See a Star
"I See a Star" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, performed in English by Mouth & MacNeal....
" as one half of the duo Mouth & MacNeal
Mouth & MacNeal
Mouth & MacNeal was a pop duo from the Netherlands. They are best known for their million selling recording of "How Do You Do".-Career:They were formed in 1971 when record producer Hans van Hemert brought together the solo talent of Mouth and Maggie MacNeal...
.
The song is in praise of the Dutch capital
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, with MacNeal singing that it is one of the great cities of the world, due in no small part to the atmosphere it creates due to its age. The uncharacteristically patriotic tilt of the lyrics can be explained by the fact that the Contest that year took place in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
The song was performed 15th on the night, following Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
's José Cid
José Cid
José Cid is a Portuguese singer and composer. Outside of his home country, Cid is best known for performing "Um grande, grande amor" at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 and for the progressive rock album 10,000 Anos Depois Entre Venus E Marte.Over his longlasting career, Cid has been awarded...
with "Um grande, grande amor
Um Grande, Grande Amor
"Um grande, grande amor" was the Portuguese entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in Portuguese by José Cid.The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Cid describing his unbounded love...
" and preceding France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Profil
Profil (band)
Profil was a band that has represented France in Eurovision Song Contest 1980 with the entry Hè Hé M'sieurs dames . It was composed by: Martine Havet, Martine Bauer, Francis Rignault, Jean-Claude Corbel e Jean-Pierre Izbinski....
with "Hé, hé M'sieurs dames". At the close of voting, it had received 93 points, placing 5th in a field of 19.
MacNeal recorded the song in four languages; Dutch, English, German and French - all versions with the same title, except the German "Amsterdam, Amsterdam, nur da bin ich zuhaus".
It was succeeded as Dutch representative
Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
The Netherlands was one of the seven countries competing in the very first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. It has missed only four contests so far...
at the 1981 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1981
The Eurovision Song Contest 1981 was the 26th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 4 April 1981 at the Simmonscourt Pavilion of the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin. The presenter was Doireann Ní Bhriain...
by Linda Williams
Linda Williams (singer)
Linda Williams is a Dutch singer, best known for her participation in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest....
with "Het is een wonder
Het Is Een Wonder
"Het is een wonder" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1981, performed in Dutch by Linda Williams.The song is a ballad, with Williams singing about the effect that meeting her lover has had on her. She explains that she had not previously experienced happiness, but now she is...
".
Cover versions
- Gerardo Rosales, an exiled percussionist from VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, recorded a salsa-version for his 2004 cd Salsa Es Mi Vida; his Dutch wife Astrid La Sorpesa Holandesa Pulles provided lead vocals.