Rock Bottom (Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran song)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2014) |
 "Rock Bottom" | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cover of vinyl single | |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1977 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist(s) | |
| With | |
| Language | English |
| Composer(s) | |
| Lyricist(s) | |
| Conductor | |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 2nd |
| Final points | 121 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Save Your Kisses for Me" (1976) | |
| "The 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.
The song says that when people are in a bad situation they should work to solve problems and not be pessimistic about tragedies. Apparently it represents the situation at the time; Eurovision 1977 was almost canceled due to budget restrictions. The BBC, who had to host the contest that year, did not give the song its whole-hearted support.[1]
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.
It was succeeded as British representative at the 1978 Contest by Co-Co with "The Bad Old Days".
It charted in several European countries, topping the charts in Switzerland, #2 in Austria, #4 in Germany, #6 in Sweden, #7 in Ireland and Norway and #10 in France. In the UK, it reached #19.[2] On the basis of sales from the record-buying public of Europe, it was the winning entry, outperforming the contest's winner,[3] a quarter of a million copies being sold in Germany alone.[4]
The duo also recorded a German version of "Rock Bottom" called "Für Immer" and this was covered by the band Wir. 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, Jörgen Petersenin Orkesteri, Ted Weber, Brothers Of The World, Leni, Günter Noris, Inger Lise & Stein, Daniel Janin and The Hiltonaires and, most recently Denny Wright.
References
- ^ "BBC hoped to come Rock Bottom in Eurovision Song Contest". Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 145. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran - Rock Bottom". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
- ^ Billboard, 3 December 1977