Eurovision Song Contest 1961
eurovision song contest th edition annual eurovision song contest contest held french seaside city cannes also hosted edition organised european broadcasting union ebu host broadcaster radiodiffusiontélévision française rtf contest held palais de festival et de congrès saturday march becoming first contest take place saturday evening tradition continued ever since exception show directed marcel cravenne hosted jacqueline joubert also hosted sixteen country participated contest three previous edition finland spain yugoslavia competed first time year winner luxembourg song nous le amoureux performed jeanclaude pascal written maurice vidalin composed jacques datin united kingdom finishing second place third consecutive year event took place cannes france following nation victory edition song tom pillibi performed jacqueline boyer selected venue palais de festival et de congrès built host cannes film festival located promenade de la croisette along shore mediterranean sea due growth film festival new building bearing name opened original building renamed palais croisette subsequently demolished also hosted edition eurovision song contest interest competition began grow across europe three new country participated first time finland spain yugoslavia belgium bob benny norway nora brockstedt made second appearance contest benny previously represented belgium contest song hou toch van mij brockstedt represented norway second consecutive year performed voi voi previous year marcel cravenne directed show director photography maurice barry roger valat served technical director six tv camera used including one showing mediterranean sea outside venue first second show like stage designed gérard dubois notably larger previous year featured central staircase decorated flower leading terrace flanked tree entire stage gave impression mediterranean garden dubois first made scale model stage paris went cannes chose tree together andré racot head cannes municipal garden paying attention tree darkcolored tv camera flower pot added day show fresh unaltered unsuitable temperature light condition initial plan foresaw greenroom part stage artist stayed stage performed however idea finally realised live show draw determine running order took place march carlton hotel cannes presented jacqueline joubert assisted two child aged six four rehearsal started march contest held march beginning cet lasted hour minute event hosted french television presenter jacqueline joubert previously presented previous contest held france interval act ballet performance title rendezvous à cannes music written raymond lefèvre performed tessa beaumont max bozzoni winner luxembourg represented song nous le amoureux composed jacques datin written maurice vidalin performed jeanclaude pascal first eventual five contest victory luxembourg would go achieve show supper participating delegation held salon de ambassadeurs casino municipal country nominated spokesperson responsible announcing vote respective country via telephone known spokesperson contest listed netherlands – siebe van der zee sweden – roland eiworth united kingdom – michael aspel country jury member awarded point favourite song jury member television viewer representing public noticeable voting luxembourg gave uk eight point norway also gave denmark eight point largest number point given country single jury since denmark provided france nine point high number point obtained country would achieved ireland would receive nine point belgium participating broadcaster required relay contest via network nonparticipating ebu member broadcaster also able relay contest passive participant broadcaster able send commentator provide coverage contest native language relay information artist song television viewer local press reported total number commentator contest total country broadcasting event official account viewing figure known exist estimate given french press ahead contest million viewer europe known detail broadcast country including specific broadcasting station commentator shown table official website