Eurovision Song Contest 1999

Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was the 44th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 29 May 1999 at the International Convention Centre in Jerusalem, Israel. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), the contest was held in the country following its victory at the Template:Escyr with the song "Diva" by Dana International, and was presented by Dafna Dekel, Yigal Ravid, and Sigal Shachmon.

Twenty-three countries participated in the contest. Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, and Template:Esccnty, having participated in the 1998 contest, were absent due to being relegated after achieving the lowest average points totals over the past five contests, while Template:Esccnty actively chose not to return. Meanwhile Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, and Template:Esccnty returned to the contest, having last participated in Template:Escyr, while Template:Esccnty made its first contest appearance since Template:Escyr.

The winner was Template:Esccnty with the song "Take Me to Your Heaven", composed by Lars Diedricson, written by Gert Lengstrand and Marcos Ubeda and performed by Charlotte Nilsson. Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, and Template:Esccnty rounded out the top five, with Iceland achieving its best ever result and Croatia equalling its previous best. It was the first contest since Template:Escyr that countries were allowed to perform in the language of their choice, and not necessarily the language of their country. It was also the first ever contest not to feature an orchestra or live music accompanying the competing entries.

Location

File:Binyanei-HaUmah.JPG

International Convention Centre, Jerusalem – host venue of the 1999 contest

The 1999 contest took place in Jerusalem, Israel, following the country's victory at the Template:Escyr with the song "Diva", performed by Dana International. It was the second time that the contest was staged in Israel, following the Template:Escyr also held in Jerusalem.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The selected venue was the Ussishkin Auditorium of the International Convention Centre, commonly known in Hebrew as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Langx), which also served as the host venue for the 1979 contest.<ref name="ESC1999">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Sfn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The prospect of the contest being staged in Israel resulted in protest by members of the Orthodox Jewish community in the country, including opposition by the deputy mayor of Jerusalem Haim Miller to the contest being staged in the city.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Guardian">Template:Cite news</ref> Additional concerns over funding for the event also contributed to speculation that the contest could be moved to Malta or the United Kingdom, the countries which had finished in the top three alongside Israel the previous year.Template:Sfn Financial guarantees by the Israeli government however helped to ensure that the contest would take place in Israel. The possibility of holding the event in an open air venue was discussed, however concerns over security led to the choice of an indoor venue for the event.Template:Sfn A tight security presence was felt during the rehearsal week as a precaution against potential disruption from Palestinian militant groups.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Participants

Template:Further Template:Interlanguage link info Template:ESC 1999 participants Per the rules of the contest, twenty-three countries were allowed to participate in the event, a reduction from the twenty-five which took part in the Template:Escyr and 1998 contests.Template:Sfn<ref name="1999 rules" /> Template:Esccnty made its first appearance since Template:Esccnty, and Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, and Template:Esccnty returned after being relegated from the previous year's event.Template:Sfn Template:Esccnty was unable to return from relegation due to failing to broadcast the 1998 contest, as specified in the rules for that edition.Template:Sfn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 1998 participants Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, and Template:Esccnty were absent from this edition.<ref name="ESC1999" />Template:Sfn

Several of the performers taking part in the contest had previously competed as lead artists in past editions. Two artists returned as lead artists in this year's event: Doris Dragović representing Template:Esccnty had represented Template:Esccnty; and Darja Švajger representing Template:Esccnty had represented her country Template:Esccnty.<ref name="13 years" /> A number of former competitors also returned to perform as backing vocalists for some of the competing entries: Template:Ill, who represented Template:Esccnty and Template:Esccnty, provided backing vocals for Selma;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Ill, who represented Template:Esccnty, returned to provide backing for Trine Jepsen and Michael Teschl;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Christopher Scicluna and Moira Stafrace, who represented Template:Esccnty, provided backing for Times Three;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Ill, who represented Template:Esccnty as a member of the group Blond, was among Charlotte Nilsson's backing vocalists;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Linda Williams, who represented the Template:Esccnty, returned as a backing vocalist for Vanessa Chinitor.Template:Sfn Additionally, Evelin Samuel represented Template:Esccnty in this year's contest, having previously served as backing vocalist for the country Template:Esccnty.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="participants" />Template:Sfn
Country	Broadcaster	Artist	Song	Language	Songwriter(s)
Template:Esc	ORF	Bobbie Singer	"Reflection"	English	Dave Moskin
Template:Esc	VRT	Vanessa Chinitor	"Like the Wind"	English	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	RTVBiH	Dino and Béatrice	lang}}"	Bosnian, French	Dino Dervišhalidović
Template:Esc	HRT	Doris	lang}}"	Croatian	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	CyBC	Marlain	lang}}" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}})	Greek	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	DR	Trine Jepsen and Michael Teschl	"This Time I Mean It"	English	Ebbe Ravn
Template:Esc	ETV	Evelin Samuel and Camille	"Diamond of Night"	English	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	lang}}	Nayah	lang}}"	French	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	NDRTemplate:Efn	Sürpriz	lang}}"	German, Turkish, English	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	RÚV	Selma	"All Out of Luck"	English	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	RTÉ	The Mullans	"When You Need Me"	English	Bronagh Mullan
Template:Esc	IBA	Eden	"Happy Birthday"	English, Hebrew	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	LRT	Aistė	lang}}"	Samogitian	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	PBS	Times Three	"Believe 'n Peace"	English	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	NOS	Marlayne	"One Good Reason"	English	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	NRK	Van Eijk	"Living My Life Without You"	English	Stig André van Eijk
Template:Esc	TVP	Template:Ill	lang}}"	Polish	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	RTP	Rui Bandeira	lang}}"	Portuguese	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	RTVSLO	Darja Švajger	"For a Thousand Years"	English	Primož Peterca
Template:Esc	TVE	Lydia	lang}}"	Spanish	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	SVT	Charlotte Nilsson	"Take Me to Your Heaven"	English	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	TRT	Tuba Önal and Template:Ill	lang}}"	Turkish	Template:Hlist
Template:Esc	BBC	Precious	"Say It Again"	English	Paul Varney

Qualification

Due to the high number of countries wishing to enter the contest, a relegation system was introduced in Template:Escyr in order to reduce the number of countries which could compete in each year's contest. Any relegated countries would be able to return the following year, thus allowing all countries the opportunity to compete in at least one in every two editions.<ref name="1999 rules" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The relegation rules introduced for the 1997 contest were again utilised ahead of the 1999 contest, based on each country's average points total in previous contests. The twenty-three participants were made up of the previous year's winning country and host nation, the seventeen countries other than the host which had obtained the highest average points total over the preceding five contests, and any eligible countries which had not competed in the 1998 contest. In cases where the average was identical between two or more countries, the total number of points scored in the most recent contest determined the final order.<ref name="1999 rules" />

A new addition to the relegation rules specified that for the Template:Escyr and future editions, the four countries whose broadcasters were the largest financial contributors to the contestTemplate:SndTemplate:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, and the Template:EsccntyTemplate:Sndwould automatically qualify for each year's event and be exempt from relegation.<ref name="1999 rules" /> This new "Big Four" group of countries was created to ensure the financial viability of the event, and was prompted by a number of poor placements in previous years for some of these countries, which if repeated in 1999 could have resulted in those countries being eliminated.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Finland, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Switzerland were therefore excluded from participating in the 1999 contest, to make way for the return of Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Iceland, and Lithuania, and new debuting country Latvia. However Latvia's {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} subsequently withdrew its participation at a late stage, and their place in the contest was subsequently offered to Hungary as the excluded country with the highest average points total. Hungarian broadcaster {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} declined and the offer was then passed to Portugal's {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} as the next in line, which accepted.<ref name="ESC1999" />Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

The calculations used to determine the countries relegated for the 1999 contest are outlined in the table below.

Table key

Template:Color box Qualifier

Template:Color box Automatic qualifier

Template:Color box Returning countries which did not compete in 1998

Calculation of average points to determine qualification for the 1999 contestTemplate:Efn

Rank	Country	Average	Yearly Point Totals<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation					CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Template:Escyr	Template:Escyr	Template:Escyr	Template:Escyr	Template:Escyr
1	Template:Esc	130.60	226	44	162	157	64
2	Template:EscTemplate:Spaces‡	126.50	Template:N/A	81	Template:N/A		172
3	Template:Esc	121.80	63	76	77	227	166
4	Template:Esc	94.40	97	76	68	66	165
5	Template:Esc	83.40	76	148	114	0	79
6	Template:Esc	74.20	27	91	98	24	131
7Template:Efn	Template:Esc	67.40	48	100	100	36	53
8Template:Efn	Template:Esc	67.40	51	79	72	98	37
9Template:Efn	Template:Esc	59.25	4	Template:N/A	78	5	150
10Template:Efn	Template:Esc	59.25	128	1	Template:N/A	22	86
11	Template:EscTemplate:Spaces†	58.50	Template:N/A	92	Template:N/A	25	Template:N/A
12	Template:Esc	57.00	166	15	31	54	19
13	Template:Esc	56.80	74	94	18	95	3
14	Template:Esc	56.00	Template:N/A	21	57	121	25
15	Template:Esc	54.00	17	119	17	96	21
16	Template:Esc	53.50	2	Template:N/A	94	82	36
17	Template:Esc	50.67	Template:N/A	8	22	Template:N/A	122
18	Template:Esc	44.25	Template:N/A	84	16	60	17
19	Template:EscTemplate:Efn	42.00	122	3	Template:N/A	39	4
20	Template:EscTemplate:Spaces†	41.50	19	67	68	12	Template:N/A
21	Template:EscTemplate:Efn	41.20	73	5	92	0	36
22	Template:Esc	39.80	44	68	36	39	12
23	Template:EscTemplate:Spaces†	37.25	49	31	51	18	Template:N/A
24	Template:EscTemplate:Spaces†	22.00	39	14	13	22	Template:N/A
25	Template:Esc	16.00			Template:N/A	Template:N/A	16
26Template:Efn	Template:Esc	14.00	11	Template:N/A	9	Template:N/A	22
27Template:Efn	Template:Esc	14.00	15	Template:N/A	19	Template:N/A	8
28	Template:Esc	10.50	15	Template:N/A	22	5	0
29	Template:Esc	10.00	14	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	6
30	Template:EscTemplate:Spaces†	0.00	0			Template:N/A

Production

File:Sigal Shachmon and Dafna Dekel D941-056.jpg

Two of the hosts Dafna Dekel (left) and Sigal Shachmon, during the contest

The Eurovision Song Contest 1999 was produced by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA). Amnon Barkai served as executive producer, Aharon Goldfinger-Eldar served as producer, Hagai Mautner served as director, and Template:Ill, Mia Raveh and Ronen Levin served as designers.<ref name="ESC1999" />Template:Sfn On behalf of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the event was overseen by Christine Marchal-Ortiz as scrutineer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Sfn Usually able to hold a maximum of 3,000 people, modifications made to the Ussishkin Auditorium reduced the capacity to around 2,000 for the contest, with rows of seats removed from the floor to make room for the stage and from the balcony to allow for the construction of boxes for use by various commentators.Template:Sfn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Rehearsals in the venue for the competing acts began on 24 May 1999. Each country had two technical rehearsals in the week approaching the contest: the first rehearsals took place on 24 and 25 May, with each country allowed 40 minutes total on stage followed by a 20 minute press conference; the second rehearsals subsequently took place on 26 and 27 May, with each country allocated 30 minutes on stage.Template:Sfn Each country took to the stage in the order in which they would perform, however the Lithuanian delegation was permitted to arrive in Israel one day later than the other delegations due to budget concerns.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Subsequently the first day's rehearsals began with Belgium as the second country to perform in the contest, with Lithuania being the last country to complete their first rehearsal on the second day; the order of rehearsals was corrected for the second rehearsals, with Lithuania scheduled as the first delegation on stage. Additional rehearsals took place on 26 May for the contest's concluding performance with all artists, and on 27 May for the contest's presenters and to test the voting scoreboard's computer graphics. Two dress rehearsals held on 28 May were held with an audience, the second of which was also recorded as a production stand-by in case of problems during the live contest. A further dress rehearsal took place on the afternoon of 29 May ahead of the live contest, followed by security and technical checks.Template:Sfn

The singer Dafna Dekel, the radio and television presenter Yigal Ravid and the model and television presenter Sigal Shachmon were the presenters of the 1999 contest, the first edition to feature three presenters in a single show.<ref name="13 years">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Dekel had previously represented Template:Esccnty and placed sixth with the song "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The writers of the winning song were awarded with a trophy designed by Yaacov Agam, which was presented by the previous year's winning artist Dana International.<ref name="contestAV" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Sfn

A compilation album featuring many of the competing entries was released in Israel following the contest, commissioned by IBA and released through the Israeli record label IMP Records. The release contained nineteen of the twenty-three competing acts on CD and an additional video CD with clips from the televised broadcast and footage from backstage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Format

Entries

Each participating broadcaster was represented in the contest by one song, no longer than three minutes in duration. A maximum of six performers were allowed on stage during each country's performance, and all performers were required to be at least 16 years old in the year of the contest. Selected entries were not permitted to be released commercially before 1 January 1999, and were then only allowed to be released in the country they represented until after the contest was held. Entries were required to be selected by each country's participating broadcaster by 15 March, and the final submission date for all selected entries to be received by the contest organisers was set for 29 March. This submission was required to include a sound recording of the entry and backing track for use during the contest, a video presentation of the song on stage being performed by the artists, and the text of the song lyrics in its original language and translations in French and English for distribution to the participating broadcasters, their commentators and juries.<ref name="1999 rules" />

For the first time since the Template:Escyr the participants had full freedom to perform in any language, and not simply that of the country they represented.<ref name="13 years" /><ref name="1977 throwback" />Template:Efn This led to a marked increase in the number of entries which were performed in English.<ref name="13 years" /> Additionally, the rules were modified to make the orchestra a non-obligatory feature of the contest of which organising broadcasters were free to opt out.<ref name="1999 rules" /> IBA chose not to provide an orchestra, with all entries subsequently being performed with backing tracks, and no orchestra has been included as part of the competition since.Template:Sfn<ref name="13 years" />

Following the confirmation of the twenty-three competing countries, the draw to determine the running order was held on 17 November 1998.<ref name="1999 rules">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="participants">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Voting procedure

Template:Further The results of the 1999 contest were determined using the scoring system introduced in Template:Escyr: each country awarded twelve points to its favourite entry, followed by ten points to its second favourite, and then awarded points in decreasing value from eight to one for the remaining songs which featured in the country's top ten, with countries unable to vote for their own entry.<ref name="1999 rules" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Each participating broadcaster was required to use televoting to determine their points, with viewers able to register their vote by telephone for a total of five minutes following the performance of the last competing entry.<ref name="1999 rules" />Template:Sfn Viewers could vote by calling one of twenty-two different telephone numbers to represent the twenty-three competing entries except that which represented their own country.<ref name="1999 rules" /><ref name="contestAV" /> Once phone lines were opened a video recap containing short clips of each competing entry with the accompanying phone number for voting was shown in order to aid viewers during the voting window.<ref name="contestAV" /> Systems were also put in place to prevent lobby groups from one country voting for their entry by travelling to other countries.<ref name="1999 rules" />

Participating broadcasters which were unable to hold a televote in its country due to technological limitations were granted an exception, and their points were determined by an assembled jury of eight individuals, which was required to be split evenly between members of the public and music professionals, comprised additionally of an equal number of men and women, and below and above 30 years of age. Participating broadcasters using televoting were also required to appoint a back-up jury of the same composition which would be called into action upon technical failure preventing the televote results from being used. Each jury member voted in secret and awarded between one and ten votes to each participating song, excluding that from their own country and with no abstentions permitted. The votes of each member were collected following the country's performance and then tallied by the non-voting jury chairperson to determine the points to be awarded. In any cases where two or more songs in the top ten received the same number of votes, a show of hands by all jury members was used to determine the final placing; if a tie still remained, the youngest jury member would have the deciding vote.<ref name="1999 rules" />

Postcards

Each entry was preceded by a video postcard which served as an introduction to each country, as well as providing an opportunity to showcase the running artistic theme of the event and to create a transition between entries to allow stage crew to make changes on stage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The postcards for the 1999 contest featured animations of paintings of biblical stories which transitioned into footage of modern locations in Israel or clips representing specific themes related to contemporary Israeli culture and industries. The various locations or themes for each postcard are listed below by order of performance:<ref name="contestAV" />

1. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndJacob's Ladder; Israel Museum, Jerusalem
2. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndPharaoh and his Army; Eilat
3. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndNoah's Ark; landscapes of Galilee
4. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndRuth; Israeli agriculture
5. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndJonah and the Whale; Jaffa
6. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndAdam and Eve; Israeli fashion
7. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Sea of Galilee; Tiberias and surroundings
8. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndWorkers of the Tabernacle; Israeli tech and virtual reality
9. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndJoseph and His Brothers; Haifa
10. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Golden Calf; Israeli jewellery industry
11. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Prophet; Tel Aviv nightlife
12. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndDavid and Goliath; Israeli sports
13. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Manna from Heaven; Israeli culinary
14. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Basket of Moses; rafting on the Jordan River
15. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndDavid and Bathsheba; music and art on the roofs of Tel Aviv
16. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndDaniel and the Lions; Acre
17. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndCain and Abel; Judaean Desert
18. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Judgement of Solomon; Jerusalem
19. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Promised Land; Jezreel Valley
20. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndDavid and Michal; Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre, Tel Aviv
21. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Tower of Babel; Israeli beaches
22. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndSamson; Caesarea National Park
23. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndThe Zodiac mosaic at the Old Beth Alfa Synagogue; love at the Dead Sea

Contest overview

File:Charlotte Perrelli 2012-06-04.jpg

Charlotte Nilsson (pictured in 2012) brought Sweden its fourth Eurovision victory.

The contest took place on 29 May 1999 at 22:00 (IST) and lasted 3 hours and 13 minutes.<ref name="1999 rules" />Template:Sfn

The show began with a computer animation entitled "From Birmingham to Jerusalem", highlighting the contest's journey from last year's host country the United Kingdom to Israel, and containing notable landmarks and features of the competing countries; the animation then transitioned into recorded footage of Jerusalem including dancers and hosts Dekel and Shachmon.<ref name="contestAV">Template:Cite AV media</ref> The contest's opening segment also featured Izhar Cohen and Gali Atari, previous Eurovision winning artists for Template:Esccnty and Template:Esccnty attending as special guests, and the previous year's co-presenter Terry Wogan in attendance as the United Kingdom's television commentator.Template:Sfn<ref name="contestAV" /> A pause between entries was included for the first time to allow broadcasters to provide advertisements during the show;<ref name="13 years" /> placed between the Polish and Icelandic entries, a performance of the song "To Life" from the musical Fiddler on the Roof featuring co-presenters Dekel and Shachmon was provided for the benefit of the audience in the arena and for non-commercial broadcasters.Template:Sfn<ref name="contestAV" />

The contest's pre-recorded interval act entitled "Freedom Calls", shown following the final competing entry and during the voting window, was staged outside the Walls of Jerusalem and the Tower of David and featured performances by a troupe of dancers, a chorus and Dana International singing the D'ror Yikra and a cover of "Free", originally recorded by Stevie Wonder.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="contestAV" />Template:Sfn Following the traditional reprise performance of the winning song, the show finished with a performance of the English version of Israel's 1979 contest winning song "Hallelujah", which included all the competing artists and was featured as a tribute to the victims of the then-ongoing Kosovo War and to the people of the Balkans impacted.<ref name="ESC1999" /><ref name="13 years" />

The winner was Template:Esccnty represented by the song "Take Me to Your Heaven", composed by Lars Diedricson, written by Template:Ill and Template:Ill and performed by Charlotte Nilsson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This marked Sweden's fourth victory in the contest, following wins in Template:Esccnty, Template:Esccnty, and Template:Esccnty, and occurred 25 years after ABBA brought Sweden its first victory.Template:Sfn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Iceland, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina also achieved their best results to date, placing second, fourth and seventh respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During the presentation of the trophy to the contest winners, Dana International caused a security alert in the auditorium as while lifting the trophy she lost her balance and fell to the stage along with the winning songwriters before being helped up by security agents.<ref name="ESC1999" />Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Norwegian delegation raised an objection to the use of simulated male vocals during the performance of Croatian entry "Marija Magdalena".Template:Sfn Following the contest this was found to have contravened the contest rules regarding the use of vocals on the backing tracks, and Croatia were sanctioned by the EBU with the loss of 33% of their points for the purpose of calculating their average points total for qualification in following contests.<ref name="ESC1999" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The country's position and points at this contest however remain unchanged.Template:Sfn

The table below outlines the participating countries, the order in which they performed, the competing artists and songs, and the results of the voting.

Results of the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Template:Sfn<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Abbr	Country	Artist	Song	Points	Place
1	Template:Esc	Aistė	lang}}"	13	20
2	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname	"Like the Wind"	38	12
3	Template:Esc	Lydia	lang}}"	1	23
4	Template:Esc	Doris	lang}}"	118	4
5	Template:Esc	Precious	"Say It Again"	38	12
6	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname	"For a Thousand Years"	50	11
7	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname and Grup Mistik	lang}}"	21	16
8	Template:Esc	Van Eijk	"Living My Life Without You"	35	14
9	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname and Michael Teschl	"This Time I Mean It"	71	8
10	Template:Esc	Nayah	lang}}"	14	19
11	Template:Esc	Marlayne	"One Good Reason"	71	8
12	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname	lang}}"	17	18
13	Template:Esc	Selma	"All Out of Luck"	146	2
14	Template:Esc	Marlain	lang}}"	2	22
15	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname	"Take Me to Your Heaven"	163	1
16	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname	lang}}"	12	21
17	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname	"When You Need Me"	18	17
18	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname	"Reflection"	65	10
19	Template:Esc	Eden	"Happy Birthday"	93	5
20	Template:Esc	Times Three	"Believe 'n Peace"	32	15
21	Template:Esc	Sürpriz	lang}}"	140	3
22	Template:Esc	Dino and Béatrice	lang}}"	86	7
23	Template:Esc	Template:Sortname and Camille	"Diamond of Night"	90	6

Spokespersons

File:Kirsten.jpg

CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Each participating broadcaster appointed a spokesperson who was responsible for announcing, in English or French, the votes for its respective country.<ref name="1999 rules" /> As had been the case since the Template:Escyr, the spokespersons were connected via satellite and appeared in vision during the broadcast; spokespersons at the 1999 contest are listed below.<ref name="contestAV" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndAndrius Tapinas
2. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndTemplate:Ill
3. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndHugo de Campos
4. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndMarko Rašica
5. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndColin BerryTemplate:Sfn
6. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndMira Berginc
7. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndOsman Erkan
8. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndRagnhild Sælthun Fjørtoft
9. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndKirsten Siggaard
10. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndMarie Myriam
11. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndEdsilia Rombley
12. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndTemplate:Ill
13. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndÁslaug Dóra Eyjólfsdóttir
14. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndMarina Maleni
15. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndPontus GårdingerTemplate:Sfn
16. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndManuel Luís Goucha
17. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndClare McNamara
18. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndTemplate:Ill
19. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndTemplate:Ill
20. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndNirvana Azzopardi
21. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndRenan Demirkan
22. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndSegmedina Srna
23. Template:FlaguTemplate:SndMart Sander<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col end

Detailed voting results

Televoting was used to determine the points awarded by all countries, except Lithuania, Turkey, Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.Template:Sfn Ireland had intended to use televoting, however technical failures at Telecom Éireann ahead of the voting window meant that the majority of calls were not registered and the country's back-up jury was utilised to determine its points.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The announcement of the results from each country was conducted in the order in which they performed, with the spokespersons announcing their country's points in English or French in ascending order.<ref name="1999 rules" /><ref name="contestAV" /> The detailed breakdown of the points awarded by each country is listed in the tables below.

Detailed voting results of the Eurovision Song Contest 1999Template:Sfn<ref name="results">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="scoreboard">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Voting procedure used: Template:LegendTemplate:Legend		scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header	scope="col" Template:Vert header
rowspan="23" Template:Vert header	Lithuania	13				2										5					3	1			2
Belgium	38				4						2	10	2					10		5				5
Spain	1				1
Croatia	118	6	5	12			12	8			7	1	7	4	2	1	6	6	8	7	5	10	8	3
United Kingdom	38	5		4	5		2	4		1					4					4	8		1
Slovenia	50	10	2	2	12						1	6						12					5
Turkey	21								4		5											12
Norway	35				7					6				7	7	5		3
Denmark	71			5		5	5						1	12	8	8	3	7	5	2	4			6
France	14	2						2	8									2
Netherlands	71	4	12	3		8	3	5		7				6		4	2	1	4	6	2		4
Poland	17	7																				4	6
Iceland	146	8	8	10		10		10	10	12		7	4		12	12	4	4	2	10	10	3		10
Cyprus	2					2
Sweden	163	3	7	6		12	7	6	12	10	3	8	6	10	6		10	5	6	8	12	2	12	12
Portugal	12										12
Ireland	18	12				4		1	1
Austria	65		6			7	4		6	3		2	3	8	1	7	5					5		8
Israel	93		3	8	8		1	3	2	2	10	4	10	1	10	3	8		1		6	7	2	4
Malta	32				6	6									3		1		7			1	7	1
Germany	140		10	7	3	1	6	12	3	5	8	12	12	5		2	12		10	12	3		10	7
Bosnia and Herzegovina	86		1		10		10	7	7	8	6	3	5	3		6			12			8
Estonia	90	1	4	1		3	8		5	4	4	5	8	2		10	7	8	3	1	7	6	3

12 points

The below table summarises how the maximum 12 points were awarded from one country to another. The winning country is shown in bold. Germany and Sweden each received the maximum score of 12 points from five countries, with Iceland receiving three sets of 12 points, Croatia and Slovenia receiving two sets each, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, and Turkey each receiving one maximum score.<ref name="results" /><ref name="scoreboard" />

Distribution of 12 points awarded at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999<ref name="results" /><ref name="scoreboard" />

N.	Contestant	Nation(s) giving 12 points
5	Template:Esc	Template:Esc, Template:Esc, Template:Esc, Template:Esc, Template:Esc
	Template:Esc	Template:Esc, Template:Esc, Template:Esc, Template:Esc, Template:Esc
3	Template:Esc	Template:Esc, Template:Esc, Template:Esc
2	Template:Esc	Template:Esc, Template:Esc
	Template:Esc	Template:Esc, Template:Esc
1	Template:Esc	Template:Esc
	Template:Esc	Template:Esc
	Template:Esc	Template:Esc
	Template:Esc	Template:Esc
	Template:Esc	Template:Esc
	Template:Esc	Template:Esc

Broadcasts

Each participating broadcaster was required to relay live and in full the contest via television. Non-participating EBU member broadcasters were also able to relay the contest as "passive participants"; any passive countries wishing to participate in the following year's event were also required to provide a live broadcast of the contest or a deferred broadcast within 24 hours.<ref name="1999 rules" /> Broadcasters were able to send commentators to provide coverage of the contest in their own native language and to relay information about the artists and songs to their television viewers. These commentators were typically sent to the venue to report on the event, and were able to provide commentary from small booths constructed at the back of the venue.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The contest was reportedly watched by 150 million viewers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Known details on the broadcasts in each country, including the specific broadcasting stations and commentators, are shown in the tables below.

Broadcasters and commentators in participating countries

Country	Broadcaster<ref name="participants" />	Channel(s)	Commentator(s)	Template:Refh
Template:Flagu	ORF	ORF 1	Andi Knoll	<ref name="Schweiz" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		FM4	Stermann & Grissemann	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flagu	VRT	TV1	André Vermeulen and Bart Peeters	<ref name="PZC" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	RTBF	lang}}	Jean-Pierre Hautier	<ref name="Revue">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Flagu	HRT	HRT 1	Aleksandar Kostadinov	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	CyBC	RIK 1	Template:N/A	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	DR	DR1	Keld Heick	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flagu	ETV		Marko Reikop	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	ER	lang}}
Template:Flagu	lang}}	France 3Template:Efn	Julien Lepers	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	ARD	lang}}	Peter Urban	<ref name="Revue" />
Template:Flagu	RÚV	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	Gísli Marteinn Baldursson	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	RTÉ	RTÉ One	Pat Kenny	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		RTÉ Radio 1	Larry Gogan	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	IBA	Channel 1	Template:N/A	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	LRT	LRT	Template:Ill	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	PBS	TVM	Template:N/A	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	NOS	TV2	Willem van Beusekom	<ref name="PZC">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	NRK	NRK1	Jostein Pedersen	<ref name="Scandi">Template:Cite news</ref>
		NRK P1	Template:Ill	<ref name="Scandi" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} Template:Subscription or libraries</ref>
Template:Flagu	TVP	TVP1	Artur Orzech	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flagu	RTP	RTP1Template:Efn	Rui Unas	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flagu	RTVSLO	SLO 1	Template:N/A	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		Val 202	Template:Ill
Template:Flagu	TVE	lang}}Template:Efn	José Luis Uribarri	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	SVT	SVT2	Pekka Heino and Anders Berglund	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	SR	SR P3	Carolina Norén
Template:Flagu	TRT	TRT 1Template:Efn	Gülşah Banda	<ref name="Cumhuriyet">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	BBC	BBC OneTemplate:Efn	Terry Wogan	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		BBC Radio 2	Ken Bruce	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Broadcasters and commentators in non-participating countries

Country	Broadcaster	Channel(s)	Commentator(s)	Template:Refh
Template:Flagu	SBS	SBS TVTemplate:Efn	Template:N/A	<ref name="Australia">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	BFBS	BFBS TelevisionTemplate:Efn	Template:N/A	<ref name="Falklands">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	SvF		Keld Heick	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	YLE	TV1	Jani Juntunen	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		lang}}	Sanna Kojo	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		Radio Vega	Template:N/A	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	KNR	KNR	Template:N/A	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	LTV	Template:N/A	Template:Ill	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Flagu	TVR	TVR 1	Doina Caramzulescu and Costin Grigore	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	ROR	lang}}	Ana Maria Zaharescu	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Flagu	ORT		Olga Maksimova and Kolya MacCleod	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Jewish ChannelTemplate:Efn		Template:N/A	<ref name="Sovetskaya">Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Flagu	SRG SSR	SF 2	Sandra Studer	<ref name="Schweiz">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
		TSR 1	Jean-Marc Richard	<ref name="TV8">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Suisse">Template:Cite news</ref>
		TSI 2	Template:N/A	<ref name="TV8" />
		DRS 1Template:Efn	Template:N/A	<ref name="NZZ">Template:Cite news</ref>

Other awards

Barbara Dex Award

The Barbara Dex Award, created in 1997 by fansite House of Eurovision, was awarded to the performer deemed to have been the "worst dressed" among the participants.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The winner in 1999 was Spain's representative Lydia, as determined by visitors to the House of Eurovision website. This was the first edition of the award to be determined by site visitors, as the winners in 1997 and 1998 had been chosen by the founders of the House of Eurovision site Edwin van Thillo and Rob Paardekam.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notes and references

Bibliography

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External links

• Template:Official website