 "I See a Star" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eurovision Song Contest 1974 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artists | |
| As | |
| Language | English |
| Composer | |
| Lyricist | |
| Conductor | |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 3rd |
| Final points | 15 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "De oude muzikant" (1973) | |
| "Ding-A-Dong" (1975) ► | |
"I See a Star" (original Dutch title: "Ik zie een ster") was theDutch entry in theEurovision Song Contest 1974, performed inEnglish (the first time the Dutch entry was not entirely inDutch) byMouth & MacNeal.
The song was composed byHans van Hemert and written byGerrit den Braber, a duo with several previous entries to their credit. Lyrically, the song is a love duet, with the singers telling each other that their love has helped them see the world in a new way. The "star" of the title is in other words to be found in one's lover's eyes. Musically it is a simple melody, which is embellished by a number of different instruments, including abarrel organ with a collection ofpuppets on it.
The brightly coloured performance has become a favourite among Contest fans, with the song being selected as one of the non-winning "classics" to appear on the double-CD and double-DVD sets produced to support theCongratulations special of late 2005. At one point in the performance, Mouth in fact played the barrel organ himself – something referenced in the Dutch lyrics (dan speel ik er een stukkie orgel bij "then I'll add some organ"). Contest historian and author John Kennedy O'Connor argues in his bookThe Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History that the "antics" involved in the presentation may ultimately have hurt the song's chances of winning. The winning song at this Contest was "Waterloo" bySweden'sABBA.
Besides the Dutch and English versions, Mouth & MacNeal also recorded the song in German and French, entitled "Ein goldner Stern" and "L'amour au pas" respectively.
The song was performed twelfth on the night, followingBelgium'sJacques Hustin with "Fleur de liberté" and precedingIreland'sTina Reynolds with "Cross Your Heart". At the close of voting, it had received 15 points, placing third in a field of 17.
It was succeeded as Dutch representative at the1975 contest byTeach-In with "Ding-A-Dong".Maggie MacNeal returned to the Contest as a solo artist in1980 with "Amsterdam".
| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[1] | 4 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[2] | 1 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[3] | 3 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[4] | 3 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[5] | 8 |
