Eurovision Song Contest 1959

2025-05-31T11:53:48Z

24.132.110.241: /* Contest overview */ spelling correction

{{Short description|International song competition}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox song contest
| name = Eurovision Song Contest
| year = 1959
| logo = ESC 1959 logo.png
| final = {{start date|1959|03|11|df=y}}
| venue = {{lang|fr|[[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès]]|i=unset}} Cannes, France
| presenters = [[Jacqueline Joubert]]
| musdirector = [[Franck Pourcel]]
| director = Marcel Cravenne
| host = {{lang|fr|[[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]]|i=unset}} (RTF)
| entries = 11
| debut = {{Esc|Monaco}}
| return = {{Esc|United Kingdom}}
| nonreturn = {{Esc|Luxembourg}}
| vote = Ten-member juries in each country; each member gave one vote to their favourite song
| winner = {{Esc|Netherlands|y=1959}} "{{lang|nl|[['n Beetje|Een beetje]]|i=unset}}"

| Map NoSemis = Y
}}

The '''Eurovision Song Contest 1959''' was the fourth edition of the [[Eurovision Song Contest]], held on Wednesday 11 March 1959 at the {{lang|fr|[[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès]]|i=unset}} in [[Cannes]], France, and hosted by French television presenter [[Jacqueline Joubert]]. Organised by the [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) and host broadcaster {{lang|fr|[[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]]|i=unset}} (RTF), the contest, originally known as the '''{{lang|fr|Grand Prix Eurovision 1959 de la Chanson Européenne|i=unset}}''' ({{langx|en|Grand Prix of the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest}}<ref name="Radio Times" />), was held in France following the country's victory at the {{escyr|1958||1958 contest}} with the song "{{lang|fr|[[Dors, mon amour]]|i=unset}}", performed by [[André Claveau]].

In total eleven countries participated in the contest, with {{Esccnty|Monaco}} making its first appearance and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}} returning after their absence the previous year. {{Esccnty|Luxembourg}}, however, decided not to participate after competing in all former editions.

The winner was the {{Esccnty|Netherlands}} with the song "{{lang|nl|[['n Beetje|Een beetje]]|i=unset}}", performed by [[Teddy Scholten]], composed by Dick Schallies and written by [[Willy van Hemert]]. This was the Netherlands' second victory in the contest, having also won in {{escyr|1957}}, and also marked the first time a country had won the contest more than once. Van Hemert also became the first individual to win twice, having also written the first Dutch winning song from 1957, "{{lang|nl|[[Net als toen]]|i=unset}}". The United Kingdom placed second, marking the first of a record sixteen times that the country would go on to finish as contest runners-up, while {{Esccnty|France|y=1959}} placed third.

== Location ==
[[File:Palais des festivals et des congrès, Cannes, 1949.jpg|thumb|left|220px|{{lang|fr|[[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès]]|i=unset}}, Cannes – host venue of the 1959 contest]]
The event took place in [[Cannes]], France, following the nation's victory at the {{escyr|1958||1958 edition}} in [[Hilversum]], Netherlands, with the song "{{lang|fr|[[Dors, mon amour]]|i=unset}}", performed by [[André Claveau]]. The selected venue was the {{lang|fr|[[Palais des Festivals et des Congrès]]|i=unset}}, built in 1949 to host the [[Cannes Film Festival]] and located on the {{lang|fr|[[Promenade de la Croisette]]|i=unset}} along the shore of the [[Mediterranean Sea]].{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=184}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The Palais Croisette : 33 years of service |url=https://www.cannes.com/en/cannes-cinema/the-festival-de-cannes/history-of-the-film-festival/the-festival-and-its-palais/the-palais-croisette.html |publisher=[[Cannes]] |date=4 October 2021 |access-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302155025/https://www.cannes.com/en/cannes-cinema/the-festival-de-cannes/history-of-the-film-festival/the-festival-and-its-palais/the-palais-croisette.html |archive-date=2 March 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the growth in the film festival a new building bearing the same name was opened in 1982, with the original building renamed as the {{lang|fr|Palais Croisette|i=unset}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 1983 festival inaugurates the Palais des Festivals |url=https://www.cannes.com/en/cannes-cinema/the-festival-de-cannes/history-of-the-film-festival/the-festival-and-its-palais/the-palais-des-festivals-et-des-congres.html |publisher=[[Cannes]] |date=4 October 2021 |access-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301223913/https://www.cannes.com/en/cannes-cinema/the-festival-de-cannes/history-of-the-film-festival/the-festival-and-its-palais/the-palais-des-festivals-et-des-congres.html |archive-date=1 March 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

This marked the second occasion in which the previous year's winning country organised the event, and the first time in which the winning country was given first choice at hosting the following year's event, as the rights to host the 1958 contest were only awarded to the Netherlands after all other countries declined.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Escudero |first1=Victor M. |title=#ThrowbackThursday to 60 years ago: Eurovision 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/throwback-thursday-1957 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=3 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102163146/https://eurovision.tv/story/throwback-thursday-1957 |archive-date=2 January 2018 |date=26 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A garden space with plants from Southern France was installed in front of the building for the contest, and the flags of the participating nations were raised on the roof.<ref name="Espoir1">{{Cite news |last=Montaigne |first=Pierre |date=11 March 1959 |title=Onze vedettes, onze refrains, onze nations sont engagés dans le Grand Prix Eurovision 1959 de la chanson européenne |trans-title=Eleven stars, eleven refrains, eleven nations are entered into the 1959 Eurovision Grand Prix of European song |language=fr |page=4 |work=L'Espoir de Nice et du Sud-Est |location=[[Nice]], France |issn=1166-9012}}</ref> The audience comprised 1,500 invited guests.<ref name="Figaro">{{Cite news |last=Nosari |first=Jacques |date=12 March 1959 |title=Pluie de chansons |trans-title=Rain of songs |language=fr |page=15 |work=[[Le Figaro]] |location=Paris, France |issn=0182-5852 |oclc=1367314267}}</ref>

Additional events during the contest week included a supper for the participating delegations on behalf of the city of Cannes held on the evening following the contest in the {{lang|fr|Salon des Ambassadeurs|i=unset}} of the city's {{ill|Casino municipal de Cannes|lt=Casino municipal|fr}}.<ref name="Espoir1" />

== Participants ==
{{Further|List of countries in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{interlanguage link info|section=yes}}
{{ESC 1959 participants}}
A total of eleven countries competed in the contest, with {{Esccnty|Monaco}} making its first appearance and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}} returning after a one year absence.<ref name="ESC1959">{{cite web |title=Cannes 1959 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531065500/https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The United Kingdom's absence from the 1958 contest is generally reported to have been due to the country's poor result in {{escyr|1957}}, but their return coincided with the international success of "{{lang|it|[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]|i=unset}}", the Italian entry from the previous year's contest, and the appointment of [[Eric Maschwitz]] as Head of Light Entertainment at the [[BBC]].{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=12–13}}{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=166}} Beginning with this event the United Kingdom holds the record for the longest string of consecutive appearances in the Eurovision Song Contest, appearing in every subsequent contest final {{as of|2024|lc=y}}.<ref name="UK">{{cite web |title=United Kingdom – Participation history |url=https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517130909/https://eurovision.tv/country/united-kingdom |archive-date=17 May 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jordan |first1=Paul |last2=Roxburgh |first2=Gordon |title=Shining a light on the United Kingdom: 60 Years at Eurovision |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/shining-a-light-on-the-united-kingdom-60-years-at-eurovision |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424001714/https://eurovision.tv/story/shining-a-light-on-the-united-kingdom-60-years-at-eurovision |archive-date=24 April 2017 |date=11 January 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{Esccnty|Luxembourg}} was absent from the event, having participated in all previous contests, with management at the Luxembourgish broadcaster {{lang|fr|[[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion]]|i=unset}} (CLT) rejecting the proposed entry and leaving no sufficient time to find a replacement.<ref>{{cite news |author=JG |title=15 Jahre 'Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson' |trans-title=15 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest |url= https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/8xrp6x141/pages/15/articles/DIVL1432 |work=[[Luxemburger Wort]] |page=15 |date=17 March 1970 |location=[[Luxembourg City]], Luxembourg |language=de}}</ref> This decision appears to have occurred late in the preparations for the contest as the country was listed among the participants in several radio and television listings.<ref name="Radio Times" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=184}}<ref name="DR" />

Among this year's participants, two artists had previously competed in the contest. [[Birthe Wilke]] had placed third for {{esccnty|Denmark|y=1957|t=Denmark in 1957}}, performing "{{lang|da|Skibet skal sejle i nat|i=unset}}" alongside [[Gustav Winckler]], and [[Domenico Modugno]] had placed third for {{esccnty|Italy|y=1958|t=Italy in 1958}} with "{{lang|it|[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]|i=unset}}".<ref>{{cite web |title=Frankfurt 1957 – Participants |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957/participants |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009012006/https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957/participants |archive-date=9 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hilversum 1958 – Participants |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/hilversum-1958/participants |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=13 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028071912/https://eurovision.tv/event/hilversum-1958/participants |archive-date=28 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sticky-header"
|-
|+ Eurovision Song Contest 1959 participants<ref>{{cite web |title=Cannes 1959 – Participants |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959/participants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203135104/https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959/participants |archive-date=3 February 2023 |access-date=9 June 2023 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU)}}</ref>{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=184–188}}
|-
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Broadcaster
! scope="col" | Artist
! scope="col" | Song
! scope="col" | Language
! scope="col" | Songwriter(s)
! scope="col" | Conductor
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Austria}}
| [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]
| [[Ferry Graf]]
| "{{lang|de|Der K. und K. Kalypso aus Wien|i=unset}}"
| German
| {{hlist|Günther Leopold|{{ill|Norbert Pawlicki|de}}}}
| [[Franck Pourcel]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Belgium}}
| {{ill|National Broadcasting Institute|fr|Institut national de radiodiffusion|nl|Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep|lt=NIR}}
| [[Bob Benny]]
| "{{lang|nl|Hou toch van mij|i=unset}}"
| Dutch
| {{hlist|{{ill|Hans Flower|nl}}|{{ill|Ke Riema|nl}}}}
| [[Francis Bay]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Denmark}}
| [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]
| [[Birthe Wilke]]
| "{{lang|da|Uh, jeg ville ønske, jeg var dig|i=unset}}"
| Danish
| {{hlist|Carl Andersen|[[Otto Lington]]}}
| Kai Mortensen
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|France}}
| [[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française|RTF]]
| [[Jean Philippe]]
| "{{lang|fr|Oui oui oui oui|i=unset}}"
| French
| {{hlist|[[Pierre Cour]]|[[Hubert Giraud]]}}
| Franck Pourcel
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Germany}}
| [[Hessischer Rundfunk|HR]]{{efn|On behalf of the German public broadcasting consortium [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Alle deutschen ESC-Acts und ihre Titel |trans-title=All German ESC acts and their songs |url=https://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/vorentscheid386_glossaryPage-25.html |publisher=[[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] |access-date=12 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612084259/https://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/vorentscheid386_glossaryPage-25.html |archive-date=12 June 2023 |language=de |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| [[Kessler Twins|Alice and Ellen Kessler]]
| "{{lang|de|Heut' woll'n wir tanzen geh'n|i=unset}}"
| German
| {{hlist|Astrid Voltmann|Helmut Zander}}
| Franck Pourcel
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Italy}}
| [[RAI]]
| [[Domenico Modugno]]
| "{{lang|it|[[Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)|Piove]]|i=unset}}"
| Italian
| {{hlist|Domenico Modugno|[[Dino Verde]]}}
| {{ill|William Galassini|it}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Monaco}}
| [[TMC (TV channel)|TMC]]
| [[Jacques Pills]]
| "{{lang|fr|Mon ami Pierrot|i=unset}}"
| French
| {{hlist|Raymond Bravard|{{ill|Florence Véran|fr}}}}
| Franck Pourcel
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Netherlands}}
| [[Nederlandse Televisie Stichting|NTS]]
| [[Teddy Scholten]]
| "{{lang|nl|[['n Beetje|Een beetje]]|i=unset}}"
| Dutch
| {{hlist|[[Willy van Hemert]]|{{ill|Dick Schallies|nl}}}}
| [[Dolf van der Linden]]
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Sweden}}
| [[Sveriges Radio|SR]]
| [[Brita Borg]]
| "Augustin"
| Swedish
| {{hlist|[[Åke Gerhard]]|Harry Sandin}}
| Franck Pourcel
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|Switzerland}}
| [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]]
| [[Christa Williams]]
| "{{lang|de|Irgendwoher|i=unset}}"
| German
| {{ill|Lothar Löffler|de|Lothar Löffler (Musiker)}}
| Franck Pourcel
|-
! scope="row" | {{Esc|United Kingdom}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson]]
| "[[Sing, Little Birdie|Sing Little Birdie]]"
| English
| {{hlist|[[Stan Butcher]]|Syd Cordell}}
| [[Eric Robinson (conductor)|Eric Robinson]]
|}

== Production and format ==
The contest was organised and broadcast by the French public broadcaster {{lang|fr|[[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]]|i=unset}} (RTF), with {{ill|Marcel Cravenne|fr}} serving as producer and director, Gérard Dubois serving as designer, and [[Franck Pourcel]] serving as [[Music director|musical director]] and leading the {{lang|fr|[[Orchestre National de France|Orchestre national de la RTF]]|i=unset}}.<ref name="Radio Times" /><ref name="ESC1959" /><ref name="Nice" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|p=191}} Each country was allowed to nominate their own musical director to lead the orchestra during the performance of their country's entry, with the host musical director also [[conducting]] for those countries which did not nominate their own conductor.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=184–188}}

As in the 1957 and 1958 contests, each country, participating through a single EBU member broadcaster, was represented by one song performed by up to two people on stage. The results of the event were determined through jury voting, with each country's jury containing ten individuals who each gave one vote to their favourite song, with no abstentions allowed and with jurors unable to vote for their own country.<ref name="ESC1959" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=188–191}} One rule change implemented for this contest specified that individuals employed in the music industry were no longer allowed to be included among the national juries.<ref name="ESC1959" />

Dubois' stage design was inspired by the era of [[Louis XIV]].<ref name="Nice">{{Cite news |last=Montaigne |first=Pierre |date=11 March 1959 |title=Le Grand Prix 1959 de la chanson européenne |trans-title=The 1959 Grand Prix for European song |language=fr |page=2 |work=[[Nice-Matin]] |location=[[Nice]], France |issn=0224-5477}}</ref><ref name="Espoir2">{{Cite news |last=Montaigne |first=Pierre |date=12 March 1959 |title=Les Pays-Bas remportent le Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson européenne |trans-title=The Netherlands wins the Eurovision Grand Prix for European Song |language=fr |page=4 |work=L'Espoir de Nice et du Sud-Est |location=[[Nice]], France |issn=1166-9012}}</ref> The stage featured three revolving platforms, each of which was segmented into four, similar to a [[revolving door]], to include various backdrops.{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=14–15}} These backdrops were specific to each of the participating countries and featured scenery or objects associated with that country.<ref name="Nice" />{{sfn|Thorsson|Verhage|2006|pp=20–21}}

The draw to determine the running order took place on 9 March 1959.<ref name="Nice" /> A few days prior to the contest, hotel and shop owners in Cannes complained that the contest was covered and advertised too sparsely by RTF and subsequently feared that too few tourists would come to Cannes.<ref name="Figaro" /><ref name="Télé" /> In contrast, the Cannes {{lang|fr|Comité des Fêtes|i=unset}}, which was involved in the organisation of the contest, believed that the broadcast of images from Cannes to many European households would have a significant impact on tourism in the weeks to follow.<ref name="Télé">{{Cite magazine |last=Médecin |first=Jacques |date=8 March 1959 |title=Les hôteliers cannois à la T. V. : 'Faites-donc de la publicité !' |trans-title=Cannes hoteliers on TV: 'Let's advertise!' |language=fr |pages=38–39 |magazine=Télé Magazine |location=[[Neuilly-sur-Seine]], France |issn=0040-2443}}</ref>

== Contest overview ==

{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 250
| header =
| image1 = Aankomst Teddy Scholten, winnares Eurovisie Songfestival 1959, uit Cannes op Sc…, Bestanddeelnr 910-2097.jpg
| caption1 = [[Teddy Scholten]] upon returning to the Netherlands following her contest win
| image2 = Aankomst Teddy Scholten, winnares Eurovisie Songfestival 1959, uit Cannes op Sc…, Bestanddeelnr 910-2093.jpg
| caption2 = Assembled crowd at [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol Airport]] for Scholten's [[homecoming]]
}}

The contest was held on 11 March 1959 at 21:00 ([[Central European Time|CET]]) and lasted 1 hour and 12 minutes.<ref name="Radio Times" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=184–188}} The event was hosted by French television presenter [[Jacqueline Joubert]].<ref name="ESC1959" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=184–188}}

The prelude of [[Te Deum (Charpentier)|Charpentier's "Te Deum"]], the theme music of [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] broadcasts, was played as opening act by the orchestra under the direction of [[Franck Pourcel]].<ref name="INA" />

The winner was the {{esccnty|Netherlands|y=1959}} represented by the song "{{lang|nl|[['n Beetje|Een beetje]]|i=unset}}", composed by {{ill|Dick Schallies|nl}}, written by [[Willy van Hemert]] and performed by [[Teddy Scholten]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cannes 1959 – Teddy Scholten |url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/teddy-scholten |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=18 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227022901/https://eurovision.tv/participant/teddy-scholten |archive-date=27 December 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Netherlands became the first country to achieve two victories in the event, and Van Hemert became the first individual to win the contest twice, after previously providing lyrics for the Netherlands' winner in 1957, "{{lang|nl|[[Net als toen]]|i=unset}}".<ref name="ESC1959" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=14–15}} The United Kingdom's result was the first of sixteen British entries to finish in second place, a contest record {{as of|2023|lc=y}}.<ref name="UK" />{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|pp=14–15}}

Alongside the traditional [[Reprise#Winner reprise|reprise performance]] of the winning song, the second- and third-placed songs were also performed again, for the first and only time at the contest.<ref name="ESC1959" />{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=188–191}} The prize awarded to the winning songwriters, taking the form of an engraved medallion, was to be handed over during the delegations' supper following the event, but instead was presented by RTF's director of programming {{ill|Jean d'Arcy (director)|lt=Jean d'Arcy|fr|Jean d'Arcy (télévision)}} to Teddy Scholten at the end of the show.<ref name="Espoir2" /><ref name="Télé" />

{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
|+ Results of the Eurovision Song Contest 1959{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=184–188}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Cannes 1959 – Scoreboard |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959/final |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=22 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103013906/https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959/final |archive-date=3 January 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | {{abbr|R/O|Running order}}
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Artist
! scope="col" | Song
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Votes
! scope="col" | Place
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 1
| {{Esc|France|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Jean|Philippe}}
| "{{lang|fr|Oui oui oui oui|i=unset}}"
| 15
| 3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 2
| {{Esc|Denmark|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Birthe|Wilke}}
| "{{lang|da|Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig|i=unset}}"
| 12
| 5
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 3
| {{Esc|Italy|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Domenico|Modugno}}
| "{{lang|it|[[Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)|Piove]]|i=unset}}"
| 9
| 6
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 4
| {{Esc|Monaco|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Jacques|Pills}}
| "{{lang|fr|Mon ami Pierrot|i=unset}}"
| 1
| 11
|- style="font-weight:bold; background:gold"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold; background:gold" | 5
| {{Esc|Netherlands|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Teddy|Scholten}}
| "{{lang|nl|[['n Beetje|Een beetje]]|i=unset}}"
| 21
| 1
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 6
| {{Esc|Germany|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Alice and Ellen|Kessler|Kessler Twins}}
| "{{lang|de|Heut' woll'n wir tanzen geh'n|i=unset}}"
| 5
| 8
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 7
| {{Esc|Sweden|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Brita|Borg}}
| "Augustin"
| 4
| 9
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 8
| {{Esc|Switzerland|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Christa|Williams}}
| "{{lang|de|Irgendwoher|i=unset}}"
| 14
| 4
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 9
| {{Esc|Austria|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Ferry|Graf}}
| "{{lang|de|Der K. und K. Kalypso aus Wien|i=unset}}"
| 4
| 9
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 10
| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Pearl|Carr and Teddy Johnson}}
| "[[Sing, Little Birdie|Sing Little Birdie]]"
| 16
| 2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | 11
| {{Esc|Belgium|y=1959}}
| {{sortname|Bob|Benny}}
| "{{lang|nl|Hou toch van mij|i=unset}}"
| 9
| 6
|}

=== Spokespersons ===
Each participating broadcaster appointed a spokesperson who was responsible for announcing the votes for its respective country via telephone.<ref>{{cite web |title=How it works |date=18 May 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531032850/https://eurovision.tv/about/how-it-works |archive-date=31 May 2022 |language=en-gb |url-status=live}}</ref> Known spokespersons at the 1959 contest are listed below.

* {{flagu|Netherlands}}{{snd}}{{ill|Siebe van der Zee|nl}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Succes van Teddy Scholten in Cannes met 'Een beetje' |trans-title=Teddy Scholten's success in Cannes with 'Een beetje' |url=https://leiden.courant.nu/issue/NLC/1959-03-12/edition/0/page/5 |access-date=11 June 2021 |work=[[Trouw|Nieuwe Leidsche Courant]] |location=[[Leiden]], Netherlands |language=nl |date=12 March 1959 |pages=1, 5}}</ref>
* {{flagu|Sweden}}{{snd}}{{ill|Roland Eiworth|sv}}{{sfn|Thorsson|Verhage|2006|pp=20–21}}

== Detailed voting results ==

The announcement of the results from each country was conducted in reverse order to that which each country performed.{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=188–191}}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|+ Detailed voting results of the Eurovision Song Contest 1959{{sfn|Roxburgh|2012|pp=188–191}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Cannes 1959 – Detailed voting results |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959/final/results |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=27 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327205402/https://eurovision.tv/event/cannes-1959/final/results |archive-date=27 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1959 – Scoreboard |url=https://eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=276#Scoreboard |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) |access-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629130045/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=276#Scoreboard |archive-date=29 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
! colspan="2" |
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Total score}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Belgium}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|United Kingdom}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Austria}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Switzerland}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Sweden}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Germany}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Netherlands}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Monaco}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Italy}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|Denmark}}
! scope="col" {{vert header|nb=1|France}}
|-
! rowspan="11" {{vert header|va=middle|Contestants}}
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | France
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 15 || 2 || || 1 || 1 || || 4 || || 2 || 1 || 4 || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;"|
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Denmark
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 12 || || 2 || 2 || 1 || 4 || || 1 || 1 || 1 || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Italy
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 9 || 1 || || || 3 || 1 || || || 1 || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || || 3
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Monaco
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 1 || || || 1 || || || || || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || || ||
|- style="background:gold;"
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold; background:gold;" | Netherlands
| style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | 21 || 3 || 1 || 3 || || || 2 || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || 1 || 7 || || 4
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Germany
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 5 || 1 || || || 1 || || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || || || 1 || || 2
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Sweden
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 4 || || || || || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || || 3 || || || 1 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Switzerland
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 14 || 1 || 5 || 1 || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || 3 || 1 || || 1 || || 2 ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Austria
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 4 || || || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || 1 || 2 || || || 1 || || ||
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | United Kingdom
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 16 || 2 || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || 2 || 3 || || || 5 || 2 || || 1 || 1
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left; background:#f2f2f2;" | Belgium
| style="text-align:right; background:#f2f2f2;" | 9 || style="text-align:left; background:#aaa;" | || 2 || || || || 3 || 1 || 1 || || 2 ||
|}

== Broadcasts ==

Each participating broadcaster was required to relay the contest via its television network. No official accounts of the viewing figures are known to exist. An estimate given in the press was at least 20 million viewers.<ref name="Figaro" />

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. Twelve commentator boxes were installed on the balconies of the auditorium.<ref name="Espoir1" /> Known details on the broadcasts in each country, including the specific broadcasting stations and commentators are shown in the table below.

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sticky-header"
|-
|+ Broadcasters and commentators in participating countries
|-
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Broadcaster
! scope="col" | Channel(s)
! scope="col" | Commentator(s)
! scope="col" | {{refh}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Austria}}
| [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]
| [[ORF 1|ORF]]
| {{{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite news |title=Fernsehprogramm vom 8. bis 14. März 1959 |trans-title=Television schedule from 8 to 14 March 1959 |url=https://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=blf&datum=19590307&seite=9 |access-date=23 June 2024 |work={{ill|Burgenland Freizeit|lt=Burgenländische Freiheit|de}} |date=7–8 March 1959 |location=[[Wiener Neustadt]], Austria |page=9 |language=de |via=[[Austrian National Library]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|Belgium}}
| rowspan="2" | {{ill|National Broadcasting Institute|fr|Institut national de radiodiffusion|nl|Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep|lt=NIR/INR}}
| [[VRT 1|NIR]]
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="DeS">{{cite news |title=Televisie |trans-title=Television |url=https://uurl.kbr.be/2196043 |url-access=registration |date=11 March 1959 |work=[[De Standaard]] |location=[[Brussels]], Belgium |access-date=19 February 2025 |page=11 |language=nl |via={{ill|BelgicaPress|nl}}}}</ref>
|-
| [[La Une|INR]]
| [[Paule Herreman]]
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="DeS" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Jean-François évoque le parcours remarquable de Paule Herreman, pionnière du petit écran |trans-title=Jean-François discusses the remarkable journey of Paule Herreman, pioneer of the small screen |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/jean-francois-evoque-le-parcours-remarquable-de-paule-herreman-pionniere-du-petit-ecran-11257988 |access-date=3 July 2024 |publisher=[[RTBF]] |date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Denmark}}
| [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]
| {{lang|da|[[DR1|Danmarks Radio TV]]|i=unset}}, [[DR P2|Program 2]]
| [[Sejr Volmer-Sørensen]]
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="DR">{{cite web |title=Alle tiders programoversigter – Onsdag den 11. marts 1959 |trans-title=All-time programme overviews – Wednesday 11 March 1959 |url=https://www.dr.dk/alletidersprogramoversigter/?date=1959-03-11 |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |language=da |access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | {{Flagu|France}}
| rowspan="2" | [[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française|RTF]]
| [[TF1|RTF]]
| {{ill|Claude Darget|fr}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="INA">{{cite AV media |date=11 March 1959 |title=4ème Grand prix Eurovision 1959 de la chanson européenne |trans-title=4th Eurovision Grand Prix of European song 1959 |type=Television broadcast |language=fr |url=http://inatheque.ina.fr/doc/TV-RADIO/DA_CPF86622515/4eme-grand-prix-eurovision-1959-de-la-chanson-europeenne?rang=64 |access-date=27 June 2023 |publisher={{lang|fr|[[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]]|i=unset}} (RTF) |via={{lang|fr|[[Institut national de l'audiovisuel]]|i=unset}} (INA)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Les programmes de television |trans-title=Television programmes |url=https://www.archives.ain.fr/ark:/22231/vtae276ac1225f48dd2/daogrp/0/35 |access-date=5 October 2024 |work=La République Nouvelle |date=11 March 1959 |location=[[Bourg-en-Bresse]], France |page=3 |language=fr |via={{ill|Departmental archives of Ain|fr|Archives départementales de l'Ain}}}}</ref>
|-
| [[France Inter|France II]]
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite news |title=La radio du dimanche 8 au samedi 14 mars 1959 |trans-title=Radio from Sunday 8 to Saturday 14 March 1959 |url=https://archives.ardeche.fr/ark:/39673/vta8b2442999229f13a/dao/0/6 |access-date=18 September 2024 |work={{ill|Le Réveil du Vivarais|fr}} |date=7 March 1959 |location=[[Annonay]], France |page=6 |language=fr |via={{ill|Departmental Archives of Ardèche|fr|Archives départementales de l'Ardèche}}}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Germany}}
| [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]
| {{lang|de|[[Das Erste|Deutsches Fernsehen]]|i=unset}}
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite news |title=Deutsches Fernsehen |trans-title=German television |url=https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/newspaper/item/56SB754YAM2OYYI7BANQWFLWZHGL4YIF |access-date=23 June 2024 |work=Neckar-Bote |date=7 March 1959 |location=[[Heidelberg]], West Germany |page=38 |language=de |via=[[Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Italy}}
| [[RAI]]
| {{lang|it|[[Rai 1|RAI Televisione]]|i=unset}}, {{lang|it|[[Rai Radio 2|Secondo Programma]]|i=unset}}
| {{ill|Renato Tagliani|it}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite magazine |title=Televisione {{!}} mercoledì 11 marzo |trans-title=Television {{!}} Wednesday 11 March |url=http://www.radiocorriere.teche.rai.it/Download.aspx?data=1959{{!}}10{{!}}000{{!}}P |magazine=[[Radiocorriere TV]] |location=[[Turin]], Italy |date=8–14 March 1959 |volume=36 |issue=10 |page=37 |access-date=31 May 2024 |language=it |via=[[Rai Teche]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=⁎ Radio ⁎ mercoledì 11 marzo |trans-title=⁎ Radio ⁎ Wednesday 11 March |url=http://www.radiocorriere.teche.rai.it/Download.aspx?data=1959{{!}}10{{!}}000{{!}}P |magazine=[[Radiocorriere TV]] |location=[[Turin]], Italy |date=8–14 March 1959 |volume=36 |issue=10 |page=36 |access-date=31 May 2024 |language=it |via=[[Rai Teche]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Monaco}}
| colspan="2" | [[RMC (France)|Radio Monte-Carlo]]{{efn|Deferred broadcast at 22:06 ([[Central European Time|CET]])<ref name="LeSoir" />}}
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="LeSoir">{{cite news |title=À la radio |trans-title=On the radio |url=https://uurl.kbr.be/1609003 |url-access=registration |date=11 March 1959 |work=[[Le Soir]] |location=[[Brussels]], Belgium |access-date=1 January 2025 |page=6 |language=fr |via={{ill|BelgicaPress|nl}}}}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3" | {{Flagu|Netherlands}}
| [[Nederlandse Televisie Stichting|NTS]]
| [[NPO 1|NTS]]
| Piet te Nuyl Jr.
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite news |date=7 March 1959 |title=Televisie {{!}} Woensdag 11 maart 1959 |trans-title=Television {{!}} Wednesday 11 March 1959 |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIBG01:005306010:00035 |work=Vrije Geluiden |location=[[Hilversum]], Netherlands |page=35 |language=nl |via=[[Delpher]] |volume=29 |issue=10 |access-date=19 September 2024 |oclc=72761986}}</ref>
|-
| [[Dutch Radio Union|NRU]]
| [[NPO Radio 2|Hilversum 1]]
| Aad Bos
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite news |date=7 March 1959 |title=Avondprogramma {{!}} Woensdag 11 maart 1959 |trans-title=Evening programme {{!}} Wednesday 11 March 1959 |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIBG01:005306010:00032 |work=Vrije geluiden |location=[[Hilversum]], Netherlands |page=32 |language=nl |via=[[Delpher]] |volume=29 |issue=10 |access-date=19 September 2024 |oclc=72761986}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |date=11 March 1959 |title=Reconstructie Eurovisie Songfestival 1959 met Nederlands commentaar van Aad Bos |trans-title=Reconstruction of the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with Dutch commentary by Aad Bos |url=https://zoeken.beeldengeluid.nl/program/urn:vme:default:program:2102209210342689331? |access-date=12 December 2023 |publisher={{lang|nl|[[Dutch Radio Union|Nederlandse Radio Unie]]|i=unset}} (NRU) and {{lang|nl|[[Nederlandse Televisie Stichting]]|i=unset}} (NTU) |language=nl |via=[[Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision]]}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="2" | [[Radio Netherlands Worldwide|RNW]]{{efn|Delayed broadcast in a shortened format on 14 March 1959 at 14:55 ([[Central European Time|CET]])<ref name="Geluiden" />}}
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="Geluiden">{{Cite news |date=7 March 1959 |title=Avondprogramma {{!}} Zaterdag 14 maart 1959 |trans-title=Evening programme {{!}} Saturday 14 March 1959 |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMNIBG01:005306010:00052 |work=Vrije geluiden |location=[[Hilversum]], Netherlands |page=52 |language=nl |via=[[Delpher]] |volume=29 |issue=10 |access-date=19 September 2024 |oclc=72761986}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Sweden}}
| [[Sveriges Radio|SR]]
| {{lang|sv|[[SVT1|Sveriges TV]]|i=unset}}, [[Sveriges Radio P1|SR P1]]
| {{ill|Jan Gabrielsson|sv}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite news |title=Radio och TV |trans-title=Radio and TV |work=[[Dagens Nyheter]] |date=11 March 1959 |location=[[Stockholm]], Sweden |page=34 |language=sv}}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3" | {{Flagu|Switzerland}}
| rowspan="3" | [[Swiss Broadcasting Corporation|SRG SSR]]
| [[SRF 1|TV DRS]], [[Radio SRF 2 Kultur|Radio Bern]]
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite news |title=Radio und Fernsehen |trans-title=Radio and television |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=DBB19590310-02.1.9 |access-date=27 July 2024 |work=[[Der Bund]] |page=9 |date=10 March 1959 |location=[[Bern]], Switzerland |language=de |via=[[E-newspaperarchives.ch]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[RTS 1 (Swiss TV channel)|TSR]], {{lang|fr|[[RTS Espace 2|Radio Genève]]|i=unset}}
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite news |title=Le coin des amateurs de T.S.F. |trans-title=The place for fans of wireless transmission |url=https://www.scriptorium.ch/zoom/216893/view?page=4&p=separate&tool=info |access-date=6 January 2024 |work=Feuille d'avis de Vevey |date=11 March 1959 |location=[[Vevey]], Switzerland |page=4 |language=fr |via=[[Scriptorium (website)|Scriptorium]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[RSI La 1|TSI]], [[RSI Rete Uno|Radio Monte Ceneri]]
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite news |title=Spettacoli |trans-title=Shows |url=https://www2.sbt.ti.ch/quotidiani-public-pdf/main_part.php?fullscreen=true&paper=gt&day=11&month=3&year=1959&page=2&papername=Gazzetta%20Ticinese&allpages=1,2,3,4 |access-date=3 July 2024 |work={{ill|Gazzetta Ticinese|it}} |date=11 March 1959 |location=[[Lugano]], Switzerland |page=2 |language=it |via={{ill|Sistema bibliotecario ticinese|it}}}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|United Kingdom}}
| [[BBC]]
| [[BBC One|BBC Television Service]]
| [[Tom Sloan (television executive)|Tom Sloan]]
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="Radio Times">{{cite magazine |title=Television Programmes – Wednesday Evening |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/page/c8aefef6129d465cbeae688ba652025b?page=19 |access-date=11 June 2022 |magazine=[[Radio Times]] |location=London, United Kingdom |date=6 March 1959 |page=19 |via=[[BBC Genome Project]]}}</ref>
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
|+ Broadcasters and commentators in non-participating countries
|-
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Broadcaster
! scope="col" | Channel(s)
! scope="col" | Commentator(s)
! scope="col" | {{refh}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{Flagu|Luxembourg}}
| [[Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion|CLT]]
| {{lang|fr|[[RTL9|Télé-Luxembourg]]|i=unset}}
| {{N/A|}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite news |title=Télé-Luxembourg |url=https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/n565wx2vn/pages/4 |access-date=6 November 2022 |work=[[Luxemburger Wort]] |location=[[Luxembourg City]], Luxembourg |date=10 March 1959 |language=de, fr |page=4 |via=[[National Library of Luxembourg]]}}</ref>
|}

== Notes and references ==

=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}

=== References ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |date=2010 |publisher=[[Carlton Publishing Group|Carlton Books]] |location=London, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84732-521-1 |edition=2nd}}
* {{cite book |last=Roxburgh |first=Gordon |title=Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest |date=2012 |publisher=[[Telos Publishing]] |location=[[Prestatyn]], United Kingdom |isbn=978-1-84583-065-6 |volume=One: The 1950s and 1960s}}
* {{cite book |last1=Thorsson |first1=Leif |last2=Verhage |first2=Martin |title=Melodifestivalen genom tiderna : de svenska uttagningarna och internationella finalerna |trans-title=Melodifestivalen through the ages: the Swedish selections and international finals |date=2006 |publisher=Premium Publishing |location=[[Stockholm]], Sweden |isbn=91-89136-29-2 |language=sv}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website|http://www.eurovision.tv/}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 1959}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Portal bar|Music}}

{{coord|43|33|12|N|7|01|20|E|source:kolossus-ptwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest 1959| ]]
[[Category:Eurovision Song Contest by year|1959]]
[[Category:Music festivals in France]]
[[Category:1959 in music]]
[[Category:1959 in France]]
[[Category:Events in Cannes]]
[[Category:March 1959 in Europe]]

wiki143 - User contributions [en]

Eurovision Song Contest 1959