This article forms part of the OnEurope archive and was originally published on oneurope.co.uk. It has been permanently migrated to oneurope.net, the official home of OnEurope.
We like to celebrate songs from all years, even those from the time before many of us were alive. Did you know, for example, that there were contests before 2001?
Well, just over 50 years ago, Eurovision started anew. Previews for the first time, a new scoring system, and a brand new host country in Ireland. The 18 songs equalled the biggest ever field, and a certain happy rock in the Mediteranean took part for the first time. Our friends in Finland returned after a year out, and managed eighth place. Not much you may say, but they’d only finished better twice. Today’s birthday boy Markko Aro (né Markku Tuomas Puputti) did his stuff with the Koivisto Sisters Anneli and Anja. He got two maxima – only sinners Monaco got more. So is this Finland’s best ever song? Two jurors seemed to think so.
Markko is 74 today.
Hyvää syntymäpäivää, Markko!
