20 January – You tell me about trains that keep leaving, and gypsies that move

Greece - Arms

I often wonder what life would be like if we still had an orchestra. For starters, the 50 or so musicians would have their work cut out, having to be at the rehearsals and shows for two solid weeks, having to accompany a wide range of styles, voices and performances. They would need medals at the end of the Grand Final. Back in the day when the contest was only a week from start to finish, it must have been easier for the orchestra.

However they don’t always get it right. Perhaps. In 1983, today’s birthday girl Χρυσαυγή ‘Κρίστη’ Στασινοπούλου/Chrisavgi ‘Christie’ Stassinopoulou had a saxophone accompaniment. As there were both saxophones in the orchestra and on stage (and some contests had on-stage musicians miming), it’s unclear whose little solo during the song was one of the highlights of the contest in München. Watch the video in its entirety, but the crowing moment comes 3.53 in.

Christie is 62 today.

Χρόνια πολλά, Κρίστι!