The concept known as ‘false flagging’ is alive and well in our favourite TV show. Sometimes, it’s because the singer’s home country doesn’t take part. Or it could be because the singer has fallen out with their home country.
Back in 1967, the contest was in Vienna – the most furthest it had been at the time. But countries further east were allowed to watch it, but couldn’t take part. They eventually had the Intervision Song Contest. But in 1968, the Austrians sent someone from one of these future Intervision nations. It was today’s birthday boy Karel Gott. He was a Czech but got a nice powerful German song to get his teeth into. He didn’t quite finish last, and beat two other countries. When the Czechs finally decided to take part in 2007, he was giving all manner of advice and best wishes to the Czech début entrants (Kabát). They scored half the points Karel got (get it).
Karel is 80 today.
Frohe Geburtstag/Všechno nejlepší k narozeninám, Annie!