7 July – Give me your hand, so we can fly

A winner? Well, it’s been a while. And since there are nearly 70 of them, they’re bound to crop up once in a while. And is it a good winner?

Back in 1990, when the contest was a small affair, Everyone knew their place. Certain countries always did well, because they had exclusive use of certain languages. So imagine everyone’s surprise when Italy went and won. It surprised me anyway. Having said that, only two countries didn’t score the song by today’s birthday boy Salvatore ‘Toto’ Cutugno. He wrote the song himself, which is more unusual these days, and even had a load of Yugoslavs (Croats) backing him. Of course, we remember him less for his win, than her return the following year when he was allowed to co-host. The hilarity that ensued in 1991 was endless.

Toto is 76 today.

Buon compleanno, Toto!