“I Gave ABBA 'Nul Points’ at the 1974 Eurovision” | This Morning

We’re celebrating all things ABBA as they mark 50 years since their 1974 Eurovision win with Waterloo this weekend. In the studio, we’ve got superfan Andrew, who’s spent £60K in 50 years on ABBA merch, and ‘super-groupie’ Jane who’s travelled the globe in support of the band. But not everyone’s a fan - we’ve also got original British Eurovision judge, Basil Herwald, who scored ABBA ‘nul points’ in 1974, and sticks by his decision!
Broadcast on 05/05/2024
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[@stevebrown661]

I can tell you that I vividly remember watching ABBA for the first time on TV in Eurovision 1974 as a 17 year old. Agnetha and Frida definitely had an instant and profound effect on me.

[@oiooi6460]

Basil explained himself articulately. And don't forget the Italian entry was famtastic too and even entered the UK top 10 despite not winning, which was unheard of in those days

[@stevetimms4100]

In 1974 3 of the ESC Top 4 Finalists made the UK Top 10. ABBA - No.1, Gigliola - No.8, and Mouth and MacNeal, (The Netherlands) - No.8. The UK Entry was a No.11 Hit. Olivia did not like it, anyhow. She prefered a Song called 'Angel Eyes'. Another ABBA 'coincidence,' as they Recorded a Song of that name in 1979.!

[@vittoriomarco1233]

I believe Abba was great from the start, a unique group which still in 2024 no other group has come not even closer. Everything was near to perfect in their music. I saw they winning, and still today, I give them all the points.

[@cesarm.franciafernandez5935]

On a Saturday like today, but 50 years ago, an event happened that changed the history of music forever.

[@CatsandJP]

And now Bjorn Ulvaeus’s (of ABBA) who co founded the company Pophouse Entertainment have just bought the entire back catalogue of KISS music including their make up rights for $300+million……which means they will be immortal avatars and their music will live forever into the future.

[@sibionic]

But Kiss' music is utterly worthless.

[@CatsandJP]

⁠Shock rock has made Simons $400 million and Stanley has made $200 million…PLUS selling their back catalogue to Pophouse……so they haven’t done to bad …at least they are millionaires….. considering YOU think their music is worthless.

[@sibionic]

@@CatsandJP I meant artistically.

[@dimirockeropoulos6104]

​@@sibionic it was never about the music with Kiss...it was a spectacle that made a lot of money.

[@sibionic]

@@dimirockeropoulos6104 exactly, which Is why I'm surprised Bjorn would buy their archive.

[@lucindasweden5778]

Typicall typicall ,UK got chocked by seeing hearing something new and old fresch, well done Abba,

[@briancumpsty4205]

Wrong they only received 24 votes out of a possible 160 , so basically on average only 1.5 people out of the 10 from each country voted for them

[@sie4431]

In hindsight it looks like a massive oversight but that's the danger of judging the past. As Basil says the song, for whatever reason, didn't stand out as much as the ones that did get points. Tastes were different in the past and something that's loved in one era is hated in another, plenty of older music fans would have hated The Beatles because that's not the sort of thing they had been accustomed too.

[@bachatamusica]

Even though they won in 1974.......I only found out about ABBA, in 1976......when I first saw their vinyl LP "Greatest Hits", which included "Fernando", which was "Song Of The Year 1976" in Portugal......an award distinction which was never given to "foreign" artists......but a certain exception was given in this case, due to the name, "Fernando" having strong resonance with the peoples of the Iberian Peninsula.

[@RalphWigg1]

I was at Brighton in the front row!

[@gothiclight8048]

Wow! That must have been amazing

[@RalphWigg1]

@@gothiclight8048 It was! 'Waterloo' was different to anything we'd heard before on the history of the show - Ani-Frid & Agnetha weren't bad either!!.

[@gothiclight8048]

@@RalphWigg1 You get the impression they were trailblazers in terms of the contest. I don’t think The Wombles would ever be an interval act now though!

[@RalphWigg1]

@@gothiclight8048 What have the Wombles got to do with it?

[@gothiclight8048]

@@RalphWigg1 They were the interval act!

[@lucindasweden5778]

At that point in history I am pleased to see Uk still had the romantic beutiful hopes for us, as they gave 5 points to Italy

[@martinkasper197]

Boo at Basil...🤣🤣🤣

[@Pure_B]

Dermot not the sharpest tool in the box. 😏

[@kimbozw1808]

what is it they say about a fool being considered wise when he keeps silent?

[@stevenpalmer442]

I remember watching it as a 13yr old lad.Yes the song was good as well 😂

[@Dim4323]

If abba cant be their their Abbatars can.

[@kimbozw1808]

nice to put a face to the name Andrew. Top rate bloke.

[@AlfCalson]

🇸🇪 ᗅᗺᗷᗅ 🇸🇪

[@user-rk6wx2gm8b]

The best Eurovision song contest ever. ABBA deserved to win and won , because , Agnetha and Frida are the best women singers, benny and bjorn are the great musicians. ABBA released a new Album in 2021 called "Voyage" .

[@kimbozw1808]

singing in swedish must have been at the swedish eurovision finals?

[@1964paulsmith]

Basil is obviously tone deaf.

[@briancumpsty4205]

Only 24 of the 160 people who voted voted for abba ,so obviously the votes where well spread out between the 17 country's

[@stephenhowell5611]

I promptly forgot about ABBA after the 74 ESC win, I didn't think it was that great, but a long time after I heard SOS and I thought that was a great song.

[@k_DAN]

Why does he say it was in London ? It was in Brighton.

[@adlad75]

Listen again, starting at 0:54 , he explains that he was one of ten jurors based in London, not Brighton. 🤓👍

[@mr.y.mysterious.video1]

Scoring was different then, each juror chose their favouirte and gave it one point. Couldnt get more than 7 from a country and if you did no other country would get any points.

[@1964paulsmith]

There were ten jurors, not seven.

[@briancumpsty4205]

10 per country not 7 so they got 24 points out of a possible maximum of 160.

[@Denis-89]

you could actually get 9 points

[@briancumpsty4205]

Nope 10 points per country, not 9

[@dreasbn]

The Italian was the most beautiful ballad and would have any other year.. but… I never read anywhere that the rehearsal were sung in Swedish. I’m honestly baffled.. but like he said no nil points and as every jury just gave 10 points the low margin is not comparable cause it would actually mean 24 times 12 points and nobody knows how many 10 or 8 they might have received with a different system..

[@dreasbn]

@@alexioverdo5225 really I love onj too but this song was perfect for GC her warm velvet texture voice gives me shivers all over. I could see Lara Fabian doing a cover but could not have seen Celine doing one for the same reason.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@dreasbn A ha.Well we can all have our various preferencies i guess.It's inevitably subjective imo but still It's understandable and rightful.

[@alexioverdo5225]

Btw in your opinion who would you see being a winner back then if people also had a chance to vote in the finals too, same way happenes today?

[@dreasbn]

@@alexioverdo5225 oh good question. Still Italy or Sweden but as Televoting would attract younger to vote I guess Abba was the fresh everybody was waiting for. So they would win a televoting big time. Jury could be a tie but overall I think Abba would have won. Maybe the Dutch song would closer to the first two which was a very catchy song as well.

[@alexioverdo5225]

@@dreasbnMy predictions.Sweden a winner by far... but runners up still Italy and Holland 3rd.I also liked these 3some too btw.

[@clay9185]

Particularly in the eastern block countries it’s all about giving your points to neighbouring countries.. places like the U.K don’t stand much chance.. it’s all politics unfortunately. Love Australia to win once tho I think that would never happen & I believe they are about to finish competing in 2024 unless it’s extended..

[@starvictory7079]

The UK used to give the top points to Ireland.

[@PC-vg8vn]

As an |Abba fan I think Waterloo is one of their weakest songs. Thankfully they got so much better in the proceeding years.

[@ivanbee]

He spilled, Gigliola Cinquetti should have won and would have been first person to win Eurovision twice. Italy 1975. I was -25 years, still not over it.

[@steinarmogen3166]

Abba had the most modern and refreshing original quality song by far. Along with Yugoslavia and maybe Israel. So the contest definately didn’t need the fourth female big ballad winning in a row! 😃 Abba stood for progression. Italy - Even If I agree it was Nice enough - certainly did not

[@robwhite461]

The success of most bands relies on back room deals and those who control the business. It’s never been about talent.

[@janlundberg6439]

so wrong he made and totaly masspotasos

[@DS-pz5fj]

Basil is a LEGEND!