1974 - Norway<br />Performed by: Anne Karine<br />Music by: Frode Thingnæs<br />Lyrics by: Philip A. Kruse<br />Conductor: Frode Thingnæs<br />Language: English<br />Placing: 14th (3 points)<br />Other versions: Norwegian<br /><br />The Bendik Singers were a four-member Norwegian vocal group, brought together by singer and composer Arne Bendiksen to participate in the Norwegian Eurovision Song Contest selection, Melodi Grand Prix, in 1973.<br /><br />The group consisted of Anne-Karine Strøm, Ellen Nikolaysen and brothers Bjørn and Philip Kruse. They performed Bendiksen's song "Å for et spill" at the Melodi Grand Prix in Oslo on 17 February 1973, and were voted the winners, earning the Norwegian ticket to the 18th Eurovision Song Contest, held in Luxembourg City on 7 April. Before the contest the song was translated into English, with words and phrases also included from other European languages, and retitled "It's Just a Game". On the night of the contest, the song finished seventh of the 17 participating entries, Norway's first top 10 placing since 1966.<br /><br />The following year, Strøm won Melodi Grand Prix as a solo artist with "The First Day of Love"; at the 1974 Eurovision she was provided with backing vocals by Anne Lise Gjøstøl and the Kruses, and the performance is sometimes credited to 'Anne-Karine Strøm featuring the Bendik Singers'. Nikolaysen represented Norway in the 1975 Eurovision, and Strøm made her third appearance in 1976, meaning that for four consecutive years at least one member of the 1973 group appeared at Eurovision. <br /><br />The group disbanded in 1975, and Nikolaysen and Strøm won Melodi Grand Prix in 1975 and 1976 respectively, while Philip A. Kruse was the lyricist of the winning entries in 1974, 1976 and 1979.<br /><br /><br />LYRICS:<br /><br />The first day of love<br />And today is the first day of living<br />'Understanding' - the word of the day<br />So with faith in the things we believe in<br />There will always be help on the way<br /> <br />We are changing the tide every hour<br />We are clearing the sky up above<br />And we know that with our newborn power<br />Every day is the first day of love<br /> <br />In our song - the final solution<br />We have used the words on the wall<br />Awaiting the love revolution<br />We all know the curtain will fall<br /> <br />Can't you feel the silent ovation?<br />Don't you know it's only the start?<br />In tune with your own generation<br />You are finding love in your heart<br /> <br />And today is the first day of living<br />'Understanding' - the word of the day<br />So, with faith in the things we believe in<br />There will always be help on the way<br /> <br />We are changing the tide every hour<br />We are clearing the sky up above<br />And we know that with our newborn power<br />Every day is the first day of love<br /> <br />Even though we're at the beginning<br />We are going down the same road<br />At last we can say we are winning<br />We have help to carry our load<br /> <br />And today is the first day of living<br />'Understanding' - the word of the day<br />So, with faith in the things we believe in<br />There will always be help on the way<br /> <br />We are changing the tide every hour<br />We are clearing the sky up above<br />And we know that with our newborn power<br />Every day is the first day of love<br />...<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGTB-zWJq8U" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGTB-zWJq8U</a>