Country Belgium Language English Lyricist(s) Luc Smets | As Dream Express Composer(s) Luc Smets | |
Artist(s) Bianca Maessen,
Patricia Maessen,
Stella Maessen,
Luc Smets | ||
"A Million in One, Two, Three" was the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in English (the first time that Belgium had not performed at least part of their entry in French or Dutch) by Dream Express, a band consisting of Luc Smets and the three sisters Maessen; Bianca, Patricia and Stella. In 1970 the Maessen sisters had represented their native Netherlands with "Waterman", then under the group moniker Hearts of Soul.
"A Million in One, Two, Three" was performed seventeenth on the night, following Finland's Monica Aspelund with "Lapponia" and preceding France's Marie Myriam with "L'oiseau et l'enfant". At the close of voting, it had received 69 points, coming seventh in a field of eighteen.
The song is an up-tempo, disco-influenced number that deals with the group needing "a million" (dollars) and pleading with "Mister President" (of a company) for a job. They go on to describe the affluent lifestyle they hope to live with the money.
It was succeeded as Belgian representative at the 1978 Contest by Jean Vallée performing "L'amour ça fait chanter la vie". Stella Maessen returned to the Contest as a solo artist in 1982 with "Si tu aimes ma musique", again representing Belgium.
The Conductor for Dream Express that night was the English Bandleader and Musical Arranger Alyn Ainsworth. The previous year in 1976 at the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands, Ainsworth conducted for Brotherhood of Man with their No 1 hit 'Save Your Kisses For Me'which took first place.