Country Netherlands Language Dutch Lyricist(s) Annie M. G. Schmidt | Artist(s) Jetty Paerl Composer(s) Cor Lemaire Conductor Fernando Paggi | |
"De vogels van Holland" ("The birds of Holland") was the first Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 (the only edition of the contest at which two entries per country were allowed). It was written by Annie M. G. Schmidt and performed in Dutch by Jetty Paerl. The song is particularly significant for being the first song performed in Eurovision Song Contest history, and the first of many to sing the praises of the singer's homeland.
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Description and background
Composed in the chanson style characteristic of the contest's early years, the song is about the titular "birds of Holland". Paerl sings that they are especially musical, learning to "twitter in their early youth / So they can celebrate spring in Holland". She goes on to explain that it is the unique nature of the Dutch climate and the faithfulness of Dutch girls that cause the birds of the country to sing; they really sing, in contrast with the French, Japanese, and Chinese birds, all of which sing "tudeludelu" (a sound roughly approximating birdsong).
According to Des Mangan this song set the tone for the Eurovision tradition of nonsensical lyrics, although he admits that there are other contenders for such a claim as well.
Performance and result
The song was performed first on the night, preceding Switzerland's Lys Assia with "Das alte Karussell". Though in early editions of the contest only winners (not individual entry's scores) were announced, Simon Barclay, in The Complete and Independent Guide to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, states it finished second.
The song was accompanied at the 1956 contest by Corry Brokken with "Voorgoed voorbij" and was succeeded as Dutch representative at the 1957 contest by Brokken with "Net als toen".