Neha Patil (Editor)

Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974

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Country
  
Sweden

Selection date(s)
  
9 February 1974

Selected song
  
"Waterloo"

Selection process
  
Melodifestivalen 1974

Selected entrant
  
ABBA

Final result
  
1st, 24 points

The Swedish national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest was called Melodifestivalen 1974. It was, by far, won by the group ABBA, consisting of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. Their song was called "Waterloo", which was written by Björn and Benny. It was originally written in Swedish, but for the ESC final, it was translated into English, which the rules allowed the years 1973-1976.

ABBA was one of the favorites to win ESC, held in Brighton, United Kingdom. They sang as #08. In the voting, they received high points from the first jury to vote (Finland), but it was a close race until the second last jury, Switzerland, which gave Sweden enough points to practically secure victory. Sweden got a total of 24 points, compared to runner-up Italy's 18. This was Sweden's first victory, and ABBA got international superstar status, with a success second only to The Beatles. They have sold a reported 370 million records worldwide. In 2005, in the 50th anniversary show Congratulations, Waterloo was chosen the best Eurovision song ever.

Voting

Every country had a jury of ten people. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.

References

Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 Wikipedia