Praise for Aussie song from 1956 Eurovision winner Lys Assia

THE winner of the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 has heard all 27 acts in competition this year -and she likes Australia’s chances.

Eurovision Song Contest 2015 in Vienna. Lys Assia, Swiss singer who won the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Pic Ella Pellegrini

LYS Assia is not supposed to have a favourite song but she looks about her conspiratorially, then leans in close and lowers her voice.

“I like the Australian song,” she says finally, “It is a good song, a good song.”

And Lys should know having won the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 competing for Switzerland and as the undisputed queen of the contest yesterday sat through the full dress rehearsals to watch all 27 acts competing in tonight’s grand final.

Australia’s wildcard entry to the largely European competition has caused some disquiet among the Europhiles in Vienna for the grand final not least of all because Guy Sebastian may just win.

Assia said she was surprised it had been allowed to compete but thought it a brilliant move.

“I was very astonished actually, very astonished but I think it is a good idea because I would like to come to Australia,” she told News Corp Australia with a chuckle.

Authority ... Lys Assia, from Switzerland, won the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

Guy Sebastian ... Australia’s wildcard entry to the competition has caused some disquiet among Europhiles. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

“Why should it just stay a European competition? It captures every person in the whole world and 60 years ago we didn’t believe it could reach that long. But today it is the best show in Europe and the world and why not take other countries too if they can afford it and can move why not.”

When the competition was created it was the height of the Cold War and many saw it as a good thing to bind Europe together, to show unity albeit just through music. Seven nations competed then, in the inaugural event held at Lugarno Switzerland, with three others including the UK missing the deadline to enter and being struck out. In those days it was generally just one vocalist backed by a 24-piece orchestra.

Originally published as Praise for Aussie song from 1956 Eurovision winner Lys Assia