Eurovision 1988 Netherlands

Gerard Joling performing "Shangri-la", the Dutch entry at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest.
Another of my favourites from 1988; a powerful song, really strong in its beat, orchestration and philosophical lyrics, and my does Gerard Joling give a strong performance or what!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• eurovision
• esc
• 1988
• netherlands
• holland
• gerard
• joling
• shangri
• la
• shangri-la

[klarinetta]

This is one of those songs that have not aged well oh boy.

[setheurovision94]

In your opinion, maybe. Imo, "Go" sounded old-fashioned even back in '88, to say nothing about now.

[94ayd]

This is so underrated!It should have been in TOP 3!

[escjesc]

one of the best songs in ESC 1988!

[Maaian]

@setheurovision94 I agree, "Go" sounds horrible nowadays (in my eyes)

[vjmixed]

this should have won....i mean celine was great and lara fabian too but this was the best.

[wjgmspeedy]

@poetami A bit late, but yes that is Justine.

[robinvandijk3]

Toen songfestival nog echt om het lied en zang ging.. tegenwoordig is het een FLUTfestival.

Je wint alleen als je in je blote kont staat.. en nog met orkest.

[MrEurocat]

More words rhyme with Shangri-La than Brigadoon I suppose, so if you're going to write a song in Dutch about a mythical place, the former is a safer bet.

This was the Dutch entry in 1988 and even got the odd 12-point, but not enough to put even a waft of worry up Celine Dion's shuttlecock skirt.

Gerhard Joling thus decided the way to Euro success was not to sing about fictitious notions, so gave up on plans to re-enter with ditties about a yeti, the Loch Ness Monster and a famous Belgian.

[lostintimeline]

this song brings memories from that year

the 80s was a special decade and the eurovision song contest was way much better than it is now

[Klaudija72]

I had a huge crush on this guy when I saw him in Eurovison that year.

[poetami]

is justine pelmelay backing? probably. an okay song though strong performance and orchestration

[NLglennNL]

hij is egt goed ;)