Boom Bang-a-Bang was the United Kingdom's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1969. It was sung by Lulu, and was co-written by Alan Moorhouse and Peter Warne. It was the joint winner with three other entries. These entries were Salomé singing Vivo Cantando for Spain, Lenny Kuhr singing De Troubadour for the Netherlands and Frida Boccara singing Un jour, un enfant for France.
The song was the second consecutive entry with a nonsense title to win the contest (after Massiel's win for Spain in 1968 with La, La, La), and became infamous in the comedy world - most notably inspiring Monty Python's Flying Circus to parody it with "Bing Tiddle-Tiddle Bong" (Python precursor I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again had previously had Bill Oddie do something similar with a song for which the title was rendered entirely in sound effects).
Lyrically, the song is a plea from the singer to her lover to "cuddle me tight". She then goes on to explain that "my heart goes boom bang-a-bang, boom bang-a-bang when you are near", complete with appropriate musical accompaniment. The single made No.2 in the UK Singles Chart and was a major hit throughout Europe. At the end of her live performance, she shouted "Olé!" on the final 2 beats of the music in honor of the contest's Spanish hosts
"Boom bang-a-bang" was banned by the British broadcaster, the BBC, for the Gulf War despite it being a winner for the country, the other song they banned was Waterloo by ABBA.[1]
Lyrics[]
Come closer, come closer and listen
The beat of my heart keeps on missin'
I notice it most when we're kissin'
Come closer and love me tonight
That's right
Come closer and cuddle me tight
My heart goes
Boom bang-a-bang, boom bang-a-bang
When you are near
Boom bang-a-bang, boom bang-a-bang
Loud in my ear
Pounding away, pounding away
Won't you be mine?
Boom bang-a-bang-bang all the time
It's such a lovely feeling
When I'm in your arms
Don't go away
I wanna stay my whole life through
Boom bang-a-bang-bang
Close to you
Your smile is so warm and inviting
The thought of your kiss is exciting
So hold me and don't keep me waiting
Come closer and love me tonight
That's right
Come closer and cuddle me tight
My heart goes
Boom bang-a-bang, boom bang-a-bang
When you are near
Boom bang-a-bang, boom bang-a-bang
Loud in my ear
Pounding away, pounding away
Won't you be mine?
Boom bang-a-bang-bang all the time
It's such a lovely feeling
When I'm in your arms
Now you are near
I wanna hear your heartbeat too
Boom bang-a-bang-bang
I love you
It's such a lovely feeling
When I'm in your arms
Now you are near
I wanna hear your heartbeat too
Boom bang-a-bang-bang
Boom bang-a-bang-bang
Boom bang-a-bang-bang
I love you[2]
Eurovision Song Contest 1969 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Participants | |||
Ivan & 4M • Romuald • Salomé • Jean Jacques • Muriel Day • Iva Zanicchi • Lulu • Lenny Kuhr • Tommy Körberg • Louis Neefs • Paola del Medico • Kirsti Sparboe • Siw Malmkvist • Frida Boccara • Simone de Oliveira • Jarkko & Laura | |||
Songs | |||
Pozdrav svijetu • Catherine • Vivo cantando • Maman, Maman • The Wages of Love • Due grosse lacrime bianche • Boom Bang-a-Bang • De troubadour • Judy, min vän • Jennifer Jennings • Bonjour, Bonjour • Oj, oj, oj, så glad jeg skal bli • Primaballerina • Un jour, un enfant • Desfolhada portuguesa • Kuin silloin ennen |