Once again from 1968, the Eurovision Top 100 list features another big-name performance: “Congratulations” by Cliff Richard at number 17.
Some articles ago, we noted the controversy that surrounded the 1968 winning song, “La La La” from Spain. That was also a Top 100 Eurovision song on this very list. Now, we talk about the song on the other side of it, which lost a razor-close contest. While both songs are iconic and forever tied together, this one scored a bit higher on our card.
As also noted in another piece – because we enjoy talking about the history of the Eurovision Song Contest – Eurovision did not make Cliff Richard’s career. He already had one by 1968, and was a known star in the music industry. The contest that year was expected to be a coronation, meaning back-to-back wins for the United Kingdom. While it did not happen, this song cemented him as a legend at Eurovision and beyond.
Vital Information: “Congratulations”
| Song | Congratulations |
| Performed By | Cliff Richard |
| Written By | Phil Coulter & Bill Martin |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Year | 1968 |
| Language(s) Performed In | English |
| How It Fared | 2nd Place (28 Points) |
| Was It Fair? | Depends who you ask |
What I Liked
I mean, look at him: He’s literally Austin Powers, down to the frilly lace cravat, and his backing singers were the Fembots. I guess now we know Mike Myers is a Eurovision fan. Yeah baby, yeah!
That alone is worth a douze points, but then he performed. I can see why this one was considered the favorite going into the contest. It was fun, catchy, and about as 60s as a song could get. He owned that stage and he knew it. This was the perfect representation of its time period, and, for both reasons inside and outside of its control, one of the most memorable Eurovision songs of all-time.
Other Facts
- Sir Cliff’s birth name was Harry Webb. He changed his stage name to Cliff Richard near the start of his career, at the suggestion of others. (Bisknell, 2023)
- Richard was born in India, making him one of only a handful of Eurovision singers to that point to have been born in Asia. (Savage, 1998) However, he was not the first to make it to the Eurovision stage – several others, such as Esther Ofarim (1963) and Anneke Grönloh (1964), beat him to it.
- While controversy surrounded his Eurovision loss, Richard continued on with a very prosperous music career. As of 2025, he is still doing world tours.
- He would appear again at Eurovision in 1973, performing “Power to All Our Friends.”
- Sir Cliff performed 12th in the running order out of 17 songs.
Get Your “Congratulations” and Jubilations on YouTube
That’s where you’ll find Sir Cliff’s iconic performance from 1968.
References
Bisknell, B. J. W. &. E. (2023, August 23). Nightclub where Cliff Richard debuted stage name wins extension bid. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-66580931
Savage, J. (1998, July 20). Cliff Richard | Biography, Songs, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cliff-Richard
