Eurovision Top 100, #64: I Belong (United Kingdom, 1965)

Number 64 on the Euro Yard’s Top 100 Eurovision countdown is Kathy Kirby’s British entry from 1965, “I Belong.”

For reasons we will get into, this song became a little controversial in the future, but not for anything which happened on stage.  As for what we saw on stage, this song was one of the favorites going into the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, and you can see why when you watch it.  1965 was one of those years where the tone of the contest began to shift in a noticeable way.  This year had a winner which was very unlike the others which came before it, and some thought this song was going to be it.

Unfortunately for Kathy, there was another song in 1965 which made an even bigger impression, and that song is also on this list.

Vital Information: “I Belong”

What I Liked

“Peppy” is a good word to describe this song, which was light yet energetic.  The orchestral arrangement underlined the tone of the song.  Like we had seen in so many other contests by so many other countries, this was no slow-moving love ballad.  The song had punch, but the tone and volume varied.

Kirby’s chops as a vocalist should not have been questioned by anyone after this performance, either.  She belted it out and sounded good in the process. It was clear she had a great deal of range.

Other Facts

• Kirby’s second-place finish marked the fifth time out of eight British entries that the United Kingdom was the runner-up.  Through 2024, they have come in second 16 times.
• The United Kingdom song went in second position in the grand final, with only the Netherlands performing before it.
• According to France Gall, the winner from Luxembourg, Kathy Kirby allegedly slapped her after the contest.  One can surmise it was because she was pissed off at losing after being tipped to win, however, some sources dispute whether this incident took place.

“I Belong” on YouTube

It’s available, so you might as well go watch it.