Riverdance, Eurovision 1994

Actually, we were the last to host the contest complete with orchestra. Some tracks had been done on playback for a couple of years by this point, but watch the contest from Birmingham and you often see the condutors being introduced.

This finished at this point, as, basically, Jerusalem couldn;t fit an orchestra in alongside a decent sized set, IIRC. Whilst Sweden and certainly Denmark could easily have fitted one in, they seemed to be out of fashion by then, as the contest tried to modernise somewhat.

Don't be concerned, I was being serious! I only have vague memories of how the Brits did it, and I'd love to see it again.

(You would not believe the number of people who say to me "I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic" - perhaps I should change my habits)

Phew.

I'll sift through VHS mountain when I get home tonight.

Yes wasn't 1994 simply magical? As a poster comments there, it still sends shivers right through you. I can still vividly remember watching this live on the night, and being amazed as much by the incredible dancing of Jean Butler at the start (who is often forgotton about), as with the extravaganza towards the end. Nothing like this had ever been seen before.

In a way, one would wonder if the developments in production technologies since then would allow it to be shot better - I'm not suire that they would. The simple tracking pedestal cameras and mostly static wide shots allow for the movement to be completely dominant in shot in a way that railcams etc would detract from.
Greater use of jib arm wouldn't have gone amiss though.

It's funny how so many people want to see this again, as it has been flogged to death in Ireland by RTÉ ever since. We've seen more clips of it than you've seen Fawlty Towers
Woeful set that year, probably the worst of the 1990s - after Jerusalem though, obviously.

Obviously never seen the performing dogs!!

My parents did have this on VHS - an RTE video that some friends in Ireland gave them, but given that it was 12 years ago, I wouldn't place any bets on whether they still do. I'll try to have a look for it when I'm next up in Glasgow.

Didn't the EBU relax the rule that the host country had to provide an orchestra? That's why they no longer do.