Amsterdam (Maggie MacNeal song)



"Amsterdam" was the Dutch entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in Dutch by Maggie MacNeal. This was MacNeal's second participation in the Contest; in 1974 she had finished 3rd with "I See a Star" as one half of the duo Mouth & MacNeal.

The song is in praise of the Dutch capital, with MacNeal singing that it is one of the great cities of the world, due in no small part to the atmosphere it creates due to its age. The uncharacteristically patriotic tilt of the lyrics can be explained by the fact that the Contest that year took place in The Hague.

The song was performed 15th on the night, following Portugal's José Cid with "Um grande, grande amor" and preceding France's Profil with "Hé, hé M'sieurs dames". At the close of voting, it had received 93 points, placing 5th in a field of 19.

MacNeal recorded the song in four languages; Dutch, English, German and French - all versions with the same title, except the German "Amsterdam, Amsterdam, nur da bin ich zuhaus".

It was succeeded as Dutch representative at the 1981 Contest by Linda Williams with "Het is een wonder".

Cover versions

 * Gerardo Rosales, an exiled percussionist from Venezuela, recorded a salsa-version for his 2004 cd Salsa Es Mi Vida; his Dutch wife Astrid La Sorpesa Holandesa Pulles provided lead vocals.
 * Gerard Joling charted with his version of the song in the same decade.

Sources and external links

 * Official Eurovision Song Contest, history by year, 1980
 * Detailed info and lyrics, Diggiloo Thrush, "Amsterdam".