Papa Pingouin is catchy and irresistable

05/08/2021

A playground clapping song with an orchestral arrangement, Papa Pingouin has a catchy hook and comes at you.

☞ by Allen Therisa in Eurovision

Sophie & Magaly with a man dressed as a penguin

Papa Pingouin

Sophie & Magaly, Luxembourg

1980

56 points (ninth)

WHAT ABOUT THE CONTEST?

Businesslike and cheerful.

After Israel won (again) in 1979, but declined to host the contest in 1980, the hat got passed around and the Dutch gamely stepped in with a largely no-frills Eurovision with some rather wonderful geometric backdrops.

A little bit run of the mill, but at least the 1980 contest has a modern and efficient charm.

AND THE GROUP (OR ARTISTE)?

Sisterly Sophie and Magaly determinedly plough their way through the Luxembourg entry wearing matching pink and blue jumpsuits, looking like they want to be somewhere else entirely from start to finish.

And who could blame them when the backing singers are all dressed as penguins?

WHAT ABOUT THE SONG?

A playground clapping song with an orchestral arrangement, Papa pingouin has a catchy hook and comes at you relentlessly without warning, which perhaps explains why it does so well on the night.

ANY GOOD?

Silly beyond belief, even for Eurovision, though if you think this is a little frivolous, wait until you hear the German entry. Also, be warmed, because Papa pingouin is very, very catchy.

But wait, because the legend of Papa pingouin does not stop there, as a version of the song (performed by the legend that is Pigloo), was also a chart-topping French hit in 2006, becoming a party standard for children everywhere.

AND IT CAME WHERE?

Ninth with 56 points.

AND WHO WAS THE REAL WINNER?

Pouty, pretty boy Irish repeat offender Johnny Logan, with the really-not-that-bad pop ballad What's Another Year?

SO, IN SUMMARY

A straight-up contest delivers one of the contest classics (Logan's, not Sophie and Magaly's) and keeps the Eurovision ship sailing on into its Middle of the Road 1980s malaise.

Hurrah for the Dutch, but also for Sophie & Magaly for putting a smile on the face of viewers (and children) everywhere.