The , also known as Yamaha Music Festival and unofficially as the "Oriental Eurovision", was an international song contest held from 1970 until 1989. It was organised by the Yamaha Music Foundation in Tokyo, Japan. The first edition of the World Popular Song Festival (WPSF) took place on 20, 21 and 22 November 1970 with 37 participating countries from all continents. The concert was cancelled in 1988 due to the illness of the Shōwa Emperor; the final year was a charity concert for UNICEF, after which the contest was formally ended.Official Site by Yamaha Music Foundation
History Belgium was represented at the 1970 edition by Daliah Lavi, famous for her role in Casino Royale (1967), the James Bond parody featuring Woody Allen as well with Samantha Gilles in 1987 ending second with the song Hold Me. Lavi performed the chanson "Prends L'Amour" and ended up 13th in the Grand Final (the contest had two semi-finals and one final). The Netherlands nominated world-known jazz singer Rita Reys with the song "Just Be You", a composition by her husband Pim Jacobs. Czech singer Helena Vondráčková sang "Uncle Charlie" a novelty song inspired by Charlie Chaplin. Other famous 1970 participants were 1969 Eurovision winner Frida Boccara for France, Jacques Michel for Canada and Ted Mulry for Australia, who scored a national number 1 hit with his entry. Winner of the 1st WPSF was Israel with the duo Hedva and David. More than a million copies of the Japanese version ナオミの夢 "Naomi no Yume" of their winning entry were sold worldwide, giving a serious credibility boost to the new Festival.
Well established names as well as new talents tried their fortune at the WPSF: a very young ABBA under the name Björn & Benny with uncredited backing vocals by their partners Agnetha and Anni-Frid performing the track "Santa Rosa" with little success (later relegated to the B-side of their second single "He Is Your Brother"), Céline Dion (Outstanding Song Award in 1982), Bryan Adams (Participating in 1982), Bucks Fizz (Best Song Award in 1981), Tina Charles, Eros Ramazzotti, Daniela Romo, Gianna Nannini, Demis Roussos, Bonnie Tyler, B.J. Thomas, La Toya Jackson (Outstanding Song Award in 1986), Erasure, Cissy Houston, Italian singer-songwriter Alice, Mia Martini and many others.
In the history of the WPSF, the United Kingdom has been the most successful, winning the "WPSF Grand Prix" 5 times in the seventies (even three times in row). The United Kingdom is followed by the United States with 4 Grand Prix victories. Smaller countries won as well: Jamaica in 1972 with Ernie Smith, Norway in 1974 with Ellen Nikolaysen, Cuba in 1981 with Osvaldo Rodríguez and Hungary in 1983 with Neoton Família.
Grand Prix Winners
Year Country Artist Title 1970 Hedva & David "Ani Holem Al Naomi" 1971 Martine Clémenceau "Un Jour l'Amour" Tsunehiko Kamijo & Rokumonsen "Tabidachi No Uta" 1972 Capricorn "Feeling" Ernie Smith "Life is Just for Livin'" 1973 Gilda Giuliani "Parigi a Volte Cosa Fa" Shawn Phillips "All the Kings and Castles" Keeley Ford "Head over Heels" Akiko Kosaka "Anata (You)" 1974 Ellen Nikolaysen "You Made Me Feel I Could Fly" 1975 Mister Loco "Lucky Man" Miyuki Nakajima "Jidai (Time Goes Around)" 1976 Franco & Regina "Amore Mio" Sandy "Goodbye Morning" 1977 Rags "Can't Hide My Love" Masanori Sera and Twist "Anta no Ballade" 1978 Tina Charles "Love Rocks" Hiroshi Madoka "Musoubana (Fly on All the Way)" 1979 Bonnie Tyler "Sitting on the Edge of the Ocean" Crystal King "Daitokai (In the City of Strangers)" 1980 Mary MacGregor "What's The Use" 1981 Osvaldo Rodríguez "Digamos Que Mas Da" 1982 Anne Bertucci "Where Did We Go Wrong" Asuka "Hananusubito" 1983 Neoton Família "Time Goes By" 1984 France Joli "Party Lights" 1985 Valeria Lynch "Rompecabezas" 1986 Stacy Lattisaw "Longshot" 1987 Pseudo Echo "Take on the World" 1988 (the contest was cancelled) 1989 UNICEF Charity Concert Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Tyler, B. J. Thomas, Dan Hill, Pseudo Echo "Parents of the World"
Awards Grand Prix International Grand Prix National 1975-1982 Most Outstanding Performance Award (MOPA) Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) Outstanding Song Award (OSA) Kawakami Award
See also
List of historic rock festivals
References
External links Official Site by Yamaha Music Foundation Detailed information about the WPSF - partly in English, partly in Dutch