Edward Victor "Teddy" Johnson
For us UK Eurovision fans, the gentleman above (picture courtesy of Paul Jordan) would always be linked to our Contest history as being part of a duet with his wife Pearl Carr, singing in 1959 and providing our first of fifteen runner-up spots at the ESC. To me, he and Pearl seemed to be immortal, living the rest of their days at Brinsworth House, a retirement home for theatre and entertainment professionals in Twickenham, West London. Occasionally I would hear their UK entry and it would never fail to make me smile, reminding me how long they had been together. Last night (6th June 2018), the following was flagged up on one of the Facebook UK Eurovision groups:
Immediately I tried to get some verification of the news but nothing was forthcoming anywhere so late at night - unfortunately this morning dawned with the knowledge that this incredibly sad news was indeed true. Bobby Crush, pianist and songwriter in his own right, has always been very close to both Pearl and Teddy and confirmed the sad news this morning (7th June):
Such an interesting chat that I had never heard before until today - Teddy's passing had fuelled a need to find out more about him and his time not spent singing at Eurovision. I had no idea that he had been a DJ on Radio Luxembourg:
I featured this song in an article about Eurovision entries that have focused on animals and the words I wrote there are worth repeating...
"Now whether it is the fact that this is the UK's first runner's up place at Eurovision or maybe it's because the delivery of this entry is so joyous and delightful that this song holds a special place in my heart. I absolutely love this entry - Pearl and Teddy as husband and wife naturally mesh well together and like performances from all great double acts, I could not imagine this song being sung by either of them alone. Perhaps the use of the toy bird is a little passé even then but it was the first use of props at the Contest for the UK and therefore groundbreaking!
The lyrics fit this duo perfectly as you could actually imagine the story of them falling in love in the meadow and really carving their initials in a tree there, these wonderful memories being triggered again later in life by birdsong...
A very simple song, superbly sung and beautifully performed to camera and crowd - the mark of true professionals and as a UK fan it is a shame that this wasn't our first winner, rather than our first second place. I think that this would have done a fine job at most of the opening Contests and would put a smile on a lot of the fans even now - true icons of early Eurovision..."
Sing, sing, sing, little birdie
Sing, sing, sing it
There's a bird on a branch
There's a branch on a tree
There's a tree in the meadow
And that's where I long to be
'Neath that bird on a branch
'Neath that branch on a tree
'Neath that tree in the meadow
Where you said you love me
Sing, little birdie, sing your song
Sing, you'll help our love along
Sing, little birdie up above
Sing a song of love
There's a bird on a branch
There's a branch on a tree
Where we carved our initials there
For all the world to see
'Neath that bird on a branch
'Neath that branch on a tree
Where we promised our true love
For all eternity
Sing, little birdie, sing your song
Sing, you'll help our love along
Sing, little birdie up above
Sing a song of love
When the years pass on by
And we're wed, you and I
And the bluebirds are singing
Their sweet love songs in the sky
We will dream of that bird
On a branch, on a tree
And that tree in the meadow
Where you said you love me
Sing, little birdie, sing your song
Sing, you'll help our love along
Sing, little birdie up above
Sing a song of love
Sing, little birdie, sing your song
Sing, you'll help our love along
Sing, little birdie up above
Sing a song of love
It is a song thrown up out of the genres prevalent in late 1950s Britain, where musical theatre and variety hall singing were still strongholds of what could be called popular music then but it suited the content of the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest perfectly. The fact that it was also a time where these singers were truly magnificent in their elocution, tone and key makes this a delight to listen to - not bad for a song that nobody else wanted to sing...
"After the Eurovision Song Contest, Pearl and I had a whole season of summer shows and we never had an empty seat. Eurovision really helped to cement our career in the industry."
I am sure that Eurovision wasn't the main reason for their popularity but it is always gratifying when an artist who has sung at the Contest gives a nod to it helping their career. It is whilst reading and listening to interviews with him that his professionalism and humility shone through and why he and Pearl have found a place in the hearts of all who came into contact with them.
RIP Teddy Johnson 1920 - 2018