Love Shine a Light

Infobox Single
Name = Love Shine a Light


Artist = Katrina and the Waves
Genre = Rock
Released = 1997
Recorded = Unknown
Writer = Kimberley Rew
Last single = "Walking on Sunshine" (re-issue) (1997)
This single = "Love Shine a Light" (1997)
Next single = "Walk on Water"
(1997)Infobox ESC entry
song = flagicon|United Kingdom Love Shine a Light


caption = Katrina & the Waves performing "Love Shine a Light
year = 1997
country = United Kingdom
artist = Katrina & the Waves
as =
with =
language = English
languages =
composer = Kimberly Rew
lyricist =
conductor = Don Airey
place = 1st
points = 227
place_semi =
points_semi =
lyrics =
clip =
prev = Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit
prev_link = Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (song)
next = Where Are You
next_link = Where Are You

"Love Shine a Light" was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, performed by Katrina and the Waves for the United Kingdom, composed by Kimberley Rew. It is the group's biggest success since "Walking on Sunshine" 12 years earlier.

Rew composed the song following a request from the brother of Alex Cooper (the band's drummer) for an anthem for The Samaritans. [cite news| first = Fred| last = Bronson| title = Katrina Comes Through For The U.K. Brits Enter U.S. Act, Win Eurovision Song Contest| work = Billboard| publisher = Billboard Publications| date = 1997-05-17| accessdate = 2007-06-16] The song was selected as the UK's Eurovision entry by public vote on 15 March 1997. It received 69,834 votes, 11,138 more than the second place song. [cite news| title = Do Re Mi hit flat note| work = Scotland on Sunday| publisher = The Scotsman Publications| page = 2| date = 1997-03-16| accessdate = 2007-06-16]

The contest was held on 3 May 1997 in the Point Theatre, Dublin. The song was awarded maximum (12) points by ten countries, scoring 227 of a possible 288, in what was at the time the largest ever Eurovision win in terms of points won; it is still considered the most successful Eurovision entry ever, due to only 25 countries voting; as opposed to the current 37 that Finland broke the record with in 2006.

Katrina Leskanich, lead singer of the band, commented that it was the second landslide of the week - the Labour Party led by Tony Blair had won the UK general election held two days earlier, on 1 May 1997.

The song was succeeded in 1998 as Contest winner by Dana International representing Israel performing Diva. This song was also performed as part of a medley in the introduction of the 50th anniversary show for the ESC in Copenhagen as well as the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, in Athens.

A remix of the song was performed during the UK selection process final of 2008, .

Cover versions

*On the 1997 album "Ett hus med många rum" Kikki Danielssons orkester, featuring Kikki Danielsson on lead vocals, covered the song with lyrics in Swedish by Christer Lundh and Mikael Wendt, as "Låt ett ljus få brinna" (translated "Let a candle burn").

References

External links

* [http://www.lyricz.net/K/Katrina+And+The+Waves/128059/ Song lyrics]
* [http://www.katw.com/ Official Site]