Performed by: The Shadows
Music by: Paul Curtis
Lyrics by: Paul Curtis
Conductor: Alyn Ainsworth
Language: English
Placing: 2nd (138 points)
“Let Me Be the One” was the United Kingdom’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, written by Paul Curtis and performed in English by the band The Shadows.
The song was performed ninth that night. At the close of voting, it had received 138 points, placing it 2nd out of 19.
Personnel (live):
Hank Marvin – guitar and vocals
Bruce Welch – bass and lead vocals
Brian Bennett – drums
John Farrar – guitar and vocals
Alan Tarney – piano (concert appearance)
The Shadows dominated the British popular music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the pre-Beatles era. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard from 1958 to 1968, and have joined him for several reunion tours.
The Shadows have had 69 UK chart singles from the 1950s to the 2000s, 35 credited to the Shadows and 34 to Cliff Richard and the Shadows. The group, who were in the forefront of the UK beat-group boom, were the first backing band to emerge as stars. As pioneers of the four-member instrumental format, the band consisted of lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar and drums. Their range covers pop, rock, surf rock and ballads with a jazz influence.
The core members from 1958 to present are guitarists Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch and drummer Brian Bennett (who has been with the group since 1961) with various bassists and occasionally keyboardists through the years. Along with the Fender guitar, another cornerstone of the Shadows sound was the Vox amplifier.
The Shadows’ number one hits included “Apache”, “Kon-Tiki”, “Wonderful Land”, “Foot Tapper” and “Dance On!”. Although these and most of their best-remembered hits were instrumentals, the group also recorded occasional vocal numbers, and hit the UK top ten with the group-sung “Don’t Make My Baby Blue” in 1965. Four other vocal songs by the Shadows also made the UK charts. They disbanded in 1968, but reunited in the 1970s for further commercial success.
The Shadows are the fifth most successful act in the UK singles chart, behind Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Cliff Richard and Madonna. The Shadows and Cliff Richard & the Shadows each have had four No. 1 selling EPs.
The early set of Queen (who played their first gig on 27 June 1970 with Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May) included a cover of Cliff and the Shadows’ “Please Don’t Tease”.
Lyrics:
Let me be the one
Tonight (Tonight)
Tonight (Tonight)
Tonight (Tonight)
Tonight
Let me be the one who’s lovin’ you tonight
Let me be the one who really holds you tight
I’ll even bring along a magic moon
Just to make you feel all right
So let me be the one who’s lovin’ you tonight
Let me be the one who takes you by the hand
(Let me be the one)
Let me be the one who always understands
(Let me be the one)
Everybody knows we’ve been good friends
But I think the time is right
So let me be the one who’s lovin’ you tonight
You and I could have an affair
(All you gotta do is…)
Make sweet music, go anywhere
Building highways taking us there
As long as I know you really care
Won’t you show me you care?
Oh… come on
Let me be the one who’s lovin’ you tonight
Let me be the one who really holds you tight
I’ll even bring along a magic moon
Just to make you feel all right
So let me be the one who’s lovin’ you tonight
Doo doo doo doo…
Won’t you show me you care?
Oh… come on
Let me be the one who takes you by the hand
Let me be the one who always understands
Everybody knows we’ve been good friends
But I think the time is right
So let me be the one who’s lovin’ you tonight
Let me be the one who’s lovin’ you
Tonight (Tonight)
Tonight (Tonight)
Tonight (Tonight)
Tonight
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