The Yamaha Music Festival, officially known as World Popular Song Festival and unofficially as the "Oriental Eurovision", was the world's biggest song contest. It was organised by the Yamaha Music Foundation in Tokyo, Japan from 1970 until 1989. 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. Tokyo ) , literally eastern capital, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and includes the highly urbanized central area formerly known as the city of Tokyo which is the heart of the Greater Tokyo Area. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

Belgium was represented at the 1970 edition by the dazzling Daliah Lavi, famous for her role in "Casino Royal" (1967), the James Bond parody featuring Woody Allen. Ms. 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 delegated world-known jazz singer Rita Reys with the song "Just Be You", a composition by her husband Pim Jacobs. 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 & David. More than 2 million copies of their winning entry "Ani Holem Al Naomi" (I Dream Of Naomi) were sold worldwide, giving a serious credibility boost to the new Festival. Daliah Lavi (born Daliah Lewinbuk on October 12, 1942) is an Israeli actress and model. ... The James Bond 007 gun logo James Bond, also known as 007 (pronounced double-oh seven), is a fictional British spy created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953. ... Woody Allen. ... Frida Boccara (b. ... Ted Mulry (September 2, 1947 – September 1, 2001) was a British born singer, songwriter and musician who achieved success in Australia firstly, as a solo performer, and then leading his own band Ted Mulry Gang, sometimes officially credited as just TMG. // Solo Ted Mulry first came to the attention of...

Well-established names as well as new talents tried their fortune at the WPSF: a (very young) ABBA, Céline Dion (Best Song Award in 1982), Bryan Adams (Participating in 1982), Tina Charles, Eros Ramazzotti, Gianna Nannini, Demis Roussos, Bonnie Tyler, B.J. Thomas, LaToya Jackson, Erasure and many others. Look up Abba in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Céline Marie Claudette Dion, OC, OQ (born March 30, 1968) is a Canadian Grammy and Juno award-winning pop singer, and occasional songwriter[1] and actress. ... Bryan Adams, OC, OBC b. ... Tina Charles (born March 10, 1954) is a British singer who achieved success as a disco artist in the late 1970s. ... Eros Ramazzotti (born October 28, 1963), is an Italian singer and songwriter. ... Gianna Nannini (born June 14, 1956) is an Italian female singer-songwriter and rock musician. ... Demis Roussos in his 40s Artemios (Demis) Ventouris Roussos (born June 15, 1946) is a Greek singer. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Billy Joe Thomas (born August 7, 1942) is an Oklahoma-born country singer. ... La Toya Jackson La Toya Yvonne Jackson (born May 29, 1956 in Gary, Indiana) is an American singer and the middle child of the Jackson family. ...

In the history of the WPSF the United Kingdom is the ultimate "pop nation", 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. Not only big nations but also smaller countries managed to deliver the ultimate "world pop song": Jamaica in 1972 with Ernie Smith, Norway in 1974 with Ellen Nikolaysen, Cuba in 1981 with Osvaldo Rodriguez and Hungary in 1983 with Newton Family. Ernest Frederick Smith (born November 26, 1909 in Spearfish, SD and died April 25, 1985 in Los Angeles) was an offensive tackle under coach Howard Jones of the University of Southern California. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Winners

This article needs cleanup. ... Tina Charles (born March 10, 1954) is a British singer who achieved success as a disco artist in the late 1970s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... France Joli is a French-Canadian singer, most known for disco hits. ... Valeria Bancelloti (born January 7, 1952), much better known as Valeria Lynch, is a famous singer from Argentina. ... Stacy Lattisaw is a female R&B and dance music singer, born on November 25, 1966 in Washington DC. She recorded her first album at the age of twelve, and has scored 22 R&B chart hits. ... Pseudo Echo were an Australian New Romantic band. ...

External link

• Detailed information about the WPSF - partly in English, partly in Dutch