Regular readers will know that I love Eurovision. I know I shouldn't but I do. I have loved it from the early 1960s (it began in 1956 - so it's almost as old as I am). My views on the UK entries for the past few years have been mentioned once or twice but in general terms the songs have been abysmal and deserved to finish in the bottom four on numerous occasions.
But back to "You Raise Me Up" which is one of those inspirational songs that has been recorded by well over 100 artists including Westlife and Josh Groban. It was first recorded by a Norwegian-Irish duo by the name of Secret Garden. The music for You Raise Me Up was written by Rolf Lovland who is one half of Secret Garden (not sure whether he's Secret or Garden though) and the lyrics were written by Irish poet Brendan Graham.
I am a big fan of the music of Secret Garden. It is very powerful and full of Celtic melodies. And so to the Eurovision link. In 1995 the winning "song" was the Norwegian entry Nocturne by Secret Garden. Nocturne was written by Rolf Lovland. I love this piece of pseudo classical Celtic music. Some people cried foul, however, claiming that it wasn't a song as it only had just over 20 words. I'm not sure how many words a piece of music has to have to qualify as a song.
It's a little remembered winner and always a good answer on the BBC quiz "Pointless."
Anyway there is the link I mentioned yesterday.
I hope you enjoy a few of the floral photographs taken during a walk around Wymondham on Monday.