Bucks Fizz performed the timeless classic tune Making Your Mind Up, together with the now famous skirt ripping dance routine. This was one of the most up-tempo songs of the evening, and with only two rounds of voting to go, it was a three-way tie between Germany. the UK and Switzerland. Switzerland were yet to vote and gave eight points to the UK, but Nil Points to Germany. Despite the final jury giving Germany maximum points, Bucks Fizz won the contest.
This victory was to set them up for a career that was to be as successful as any British Eurovision winner before, or since. They went on to be one of the most popular bands of the 80s with a string of hit singles and albums.
Making Your Mind Up was a number one for the group in nine different countries and received gold disc status in four countries.. This was promptly followed by a further two top twenty hits - Piece Of The Action and One Of Those Nights - and a self-titled album which went Gold in the UK and Platinum in Australia.
After winning the contest, the group built on their success with other awards and accolades. In November 1981, they won Best Song Award at the Yamaha Song Contest (oriental Eurovision) in Tokyo with the song Another Night.
Their next single, released in November 1981, The Land Of Make Believe went Gold before Christmas of that year and went on to become one of their most popular songs, reaching Number One in three countries and winning the Amplex Golden Reel Award for one million copies sold.
In 1982, the success for Bucks Fizz continued and in April of that year the group's fourth single, My Camera Never Lies, went straight to Number One in the UK. This was followed in May by the group's second studio album, Are You Ready, which went Gold immediately. This also produced another hit, Now Those Days Are Gone, which reached number 8 in the UK charts.
1984 was to be an eventful year. Bucks Fizz toured the UK on a 7 week sell out tour.
1983 saw the release of If You Cant Stand The Heat which reached number 10 in the UK charts. This was followed by Run For Your Life. Both singles were featured on the group's third studio album, Hand Cut, which charted at number 15 in the UK.
Later that year saw the release of When We Were Young, a slightly different sound with Jay on lead vocal. London Town followed and then a Greatest Hits album which finished the year on a high.
Three more singles were released: Talking In Your Sleep, Golden Days and I Hear Talk which was a surprise club hit in America. Fate was to deal the group a devastating blow that year: whilst on tour in December there was a horrific Coach crash which resulted in the serious injury of Mike Nolan.
As Mike was on the road to recovery Bucks Fizz received yet another blow as Jay Aston decided to depart the group after a scandalous affair with the bands Manager which made front page of all the tabloids.
Auditions were held in London for a Jay Aston replacement. About 800 girls turned up to audition and finally Shelley Preston was recruited to replace Jay.
1986 saw Bucks Fizz back on top of the charts with a new look, a new record deal with Polydor and a new single called New Beginning. The single reached number 8 in the UK charts and was a great success.
A further two singles were also released this year: Love The One Your With" and Keep Each Other Warm, together with what would be their 5th studio album, Writing On The Wall.
The single Heart Of Stone was released in 1988. This would later be covered by Cher a couple of years later.
Shelley Preston decided to leave the group in 1990 to pursue solo projects and the group continued as a trio.
The group's albums are currently available on CD, as well as a recently released Best Of CD/DVD which made the top 40 in May 2007.
Tears On The Ballroom Floor
Bucks Fizz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dancing hand in hand
As the local band
Plays the final tune
Sad young lovers
Hold each other tight
For they know the night
Two young lovers
Dancing hand in hand
Why they have to part
They don't understand
Midnight
They don't see the coloured
Streamers shimmerin' down
Midnight
And it's time to say goodbye
To the wrong side of town
Midnight
And in the crowd
Two anxious faces watch the door
And there are
Tears, tears on the ballroom floor
Pale young dreamers
Hold each other close
They don't hear the sound
They are on their own
Sad young dreamers
Hold each other near
There is no-one else
They are on their own
Midnight
They don't see the coloured
Streamers shimmerin' down
Midnight
And it's time to say goodbye
To the wrong side of town
Midnight
And in the crowd
Two anxious faces watch the door
And there are
Tears, tears on the ballroom floor
As these final moments descend
Vow their love will never end
And sad young dreamers
As the music plays
Now we have to go
Separate ways
Midnight
They don't see the coloured
Streamers shimmerin' down
Midnight
And it's time to say goodbye
To the wrong side of town
Midnight
And in the crowd
Two anxious faces watch the door
And there are
Tears, tears on the ballroom floor
And there are tears
Tears on the ballroom floor
Wishing they don't have to say goodbye
Tears, tears on the ballroom floor
And there are tears
Tears on the ballroom floor
Wishing they don't have to say goodbye
Tears, tears on the ballroom floor
The song "Tears On The Ballroom Floor" by Bucks Fizz tells the story of two young couples who are at a ballroom dance, with the local band playing their final tune. The pale and sad young lovers dance hand in hand, knowing that their time together is limited, and they will soon have to part. The lyrics describe the anxiety and emotions of the couples as they watch the hours tick by and the end of the dance approach, accompanied by colored streamers shimmering down from above. As the final moments descend, the young dreamers vow their love will never end, and they exchange one last dance before making their way home. The song ends with the repeated chorus of "tears on the ballroom floor," as the lovers experience the heartbreak of saying goodbye.
The lyrics of the song paint a poignant picture of the sadness and nostalgia associated with parting ways with someone you care about. The ballroom setting and the people watching keenly on as the couples dance and cry make the scene all the more touching. The slow and mournful melody of the song is the perfect accompaniment to the emotions expressed in the lyrics. It's an enjoyable song that evokes warm memories of heartbreak and separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Pale young lovers
Young and innocent couples on the dance floor
Dancing hand in hand
Swinging to the tunes with fingers entwined
As the local band
The town's own orchestra strikes the final notes
Plays the final tune
The last melody marks the end of the night's musical festivity
Sad young lovers
Couples that are desolate and heartbroken
Hold each other tight
Embracing each other affectionately for their last moments together
For they know the night
Realizing that the end is near
Will be over soon
And it's time to say goodbye to the magical night
Two young lovers
A pair of young hearts in love
Why they have to part
Wondering why they have to separate from each other
They don't understand
Their naive minds cannot grasp why they can't be together
Midnight
The clock striking twelve
They don't see the coloured
Not noticing the glimmering bright streamers
Streamers shimmerin' down
Falling from the ceiling with a sparkle
And it's time to say goodbye
The moment has finally arrived to bid adieu
To the wrong side of town
Before leaving the local area forever
And in the crowd
Amidst all the gathering
Two anxious faces watch the door
A pair of worried faces keep staring at the exit
Tears, tears on the ballroom floor
Drops of grief falling down while still dancing
Pale young dreamers
Innocent and naive minds with romantic dreams
Hold each other close
Hugging each other tighter with hope and love
They don't hear the sound
Ignoring the surrounding uproar
They are on their own
Lost in their own world, oblivious to others
As the music plays
When the band is still playing the melodies they love
Now we have to go
It's time for us to leave each other
Separate ways
And to walk on different paths towards divergent futures
As these final moments descend
The last few moments of the magical night
Vow their love will never end
Pledging to love each other forever
And there are tears
And the tears keep flowing
Tears on the ballroom floor
Dropping to the ground, one by one
Wishing they don't have to say goodbye
Dreaming that they could stay together, always
Tears, tears on the ballroom floor
The tears keep on rolling down
Contributed by Alaina M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.