Hawaii - PiL

The annual disappointment of an undeserving winner - in my opinion and most of the televoters I could say this year - has happened last night and the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 is history. But the whole thing actually already started with a disappointment!

It was announced, some months ago, that Public Image Limited, the band of ex-Sex Pistol John Lydon, would participate in the Irish national final. 'Hawaii' was a song dedicated to Lydon's wife who was suffering from Alzheimer's. It would have been quite fabulous to see PiL representing Ireland this year, but somehow the Irish chose for a middle of the road, 'once heard quickly forgotten' song by a young band. Well, at least there's this 7" single which presents the song in two versions. I didn't know Lydon was also a visual artist, but it was he who created the artwork. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6988
Found: Amazon, received 11 May 2023
Tracks: 'Hawaii' / 'Hawaii (edit)'

This is not a love song - PIL

Ex-Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Rotten presented his new song 'This is not a love song' in the Netherlands' best music TV show Countdown in 1983. After the performance, the presented walked up to him and tried to start an interview with the remark: 'That's a nice lovesong'. Johnny simply replied with: 'Yeah', and walked away.

The single peaked at number 17 in the Netherlands and number 5 in the UK. I bought a three inch cd-single of the track at the end of the Eighties, but only now I have the 7" vinyl equivalent.

My collection: 7" single no. 3624

Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 18, 2009

Cost: 1 euro

Tracks: 'This is not a love song' / 'Public Image'