Sveriges Radio (SR) internally selected Alice Babs as its performer for the 3rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, and the song "Samma stjärnor lysa för oss två" as the Swedish first entry in the contest. This was the source of some controversy between Babs and the composer of the song, Åke Gerhard; as neither she nor SR approved the lyrics and commissioned journalist and lyricist Gunnar Wersén [sv] –at the time an employee of Sveriges Radio TV– to rewrite the song as well as providing it with a new title "Lilla stjärna", without the knowledge or approval of Gerhard. As a result of this, Gerhard in turn would not allow Babs to make a studio recording of what legally still was his work, albeit in considerably rewritten form. The only existing audio recording of "Lilla stjärna" is consequently sourced from the television footage of Babs' live performance at Eurovision, which had its first commercial release as part of the Swedish CD compilation Rätt Låt Vann?! – Vinnarna in 1994.[1]
At the end of voting, the song received 10 points, placing fourth in a field of ten.[3] It was succeeded as Swedish representative at the 1959 contest by "Augustin" by Brita Borg.