Best Eurovision Song Ever

  Best Eurovision Song Ever – After the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 many people voted for their favorite Eurovision entries ever. The Top 25 were published one by one on the main page of this blog throughout the summer of 2010. Here we want to summarize the Top 25 to make it easier for you to find them.

 

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#25 : Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now (1987)

We start our ranking with “Mr. Eurovision”: Johnny Logan. In 1987 he wrote Eurovision history,  when he became the first and to date only artist to win 2 Eurovision Song Contests as a performer with the song “Hold me now”. He had previously won the contest in 1980 with “What’s another year”. Later he would win again as a composer with the song “Why me?” by Linda Martin. Logan was born as the son of Irish immigrants in Australia, but later became a citizen of Ireland. In the song “Hold Me Now” Logan asks his lover to give him one more night before they break up and she will be “with someone else instead of me”. In his white suit and with a flawless performance, Logan managed to convince the juries. His song also became a hit in several European countries. During the reprise in 1987 he couldn’t finish the song properly as he was too emotional and his voice cracked.

Here is your song number 25: Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now:

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#24: Maggie McNeal – Amsterdam (1980)

   After Israel did not want to host the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, despite winning it in 1979, the Netherlands filled in. On home ground they were represented by Maffie MacNeal. She had represented the country in 1974 as part of the duo Mouth and MacNeal and came in third place. The duo went on to have some hits in Europe. Their biggest success was “How Do You Do” which didn’t only do well all over Europe but even on the USA’s Billboard Charts.

Due to this impressive merit, MacNeal was chosen to represent the Netherlands on home ground. The contest was held in The Hague, but MacNeal sang an ode to the Dutch capital Amsterdam. MacNeal calls Amsterdam one of the most beautiful cities in the world as “In Amsterdam, Amsterdam. All kinds of things are going on Amsterdam, Amsterdam. Exists for centuries already.” The dramatic song did well with the judges and finished 5th.

Here it is: Your song number 24: Maggie McNeal – Amsterdam:

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#23: Niamh Kavanagh – In your eyes (1993)

Your place 23 goes to Niamh Kavanagh, who achieved Ireland’s 5th win in 1993 and the second win in a row. Since her Eurovision win she has given numerous televised performances on the Irish “Late Late Show”. Kavanagh is highly regarded among fans for her distinctive voice and her way of interacting with fans. She tried to find success in the US when she recorded an album there after her Eurovision win. Furthermore, Niamh tried to win the contest again in 2010 with a new power ballad, but this time she only achieved a place in the Bottom 5.

Here it is: Your song number 23: Niamh Kavanagh – In your eyes

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#22:Céline Dion – Ne partez pas sans moi (1988)

On place 22 we have a woman, who after her Eurovision win in 1988 would go on to become one of the most popular singers on the planet: Céline Dion. The Canadian star entered the contest for Switzerland in her native language French with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi” (Don’t go without me). In a breathtaking voting Switzerland won only one point ahead of the United Kingdom. Celine used her Eurovision fame to build an impressive career. Her album D’eux is the best-selling francophone album ever and she has sold more than 200 million records making her the best-selling female artist of all time. Her most popular song is undoubtedly “My heart will go on”

Here it is: Your song number 22: Céline Dion – Ne partez pas sans moi

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#21: Lordi – Hard Rock Hallelujah (2006)

Your place 21 goes to a Finnish band: Lordi and their rock song “Hard Rock Hallelujah”. Lordi made history in 2006 becoming the first Finnish band to win the contest. Finland had unsuccessfully participated since 1961 never even making it into the Top5.. Untill that evening in Athens where the band dressed as monsters accumulated 292 points (a record at that point). Lordi exists since 1996, but has changed members several times. Lordi was able to profit from their Eurovision win. Their winning song made it into many European charts and their albums published in 2006 and 2008 made it into many countries’ charts. Their 5th album will be released this september

And here it is: Your place 21: Lordi – Hard Rock Hallelujah

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#20: Jalisse – Fiumi di parole (1997)

Italy had not participated since 1993 and apparently RAI had only accidentally applied in 1997. In order not to have to pay a fine, they sent the winner of the San-Remo festival of that year: The duo Jalisse, made up of the charismatic Alessandra Drusian and Fabio Ricci. As the song has to last a maximum of 3 minutes at Eurovision over 1,5 minutes of the San Remo version and thus some important elements of the song had to be cut. The song “Fiumi di parole” (“Rivers Of Words”) is a melodic, dramatic ballad in which the lead singer tells her lover that “rivers of words” have come between them and that she believes that she is losing his respect. Nevertheless, she implies that there is still some hope for the relationship. Rumor has it, that RAI contacted several foreign juries to make sure the song would not win the contest. After this short intermezzo in 1997, Italy stayed away from the contest for 13 more years and only returned in 2011. Jalisse also tried to return to Eurovision in 2008 under San Marino’s flag, but they were not selected.

And here it is: Your place 2o: Jalisse – Fiumi di parole

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#19: Olsen Brothers – Fly On The Wings Of Love

The surprise winners of the Eurovision Song Contest 2000 were two brothers from Denmark. They performed a catchy ballad in black suits, accompanying themselves with guitars. Their advanced age and the fact that they sang about the beauty of a woman which increases with her age (The original title of the song in Danish was “Smuk som et stjerneskud” – “Beautiful as a shooting star”) seemed to speak against the song doing well. However, the Olsen Brothers performed with such enthusiasm and ease that they positively stood out from the competition and looked fresher than all of their much younger competitors. The audience clapped along from the very beginning and Denmark dominated the voting from the very beginning as well. The song became a hit in Sweden, Norway, Germany and Austria.

Here it is: Your place 19: Olsen Brothers – Fly On The Wings Of Love

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#18: Sandra Kim – J’aime la vie (1986)

Sandra Kim represented Belgium in 1986. After their last place finish the year before, Belgium could completely turn its chances around and won the competition. The song “J’aime la vie” (“I love life”) is life-affirming and positive. Kim sings of the pleasures life holds in store. She also sings that she is 15 years old. After her win, it was actually revealed that she was only 13 years old at the time, which lead Switzerland to ask for a disqualification as she was deemed too young (Switzerland had come second by the way). Kim is still (and as the rules have changed – now performers have to be at least 16 – will probably always be) the youngest Eurovision winner ever.

In 2006 Kim told website 12points.be that she does not always perform the song with pleasure: “It’s a little girl’s song, with little girl’s lyrics, with a young adolescent’s atmosphere. Nowadays, singing “J’aime la vie”…do you like life every day? Me neither.” In 1986, little Sandra was obviously still very enthusiastic about the song as she performed it with fervency, dancing throughout the entire performance.

Here it is: Your song number 18: Sandra Kim – J’aime la vie

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#17: Vânia Fernandes – Senhora do mar (2008)

Your place 17 goes to Vânia Fernandes – Senhora do mar. In 2008 in Belgrade Portugal’s hopes were very high. Vânia Fernands had made it to the final and fans and journalists were very optimistic about her chances to score the first Top 5 placing for Portugal. Known for her powerful stage presence, as well as her prominent and versatile voice, Fernandes has participated in several singing contests and performed in public in both her home island of Madeira and on the mainland of Portugal since 1997. In 2007 she had won a Portuguese talent show in the Eurovision final she only came 13th but is still a fan favourite!

Here it is: Your song number 17: Vânia Fernandes – Senhora do Mar:

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#16: Helena Paparizou – My number 1 (2005)

Your place 16 goes to Helena Paparizou and her song “My number one”. Paparizou is of Greek descent but was raised in Sweden. There she began her career there in 1999 as a member of the duo Antique while she also worked briefly as a model for a Swedish-Greek brand. After rising to recognition in Greece following its participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2001 the group had the biggest success of the remainder of its career there until Paparizou embarked on a solo career in 2003 and released her debut album. In 2005 she participated for Greece again – solo this time – and won! It was Greece’s first ever win and the beginning of a long streak of luck (Since then Greece never was outside of the Top 10!)

Here it is: Your song number 16: Helena Paparizou – My number one

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#15: France Gall – Poupée de cire, Poupée de son (1965)

Your place 15 goes to France Gall and “Poupée de cire, poupée de son” from 1965. The song was a sensation that year! For the first time a song won, that people actually wanted to buy and that radios actually wanted to play. Poupée de cire, poupée de son, written by Serge Gainsbourg, thus became an international hit. The songs’ singer France Gall continued her successful career until late 80s. In 1973 she marries French writer-composer Michel Berger, who gives her career a new impulse. There is no doubt! This win was important for the evolution of the Eurovision Song Contest and thus a worthy place number 15!

And here it is: Your song number 15: France Gall – Poupée de cire, Poupée de son.

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#14: Secret Garden – Nocturne (1995)

Your place 14 goes to the Norwegian winners Secret Garden with their song Nocturne. The 90s were the Irish decade at the Eurovision Song Contest. After three Irish victories Norway broke the Green Island’s winning streak.. kind of… The Norwegian song didn’t have a lot of singing in it (24 words in total) and is the only quasi-instrumental winner ever. The rest of the song could just as well have been an Irish entry (judge for yourself) and the violinist, surprise surprise, came from Ireland. Nevertheless, the song is still a fan favourite and its successor in 1996 came from…. do I really need to tell you?

And here it is: Your song number 14: Secret Garden – Nocturne

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#13: Patricia Kaas – S’il fallait le faire (2009)

Your place 13 goes to a real diva! La Kaas participated for France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and was arguably the biggest star in the competition that year. Her song and performance were simple, classy and effective. For the first time in her career Patricia Kaas performed on the day her mother died. For her home France she achieved the best position in years: An 8th place! Although it was mostly the juries that secured her a place in the Top 10 her performance remains one of the best of the last decade and is still loved by critics and fans alike.

And here it is: Your song number 13: Patricia Kaas – S’il fallait le faire

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#12: Brotherhood of Man – Save your kisses for me

Your place 12 goes to Brotherhood of man and Save your kisses for me from 1976. It was the third win for the United Kingdom and a deserved one! Perfectly sung and performed (some say this is the beginning of the Eurovision Show Contest) by the four band members, the song become a European hit and is still the best selling winning song ever! For the second time in a row the starting position 1 won the contest after Teach-Ins win in 1975. The song itself is about a girl, which is only 3 years old (listen closely to the very last line).

And here it is: Your song number 12: Brotherhood of man – Save your kisses for me:

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#11: Urban Symphony – Rändajad (2009)

Your place 12 goes to Urban Symphony with Rändajad. Many fans were sure: The 2009 Song Contest was the best in years! Not only the perfect organization in Moscow, but also the musical quality exceeded other years. This is the second song from that year (and not the last) that you voted into the top 25! The song ,entirely performed in Estonian, reached place 6 and is thus the best result for Estonia since 2002. The band was founded in 2007 and consists of: Sandra Nurmsalu, Mann Helstein, Johanna Mängel and Mari Möldre. With their mystical song and effortless beauty they enchanted Europe that evening and later on “Rändajad” even became a hit in Estonia, Finland and Greece.

And here it is: Your song number 11: Urban symphony – Rändajad:

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#10: Sertab Erener – Everyway that I can (2003)

We enter the Top 10 with your place 10 , which goes to Sertab Erener and  Every way that I can! For the first time since their debut in 1975 Turkey could win the contest. In a very exciting and tight race with Belgium and Russia  (at the end only 3 points separated the first three places)Turkey could win. The song is about a woman in a harem in the 19th century, who wants to win back a Sultan that had expelled her. With an extravagant performance with female belly dancers (Terry Wogan didn’T like it ;) ) from Germany and Austria, Sertab Erener confirmed her superstar status in her home country. The song had (compared to earlier winners) quite a lot of success.

And here it is: Your song number 10: Sertab Erener – Every way that I can

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and here is the Turkish version Sen üzülme diye:

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#9: Alexander Rybak – Fairytale (2009)

Your place number 9 is Fairytale by Alexander Rybak. This third song from 2009 makes that year the most successful in this vote! The package seemed unbeatable: A cute, talented guy from Norway (Viking bloc) with Belarussian roots (Eastern bloc) with a fiddle and a great pop song. And it worked! Alexander Rybak secured the third Norwegian victory with the highest number of points and margin to the second place ever. The song also became the most successful winner in years. Fairytale is truly a Eurovision record breaker!

And here it is: Your song number 9: Alexander Rybak – Fairytale

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#8: Joy Fleming – Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein (1975)

Your place number 8 is arguably one of the most underrated songs ever: Joy Fleming – Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein. Her 17th place was the worst result for Germany until then. Her dress was just a little too green (she wanted to wear jeans, but the officials told her a woman in jeans couldn’t represent Germany) and her style was at least 10 years too earlier. Her soulful, danceable song with the politically correct message (A song can be a bridge) and the fact that she sang her heart out, didn’t impress the juries at all. Nevertheless, the song became a fan favourite, mostly in Germany and you made it our place number 8!

And here it is: Your song number 8: Joy Fleming – Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein.

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#7: Željko Joksimović – Lane moje (2004)

Your place 7 goes to Zeljko Joksimovic and Lane moje. In 2007 Serbia-Montenegro made its debut at the Eurovision Song Contest. The country had been banned from the EBU due to political reasons. As a part of Yugoslavia, the country had participated many times until 1989 and thus had some experience with the contest. Their 2nd place was a big success especially because the song was completely in Serbian! Zeljko Joksimovic would return to the contest in 2008 as a host and as the composer of the Serbian entry that same year. He is one of the most popular composers and singers in the Balkan region.

And here it is: Your song number 7: Zeljko Joksimovic – Lane moje

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#6: Lena – Satellite (2010)

Your place 6 goes to this year’s winner: Lena! It’s not really a surprise that the winner of 2010 is so high in our ranking. Recent winners are always privileged in Eurovision rankings. Nevertheless, the song and the performance were great and felt like a breath of fresh air between hundrets of ballads and cheesy popsongs. Lena is the first German winner since 1982 and has declared that she wants to defend her title in 2011! She is unique in every respect and that’s why she charmed Germany, later Europe and obviously you, our readers.

And here it is: Your song number 6: Lena – Satellite

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#5: Mocedades – Eres tu (1973)

Your place 5 goes to Spain. In 1973 Mocedades came second after Anne-Marie David, who won for Luxembourg. Nevertheless, “Eres tu” revealed itself as the actual hit of the evening. The song achieved success in charts all over Europe and in the English version “Touch the wind” it even conquered the American charts. The 1973 Eurovision Song Contest was marked by a scandal, with charges that “Eres Tú” was plagiarized and merely a rewrite of the Yugoslav entry from the 1966 contest (“Brez Besed”, sung by Berta Ambrož). Nevertheless, “Eres Tú” was not disqualified, possibly for political reasons, as Francisco Franco’s Spain was considered more a part of the European mainstream than Tito’s Yugoslavia. The band was founded in Bilbao and most of its members are from the Basque country. After their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest they continued to have success in Spain and Latin America for many years.

And here it is: Your song number 5: Mocedades – Eres tu

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and the English version: Touch the wind

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#4: Marie Myriam – L’oiseau et l’enfant (1977)

Your place 4 goes to Marie Myriam with L’oiseau et l’enfant (The bird and the child). After the years before happy pop songs won the competition the juries seemed to yearn for a old fashioned chanson… and they got it! L’oiseau et l’enfant is a powerful and melodic song with a text as harmless as can be. Marie Myriam was just an outsider that night and surprised everyone. This was France’s 5th and to this day last victory at the Eurovision Song Contest. In recent years, Marie Myriam has read out the votes of the French Jury at Contest and spent some years in Zaire, Congo.

And here it is: Your song number 4: Marie Myriam – L’oiseau et l’enfant

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and the English version: The bird and the child:

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#3: Marija Šerifović – Molitva (2007)

We’re entering the Top 3 now! and your bronze medal goes to Marija Serifovic and Molitva (Prayer). 2006 in Athens: An earthquake rattles the Eurovision Song Contest: Lordi, a hard rock band consisting of monsters, wins the good old Eurovision Song Contest (and come 21st in our vote). After this shock for some fans, Marija Serifovic brought credibility back to the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song was in Serbian (first non-English winner since 1996), it was a ballad and she didn’t show half of her body let alone her breasts, which is (let’s be honest) not the recipe for a win at the modern Eurovision Song Contest. Nevertheless, the song won because of Marija’s strong voice and the great and intimate performance. Many of Šerifović’s fans were disappointed tough, with her decision to support Mr. Tomislav Nikolić for president, considering that his party, the Serbian Radical Party’s platform is traditionally based on a Greater Serbia ideal (considered dangerous by some countries located near Serbia). There was also speculations about Marija’s homosexuality, that were never proven.

And here it is: Your song number 3: Marija Serifovic – Molitva

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#2: ABBA -Waterloo (1974)

No big surprise: Your silver medal goes to the legendary ABBA! The 19th Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton became legendary because of four young Swedes, that were already quite popular in Scandinavia, but almost completely unknown in the rest of Europe: Benny, Björn, Anni-Fried and Agnetha. Waterloo won the contest and the rest is history! ABBA is one of the most successful bands in pop music history and without a doubt the biggest success story created by the Eurovision Song Contest!

And here it is: Your song number 2: ABBA – Waterloo

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#1: Domenico Modungo – Nel blu dipinto di blu (1958)

Your numero uno is a real classic “Domenico Modungo – Nel blu dipinto di blu” and comes from a country that currently doesn’t participate in Eurovision anymore: Italy. If you say “what the *** is this?” think again ;). The song is (in all of it’s cover versions) the most successful Eurovision song ever! Maybe you’ll know what I mean if I tell you the inofficial title: Volare!. It was 1958, the third Eurovision Song Contest with 10 countries competing. Domenico Modungo had to sing first, but due to technical problems, which prevented the song to be broadcast to all the participating countries he was allowed to sing again after the other 9 countries had finished their performances. Nevertheless, the song only came third but still became an international mega hit, that almost everyone knows in one of its hundreds of versions ranging from Dean Martin to Celine Dion. The Eurovision Times would like to thank everyone who voted and commented the Best Eurovision Songs Ever. We hope you had fun and don’t forget to vote for the “Worst Eurovision Songs Ever”, our next big ranking!

And here it is:  THE WINNER: Domenico Modungo – Nel blu delpinto di blu

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