Posted August 29, 200618 yr I made the stupid mistake of deleting this entire post just when I had it finished so it may not be quite as good as the original one, but nevertheless, here it is! My top 50 Eurovision songs of all time. It was originally going to be My top 50 songs from 50 years, but then there came this year's contest! So I've had to re-jig it a little, but it is what it is! I am a devoted follower of the contest, so I know most songs from most years, however as I only started watching the contest in 1998, you will probably notice a slight bias towards the 21st century, but there are alot of "classics" in here, along with quite a few songs that many have probably forgotten! 50. ICELAND 2005 - Selma - If I Had Your Love So here goes, and I start as I mean to go on. I have a soft spot for the Icelandic entries and in fact, pretty much all of their songs since I started watching have been among my favourites that year. So first of all is one of the "shock non-qualifiers" of last year: Selma making her 2nd attempt after finishing second in 1999. Many were astounded that this didn't make the cut after a fairly solid performance, despite many (including myself) predicting a top 3 finish. This is a catchy enough tune, even know it owes more than a little to "Toxic" by Britney Spears. 49. MALTA 1998 - Chiara - The One That I Love Along with Selma, Chiara is another Eurovision favourite of recent days. Unlike other singers of the "Michelle McManus" mould, she is quite attractive for somebody of her weight. And what a voice! Malta had never had any real success at the contest until Chiara came along with this song. Chiara came within a whisker of winning the 1998 contest, but was eventually beaten by Dana International, and finished a very close 3rd. While this is a pleasant song, it doesn't suit Chiara's voice, nor does it have the instant, powerful appeal of "Angel" her 2005 entry, which will make an appearance later on in my chart... 48. FINLAND 2006 - Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah Here it is! This year's winner and the one the Finns have been waiting 45 years for! Finland must be pretty passionate about the contest if they can wait that long without ever having a Top 5 finish! However it all paid off in the end, with metal band Lordi taking the trophy with more than 50 points over second place. While it was not my favourite song of this year, Lordi's victory will be great for the contest as a whole, as it proves that a country does not have to be part of a "voting bloc" to win. Also, next year I'd predict that songs will stop being of the same old formula and countries will start experimenting a bit more. It may even bring more interest in the contest, as their single was a worldwide hit after the contest - and it's been too long since the contest produced one of those! :D So here is the much talked about video for "Hard Rock Hallelujah" [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s2TfNlJ_nQ.swf Lordi's appearance at the contest made them the most talked about act before the contest despite not actually going on a promotional tour. However no act has ever gained as much pre-contest publicity as my number 47...Coming soon!
August 29, 200618 yr Chiara. :o She was amazingly good. I felt so sorry for her when Croatia got the final 12 points from FYR Macedonia that year. :(
August 29, 200618 yr Author Chiara. :o She was amazingly good. I felt so sorry for her when Croatia got the final 12 points from FYR Macedonia that year. :( That was a bit of a heart-dropping moment :( One of my earliest Eurovision memories believe it or not. The song doesn't really do that much for me to be honest - but her other song is still to come :P
August 29, 200618 yr Author 47. RUSSIA 2003 - t.A.T.u. - Ne Ver Ne Boisia OK I know I know I'll probably get slaughtered for including the song that many hardcore Eurovision fans would rank as the worst thing to ever happen to the contest! But I don't care. I was a big fan of tATu from when I heard their first single "All The Things She Said" and was delighted when I heard they'd be in Eurovision - disregarding the fact that they can't sing a note between them! OK so they really didn't deserve to finish in 3rd (and a close one at that) but the song is such a grower and unlike anything that had ever been seen in the contest before! That is probably how it would have been remembered had the performance been any good - they didn't even kiss! 46. NORWAY 2003 - Justin Hasselgard - I'm Not Afraid To Move On Finishing just below tATu in 2003 was Norway's Justin Hasselgard. Terry Wogan called him a Brad Pitt lookalike - couldn't see it myself. The "teen idol at piano" gimick (and let's face it; it was a gimmick!) was always gonna get votes and it did. While I don't think much of the singer, or the lyrics, the tune is very nice on the ears, and is officially the only Eurovision song I can play on piano :D 45. SLOVENIA 2001 - Nusa Derenda - Energy My favourite of the very few dance songs that have appeared in Eurovision, this is Slovenia's most successful entry to date and rightly so! Nusa Derenda gave a fantastic performance of the song which you can see below in a year of frankly mediocre songs which made it stand out for me. One of the few Eurovision songs that really worked well in the stadium setting of the 2001 contest, maybe she should be asked back to get Slovenia out of the slump they've been in lately. With all the political voting going on, there is no reason they should be stuck in the semi final year after year! While this was Slovenia's most successful song, finishing 7th, I still have one more Slovenian song to chart... Here is Nusa Derenda's performance of "Energy" [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ74FDznjsI.swf I know what you're thinking! All of these songs so far have been from the last 5 years, but coming soon, we'll be going back to the 60s! :P Hope you're enjoying these so far :)
August 30, 200618 yr 47. RUSSIA 2003 - t.A.T.u. - Ne Ver Ne Boisia OK I know I know I'll probably get slaughtered for including the song that many hardcore Eurovision fans would rank as the worst thing to ever happen to the contest! But I don't care. I was a big fan of tATu from when I heard their first single "All The Things She Said" and was delighted when I heard they'd be in Eurovision - disregarding the fact that they can't sing a note between them! OK so they really didn't deserve to finish in 3rd (and a close one at that) but the song is such a grower and unlike anything that had ever been seen in the contest before! That is probably how it would have been remembered had the performance been any good - they didn't even kiss! 46. NORWAY 2003 - Justin Hasselgard - I'm Not Afraid To Move On Finishing just below tATu in 2003 was Norway's Justin Hasselgard. Terry Wogan called him a Brad Pitt lookalike - couldn't see it myself. The "teen idol at piano" gimick (and let's face it; it was a gimmick!) was always gonna get votes and it did. While I don't think much of the singer, or the lyrics, the tune is very nice on the ears, and is officially the only Eurovision song I can play on piano :D 45. SLOVENIA 2001 - Nusa Derenda - Energy My favourite of the very few dance songs that have appeared in Eurovision, this is Slovenia's most successful entry to date and rightly so! Nusa Derenda gave a fantastic performance of the song which you can see below in a year of frankly mediocre songs which made it stand out for me. One of the few Eurovision songs that really worked well in the stadium setting of the 2001 contest, maybe she should be asked back to get Slovenia out of the slump they've been in lately. With all the political voting going on, there is no reason they should be stuck in the semi final year after year! While this was Slovenia's most successful song, finishing 7th, I still have one more Slovenian song to chart... Here is Nusa Derenda's performance of "Energy" [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ74FDznjsI.swf I know what you're thinking! All of these songs so far have been from the last 5 years, but coming soon, we'll be going back to the 60s! :P Hope you're enjoying these so far :) I liked them songs, though I don't anymore. ^_^ Slovenia should have done better... Oh btw Peter vote yes please :wub: http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15340
September 3, 200618 yr Author 44. RUSSIA 2001 - Muimy Troll - Lady Alpine Blue One of the couple of "proper bands" that pop up in Eurovision annually. Muimy Troll captured my attention with their lead singer who can only be described as eccentric! However, by the end of the evening I realised that I didn't even know the song. I only really started to appreciate it when I got the compilation CD of the 2001 contest in July. It is actually a pretty good song and didn't do better on the night either because the singer was distracting from the actual song or because Eurovision audiences simply don't go for indie style songs. The draw didn't help either, but this is definitely a grower and has become one of my favourites from that year. 43. NORWAY 2005 - Wig Wam - In My Dreams A song that was expected to finish way higher than it did - and probably should have. Glam rock band Wig Wam really stood out in the 2005 contest, especially among the disproportionately high number of ethnic songs! This was a fantastic performance and definitely got a good number of my friends who aren't viewers, interested in the contest. They also made great viewing on the after show programme on BBC and brought rock and roll to Eurovision. I suppose they weren't for everybody, but if Wig Wam hadn't participated, we probably wouldn't be going to Finland next year! 42. SLOVENIA 2002 - Sestre - Samo Ljubezen Well Eurovision has had Russian lesbians, Israeli transexuals and in 2002, to national uproar, Slovenia brought three transvestites to Eurovision. Sestre were basically three singing air hostesses in sparkly red dresses singing a very catchy tune which, again, I didn’t pick up on on the night. Nevertheless, I votes for them on novelty value alone after they turned in a very entertaining performance. Later on I discovered that the song was actually very catchy, although I am disappointed to find the lack of an English version. 41. UKRAINE 2004 - Ruslana - Wild Dances So here is the song that set several Eurovision records, such as shortest wait for a win, highest tally of points (since broken by Lordi) and first and so far only winner since the free language rule that was not entirely in English. Ruslana certainly made an impression in the 2004 contest, being described as a few in my company as "Xena Warrior Princess meets Bucks Fizz." Prior to the contest in Istanbul, I did not even consider Wild Dances to be in the running, so listened to it very little. Still, it was a pleasant surprise when it won, and became one of the songs of my summer! 40. SPAIN 1969 - Salomé - Vivo Cantando So finally here is the first song in my Top 50 to come from outside my lifetime. It's my opinion that the song that you choose as your favourite from the 4 winners in 1969 says alot about your Eurovision taste and your overall view of the contest. I myself, choose Spain's most recent win, "Vivo Cantando" a very fun song which most people probably wouldn't think of when asked to name a Spanish Eurovision entry. However, it's my favourite song from that country and definitely one of my favourite performances. Below, for the benefit of the people who associate the 1969 contest with the British and French winners, or have only heard the recorded version, is the original performance from the contest in Madrid. Very different from the recording, Salomé wears what is reported to be the most expensive costume in Eurovision history! Enjoy :) [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em1ycchjk20.swf Next time we go back into the archives for the first song by one of my all time favourite Eurovision artists!
September 3, 200618 yr RUSSIA 2003 - t.A.T.u. - Ne Ver Ne Boisia < i hated it but about 3 weeks ago i downloaded it and now i LOVE IT ...romania 2005 were great.. also iceland a few years ago ..a blonde women..she had glitter :(
September 3, 200618 yr Author RUSSIA 2003 - t.A.T.u. - Ne Ver Ne Boisia < i hated it but about 3 weeks ago i downloaded it and now i LOVE IT ...romania 2005 were great.. also iceland a few years ago ..a blonde women..she had glitter :( Would that have been Birgitta in 2003? Look out for that one in my chart ;)
September 3, 200618 yr All the Icelantic entries are blond women with glitter aren't they? :lol: I hated Russia 2001, it's ok though now I guess. 2001's contest is still the best since 1998 if you ask me.
September 3, 200618 yr Would that have been Birgitta in 2003? Look out for that one in my chart ;) I think that may be her.. was it about light?
September 3, 200618 yr I think that may be her.. was it about light? 2003 - Birgitta - Open Your Heart 2004 - Some bloke singing. :unsure: 2005 - Selma - If I Had Your Love 2006 - Silvia Night - Congratulations
September 4, 200618 yr Author I think that may be her.. was it about light? It was called "Open your heart" but included lyrics such as "Every time you close your eyes, I can see the light that you're hiding" and "Everything you share with me turns a little darkness into light" so yes that's probably the one :)
September 4, 200618 yr 50. ICELAND 2005 - Selma - If I Had Your Love Yes, it should've qualified. I even like this one more than "All out of luck" 49. MALTA 1998 - Chiara - The One That I Love Not as good as "Angel" but still very nice. 48. FINLAND 2006 - Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah Contrary to what people think, the song is strong enough even without the stage antics. I wouldn't put them as winner but Lordi did a good job. Shame that now Finland won and Portugal is now the country who particpates longer without winning. 47. RUSSIA 2003 - t.A.T.u. - Ne Ver Ne Boisia I like this song a lot, although the girls' voices were dire. My #3 of that year. 46. NORWAY 2003 - Justin Hasselgard - I'm Not Afraid To Move On At first, I thought this was another sappy ballad but it grew on me when I bought the ESC 2003 CD. Jostein has a pretty voice. 45. SLOVENIA 2001 - Nusa Derenda - Energy One of my Slovenian songs and I like Nusa's interpretation as well. 44. RUSSIA 2001 - Muimy Troll - Lady Alpine Blue Not that keen on it. 43. NORWAY 2005 - Wig Wam - In My Dreams How come nobody could come up with a song for Eurovision like this before? Great song, the singer looks like a bulk Marylin Manson dressed in Justin Hawkin clothes and sounds like the singer of Scorpions. Very anthemic and powerful and an ace stage performance. 42. SLOVENIA 2002 - Sestre - Samo Ljubezen The horror of 2002. Not because they were drag queens but because the song is awful. This year, Norway had a group of transvestites competing in the national final with a much better and way catchier song, although the Norwegian choice was also very good. 41. UKRAINE 2004 - Ruslana - Wild Dances Like the Lordi song, many people accuse this of being all stage and no song but I also think this song has a power of its own. A deserving winner although that Serbia & Montenegro song was better. 40. SPAIN 1969 - Salomé - Vivo Cantando Spain has much better songs this naffness. Salomé look ridiculous even for 60's standards and the song although catchy is just plain daft. In fact, of the four songs who won that year, only France really deserved. I hope to see more songs from the old days, Pete. Keep up with good work!
September 4, 200618 yr Author Great reading N-S; Hope you comment on the rest of these too Ok so we're into the top 40, and we continue with... 39. GERMANY 2001 - Michelle - Wer Liebe Lebt / To Live For Love Despite me saying earlier about my being unimpressed with the 2001 contest, it has just occurred to me how many songs from that year are in my Top 50! This makes three so far - with more to come. One of two Michelles taking part this year, the German Michelle brought a song that was very different from Guildo Horn and Stefan Raab's entries of previous years. A bit ballad from a girl with a unique voice, she may have fared better had she not been overshadowed in the ballad stakes by France. Again, this didn't make much of an impression on me on the night, but grew on me after getting the CD. 38. ICELAND 1991 - Stefan & Eyri - Nina So here is the second Icelandic entry in my chart, and by no means the last. This is a song I just got into a couple of months back when I stumbled across it in a collection of old Eurovision songs. This rocky ballad has a great melody and quite different, however may not benefit from repeated listens. Still, it is worthy of a place in my chart, and has a great English version. Coming 15th in a year between two top ten finishes, this song may be forgotten by most, and indeed I have never seen it on any clip shows nor can I track down the performance, but it is a nice song to listen to. 37. DENMARK 2000 - Olsen Brothers - Fly On The Wings Of Love One of the modern classics of Eurovision, there were probably no winners more deserving than the Olsen Brothers, who had been trying to get to the contest since 1978! This was most likely the last year where the winner would most likely have been chosen whether tele-voting or judges were used. A very nice, gentle yet anthemic song and a deserving win for one of the fondest nations of the contest. It is good to see that unlike many past and recent winners, the Brothers do not try and shake off the Eurovision tag, but are quite proud of it! It would be nice to see a "no frills" song like this win again some year soon, and indeed, this song did grow on me when I saw the fondness the Danes had for it at "Congratulations" 36. CYPRUS 1982 - Anna Vissi - Mono I Agapi Here is the first entry in my chart from the biggest selling Greek female of all time - and her most successful entry to date. Anna has entered Eurovision three times, twice for Greece and once for Cyprus; all three of her entries are in my chart, and the first is "Mono I Agapi" her Cypriot entry from 1982. For some reason, she was credited as "Anna Vishy" for her appearance in Harrowgate - if anybody knows why then please tell me! Anyway, I first heard this song last year when browsing through some Anna Vissi songs. Neither the Greek or English recording "Love is a lonely weekend" impressed me that much, however then I finally saw the performance. It is performances like this which really make me miss the orchestra. With the backing singers' harmonies and the orchestra backing, this song becomes 100 times better, and for those who have not seen the performance, here it is! [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0vlRZ325QY.swf Hope you're enjoying my chart so far. Next time we have another song from this year, and another Icelandic entry! Also, if anybody would like mp3's of any of these songs, just drop me a PM
September 4, 200618 yr Germany 2001 is amazing. I love it now, didn't like it then much though. "A chest to remember." :rofl:
September 5, 200618 yr Ooh I loved both Michelle's from 2001-both completely different ballads but both were in my top 3 at the same time in May/June 2001 which looked confusing as it would have looked like the same artist...
September 5, 200618 yr 39. GERMANY 2001 - Michelle - Wer Liebe Lebt / To Live For Love Very beautiful ballad. Shame Michelle didn't believe in what she sang, as she attempted suicide in 2005. 38. ICELAND 1991 - Stefan & Eyri - Nina OK song but 1991 has far better songs. 37. DENMARK 2000 - Olsen Brothers - Fly On The Wings Of Love Not among my top 10 of 2000 but pleasant enough and a decent winner 36. CYPRUS 1982 - Anna Vissi - Mono I Agapi Anna Vissi was actually born in Cyprus. Her sister Lia also represented this country in 1985. Amazing how she looked younger this year than in 1982, lots of surgery I guess. The song is good but I don't think it deserved the top 5. It's Cyprus best result tied with 1997 and 2004.
September 5, 200618 yr Author 35. ESTONIA 2006 - Sandra - Through My Window I think that this was a very underrated song from this year, and a song that many people say bears alot of similarity to Abba (whereas "Invincible" sounds nothing like them...). OK, it does sound similar, but in a good, "not as obvious as people say" sort of way. When I first heard the song, I liked it, but didn't have any major expectations of it, and started to expect it to stall at the semi-final when I read some reviews of the song. However, I really thought that she would do it when she pulled a great performance out of the bag. I was disappointed she didn't get through, especially seeing her in the greenroom; it was clear that she was crushed by this and really wanted to get through. Nevertheless, even I was surprised at her final position - 18th!! 34. IRELAND 1994 - Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan - Rock and Roll Kids Another nice little song in the Olsen Brothers category, and one of the most simple songs ever to win the contest. I say simple in a good way, as the boys played the song "unplugged" on the night, with just piano and guitar, and would have sounded exactly the same had it just been played in a little bar. It worked really well, the Ireland's attempt at avoiding a third win backfired in tremendous style, giving them the record of most wins, pushing them ahead of France and Luxembourg. It's a shame that a song like this would get nowhere in 21st century Eurovision, but is nice to look back on as a Eurovision classic of a different variety. 33. ICELAND 2000 - Agust and Telma - Tell Me So here is the third entry from Iceland in my chart, and while I have never heard anybody mentioning this song, I get the feeling that this may not be a popular choice of song for my Top 50. "I'll Be There For You" by the Rembrandts meets "You're the One That I Want" from Grease, this upbeat number by two people who could be holiday reps went completely past me when it was originally broadcast. This, again, was just rediscovered by me a couple of years back when I was listening over some old Eurovision CDs. If this were better known, it would probably be great at a good old "Eurovision karaoke" party! For those of you who think of Sibel Tuzun from Turkey when they hear the words "Tattoo" and "Eurovision" let me refresh your memory with Agust and Telma's performance... [flash=450,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTrKgEOWuRU.swf More coming soon, including the first UK entry to pop up in my chart!
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