# 70. Cat Cat - Bye Bye Baby (Finland - 1994)

 

 

Two Katka sisters, whose family name is phonetically similar to "cat cat" in English, unsuccessfully represented Finland with "Bye Bye Baby". The Eurovision version of the song is almost entirely in Finnish, according to the Contest rules in force at that time, but the first line of the chorus (quoted in the song's title) is in English.

 

CatCat performed wearing long coats over quite revealing costumes resembling cute vintage underwear. The costumes were identical apart from the colour - the blonde sister, appeared in green, and the brunette in pink. Each of them carried a microphone with a tip was coloured to match their costume.

 

Interesting fact : Today it's the one from the most loved ESC songs of 1994 year.

Edited December 21, 2024Dec 21 by Last Dreamer

 

# 69. Bernadette - Sing Me A Song (Netherlands - 1983)

 

 

Bernadette was a bronze medalist in my 1983 ranking. "Sing Me A Song" is a plea for global unity. Bernadette asks her listeners to "sing me a song" - of any type - in the hope that the entire world will be able to join in. Importantly, however, she also asks her listeners to sing a song "About your country/How it is there and what do you do over there?", suggesting that unity can be achieved just as well through an understanding of other countries as it can by adopting a larger culture.

 

Interesting fact : 80s was the most successful decade for Netherlands in my rankings.

Edited December 21, 2024Dec 21 by Last Dreamer

 

# 68. Ellen Nikolaysen - Touch My Life With Summer (Norway - 1975)

 

 

Very low Norwegian positions in 70s always were a big mystery for me. Ellen Nikolaysen received only 11 points and finished in a bottom 2 (only higher than Turkish debut).

 

The song is a love ballad, she singing to a lover and describing her feelings about the relationship they had over the recent summer. In the final verse, she makes mention of "what you left in me/Something that will grow, everyone will know", which is apparently a literal reference to pregnancy, rather than a figurative reference to memories, as the final lines describe the lover's return and "Then we'll be three, under the summer sun".

 

Interesting fact : In my 70s rankings Norway and Ireland were very powerful opponents and prevented total British domination.

 

# 67. Sophie Carle - 100% D'amour (Luxembourg - 1984)

 

 

Cute pop song was represented by young Sophie Carle. She was only the fourth native Luxembourgian to represent the country.

 

The song is a ballad, with Carle asking to be given "100% of love" to maintain her sanity in the modern world. The unsuccessful representation by Carle on home turf caused her to place her singing career on permanent hiatus. Instead, Carle pursued an acting career, in which she is still active as of 2008.

 

Interesting fact : Sophie Carle was the one from favourites to win in bookmakers odds, but finished at 10th place.

Edited December 24, 2024Dec 24 by Last Dreamer

 

# 66. Linda Williams - Het Is Een Wonder (Netherlands - 1981)

 

 

"Het Is Een Wonder" ("It's A Miracle") is a ballad, with Williams singing about the effect that meeting her lover has had on her. She explains that she had not previously experienced happiness, but now she is surrounded by it.

 

Interesting fact : Linda also recorded an English-language version of her entry, under the title "I Am The Lady".

 

# 65. Heidi Bruhl - Marcel (Germany - 1963)

 

 

She was popular and beautiful singer with very sad fate.

 

Heidi first took part in German Eurovision selection in 1960 with Michael Jary's "Wir Wollen Niemals Auseinandergeh", which finished in second place but went on to top of German singles chart for nine weeks and sold over one million copies.

 

"Marcel" is sung from the perspective of a young woman telling her lover that he is moving too quickly for her. She tells him that "only a gentleman has a chance with me" and that he needs to respect that.

 

Interesting fact : Heidi Bruhl is my all-time # 1 favourite German singer.

 

# 64. Sophie - Une Chanson C'est Une Lettre (Monaco - 1975)

 

 

My favourite Monegasque entry is a ballad, in which Sophie explains that one can say things in song or poetry that one ordinarily could not in real life. The classic example of this is the phrase "I love you", which prompts the comment that "Love on stage doesn't match love/In real life". Sophie also sings that the phrase "Let's both leave on that ship" is something she could not say in real life but finds easy to sing.

 

Interesting fact : "Une Chanson C'est Une Lettre " was composed by Andre Popp, who previously had written Vicky Leandros' 1967 entry "L'amour Est Bleu".

 

 

Edited December 25, 2024Dec 25 by Last Dreamer

 

# 63. Jana Burcheska - Dance Alone (Macedonia - 2017)

 

 

Finally, something modern here. "Dance Alone" was my personal highlight of Eurovision 2017 with traditional DNQ result for my favourites.

 

No doubt, it's the most sexiest performance in all history of this contest.

 

Interesting fact : After 2014 year four different countries got their first win in my rankings.

 

# 62. Ireen Sheer - Feuer (Germany - 1978)

 

 

Germany really wanted to win (at least in my ranking of 1978) and sent fantastic "Feuer", but got only silver medal here and 6th place in the real contest. Ireen Sheer already represented Luxembourg in my favourite ESC year and that entry "Bye Bye I Love You" finished 4th in Eurovision and very near with my all-time top 100.

 

Interesting fact : She was born and spent her school days in United Kingdom.

 

# 61. Anita Skorgan - Casanova (Norway - 1977)

 

 

After Gisela's song at # 72 we have another "Casanova" a little higher. Anita Skorgan represented Norway in Eurovision Song Contest a total of three times, it was her first attempt with only 14th place result.

 

The song is an up-tempo number, with Skorgan describing her husband, who is absent at the time. She is uncomplimentary about this, singing that he sees himself as a Casanova or a Don Juan figure, and this irritates her. In this particular instance, he claimed he was going for a walk, but "his suit and car are gone", implying something else.

 

Interesting fact : All Norwegian entries from my Top 100 belong to 70s decade.

 

# 60. Novi Fosili - Ja Sam Za Ples (Yugoslavia - 1987)

 

 

Yugoslavia didn't win in my rankings, but Croatian pop band Novi Fosili was very close to success in 1987 and finished on the second position.

 

Interesting fact : 2nd place still the best result for Croatia, Daria Kinzer did the same in 2011 with "Celebrate".

 

# 59. Marcha - Rechtop In De Wind (Netherlands - 1987)

 

 

After four top 3 results in the previous 7 years Marcha won another title for Netherlands.

 

"Rechtop In De Wind" is a dramatic ballad, sung from the perspective of a woman whose relationship has just ended. Marcha describes her feelings as the relationship ends, and goes on to sing that she told herself to be strong and to stand "upright in the wind", even if that wind became a "hurricane".

 

Interesting fact : It was the one from the most persistent battles for my yearly # 1.

 

# 58. Betty Mars - Come, Comedie (France - 1972)

 

 

My favourite French entry is charming chanson-style song "Come, Comedie", which was performed by singer and actress Betty Mars. The song is a moderately up-tempo number, with Mars singing about the joy which will come when she and her lover say that they love each other.

 

Interesting fact : This song also recorded in German, under the title "Komodiant Der Liebe" ("Comedian Of Love").

 

# 57. Maarja-Liis Ilus - Keelatud Maa (Estonia - 1997)

 

 

Oh, that's sweet taste of revenge. In 1996 year Maarja-Liis was second only behind British entry, now she won with "Keelatud Maa" over "Love Shine A Light".

 

Interesting fact : On this moment of time each Baltic sister won in my yearly ESC rankings.

 

# 56. Olivia Newton-John - Long Live Love (United Kingdom - 1974)

 

 

Let's move into the zone of British domination and listen many amazing UK entries from six different decades. Already famous Australian singer Olivia Newton-John represented the best ESC country with "Love Live Love". It's very hard to believe, especially for young Eurovision fans, but her 4th place was very disappointed result for UK.

 

Interesting fact : Just look on this fantastic chain of UK results from 1967 to 1977 : Win-2nd-Win-2nd-4th-2nd-3rd-4th-2nd-Win-2nd

 

# 55. Simone Stelzer - Keine Mauern Mehr (Austria - 1990)

 

 

Austria is the country of little ESC wonders. Sometimes she rose from tier 2 to real contender for shocking win. As Anita in 1984 and Petra in 1994, beautiful blonde lady Simone finished on the second place behind my second favourite from 90s.

 

The song is a dramatic ballad, in which Simone sings about the freedom brought about through the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 

Interesting fact : Several days after the final of Austrian pre-selection winning song "Das Beste" performed by Duett was disqualified and Simone became the Eurovision entrant.

 

​# 54. Yiannis Savidakis and Fani Polymeri - Apopse As Vrethoume (Cyprus - 1989)

 

 

On 54th place we meet very rare guests from Southern Europe. 1989 was a highlight for this region in my ESC rankings, Cyprus won and Greece was second.

 

"Apopse As Vrethume" was only 11th and received 51 points, include 12 points from … Iceland, Greece gave only 7 in response to Cyprus 12. Greedy Greeks really wanted top 10 result, which they got with 5 points margin over Cyprus.

 

30 years after it still the one from my favourite Eurovision duets.

 

Interesting fact : Based on this list only in 2012 another country surpassed Сyprus 1989 in the terms of my favourite ESC entry from Southern Europe.​

 

# 53. New Seekers - Beg, Steal Or Borrow (United Kingdom - 1972)

 

 

Some months before participation in Eurovision New Seekers recorded a worldwide hit and UK million-seller "I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing", so UK really wanted to win, but finished on the second place again. "Beg, Steal or Borrow" is a love song to a former lover.

 

Interesting fact : "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" is my favourite song from 1973.

 

# 52. Grethe Kausland and Benny Borg - Smating (Norway - 1972)

 

 

Norwegian entry "Smating" a ballad, with the duo comparing the great successes of human life (inheriting a castle, landing on the moon) with the "little things", such as watching a sunset, which they sing are superior experiences.

 

Interesting fact : In 70s decade Norway had seven top 3 results in my rankings.

 

# 51. Lotte Nillson and Kenny Lubcke - Alt Det Som Ingen Ser (Denmark - 1992)

 

 

Lotte and Kenny became the third male-female victorious duet, also it was the second and last triumph for Denmark.

 

The song "Alt Det Som Ingen Ser" is written as a dialogue between two people at a party. One is stranded there as her boyfriend "got angry, he's gone home", while the other appears to have been by himself to start with. Over the course of the conversation, they soon decide to leave together, because "all the things that nobody sees are none of other people's business".

 

Interesting fact : Only 5th attempt became successful for Lotte Nillson, she finally won in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix and represented her country at Eurovision.