# 50. Bonnie Tyler - Believe In Me (United Kingdom - 2013)

 

 

Legendary Bonnie Tyler brought the last top 3 result for UK in my rankings and should be at least top 5 in the real contest.

 

Interesting fact : It's the third highest 3rd place, only behind a bronze medalists from 1971 and 1974.

Edited December 30, 2024Dec 30 by Last Dreamer

 

​# 49. Monika Linkyte and Vaidas Baumila - This Time (Lithuania - 2015)

 

 

In last 10 years Lithuania became my favourite country in music, but usually they did wrong ESC choices and sacrificed masterpieces (Break Free in 2011, Sacrifice in 2017, Leisk Tave Paguosti in 2019 and many others).

 

In 2015 year after some top 5 results in the previous years Lithuania finally won with "This Time" and a circle of "Baltic sisters" winners was complete, still wait the same in Eurovision.

 

Interesting fact : My all-time # 1 favoutire act YVA had 2 two very unsuccessful attempts in Lithuanian pre-selections with "Barbie" and "I Dangu". ​

 

# 48. Marlayne - One Good Reason (Netherlands - 1999)

 

 

Fifth win for Netherlands.

 

"One Good Reason" is a moderately up-tempo number, with Marlayne telling her lover that they can overcome whatever obstacles life places in their path by remaining strong in their relationship. She sings that if he can give her "one good reason" to stay together, she can give him two.

 

Interesting fact : Significantly, this was the first occasion on which no Dutch language version of a Dutch Eurovision entry was recorded.

 

# 47. Valentina Monetta - Maybe (San Marino - 2014)

 

 

Beautiful ballad "Maybe" became the third Eurovision attempt to win for legendary Valentina Monetta. Italy is the one from my least favourite ESC countries, which didn't have even top 5 result. So Valentina easily pushed her small home country higher than all participants of big neighbour.

 

Interesting fact : Based on the average points San Marino is my favourite country of the 2010s decade on Eurovision with 5.33 / 10.

 

​# 46. Scooch - Flying The Flag (For You) (United Kingdom - 2007)

 

 

Eurovision 2007 was awful and two best songs made up bottom 2 in final.

 

Scooch easily have improved UK record to twelve wins in my yearly rankings with iconic catchy pure pop song "Flying The Flag". The song mostly got negative critics from press, critics and ESC fans, but … I don't care, I love it.

 

Obviously YVA song "I Dangu" was inspired by Scooch performance.

 

Interesting fact : 5th place in UK chart was the best result for British entry in 1998-2021 years period.​

 

# 45. Anne-Karine Strom - The First Day Of Love (Norway - 1974)

 

 

I'm really angry on discrimination of Norway in 70s Eurovision. How such lovely song was last in 1974 ? "The First Day Of Love" became Eurovision debut for Anne-Karine as solo singer, but she already represented Norway as a member of Bendik Singers in 1973.

 

The song is an inspirational number, with Anne-Karine singing about the regenerative power of love. She sings that everyone in the world wants the same thing, love, and that by moving towards that goal the human race is becoming closer.

 

Interesting fact : Anne-Karine results is the opposite to Johnny Logan, she still the least successful Eurovision participant with two last places.

 

# 44. Lena Meyer-Landrut - Satellite (Germany - 2010)

 

 

Lena is the best Eurovision winner from last 40 years. Trash from Azerbaijan was odds favourite, so I was afraid of her win, but thankfully Germany won.

 

"Satellite" spent five consecutive weeks at # 1 in Germany.

 

Interesting fact : Lithuania had a short-lived trend with a tribute song for Eurovision winners in their national pre-selections. Song about Lena "Setellite Of Setellite" was performed by Timohi in 2011. Loreen and Alexander Rybak also had a similar tributes (watch "I Love a Boy Who's in Love with a Fairytale" and Saules Broliai - Loreen on YouTube).

I remember that Com Comedie song, which is quite amazing as I havent heard it for 53 years this year!! I remember liking it but my fave that year was very much Beg Steal Or Borrow, I was big on the New Seekers for about 2 years :) I still like that song. Also Olivia's Long Live Love, but the top 3 in 1974 were pretty much spot on so 4th was about right for lovely Livvie. Bonnie Tyler was better than it got credit for, and points for going for someone mature of age, it was a pretty good song. Scooch was fun, albeit cheesy, but never a fave, and Lena was a top Eurovision winner, amongst the very best.

 

# 43. Anna Bergendahl - This Is My Life (Sweden - 2010)

 

 

Back to back with Lena we have the most underrated song from Eurovision 2010. It was very rare time, when Sweden sent something wonderful. Unfortunately we didn't see her revenge with "Ashes To Ashes".

 

Interesting fact : I also completed Melodifestivalen yearly rankings for last two decades and some acts already won 2 times (Hanna Hedlund, Lina Hedlund, Anna Bergendahl, Sanna Nielsen, Pernilla Andersson).

Edited January 4Jan 4 by Last Dreamer

 

# 42. Sandra Oxenryd - Through My Window (Estonia - 2006)

 

 

It's my second favourite Estonian entry and the second place from 2006 too.

 

Interesting fact : In 2008 year Sandra competed for the chance to represent Poland in Eurovision with the song "Superhero", but got only 8th place.

 

# 41. Patricia Bredin - All (United Kingdom - 1957)

 

 

British debut entry "All" sounds very vintage, more like 20s-30s traditional pop than late 50s songs. For a long time (almost 60 years) it was the shortest performance in the history of the contest.

 

Interesting fact : "All" became only one British Eurovision entry, which wasn't released as single for unknown (at least for me) reason.

 

# 40. Geraldine - Toi (Luxembourg - 1975)

 

 

"Toi" was performed in French by Irish singer Geraldine Brannigan.

 

The song is a ballad, she telling her lover that "my life doesn't exist without you" and pledging her unending love to him. Geraldine recorded the song in two languages; French and her mother tongue English, the latter as "You".

 

Interesting fact : Geraldine is a mother of six children.

 

# 39. Valentina Monetta - The Social Network Song (San Marino - 2012)

 

 

“The Social Network Song” is iconic Eurovision anthem of Internet generation.

 

My top 4 songs of 2012 were performed in one semifinal and didn’t reach the final. It’s still the worst result for my favourites in all long Eurovision history.

 

Interesting fact : "The Social Network Song" was 20th Eurovision entrant produced by legendary Ralph Siegel.

 

# 38. Gry Johansen - Kloden Drejer (Denmark - 1983)

 

 

"Kloden Drejer" got deserved silver medal in my ranking of 1983, also it's the highest Danish entry in this list.

 

Interesting fact : "Kloder Drejer" was a big hit in her home country and spent 4 weeks on the top of Danish Singles chart.

 

# 37. Susanne Georgi - La Teva Decisio (Get A Life) (Andorra - 2009)

 

 

Susanne Georgi started her career along with her sister Pernille in Me & My, the group had a couple of hits around Europe.

 

In 2007 year Me & My finally got to take part in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (national selection for Eurovision Song Contest) with "Two Are Stronger Than One". Even though they were the bookmakers' favourites to win, but finished only on 6th place.

 

Interesting fact : After Susanne's win Andorra became the fourth country with two consecutive wins, after Germany, Ireland and United Kingdom.

This is making me want to do my own countdown! Love that you've included Scooch. Yes they probably shouldn't have been selected (weren't Big Brovaz the favourites?), but it's a good, fun pop song that clearly resonated with the public (hence it's top 5 chart position)

I recall Anna B, Social network tracks, and I actually charted the English-language version of Geraldine in 1975. I'm looking forward to hearing it this year in the spring for retro 1975 charts as it has been 50 years since I last heard it!! :o

 

# 36. Jetty Paerl - De Vogels Van Holland (Netherlands - 1956)

 

 

Jetty's "De Vogels Van Holland" is my # 1 from the first contest and it's the second highest 50s song in this ranking.

 

Interesting fact : The song is particularly significant for being the first song performed in Eurovision Song Contest history.

 

# 35. Alice and Ellen Kessler - Heute Abend Wollen Wir Tanzen Geh'n (Germany - 1959)

 

 

Alice and Ellen Kessler are twin sisters known in Europe, especially Germany and Italy, from the 1950s and 1960s and until today for their singing, dancing, and acting.

 

Sisters got only 8th place on Eurovision with their moderately up-tempo number, but in my ranking it was maiden win for Germany.

 

Interesting fact : It's my favourite Eurovision song from 1950s decade.

 

# 34. Clodagh Rodgers - Jack In The Box (United Kingdom - 1971)

 

 

UK didn't change a format of national final and Northern Irish singer Clodagh Rodgers sang all six songs.

 

The singer expresses her strong feelings of love to a man who treats her like a toy, thus providing the "jack in the box" simile, as she feels that in exchange of his love, she would gladly "bounce on a spring" like the aforementioned toy (but isn't so thrilled to do it without reciprocation). At the end of the song, however, she lets this man know that one day she will be fed up enough to leave, so she hopes he will tell her he loves her, as she will do anything (within a reasonable time frame) to hear those words.

 

Interesting fact : After Eurovision "Jack In A Box" became top 5 hit in UK Singles Chart.