March 22Mar 22 Author 27 - Albania 2020 Arilena Ara - Shaj2020 was the first year that I followed Eurovision from the national selection stage and Albania was the first country to decide their entry. The original version was in Albanian and reminds me of the cold January days when one of my oldest friends was very sick and had been sick for a few months. He passed away on January 22nd and this song brings me back to that strange time between his death and the pandemic. The English version is ok but it's a shame that they didn't just revamp the music and leave the vocals in Albanian. It was treated by reactors as a generic ballad that wasn't going to do much at Eurovision. It will never be that for me. Best bit: 0.13 the first verse holds so many memories for me.
March 22Mar 22 On 12/02/2025 at 22:46, Colm said:43 - Bulgaria 2016 Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime I used the grand final video here because Poli just looks like she's thoroughly enjoying it. This is also one of those examples where adding native language lyrics to English lyrics really works. The backing vocalists make it all so celebratory. This was Bulgaria at the start of their golden period, which lasted until 2021 before the rather undignified appearance of Intelligent Music Project in 2022. Best bit: 2:47 The backing vocalists arrive.This would be in my Top 5 I think… I just adore it. Perfect from the heart pop with little nods to where it’s from in the production and the chanted parts of the chorus.
April 5Apr 5 Author 26 - Italy 2024Angelina Mango - La NoiThis did nothing much for me last year, even during the contest. I just treated it like yet another fan favorite that I just didn't get. The video might have been part of why that was - hair pegged to a clothes line will do that. 😄. But in the intervening months this wormed its way into my brain through all those Eurovision 2025 reaction videos invariably made by astonished Americans that spring up in the weeks after the contest. It climbed its way from outside my top 15 up to my top 5. Best bit: 1.28 hmmm
April 8Apr 8 Author 25 - Cyprus 2018Eleni Foureira - FuegoIt's no exaggeration to say that Eurovision time can roughly be divided into two eras - Before Fuego and After Fuego. Indeed, there are 2 entries yet to come in this list that would not exist if Fuego never happened.I'm not sure I fully appreciated the seismic change that Eurovision girly bops went through during these 3 minutes back in 2018. I do now.Best bit: 2:15. The beat that is missing makes the drop more impactful. Edited April 8Apr 8 by Colm
April 13Apr 13 Author 24 - Spain 2019Miki - La VendaI completely missed this at the end of the grand final in 2019. I think I just stopped watching after Australia were on and went to make a cup of tea thinking to myself "It's Spain, I'm not going to miss much if I take a break now."It's just absolutely joyful. The brass is magical. Best bit: 0:55 the first chorus.
April 13Apr 13 Author 23 - Italy 2018Ermal Meta e Fabrizio Moro - Non Mi Avete Fatto Niente This is so good. The guitar. The double time vocals. The plaintive chorus. Italy were starting to bulldoze everyone else out of the way on their way to a well deserved victory in 2021 - this being the first of 3 consecutive contests where they were top 3 in the televote. Best bit: 2.43 - the first chorus after the bridge.
April 15Apr 15 Author 22 - Bulgaria 2010Miro - Angel Si TiStill baffled as to why this didn't qualify. It's easily my favourite song from 2010.While the chorus wasn't very compelling. the exciting, dramatic strings all over this and the melodic verses are pure class.Best bit: 2.02 the punchy orchestra hits. Edited April 15Apr 15 by Colm
April 26Apr 26 Author 21 - Switzerland 2019Luca Hänni - She Got MeAnother one that grew on me after the contest in 2019. This was one of several Fuego inspired entries that year - the others being Malta and Cyprus themselves trying to replicate their success the year before. It helps that he's nice to look at too. 😍Best bit: 1.05 the drop
April 30Apr 30 Author With 20 songs to go - there's 8 countries that we haven't seen so far. Four countries will appear twice each. There's still 3 winners to come.
May 8May 8 Author 20 - Lithuania 2018Ieva Zasimauskaitė - When We’re Old I'm quite sure some people find this sickly sweet and twee. For me it's fragile, delicate and gorgeous. It reminded me of Stina Nordenstam at the time and I like her a lot. I sometimes feel manipulated by the ending of the performance. Damn feelings! I also feel that much of the appeal is the delay and reverb on Ieva's voice during the chorus. It's effective. As usual, the addition of native language brings an extra layer of poignancy to it. They know how to press my buttons. Best Bit: 2.05 The Lithuanian lyrics.
May 10May 10 Author 19 - Serbia 2012Željko Joksimović - Nije Ljubav StvarSerbia is one of my favourite countries in Eurovision, especially this decade. They had plenty of success before that and a considerable amount of that was due to Željko Joksimović. For me her perfected the Balkan ballad and definitely surpasses Johnny Logan as the King of Eurovision.This song, like most of his songs, is an exercise in restraint. Who says you have to have vocals before 40 seconds have elapsed? I remember Graham Norton commenting during the jury results that he thought it was a forgettable song that he was surprised was doing so well.Best bit: 2.45. The delayed backing vocals. Edited May 10May 10 by Colm
May 14May 14 Author 18 - Bulgaria 2018Equinox - BonesSo, received wisdom is that there's zero chemistry between these people who were put together to sing Bones. It's true. They do behave like they are singing this song almost against their will.This actually works. What I think makes it work are the wardrobe choices. They look like they've found themselves together in a sci-fi movie and are compelled to perform this song by whoever it is that is controlling the whole situation,The melodies are quite alien too. Ghostly and alien. Here, Bulgaria were in their golden age, which ended before they got the win that they were so clearly after at this point.I miss them in the competition.Best Bit: 2.47 Zhana's chilling wail.
May 20May 20 Author 17 - Armenia 2022Rosa Linn - SnapYeah - so I jumped on the bandwagon. Or maybe not. Other songs in the past have grown on me hugely long after contests. Her harmonies are magnificent. I do wonder how the televote didn't appreciate this, instinctively.Best bit: 2.32 the start of extended harmonies.
May 20May 20 Author 16 - Italy 2019Mahmood - SoldiOne of the best produced Eurovision entries ever. It just drips with coolness - his vocal tone, the crackling percussion, the repeated cycling through various movements, that middle 8. Best song Italy ever sent. Best bit: 2.17 the middle 8.
May 20May 20 Author 15 - Malta 2020Destiny - All of My LoveIt's odd that 2020 threw up more than a few entries that were the best chance that those countries ever had at a victory. All of My Love is one of those songs.From the pen of, amongst others, Borislav Milanov who was a regular songwriter in the 10s, but oddly hasn't written any entries since 2020 when he was involved in three.It would quite likely not have set the televote alight because Malta never does - it is however, my favourite Malta entry. Best bit: 2.47 which might just be the best gospel inspired part of any Eurovision entry. Edited May 20May 20 by Colm
May 20May 20 Author 14 - Albania 2012Rona Nishliu - SuusThe original screaming Albanian woman entry.I remember when I first heard this, I couldn't quite understand how someone could continue to rise up a scale, seemingly interminably. You might think it's the vocals that stand out here, but it's sweeping piano and orchestration that makes this so wonderful. Best bit: 2.55 the begging of the end.
May 21May 21 Author 13 - Georgia 2024 Nutsa Buzaladze - FirefighterWhen this came out I listened to it dozens of times that day. There was something about it that reminded me of Rihanna's Diamonds.Obviously, it's engineered for maximum girly bop impactSky scraping vocals ✅Empowering lyrics about fire ✅Traditional instrument sample ✅Dance break instrumental section ✅I make no claim about originality. It's totally derivative but right now it's my favourite Eurovision pop song, and I didn't expect it to be saying that or to see if this high in the list when I started compiling it a few months ago,Best bit: 1.52 whatever that part it is. Edited May 21May 21 by Colm
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