Here's my favourites:

 

1956 - Refrain (Lys Assia - Switzerland) (NOTE: The West German entry So geht das jede Nacht is a very close second place)

1957 - Skibet skal sejle i nat (Birthe Wilke and Gustav Winckler - Denmark)

1958 - Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare) (Domenico Modugno - Italy)

1959 - Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina) (Domenico Modugno - Italy)

1960 - Looking High, High, High (Eric Robinson - United Kingdom)

1961 - Are You Sure? (The Alisons - United Kingdom)

1962 - Dis Rein (François Deguelt - Monaco)

1963 - Dansevise (Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann - Denmark)

1964 - Non ho l'età (Gigliola Cinquetti - Italy) (NOTE: Haven't watched/listened to this contest closely yet, but I'm sure this is the winner regardless)

1965 - 't Is genoeg (Conny van den Bos - Netherlands) (NOTE: You might be surprised, but despite it being the opening song, it was good in my mind)

1966 - Intet er nytt under solen (Åse Kleveland - Norway)

1967 - L'amour est bleu (Vicky Leandros - Luxembourg)

1968 - Congratulations (Cliff Richard - United Kingdom)

1969 - Un jour, un enfant (Frida Boccara - France)

1970 - All Kinds of Everything (Dana - Ireland)

1971 - En un mundo Nuevo (Karina - Spain)

1972 - Apres Toi (Vicky Leandros - Luxembourg)

1973 - Eres Tú (Mocedades - Spain)

1974 - Waterloo (ABBA - Sweden)

1975 - Era (Wess and Dori Ghezzi - Italy)

1976 - Save Your Kisses for Me (Brotherhood of Man - United Kingdom)

1977 - Liberia (Mia Martini - Italy)

1978 - Born to Sing (Colm C.T Wilkinson - Ireland)

1979 - Hallelujah (הללויה) (Gali Atari and Milk and Honey - Israel)

1980 - What's Another Fire (Johnny Logan - Ireland)

1981 - Humanahum (Jean Gabilou - France)

1982 - Ein bißchen Frieden (Nicole - Germany)

1983 - Hi (חי) (Ofra Haza - Israel)

1984 - Lady, Lady (Bravo - Spain)

1985 - Für alle (Wind - Germany)

1986 - Pas pour moi (Daniela Simmons - Switzerland) (NOTE: I just wished they had DQ'd Belgium that year, the song was annoying anyway)

1987 - Hold Me Now (Johnny Logan - Ireland)

1988 - Ne partez pas sans moi (Celine Dion - Switzerland)

1989 - Why Do I Always Get it Wrong? (Live Report - United Kingdom)

1990 - Bandido (Azúcar Moreno - Spain)

1991 - Fångad av en stormvind (Carola - Sweden)

1992 - Rapsodia (Mia Martini - Italy)

1993 - Vrede (Ruth Jacott - Netherlands)

1994 - To ne Ja! (Edyta Górniak - Poland)

1995 - Nocturne (Secret Garden - Norway)

1996 - I evighet (Elisabeth Andreassen - Norway)

1997 - Love Shine a Light (Katrina and the Waves - United Kingdom)

1998 - Neka mi ne svane (Danijela - Croatia)

1999 - Reise nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e seyahat (Sürpriz - Germany)

2000 - When Sprits Are Calling My Name (Roger Pontare - Sweden)

2001 - Die For You (Antique - Greece)

2002 - Come Back (Jessica Garlick - United Kingdom)

2003 - Everyway That I Can (Sertab Erener - Turkey)

2004 - Wild Dances (Ruslana - Ukraine)

2005 - My Number One (Helena Paparizou - Greece)

2006 - Invincible (Carola - Sweden)

2007 - Molitva (Молитва) (Marija Šerifović - Serbia)

2008 - Hold On Be Strong (Maria Haukaas Storeng - Norway)

2009 - Fairytale (Alexander Rybek - Norway)

2010 - Há dias assim (Filipa Azevedo - Portugal)

2011 - Taken By a Stranger (Lena - Germany)

2012 - Euphoria (Loreen - Sweden)

2013 - I Feed You My Love (Margaret Berger - Norway)

Full list:

 

1957 : Birthe Wilke & Gustav Winckler - Skibet Skal Sejle I Nat (Denmark)

1960 : Jacqueline Boyer - Tom Pillibi(France)

1965 : France Gall - Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son (Luxembourg)

1974 : ABBA - Waterloo (Sweden)

1985 : Vikki Watson - Love Is (United Kingdom)

1996 : Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit (United Kingdom)

1999 : Marlayne - One Good Reason (Netherlands)

2000 : Alsou - Solo (Russia)

2002 : Jessica Garlick - Come Back (United Kingdom)

2003 : Birgitta Haukdal - Open Your Heart (Iceland)

2004 : Julia Savicheva - Believe Me (Russia)

2006 : Silvia Night - Congratulations (Iceland)

2010 : Lena Meyer-Landrut - Satellite (Germany)

2012 : Anmary - Beautiful Song (Latvia)

By GOD

 

She HAS SOME TASTE

1988 - Ne partez pas sans moi (Celine Dion - Switzerland)

1989 - Why Do I Always Get it Wrong? (Live Report - United Kingdom)

1990 - Bandido (Azúcar Moreno - Spain)

1991 - Fångad av en stormvind (Carola - Sweden)

1992 - Rapsodia (Mia Martini - Italy)

1993 - Vrede (Ruth Jacott - Netherlands)

1994 - To ne Ja! (Edyta Górniak - Poland)

1995 - Nocturne (Secret Garden - Norway)

1996 - I evighet (Elisabeth Andreassen - Norway)

1997 - Love Shine a Light (Katrina and the Waves - United Kingdom)

1998 - Neka mi ne svane (Danijela - Croatia)

1999 - Reise nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e seyahat (Sürpriz - Germany)

2000 - When Sprits Are Calling My Name (Roger Pontare - Sweden)

2001 - Die For You (Antique - Greece)

2002 - Come Back (Jessica Garlick - United Kingdom)

2003 - Everyway That I Can (Sertab Erener - Turkey)

2004 - Wild Dances (Ruslana - Ukraine)

2005 - My Number One (Helena Paparizou - Greece)

2006 - Invincible (Carola - Sweden)

2007 - Molitva (Молитва) (Marija Šerifović - Serbia)

2008 - Hold On Be Strong (Maria Haukaas Storeng - Norway)

2009 - Fairytale (Alexander Rybek - Norway)

2010 - Há dias assim (Filipa Azevedo - Portugal)

2011 - Taken By a Stranger (Lena - Germany)

2012 - Euphoria (Loreen - Sweden)

2013 - I Feed You My Love (Margaret Berger - Norway)

You know, Ha dias assim really does stick out like a sore thumb on an otherwise STELLAR list (going back to the late 80s anyway, it goes off the boil a bit before Celine - though I've always got time for a bit of HI *.*)

2011: Eldrine - One More Day (Georgia)

2012: Rona something - Suus (Albania)

2013: Klapa s Mora - Mizerja (Croatia)

 

2006 : Mihai Traistariu - Tornero (Romania)

2011 : Eldrine - One More Day (Georgia)

2012 : Rona Nishliu - Suus (Albania)

2013 : Valentina Monetta - Crisalide (San Marino)

1973: Luxembourg - Anne-Marie David - Tu te reconnaîtras

1974: Sweden - ABBA - Waterloo

1975: Germany - Joy Fleming - Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein (what a fucking FAB MOMENT)

 

1977: United Kingdom - Lynsey de Paul & Mike Moran - Rock Bottom (SHUSH it's great)

1978: Luxembourg - Baccara - Parlez Vous Français (SHAMELESS but frankly when it comes to 70s Eurovision a moment like this stands head and shoulders above)

1979: Israel - Gali Atari & Milk and Honey - Hallelujah (duh)

 

1981: United Kingdom - Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up

1982: Israel - Avi Toledano - Hora (a true PERF for the ages. Probably the only shining light in that dreadful year.)

1983: Sweden - Carola - Främling (although Ofra Haza - Hi really does rival. Honestly, two of the greatest entries of the decade in 2nd and 3rd and that sub-James Bond PISH won)

1984: Luxembourg - Sophie Carle - 100% d'amour (WHAT AN INTRO. Strictly a studio entry though - the performance was basically a manifesto AGAINST the orchestra)

1985: Norway - Bobbysocks - La det swinge (OF COURSE)

1986: Luxembourg - Sherisse Laurence - L'amour de ma vie

1987: Belgium - Liliane St. Pierre - Soldiers of Love

1988: Switzerland - Celine Dion - Ne partez pas sans moi (it's all about the musical commas in the verses. MILK those pauses for dramatic effect you horsefaced French Canadian *.*)

1989: Austria - Thomas Forstner - Nur ein Lied (under NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES Vi maler byen rød would take the crown, but I had to put aside the schlager loyalty for the brooding 80s drama of those verses. And I'm voting PARTLY with my cock, if he gets rid of that dreadful 80s hair. And don't judge me by Google image search - he works best in MOTION)

1990: Yugoslavia - Tajci - Hajde de ludujemo (Joëlle Ursull has the greater claim to ARTISTRY but really you can't go wrong with a Balkan slut track in a hot pink dress. TITS AHOY)

1991: France - Amina - C'est le dernier qui a parlé (I love you Carola but you have to MOVE ASIDE for this)

1992: France - Kali - Monté la riviè (I still think this could do huge things if it were entered today. I miss ethnic France.)

1993: Netherlands - Ruth Jacott - Vrede (truly three minutes that should be charged with hate crimes, such was the scale of mass gay coma that undoubtedly resulted. QUEEN!)

1994: United Kingdom - Frances Ruffelle - Lonely Symphony (We Will Beef Ree) (although CatCat and MeKaDo have similarly strong claims to my heart. WO IST DER PARTY HEUT NAAAAACHT?)

1995: Croatia - Magazin & Lidija - Nostalgija (transcendental. and WHAT a year.)

1996: Sweden - One More Time - Den vilda (ditto.)

1997: United Kingdom - Katrina and the Waves - Love Shine A Light (but don't make me dwell on this. Katrina vs Jalisse is such a Sophie's Choice)

1998: Israel - Dana International - Diva (the ORIGINAL Born This Way *o*)

1999: Croatia - Doris Dragovic - Marija Magdalena (SVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB!)

2000: Sweden - Roger Pontare - When Spirits Are Calling My Name (honorable mention for the original Slavic slut track Solo)

2001: France - Natasha St-Pier - Je n'ai que mon âme (I had to split it by performance quality because Energy gives me too many *.* moments to do it solely on track)

2002: Slovenia - Sestre - Samo ljubezen (no shame)

2003: Romania - Nicola - Don't Break My Heart (I can't even BEGIN to keep a favourite for this year. HIT after HIT after HIT. Birgitta! Sertab! Lou! t.A.T.u.! Beth! Jemini! Mando('s tits)! Monts et merveilles! Sanomi!)

2004: Sweden - Lena Philipsson - It Hurts (duh)

2005: Serbia & Montenegro - No Name - Zauvijek moja (excuse me while I GESTICULATE DRAMATICALLY to a Balkan rewrite of Deeper Shade of Blue)

2006: Denmark - Sidsel Ben Semmane - Twist of Love (it's really CONNIE I feel sorry for in the whole affair. I mean you know things are going badly when your boyfriend doesn't even know how to make you EXIST!)

2007: Finland - Hanna - Leave Me Alone (it starts at full pelt and somehow manages to GO BIGGER)

2008: Sweden - Charlotte Perrelli - Hero (although really it's almost unfair to everything that came after, in that I don't know how you could ever outdo something that won so resoundingly with all the 12s going)

2009: Ukraine - Svetlana Loboda - Be My Valentine! (Anti-Crisis Girl) (I've written so many words on the undeniable fabulosity of this that I won't go into it again, but I will give an honourable mention to Kejsi Tola, responsible for the greatest non-Scandinavian Eurovision key change ever)

2010: Iceland - Hera Björk - Je ne sais quoi (on song it's Safura, but the performance drags it down enough that LA REINE HERA gets the nod overall)

2011: Hungary - Kati Wolf - What About My Dreams? (INDEED Europe, WHAT ABOUT THEM. Saade runs her very closely though.)

2012: Sweden - Loreen - Euphoria

2013: Norway - Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love (take Azerbaijan out of the equation and you really did have a STELLAR top three this year)

2013: Zlata Ognevich - Gravity (SHA, GRAVIDEE)

2012: Pastora Soler - Quedate Conmigo (THAT MONEY NOTE)

2011: Eric Saade - Popular//Wolf Kati - What About My Dreams? (both INCREDIBLE, cannot choose between them)

2010: Safura - Drip Drop (WHOAH YES YES YES YES)

2009: Malena Ernman - La Voix

2008: Charlotte Perrelli - Hero

2007: Dmitry Koldun - Work Your Magic

 

2004: Lena PH - It Hurts

 

don't really know full contests before that so it's not really fair

HONESTLY John, you ought to INVESTIGATE!

A bit of UPDATAGE (1995-1998) + comments

 

 

1973 / Luxembourg: Anne-Marie David - Tu te reconnaîtras (Just f***ing iconic. Best ESC winner ever)

...

1983 / Sweden: Carola - Främling (That live performance! Amazing)

...

1995 / Norway: Secret Garden - Nocturne (Stunning piece, you can't argue with that. Poland (!!!) and Cyprus are f***ing good as well)

1996 / Portugal: Lúcia Moniz - O meu coração não tem cor (Forgettable year but this is just so colourful (ironic given the title) and full of life)

1997 / United Kingdom: Katrina & The Waves - Love Shine a Light (Yep. Just iconic and stunning and everything. Although Turkey and Greece are rather close)

1998 / Cyprus: Michalis Hatzigiannis - Genesis (Portugal and Israel are pretty damn close though)

1999 / Croatia: Doris Dragović - Marija Magdalena (Incredible year with quite a few highlights but this is just incredible times 5000)

2000 / Russia: Alsou - Solo (Changed it now as it's a shit year and Alsou was srsly good)

2001 / Lithuania: SKAMP - You Got Style (Worst Eurovision year for me and by far the weakest song but I had to choose something ugh)

2002 / Slovenia: Sestre - Samo ljubezen (Caused a bit of controversy in Russia when it was shown on TV yay <3)

2003 / Turkey: Sertab Erener - Every Way That I Can (How is this not everyone's favourite EVER wot. Iconic performance that a few tried to imitate but obviously couldn't coz they be basic bitches)

2004 / Serbia & Montenegro: Željko Joksimović - Lane Moje (Amazing winner that never was)

2005 / Hungary: NOX - Forogj, világ! (Back to ICONIC year. SO many faves it's unreal! Fave ALWAYS changing too! Serbia & Mont, Romania, Greece, Switzerland, Hungary - picking at random this time pretty much)

2006 / Bosnia & Herzegovina: Hari Mata Hari - Lejla (STUNNING. How did it not win tho UGH. ANOTHER iconic year. Romania, Ukraine, Croatia, Norway - all would've been #1 if they were in ESC 5 years earlier)

2007 / Ireland: Dervish - They Can't Stop the Spring (Will always have a special place in my heart. Had the biggest goosebumps ever when I first heard/saw this on TV in 2007)

2008 / Bosnia & Herzegovina: Laka - Pokusaj (Cooky, weird and strange but it WORKS)

2009 / Norway: Alexander Rybak - Fairytale (Well those violins sealed the deal really. Be My Valentine REAL CLOSE tho)

2010 / Finland: Kuunkuiskaajat - Työlki Ellää (CRIMINAL they missed the final! Worst ESC crime to-date)

2011 / Germany: Lena - Taken by a Stranger (Let's not pretend this year was the tits when it was the opposite of the tits - it was rather shit and dull. Lena's performance saved it really bye)

2012 / Sweden: Loreen - Euphoria (Well, the year had a lot of good songs but this was always going to be one step ahead of everything else)

2013 / Norway: Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love (erm duh)

 

 

WHY THE HELL are early Greek/Cypriot entries SO GOOD THOUGH?! Especially CYPRUS!