Colm

42 - Sweden 2023 b3vJfR81xO0 Loreen - Tattoo Unpopular opinion. I prefer this to Euphoria. Granted, Euphoria has great verses and wonderful production but the chorus just never did anything for me and I'm irritated by the "We're going u-u-u-u-u-u-up" part. While Tattoo is more derivative (far more derivative), I just enjoy the listening experience more Best bit: 2.53 when she changes the melody.

No judgement here, Uhs. This is a safe space for fans of any song (except for Yodel It!) :music:

It was a tough year. So many great songs and 43 entries.

43 - Bulgaria 2016 PQqUTigWKHY 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.

44 - Finland 2018 y4xlvh6qW6M Saara Aalto - Monsters This is an example of a song that's serviceable enough Scandi-pop - some would say mid, especially in comparison to say Spirit in the Sky or Euphoria - but what elevates it for me is there's harmonies in this that just hit the right spot in my brain. Her vocals were a bit too breathy in the live performance that really effected its result. A shame. Best bit: 2.23 to the end. The very feint "anymore" vocals that we hear several times and her two big notes. Pure gold.

45 - Hungary 2019 IpVr0pBLfI4 Pápai Joci - Az Én Apám This completely passed me by back in 2019, most probably because it didn't qualify for the final. I'm sure it's not for everyone but it's kind of a mystery why this wasn't more successful. It was a huge improvement, for me, on his 2017 entry which came 8th. Such a plaintive melody and haunting performance. Best bit: 0.09 to 0.48. The whole, gorgeous first verse.

46 - Israel 2018 CziHrYYSyPc Netta - Toy In 2018, I hadn't really become the Eurovision fan I am today so I didn't hear Toy until Eurovision week on the Spotify playlist. It just seemed like such an obvious winner to me at first listen. But what do I know? - I thought Zero Gravity had winner written all over it the following year. This is just so full of original hooks. Hooks that I certainly had never heard before. It's bizarre in all the best ways and still a marvelous listen. Best bit: 1.34 to 1.40. The second verse vocal mashing genius.

Yes. That was pre-Eurovision. Post- Eurovision we have the knowledge that sending an authentic interesting song can do well. And many Irish fans were hoping to extend that and develop our own space in the contest like Portugal, Albania, Ukraine and others have done.

47 - Serbia 2021 FSTMz-_kbVQ Hurricane - LOCO LOCO My winner back in 2021. I was convinced that it was going to be top 5 in the televote - it had more views on its semi-final performance than any of the other songs the next day. I remember noting that it had more thumbs up than other countries even had views. Ended up 9th in the televote and 9th in the semi final televote too. It has faded a little. It was such a huge improvement from their entry for the 2000 contest - a little too exhausting at times but such fun. The first of only a handful of girl bops in this list :o Best bit: 2.36. The key change, inevitably.

48 - Sweden 2015 -nbq6Ur103Q Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes 2015 wasn't really a great contest. There's lots wrong with this - like the faux country intro, for a start. Is it a guilty pleasure? I'm usually not conflicted like this. I didn't expect this to feature but it has grown on me a lot over the years. Maybe you opinion depends on how smug you think Måns is :D This is the first of just 7 winners in the list. Best bit: 0.37 - 0.52. The filtered keyboards in the background.

I don't really like it. She can sing and it has gone down well among the community and with Youtubers but it's hard to feel hard done by if both the Irish jury and the public vote both put her top. It could qualify but some of the other entries would have extended Ireland's run of authentically Irish songs in a way that this can't.

Aina was great. Rewound it an watched it again instead of watching Ich Komme.

49 - Italy 2017 Mj6tVGKzfhU Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma Sometimes you can get away with dodgy staging but apparently not this time. I don't know anyone who doesn't blame the staging for this not going top 3. The tune itself is still as joyous as ever. Looking at old reaction videos there didn't seem to be anything standing its way - especially the televote going mad for it. None of them predicted that the staging might not work. Best bit: 2.24 - 2.29. The summery guitar.

50 - France 2023 GWfbEFH9NvQ La Zarra - Évidemment A favourite of mine in 2023 from the moment I heard it. For such a très français song, the televote was luke warm to it - unlike Barbara Pravi two years before it. There was definitely something missing in the live performance. I hardly ever watch it live but still listen to the studio cut. Best bit: 2.22 - 2.44. I love the beats that crash in after she does the big note.

As some of you know, I've been threatening to post this thread in quite a while. Not sure how it will go down but it's busy season around here so it might provide entertainment between whatever withdrawals and disqualifications that come our way from the 2025 contest. There's 30 countries featured, many more than once. That leaves over 10 countries who didn't do enough to make the list. So as not to spoil the absolute edge of seat excitement I'll go through some of those countries at the end and mention what I deemed to be the best song they entered with. One country has 5 entries in this list. There's 2 years with absolutely no representation at all. There's 2 very strong years with 8 each. One artist features twice. Going through this process - it became very evident that I like harmonies and ballads. Also, in all but 3 cases I am discussing the studio version. There's 3 cases where the live version exceeds the quality of the studio version. I'll mention those. I invite you (those of you who know my taste) to venture some guesses at what might be in my top 10. :whistle:

A striking entry :wub:

:w00t:

Is there a listen through this evening?

Is there a listen through this evening?

Yay!

I haven't commented much in a while. Lots of great stuff. Somewhere in My Heart sounds like it would really suit the Manic Street Preachers, if they ever chose to cover it - right down to the guitar solo.

I also never have an idea of what would make a good entry.

Thanks for leaving Spodic Empire until the end. :manson:

Nelly Votado

Aina all the way. Nearly had me in tears.