100 MOST ESSENTIAL ESC SONGS Update: #95-91. Another 5 songs will be featured tomorrow.
-->

EUROVISION’S

100

MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS

(1958-2015)

Now that the dust has settled on another fabulous Eurovision Song Contest, it’s time to look back on the most important and influential songs that have competed over the last 60 years. All of the winning songs are included, as well as other noteworthy entries from the most watched music contest in the world.

#95

EL S’IL FALLAIT LE FAIRE

PATRICIA KAAS

France -2009

Patricia Kaas is a respected French vocalist and her experience gave France 1 of its best results in years with a stirring ballad. Finishing in 8^th place, it is the proud nation’s most recent Top 10 result. The song’s title translates into: “and if it had to be done”. It proved 1 of the “Big 5” countries can still achieve a strong result with a strong performer.

#94

UN BANC, UN ARBRE, UNE RUE

SEVERINE

Monaco -1971

The 1971 contest attracted many of the countries that had been absent after the shambolic 1969 result. 1970’s winning entry proved Eurovision deserved another chance. In 1971, the telecast’s ratings were its best ever. Severine gave the principality of Monaco its sole win. The song was sung in French and its title means: “a bench, a tree, a street”.

#93

LA VOIX

MALENA ERNMAN

Sweden -2009

A smorgasbord of diverse musical styles has been featured over the 6 decades of Eurovision; including glam, hard rock, punk, country & western and retro swing. In 2009, Sweden’s entry was coined “popera”. It combined opera with dance and pop music. 

 

#92

NET ALS TOEN

CORRY BROKKEN

Netherlands -1957

Eurovision was still in its infancy when “Net Als Toen” strode to victory with a song in Dutch that means “just like then”. Only 10 countries competed. For this- the 2^nd ESC, each nation entered the 1 song.

 

#91

THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY

Noa & Mira Awad

Israel -2009

Along with the camp and over the top entries, some Eurovision songs have dealt with serious issues, as well as reflected the politics among countries that have often had strained relations. In 2009, the Israeli entry featured an Israeli and Arab duet. The 2 performers sang about the need for social cohesion between the 2 groups.  The song was sung in Arabic, Hebrew and English.