100 MOST IMPORTANT ESC SONGS Update: #75-71. More songs will be added next week.

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.

#75

HI

OFRA HAZA

Israel -1983

Ofra Haza remains 1 of Israel’s most significant performers. Her song “Hi” contained the line “Am Israel Hi” (“Israel is still alive”) - a powerful lyric of defiance and survival. The fact that it was delivered in Munich; the location of the killing of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics and within the country that had been led by Adolf Hitler during the Holocaust, added to its immense impact. Haza finished in 2^nd place.

#74

TAKE ME TO YOUR HEAVEN

CHARLOTTE NILSSON

Sweden -1999

The influence of ABBA was very obvious on this winning song from Charlotte. “Take Me To Your Heaven” evoked memories of “Waterloo”, which had collected Sweden its 1^st win 25 years prior. This was the 4^th Swedish victory.

 

#73

IT’S MY TIME

JADE EWEN

United Kingdom -2009

The UK’s most recent win at Eurovision was back in 1997. This century, the Brits have only ended up in the Top 10 twice. 2009 saw an entry that showed great promise. Singer Jade Ewen had impressed with her vocal skill. She was chosen to represent the UK at Eurovision with a song penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyricist Diane Warren. It was a Whitney Houston-type ballad that proved popular. Ewen sang on the ESC stage accompanied by Lloyd Webber on piano and finished at #5, the best result for the UK since 2002.

#72

SI LA VIE EST CADEAU

CORINNE HERMES

Luxembourg -1983

Corinne Hermes delivered a song that was reminiscent of the Contest’s early years where French chansons dominated. “Si La Vie Est Cadeau” translates as: “if life is a gift”.  The song proved popular and the Grand Duchy was gifted with its impressive 5^th top prize. This remains the most recent Grand Prix for Luxembourg. It withdrew from the contest 10 years later and has yet to return.

#71

DSCHINGIS KHAN

DSCHINGIS KHAN

Germany -1979

Germany was represented in 1979 by a controversial entry. A song about Genghis Khan, the Mongol warrior, could have offended host nation Israel but the group’s performance was so energetic and imaginative that it received a standing ovation. Dschingis Khan finished in 4^th place. They would score international success – including an Australian #1 single the following year with “Moscow”, used as the unofficial theme for the 1980 Olympics.