Wednesday, June 24, 2015

EUROVISION'S 100 MOST IMPORTANT SONGS Update: #35-31.
EUROVISION’S
100
MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS
(1956-2015)

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.


#35
MY NUMBER ONE
HELENA PAPARIZOU
Greece -2005
http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/gr05.jpgEurovision turned 50 in 2005. Host city Kyiv welcomed a record 39 countries. Greece had been waiting 31 years to secure a victory at Eurovision. This was the longest wait ever. That record would be broken the following year. Helena Paparizou, who was actually born and raised in Sweden, had already represented Greece as half of the duo Antique. They finished 3rd in 2001. At the time, that result was the highest placing for any Greek entry. Paparizou delivered Greece its 1st victory 4 years later. Conversely, all of the “Big 4” countries occupied the bottom 4 positions on the leaderboard.

#34
CONGRATULATIONS
CLIFF RICHARD
United Kingdom -1968
http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/gb68.jpgSince 1958, there has been criticism of the ESC’s inability to select the best song on the night. While no winning entry is afforded unanimous approval, there are some questionable outcomes. That a catchy song so in step with 1960s pop such as “Congratulations”, performed by 1 of the leading British music artists, could fail to collect 1st prize baffled many viewers. To rub salt into the wound for poor Cliff Richard, he finished in 2nd place, losing by just 1 point to the forgettable “La La La”. His song started as the 1 to beat and was written by the writers of the previous year’s winner “Puppet On A String” (Bill Martin and Phil Coulter). It did, however, reach #1 in the UK and Europe as well as going Top 5 in Australia and New Zealand.

#33
EIN BISCSCHEN FRIEDEN
NICOLE
Germany -1982
http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/d82.jpgGermany was 1 of the 7 countries that competed in the inaugural ESC in 1956. The country competed as West Germany and endured a long wait to finally bring home a win. Nicole’s entry, with a title meaning “a little peace”, charged ahead of the competition. It became only the 2nd winner sung in German. The song was co-written by Ralph Siegel, who has seen 22 of his songs spanning the years 1974 to 2015. Over the decades, he has written entries for not only his homeland Germany, but also San Marino, Montenegro, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Nicole’s song is so far his only winner.   

#32
NON HO L’ ETA
GIGLIOLA CINQUETTI
Italy -1964
http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/i64.jpgAfter creating the idea of Eurovision, the Italians had failed to achieve better than 3rd place (twice) until 1964. Aged 16, singer Gigliola Cinquetti finished with 49 points. Her song’s title means “I’m not old enough”. Her nearest rival on the leaderboard earned 17 points. Italy secured its 1st ESC victory. Despite entering several high quality songs, Italy has only achieved 1 other win: in 1990. 

#31
WHAT’S ANOTHER YEAR?
JOHNNY LOGAN
Ireland -1980
http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk/ir80.jpgJohnny Logan is 1 of the amazing success stories of Eurovision. His record-breaking success began in 1980 with the Irish entry “What’s Another Year?”. Logan delivered a ballad that proved popular. His win in 1980 gave Ireland its 2nd win, 10 years after its 1st victory. Logan would be back before the end of the 1980s.

 
Another update coming tomorrow with 5 more songs.

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