EUROVISION'S MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS. This update concludes the countdown. A new list begins Monday. 
 

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.

#1

WATERLOO

ABBA

Sweden- 1974

While the song ranked at #2 on this Top 100 proved that a global hit was possible, that record’s success did not ignite a sustained level of success. When ABBA brought Sweden its 1^st of 6 victories, the ESC served as a high profile launching pad for the group. ABBA was soon charting around the world with its winning song “Waterloo”. Today, ABBA remains 1 of the best selling groups of all time. In the UK, 8 more songs followed “Waterloo” to #1. The group is known the world over. The musical and film versions of “Mamma Mia” keeps ABBA’s profile alive. The Swedish band’s phenomenal success has resulted in countless imitations in the contest, as well as raising awareness of Eurovision. After ABBA, everything was different.

 

 

#2

NEL BLU DIPINTO FI BLU (VOLARE)

DOMENICO MODUGNO

Italy- 1958

Italy was robbed at Eurovision in 1958. It seems hard to believe that a song as timeless and catchy as “Volare” could lose; and even more incredulous to discover it finished in 3^rd position. It’s fair to say that the 2 songs that finished higher- especially the winning entry- have been long forgotten. Despite this massive error of judgment, Domenico Modugno’s song proved to be 1 of the most important ESC entries ever. Any doubt that the contest could produce a smash hit on a worldwide scale was soon laid to rest by the Italian entry. It is still the most successful ESC song on the US chart. It spent 5 weeks at #1 in America, where there was little awareness of Eurovision. It also reached the top of the charts in Australia. It is the most covered Eurovision song of all time, with versions recorded by acts as diverse as Dean Martin, The Gipsy Kings, David Bowie, Connie Francis and Barry White. Modugno’s version is the only foreign language recording to win Grammy Awards in both the Record and Song of the Year categories.