EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 1969. More: tomorrow.

EUROVISION

1956-2022

THE MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS

(in chronological order)

 

This year’s Contest will see the 70^th song declared a winner. Caffè Lattè lists all of the past winning entries and other songs that have had a lasting impact on the Eurovision Song Contest.

1969

If the 1968 Contest had ended with controversy, the following year presented Eurovision with even more outrage. Austria boycotted the 1969 Contest because Spain was ruled at the time by dictator Francisco Franco. Six countries would boycott the 1970 Contest after the outcome of this year’s Eurovision. Madrid was the host city, welcoming 16 entrants. By the end of the night, audiences were baffled to discover that there was no outright victor, but that 4 countries had tied for first place! The result threatened the fate of Eurovision. Only 12 countries would show up for the 1970 Contest.

 

VIVO CANTANDO Salomé

Spain

Spain became the first country to secure back-to-back wins. Her song’s title means “I Live My Life Singing”. It attracted 18 points from the judges.

 

BOOM BANG-A-BANG Lulu

United Kingdom

After narrowly losing in 1969, the UK was represented by another popular star, Lulu. She had recently scored a global hit with “To Sir With Love”. Her song would influence countless British and other nations’ entries. It started the night as the favourite to secure a second victory for the UK. and gained 18 points.

DE TROUBADOUR Lenny Kuhr

Netherlands

As co-writer of “De Troubadour”, Lenny Kuhr became the first female to write a Eurovision winning entry. Its score of 18 points brought the Dutch a third triumph at Eurovision.

UN JOUR, UN ENFANT Frida Boccara

France

France maintained its lead as the country with the most wins at Eurovision with its dramatic entry whose title translates as “One Day A Child”. This was the fourth victory for the country. Like the other 3 songs involved in the tie for first place, Frida Boccara achieved a score of 18 points.