EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 1964. 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.

1964

Industrial action prevented the Swedes from competing in 1964, so Portugal took their place among the other 15 participants. A protester interrupted proceedings briefly, armed with a banner imploring a boycott of Franco and Salazar, the Spanish and Portuguese dictators. Bloc voting was becoming more evident, especially among Norway, Denmark and Finland. The world of pop began to make gradual inroads at Eurovision too, but its full effect would have to wait one more year.

 

NON HO L’ETÁ Gigliola Cinquetti

Italy

Domenico Modugno represented Italy thrice, but failed to win. The first Italian victory belongs to a then 16 year old singer who sang about being too young to love. She accumulated a record 49 points, leaving the UK in second place with just 17 points. Cinquetti would return to the Contest, representing Italy again with “Si” 10 years later. She finished in second place and would have won Eurovision again were it not for a certain Swedish pop group.