EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 1974. 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.

1974

The first group to win at Eurovision changed the Contest forever. Its victory left no doubt that the ESC could serve as a launch pad for a major chart act. ABBA’s win with “Waterloo” also had a profound impact on the Swedish music industry which would go on to spawn other international successes such as Roxette and Ace Of Base. The death of French President Georges Pompidou died just days before the Contest leading to France withdrawing this year. Greece participated for the first time, keeping the number of participating countries at 17.

 

WATERLOO Abba

Sweden

In 1973, ABBA tried to represent Sweden at Eurovision with the song “Ring Ring”. The Swedish jury chose another song, but the public made “Ring Ring” a domestic chart hit. Fortunately, ABBA persisted and tried again the following year. They arrived in 1974 armed with one of Eurovision’s most memorable entries: “Waterloo”. This was the first of 6 wins for Sweden.

 

SI Gigliola Cinquetti

Italy

Gigliola Cinquetti brought Italy its first Eurovision winner, “Non Ho L’Eta” in 1964. She returned and finished in second place with the beautiful Italian song “Si” (Yes).

 

LONG LIVE LOVE

Olivia Newton-John

United Kingdom

The host city for the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest was Brighton in the United Kingdom. The home-grown entry started the evening as the favourite. “Long Live Love” was performed by British-born but raised in Australia singer Olivia Newton-John. This was before her success with “Grease”, but by 1974, she had already scored chart entries in Britain, America and Australia. The song finished equal fourth with Luxembourg and Monaco.