EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 1968. 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.

1968

All of the 17 competing nations in 1967 were back to participate in London the following year, but there was a significant difference this year: the event was transmitted in colour. London became the first city to host Eurovision a third time.

 

LA LA LA Massiel

Spain

The 1968 winning song will always be remembered for its nonsensical title. There wasn’t much to it, but obviously, many juries enjoyed it enough to reward it with 29 points. This was the first triumphant song sung in Spanish. Its win provoked a backlash. It was becoming obvious that the judges were not reflecting the taste of the public.

 

CONGRATULATIONS Cliff Richard

United Kingdom

In the UK, Cliff Richard was music royalty. He had enjoyed a string of number one singles and starred in popular films. The 1968 Contest was held in his homeland. He was clearly the favourite, and deservedly so, with the catchy pop track ‘Congratulations”. Despite all of these advantages, Cliff finished in second place; losing to Spain by just one point. His song proved to be the bigger chart success from that year's competitors. The outcome proved controversial and impacted on Eurovision’s credibility.