EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 1967. 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.

1967

Despite not having ever won the Contest, the United Kingdom had hosted Eurovision twice by 1967. That year, the ESC was held in Vienna, following Austria’s first win in 1966. Beyond the Contest, British pop was still thrilling music fans with acts such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Petula Clark and Herman’s Hermits. Eurovision finally caught up with popular trends in 1967, bringing the UK its first win.

 

PUPPET ON A STRING Sandie Shaw

United Kingdom

After falling to a dismal 9^th place in the 1966 Contest, the UK competed in the following year with one of its most popular singers: Sandie Shaw. She embodied the attitude of Swinging London. “Puppet On A String” was very catchy and accumulated a score of 47, leaving the Irish runner-up “If I Could Choose” way behind with 22 points. Shaw became the first of the barefoot winning performers at Eurovision. After many years of finishing second, the UK had finally secured its first victory. This entry is also significant because it was the first Eurovision winning song performed in English.

 

L'AMOUR EST BLEU Vicky Leandros

Luxembourg

“Puppet On A String” was a popular ESC winner and became a chart smash. Also in 1967, “L’Amour Est Bleu” (Love Is Blue) became a major worldwide hit. Greek singer Vicky Leandros performed the French song for Luxembourg. The entry finished in fourth place. In America, Paul Mauriat’s instrumental remake spent 5 weeks at #1 in 1968.