Caffè Lattè looks back on the 150 Most Influential Songs (1956-2022).

This post: 1956. 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 has ranked all of the past winning entries and other songs that have had a lasting impact on the Eurovision Song Contest.

1956

While elsewhere in the world, rock ‘n’ roll music had begun to infiltrate popular culture, the entries for the inaugural Eurovision Song Contest remained oblivious to the burgeoning genre. Italy came up with the concept of an annual event to use technology to bring together European nations. Only 7 countries competed in the first Contest: Italy, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Back then, the number of performers allowed on the stage was unrestricted. Songs could be sung in any language but had to performed live. There was no time limit for the duration of the entries.

 

REFRAIN Lys Assia

Switzerland

   Each participating country was represented by 2 songs. Lugano, Switzerland was the first host city. To this day, the final scores remain a mystery. The first winner, albeit under suspicious circumstances, was the host nation. Lys Assia returned to defend her title in 1957 and 1958.