EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 1986. 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.

1986

Norway had been competing since its debut in 1960, with disheartening results.  In 1985, it claimed first prize. The 1986 Eurovision Song Contest led 20 countries to compete in the Norwegian city of Bergen; the most northerly location to host the event. Greece and Italy opted out, but The Netherlands and Yugoslavia returned. One new country joined the ESC family: Iceland. The outcome in 1986 brought an end to an even longer wait.

 

J’AIME LA VIE Sandra Kim

Belgium

 

Belgium’s entry led the pack as the song to beat. Sandra Kim’s modern and upbeat song with a title that means “I Love Life” was performed in French. As The Contest began, the singer’s age was reported as fifteen. It was later revealed that Kim was in fact only 13. Rules have since been changed to disallow minors in the Contest. Belgium’s win meant that all of the 7 founding nations at the inaugural Contest back in 1956 had now won at least once. To date, this remains the sole victory for the nation.

 

ROMEO Ketil Stokkan

Norway

 

Eurovision has long had a strong bond with the gay community, which has expanded to embrace other LGBTIQ+ groups. The first cross-gender representation was achieved by Norway’s entry “Romeo”. Performed by Ketil Stokkan in a pink suit, one of his ‘female’ dancers was in fact a male dressed in drag. This entry paved the way for numerous others, including a couple of high-profile Eurovision winners. The song finished ranked twelfth.