EUROVISION'S 150 MOST INFLUENTIAL SONGS. This post: 1997. 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.

1997

The Eurovision Song Contest once again returned to host city Dublin. After what many dismissed as an outdated song won in 1996, changes were needed to revamp the ESC. First, televoting was tried in 5 countries, while others relied exclusively on jury voting. The public was finally getting more of a say in determining the results. The process used to determine which countries would compete changed too. To qualify, countries’ best average scores from previous contests were taken into account. The event clashed with an Israeli religious holiday, so Israel withdrew. This allowed Bosnia & Herzegovina to compete. Belgium, Finland, Romania and Slovakia did not qualify for the 1997 Contest. Italy returned after being absent for a few years.

 

LOVE SHINE A LIGHT

Katrina & The Waves

United Kingdom

The first American winner of the Eurovision Song Contest was the group Katrina & The Waves. Representing the UK, the song collected 227 points, leaving Ireland in second place with a score of 157. “Love Shine A Light” became the band’s biggest hit after “Walking On Sunshine”. The win was the fifth victory for the UK, placing it in equal second place with France and Luxembourg. To date, this is the last UK win.

 

 

MINN HINSTI DANS

Paul Oscar

Iceland

 

Iceland finished fifth in the popular vote with the controversial song performed by Paul Oscar. He performed the song in Icelandic. Its title translates as “My last dance”. The former drag queen wore eyeliner and tight leather pants on a sofa. He was surrounded by four leather-clad dominatrix women. “Minn Hinsti Dans” finished 20^th out of 25 entries, but is remembered one of Eurovision’s most daring entries.