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Best ever Eurovision song?

188 replies

SinkGirl · 27/04/2019 18:35

Okay, I’m a huge Eurovision fan (went to the semi finals a few years ago in Stockholm, bloody wonderful) and have managed to convert DH.

We are arguing about which is the best Eurovision entry of all time, or at least of the last 12 years or so which is as long as he’s been watching.

What do other fans think?

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Sam91TRS15 · 28/04/2019 07:40

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gQy0PJEkQhA Grin

TheCanterburyWhales · 28/04/2019 08:28

Have you all read "Nul Points" by Tim Moore? He travels round Europe (obvs) finding what all the nul-pointers are doing now.
I also picked up for a penny on Amazon a book called EsC 50 years history. It's fab, all sorts of nerdy facts and figures. In the dinosaur pre-Spotify times I also treated myself to a box set of CDs (astronomical price at the time!!)

I've just remembered another lesser known one I loved- Croatia, early 90s, My Croatian Sky was the translation.

Can you remember (possibly 1990-ish) the Bosnians who got the last plane out of Sarajevo to arrive at the Esc (presumably in Ireland as it was around the time Ireland won every year) but had to leave all their clothes and conductor behind so another country's conductor stepped in to help. Not the best song, but a lovely moment.

Talking about Ireland, apart from Saint Johnny (in 1987 me and my friends put Hold Me Now on the jukebox 17 times in a row) my favourite was Niamh Kavanagh NOT winning about 10 years ago. I honestly thought she had it in the bag but then forgot this was Eurovision and the ability to sing comes second to having grandmothers knitting in rocking chairs on stage. Grin

MyMumDimensionJumps · 28/04/2019 08:33

Sink Girl

Yes, remember Frances Ruffelle. She had to sing about 6 songs to sing in a row. she was quite grungey looking. Didn't Samantha Womak and Michael Ball enter one year too?

My sister actually bought the Love City Groove record and I sort of liked it at the time (in my defense I was about 12 though)

Ringdonna · 28/04/2019 08:35

Are You Sure, UK entry in 1961 by the Allisons, came second.

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SinkGirl · 28/04/2019 08:40

Frances Ruffelle is Sylvia Young’s daughter, you know -useless Eurovision trivia klaxon-

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SinkGirl · 28/04/2019 08:41

Ooh the Michael Ball entry was dire. Clearly we were going through an “anyone who’s starred in Les Mis* phase 😂

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JenniferJareau · 28/04/2019 08:41

This was my Mum's favourite. Gigliola Cinquetti - Non Ho L'Età

MelanieCheeks · 28/04/2019 08:45

My favourite - Mans and Heroes. I was in Vienna (at the semi final) when it got through, and the atmosphere was just electric.

I don't get Salvador Sobral at all, but hey, we are all different.

Guilty pleasure - Teach-In and Ding-a-dong.

Douzepoints · 28/04/2019 08:51

Frances Ruffelle is also Eliza Doolittle's mother. I remember being so excited that she had been picked to represent the UK - I had seen her as Eponine in Les Mis a short time before and she was astonishing. Lonely Symphony is actually one of my favourite UK entries.

I also remember the night Love City Groove was picked to be our entry. I was watching with my gran who was genuinely upset about us putting in such a dangerous song. The main bloke from LCG turned up on The Voice a few years ago - he's a Sinatra-style crooner now!

Does anyone remember Emma - Give a Little Love Back to the World? This was the first Eurovision single I bought and the start of my obsession.

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SinkGirl · 28/04/2019 08:58

I did quite want to be Frances Ruffelle back then (but then I was also a small child who listened to the Les Mis soundtrack on repeat, shortly before my Manic Street Preachers phase 😂)

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Ginger1982 · 28/04/2019 08:59

This one obviously!!

BingeAndWhinge · 28/04/2019 09:06

Absolute cheese but such a catchy song. The winner of the 1999 Eurovision.

TheCanterburyWhales · 28/04/2019 09:11

We still quote Michael Ball in this Esc obsessed house...every time sth unpleasant is suggested we all chant "as Michael Ball would say, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes" (when asked if he'd ever do it again!)

I think he was riding high on his Phantom days then.

I admit to not understanding often how and why the hell certain UK entries are chosen. It seems like they veer from "let's pick someone who everyone thinks is dead" to "let's pick someone who nobody has ever heard of so if they win it'll launch them globally" to "ask somebody with a solid west end musical reputation if they want to have a bash at telly".

I love it all. Grin

BoldMeDontAtMe · 28/04/2019 09:34

OllyBJolly you must be my era! Loved the Anne Marie David one as well. Loved how Severine managed to perform so well, when her backing singers were often singing too fast.

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SinkGirl · 28/04/2019 10:48

Was just watching random Eurovish on YouTube and the Polish entry from 2016 came up - the chorus is identical to Love Love Peace Peace! How did that happen?
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjup9PJ25LM

2016 was a bloody good year actually - I loved Denmark, What’s The Pressure although cheesy AF
m.youtube.com/watch?v=iP3USrYpr5w

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MLMhun · 28/04/2019 11:13

Oh I loved “Fly on the wings of love” by the Olsen Brothers. Cheese but lovely.

Winner in 2000

BoldMeDontAtMe · 28/04/2019 11:15

Loved that too MLMHun. Wouldn't win now, would it ☹

MLMhun · 28/04/2019 11:34

I loved this in 2008, came second and thought she was robbed.

Also loved Wild Dances by Ruslana but also liked Sakis in 2004 too.

MyMumDimensionJumps · 28/04/2019 11:35

Sam91TRS15

I must have not watched that year of the Ukraine entry as I can't remember. It's amazing!

MyMumDimensionJumps · 28/04/2019 11:40

SinkGirl

I remember he Polish entry. That bloke made me feel uneasy!

I didn't actually like Netta's entry and it really grated on me. Thought there were better songs that year (I actually really liked the song that got nil points). That was the last Eurovision I actually watched as I found the political/neighbouring countries voting too annoying. I might brave it again this year though. It's one of those things that, with two young kids and no social life, I always end up watching accidentally, although I loved it as a kid.

BoldMeDontAtMe · 28/04/2019 14:54

How come Israel are back in? They made a tearful (and long) farewell speech during the points allocation the other year and now they're back!

TheCanterburyWhales · 28/04/2019 14:57

Probably like my adopted country Italy who stropped off for years after not being very successful but are now back.
I am having a lovely afternoon with my Spotify playlist and just noticed the version of Apres Toi that I popped into it is in German, not French. Still lovely though.

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SinkGirl · 28/04/2019 16:51

It was probably a financial thing - who knows. They’ve done very well the last few years though, and of course are hosting this year.

YouTube now keeps playing Netta at me - I must admit it’s growing on me (possibly like a nasty skin tag, but still)

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mathanxiety · 28/04/2019 20:03

I want Turkey to come back. This one should have won in 1997.

cricketmum84 · 28/04/2019 20:31

@mathanxiety yes to turkey! One of my favourite entires ever was a band called mor ve president, translates to something like brighter than purple I think??

Wish they would come back and re enter

u_