Top 10 Eurovision Songs That Didn't Have to Go THAT Hard
#10: “We Are the Winners” (2006) LT United for Lithuania
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It’s incredibly bold to get on stage in front of millions of viewers — and your fellow competitors — and declare yourselves the winners. But hey, it was worth a shot, right? And it certainly made an impact. LT United looked like a group of men who came straight from the office but with the intention of rockin’ out hard. Sure, it’s repetitive, but it’s also joyous, upbeat, brassy, and was probably stuck in your head for weeks. The unexpected dance break is just as hilariously erratic as the rest of the performance. Sure, they didn’t win, but they finished sixth, which remains the highest finishing Lithuanian entry.
#9: “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” (2007) Verka Serduchka for Ukraine
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Despite finishing runner-up, this song was unequivocally the night's stand-out performance. And we hope you enjoy a good earworm because this one's not going anywhere for a while. Oh, but where to begin? The enthralling melody? The party-vibe dance moves? How about those shiny costumes? All we know is when you put them all together, you get an unforgettably crazy and chaotic spectacle that's pure entertainment. Led by drag queen Verka Serduchka, "Dancing Lasha Tumbai" is a quintessential part of Eurovision history. You might even recall seeing it in the 2015 film "Spy." Even if it didn't win, it set a high bar for all future acts to be measured against.
#8: “It’s My Life” (2013) Cezar for Romania
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It doesn’t get more Eurovision than a man dressed in gothic gear singing falsetto while near-naked dancers emerge from a sheet beneath him. And if you thought opera’s not for you, think again! The song combines pop and dubstep with the classic genre, putting the singer’s impressive range on full display. We love Cezar’s hypnotic voice, the drama of the melody, and the magnetism of the whole performance. The acrobatic dancers are pretty great too. We don’t often see ESC acts like this, but it’s certainly a strong argument for pushing the contest’s musical boundaries. Plus, it’s one of those tunes we kept listening to for months after the show aired.
#7: “Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi” (1988) Celine Dion for Switzerland
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We know what you’re thinking; Céline Dion’s not Swiss. However, in 1988, the country chose the little-known 20-year-old singer to represent them, and clearly, they knew what they were doing. Today, we know Dion for her passionate and powerful performances. But back then, this was the world’s first taste of the singer who’d soon become a global icon. The Canadian artist delivered a flawless performance showing that she needed nothing other than her voice to blow everyone away. The song just scraped ahead of the U.K. to secure Switzerland’s win and helped launch her worldwide career.
#6: “Fuego” (2018) Eleni Foureira for Cyprus
Upbeat, lively, and with a message of female empowerment, Eleni Foureira came to slay at Eurovision 2018 when she represented Cyprus. She explained that the song was about showing “the fire that women have inside them,” and if you ask us, mission accomplished. It’s a fierce and fabulous performance with an enthralling melody and killer dance moves. Indeed, Eleni and her dancers lit up the stage with a performance that wouldn’t be out of place in a Beyoncé music video. It completely redefined our expectations of an exceptional ESC act. She might have finished runner-up, but she still gave a winning performance. We guess it was just a little too fire for this crowd.
#5: “Think About Things” (2020) Daði & Gagnamagnið for Iceland
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Entering 2020, we had high expectations for many things, including the song chosen to represent Iceland. Effortlessly catchy and casually groovy, it seemed like a surefire win. Keeping it in the family, Dadi is joined by his wife and sister; and the English translation of the song is an ode to his baby daughter. So: fun, infectious, sentimental, and an easy-to-learn dance; what could go wrong? As you might have guessed, the competition was canceled, but the tune found new life as a viral TikTok sensation. It’s garnered over 38 million views on YouTube. We can’t think of a more suitable outcome. It may not have made it to the Eurovision stage, but it’s still our 2020 winner.
#4: “Euphoria” (2012) Loreen for Sweden
If you were in Europe in 2012, you'll probably remember this song dominating the charts and airwaves, and for good reason. Loreen's breathtaking vocals are hypnotic, drawing us in during its quieter moments and making us feel well, euphoric with its lively Eurodance beats. It achieved a record-breaking eighteen "12 points" and holds the second-highest total of points in ESC history. Outside the contest, it received wide critical acclaim and became ten-times platinum-certified. "Euphoria" also surpassed "ABBA's" "Waterloo" to become the most successful "Eurovision" song with 17 no.1s across many different charts. Just three years later, Måns Zelmerlöw's technological spectacular, "Heroes," brought the contest back to Sweden and found commercial success too.
#3: “Diva” (1998) Dana International for Israel
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Dana International attracted plenty of attention as the first openly Transgender winner of the competition. However, we’d say that her infectious Eurodance power anthem played a pretty significant role in her triumph. It manages to be both fun and emotionally powerful in equal measure. It’s one of those tunes that’s an instant crowd-pleaser and bound to get you on your feet no matter where you hear it. To this day, it’s one of the most iconic and beloved ESC tracks. It was also the last non-English song to win until 2007. “Diva” marked Israel’s third win, with their fourth coming twenty years later. But you might say it was worth the cluckin’ wait.
#2: “Hard Rock Hallelujah” (2006) Lordi for Finland
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“Eurovision” has this amazing ability to surprise us in ways we couldn’t even imagine. For instance, in 2006, Europe collectively transformed into heavy metal fans, securing Finland’s first win in the competition ever. The ESC has seen many things over the years, but a metal band, dressed like monsters, rockin’ out with plenty of pyrotechnics was pretty unique. Nothing could have prepared us for this outrageous display or its phenomenal response. Lordi fans celebrated by holding a record-breaking karaoke sing-a-long in Helsinki, which was attended by approximately 80,000. Talk about going hard! Needless to say, this isn’t an act anyone’s going to forget in a hurry. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Voilà” (2021), Barbara Pravi for France She Was the Runner-up, but a Powerful Fan Favorite “Zitti E Buoni” (2021), Måneskin for Italy Italy Rocked Their Way to Victory “Only Teardrops” (2013), Emmelie de Forest for Denmark This Track Still Leaves Us With Chills “Making Your Mind Up” (1981), Bucks Fizz for the UK Back When the Country Stood a Chance of Winning “Nel blu, dipinto di blu [aka Volare]” (1958), Domenico Modugno for Italy How Many ESC Songs Get Covered by Music’s Most Prolific Names?
#1: “Rise Like a Phoenix” (2014) Conchita Wurst for Austria
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A stunning power ballad, many believe that “Rise Like a Phoenix” would fit right in on a “James Bond” soundtrack. The track marked Austria’s second win, with their last being in 1966; what a way to make a comeback. Conchita stood on stage, looking gorgeous and glamorous, and belted out this empowering and evocative number. She proved that you don’t need extravagant staging or spellbinding theatrics to win over audiences. Her voice carries plenty of allure and magnitude in its own right, and the song itself is guaranteed to leave you with chills. Her phenomenal win was groundbreaking for Austria, the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone else who resonated with the song.
