What do you think of when asked to pick the best Eurovision songs ever? Are you thinking simple and classic, like Cliff’s ‘Congratulations’ or Sandi Shaw’s ‘Puppet on a String’? Or did you immediately think Ukraine’s 2007 contribution, Verka Serduchka, a performance that featured everything you’ve come to expect from a Eurovision entry – a drag act, costumes made out of tin foil, 500 key changes, accordions and the start of a migraine.
Now we’re rapidly approaching the 70th Eurovision Song Contest – surely something that deserves its own national holiday – we’ve been thinking about some of the best songs Europe has thrown at us, so here are our top 5, in all their sparkly, cheesy glory.
THE ICONIC ONE
Who? ABBA (Sweden)
Which song? Waterloo
When? 1974
Where? Brighton
We’ve gone straight in with the big one; you didn’t think we’d talk about Eurovision without mentioning Waterloo, did you? This song was, and still is, the perfect pop anthem and it could be argued that it helped to push the Eurovision Song Contest into the mainstream; it certainly helped establish ABBA as the pop icons they remain to this day. With the catchy piano arrangement, the blue satin trousers/gold boot combo and head to toe sparkle, what’s not to like?
It went on to top the charts in several countries and became a signature ABBA song. Embarrassingly, the UK gave it nil points…
See also: Cliff Richard (UK) – Congratulations
THE CLASSIC ONE
Who? Lulu (UK)
Which song? Boom Bang-a-Bang
When? 1969
Where? Madrid
This song, and the singer, Lulu, perfectly sum up 60s pop. This was a winner in the wholesome days when Eurovision allowed joint winners, so the first place was shared with France, the Netherlands and Spain. The song doesn’t bring much to the table in terms of lyrics, but it reached number two in the singles chart in the UK and was a big hit across Europe. It was written in five languages; English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.
See also: Brotherhood of Man (UK) – Save All Your Kisses For Me
THE 80S ONE
Who? Bucks Fizz (UK)
Which song? Making Your Mind Up
When? 1981
Where? Dublin
This song is the excitable puppy of Eurovision songs; it’s fast-paced, catchy and a little bit cheesy. The group were criticised on the night for singing off-key, but in the middle of what can only be described as a mediocre dance routine, they managed to distract everyone by pulling off (literally) a move that blew everyone’s minds – the Great Skirt Rip – which ended up being a defining moment in the contest’s history. The song hit number one in the UK charts, and the group went on to become one of the biggest selling acts of the 80s.
See also: Nicole (Germany) – A Little bit of Peace
THE QUITE GOOD ONE
Who? Loreen (Sweden)
Which song? Euphoria
When? 2012
Where? Azerbaijan
There are often mixed feelings when a Eurovision song turns out to be quite good, it’s almost seen as a betrayal as that’s not what we expect (or often get) from the Eurovision stage. But this song became the most downloaded Eurovision song of all time and received the highest number of maximum points in the history of the contest. It also reached number three in the UK charts, and number one in 17 different countries. With its synth-pop and fantastic vocal range, the song could have been a hit without appearing on Eurovision and Loreen went on to win Eurovision again in 2023 with her song, ‘Tattoo’, making her the first woman to win the contest twice.
See also: Sam Ryder (UK) – Spaceman
THE CONTROVERSIAL ONE
Who? Conchita Wurst (Austria)
Which song? Rise Like a Phoenix
When? 2014
Where? Denmark
Bursting onto the Eurovision stage like a Bond-theme on steroids, this song is packed with powerful vocals, spectacular crescendos, sparkle and attitude. Despite Eurovision’s famous camp-ness, the fact that Conchita was a drag queen sparked controversy among some more conservative countries and when it won it was seen as not just a triumph for Austria (who hadn’t won since 1966), but also as a triumph for diversity and tolerance. It also confirmed the contest’s affinity with the LGBTQ+ community, and catapulted Conchita and her beard into stardom. She’s since performed at Pride parades around Europe, the European Parliament and the United Nations Office in Vienna.
See also: Dana International (Israel) – Diva
Eurovision is the show we all love to hate; you don’t really want to watch it but then find yourself pulled in. It’s strangely compelling and there’s something about Eurovision songs that lifts your mood, after all, where else can you find Russian grandmas, a dress made of flames, puppets, gorilla suits and a someone singing while milking a cow?
Of course, this list only scratches the surface; while Eurovision has given us some of the best pop songs out there, it’s also given us some of the worst, but there’s no denying that there’s always something for everyone.
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