Continuing the search for Eurovision Perfection, #40 to #31 Written by Steven Newby on April 15, 2012 | 5 Comments

Here we are already, week 3 of our special All-Time Top 100 Eurovision special where we count down the best 100 songs from 1957-2011.

If you remember, we can’t use 1956 as those results were lost a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, since 1957 there have been 1,099 songs that have graced the Eurovision finals. Some good, some extremely bad, but this chart aims to make at least some sense of all those entries over the years and put them into order. Well, we’ve tried to anyway!

If you didn’t catch the first two parts of this chart, 100-51 and 50-41 then they are still available to look at, in addition I have put together this YouTube playlist of the whole chart. Songs are ranked, in reverse order, of course, by the percentage of the total number of points they could have achieved. It was possible, however unlikely, a song could get 12 points from every other voting, so I have divided the total they actually got by the maximum they could have achieved. And it took some work!

Before we delve into the next batch, 40-31, let’s have a little look at some famous songs that didn’t quite make the Top 100.

#216 – Croire by Lara Fabian (Luxembourg, 1988, came 4th with 37.50%)

One of my all-time faves, this is a classically beautiful song that kick-started Lara’s career. Don’t forget, this was the same contest Céline Dion won, there wasn’t space for two divas in the same contest and unfortunately Lara lost out. A much more deserving winner than Ne partez pas sans moi, however she still did very well on the night. Lara of course is still going strong, she even tried to penetrate the UK music market and unfortunately failed. Just #216 on our chart. Shame.

#199 – Invincible by Carola (Sweden, 2006, came 5th with 39.35%)

Now Carola, another Euro-Diva is here at #199 – I am sure she would not be that happy to know that she didn’t come anywhere near the top 100, however it is, as I am sure you have realised by now, very hard to get into the top 9% of all Eurovision Songs. Three-time entrant Carola was expected to wipe the board in Sweden with this, and she did, too.  She is safe in the knowledge that she is sandwiched between Waterloo & Robinson’s ‘My Little World’ (1976) and ‘Qele Qele’ from Sirusho in 2008. Now there’s a thought – a Carola sandwich!

#191 – Come Back by Jessica Garlick (United Kingdom, 2002,  came 3rd with 40.22%)

The UK’s best position since they last won, Jessica from Pop Idol charmed Europe with her strong ballad in Tallinn. We’ve not beaten it since and in my view it’s easy to see why, this is a great song that deserved to do very well. Even joint third in 2002 wasn’t good enough to get it above #191 in the all-time chart.

#1052 – Tha ‘ne erotas by Marlain (Cyprus, 1999, same 22nd with 0.76%)

What the heck happened there? It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves for 13 years and it was a total travesty this crashed and burned on the night. I had a scary thought the same may happen again for Cyprus’ 2012 entry, but let’s hope not. This was, and is, a great track and it did not deserve the outcome it got. Maybe this is why televoting was rolled-out faster in 2000!

So, let’s get to it, numbers 40 to 31.

40 = Chai by Ofra Haza (Israel 1983, 2nd)

One of the Euroclub favourites from Israel, the late Ofra Haza was an Israeli Diva that will always be synonymous with the Contest. To any fan anyway. Great song, close harmonies, the Israeli side-step and singing in unison. Slight political meaning especially poignant in that it was sung in Germany. Love it. And very yellow.

40 = Making Your Mind Up by Buck’s Fizz (United Kingdom 1981, 1st)

Surprisingly low scoring, I really didn’t particularly like this song for many years – but I was always fond of it as 1981 was my first ever Eurovision at 10 years old and of course we won. Over the years I have felt myself loving it more and more. It will always be a Eurovision classic and everyone on the planet, okay may be not in Chad, or Nicaragua, knows the Euro-history of this song. Obviously the most famous part is where the two guys try and defrock Cheryl and, erm, the one they don’t talk about. True Eurovision class and finesse. In a tacky way.

#39 – Diva by Dana International (Israel, 1998, came 1st with 59.72%)

And here she is. There is no need to backstory her, everyone knows this now, and it was clear before the contest that she had enough press momentum to get the title. And it worked. Despite all the hype and controversy it was a good winner, there were better songs in 1998 – it was a fantastic year – but I wasn’t unhappy with it. And look at the joy she has brought us over the years. Just don’t ever mention Düsseldorf. Ever.

#38 – Shake It by Sakís Rouvas (Greece,  2004, came 3rd with 60.00%)

Sakis, Sakis, Sakis. Now, not a great vocal performance by any means. it was the pecks that won it in my view, but this was one of Greece’s strongest entries for a very long time. The momentum carried into 2005, Greece has done very well in recent years, and this was a great start to their run. Maybe his vocals helped him miss out on a place or two higher.

#37 – Ei sham by Ilanit (Israel, 1973, came 4th with 60.63%)

For the second time today, Israel. This was their very first entry in the contest in 1973 and it was a great start for them. Israel of course have done very well over the years. You can just imagine singing in the round over a campfire at a kibbutz! I love this, and so did the judges. 4th. Great.

#36 – The Voice by Eimear Quinn (Ireland, 1996, came 1st with 61.36%)

No, Ireland, stop already! By far the weakest of Ireland’s winners. I think it had become so standard to vote Ireland every year it was pre-printed on their judge’s scoresheets. Maybe the Irish government had something on each member. We were coming to the end of the ‘Nasty Nineties’, the period from 1991-1996, possibly televoting saw to the end of that, but thankfully this passé type of Irish ballad was on its way out.  Oh, no, sorry, there was 2000, 2004…

#35 – Pas pour moi by Daniela Simons (Switzerland, 1986, came 2nd with 61.40%)

Now I like this. Classic Eurovision Francophone ballad. Singing in what the Norwegians of that year would describe as an Arctic white wilderness, Daniela sits at a huge white piano with white-clad band and white instruments. Love it.

#34 – Take Me to Your Heaven by Charlotte Nilsson (Sweden, 1999, came 1st with 61.74%)

Pre-Extra Terrestrial look, this was a great schlager classic, so reminiscent of ABBA et al. Amazingly, so many non-Eurovision fans know this song too, a bit like Bobbysock’s ‘La det swinge’ or its English counterpart. 1999 was another great Euro year but not the best song on the night in my view. It should have been Reykjavik 2000 and given Iceland the chance to host it before the competition got very, very big. And a lot of silver and pink.

#33 – Si la vie est cadeau by Corinne Hermès (Luxembourg, 1983, came 1st with 62.28%)

Wow. What an ending to 1983 – this was fantastic and by far the best song of that year. Corinne was mesmerising, and very pink. I adore this song. Funny that Wogan starts by lusting over someone who, let’s face it, wouldn’t really be interested!  Ever.

#32 – Als ‘t om de liefde gaat by Sandra & Andres (Netherlands,  1972, came 4th with 62.35%)

What? I heard you think that! It was the ‘Silly Seventies’, let’s face it, and the Dutch back then, as well as the Swiss, loved to get into the mood of the times. And what is all that hair about?

#31 – Lane moje by Željko Joksimović and the Ad Hoc Orchestra (Serbia & Montenegro, 2004, came 2nd with 62.62%)

Representing a country that no longer exists, one of the Balkan’s most haunting tracks.  This was seriously under-rated by Terry Wogan on the night and this just showed how he’d lost his step with the contest. This was a great entry and obviously started Željko’s Euro-career. And he’s back after his stint at hosting in 2008. Stick to the singing Željko, the danger is though he could host again if he won.

And that’s it for yet another week, I’ll be back next week for 30-21, 23 April for 20-11 and 30 April for 10 to the most important number 1. Enjoy the playlist!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA956046B7AB9BA7C