The Eurovision Song Contest: The good, the bad and the ugliest bits ever
The Eurovision Song Contest will be held on May 13th 2017 in Kiev following the Ukraine's win with 1944 by band Jamala.
This year we are pinning all our hopes and dream on former X Factor singer Lucie Jones and her song Never Gonna Give Up On You.
While we may not score much more than 'nil' points each year, that doesn't stop us Brits from wholeheartedly embracing the Eurovision Song Contest. We look back at the best moments over the last 60 years.
Formerly the territory of Terry Wogan (RIP) from the early 1970s to 2008, it's now an annual date with Graham Norton and it's guaranteed to be brimming with Eurotrash humour and innuendo. From the good to the terrible, the one hit wonders to the winner's who took it all - here are our favourite Eurovision moments over the last 60 years.
Rex FeaturesBucks Fizz
Year: 1981
Country: Great Britain
Need you even ask why these guys were so friggin’ tip-top? Not only did they found the famous skirt rip routine but they also WON the 1981 contest.
PA PhotosABBA
Year: 1974
Country: Sweden
Yeah. They’re, like, only the biggest Eurovision exports ever! This hallowed band swept the board in ’74 with Waterloo but that was only the tip of their metaphorical (and marvellous) musical iceberg. The Swedish pop gods gave us everything from Gimme, Gimme, Gimme through Dancing Queen to SOS. Heck, they even spawned their own musical.
Rex FeaturesJohnny Logan
Year: 1980-1992
Country: Ireland
They don’t call Johnny Logan “Mister Eurovision” for no reason. This man is basically one of the core foundations of the contest having won the contest on no less than three occasions – twice as a performer and once as a composer. The stuff of Eurovision legend...
PA PhotosKatie Price
Year: 2005
Country: Great Britain
It was close but no cigar for Katie Price in 2005 when she tried her hand at singing for the GB Eurovision selection process. Alas, despite a stellar rendition of Not Just Anybody in a pink catsuit, Katie was just pipped to the post by Javine.
PA PhotosTerry Wogan
Year: 1971-2008
Country: He’s is exempt as host.
Where to start? When talking about the legend of Eurovision hosting stalwart Terry Wogan, words often fail me. Quick-witted and often a little tipsy on the night, his commentary – for many – was often the reason for tuning in, in the first place.
PA PhotosGuildo Horn
Year: 1998
Country: Germany
Germany’s Guildo Horn... If you haven’t YouTubed his 1998 seventh place Eurovision hit Guildo Hat Euch Lieb! , you’re missing out. It incorporates cow bells for crying out loud. Cow. Bells.
Getty ImagesTatu
Year: 2003
Country: Russia
Although best known for 2002 hit All The Things She Said Tatu were the Russian entry in 2003 for Euro and came in third place. If you still can't quite remember them, we're pretty sure this jolly scandalous video will jog your memory.
Rex FeaturesJedward
Year: 2011 & 2012
Country: Ireland
After breaking onto “the scene” through The X Factor the tall-haired twins of Ireland proved their versatility (? Yeah, why not) with a stint as the Irish entry for Eurovision in 2012.
PA PhotosThe Russian grannies
Year: 2012
Country: Russia
God bless Eurovision.
PA PhotosGina G
Year: 1996
Country: Great Britain
Ooh, ah, just a little bit! Ooh, ah, just a little more! Don’t say Eurovision didn’t give us anything, okay... Just don’t.
PA PhotosBlue
Year: 2011
Country: Great Britain
There was a time – at the beginning of the Tennies – when we were all, like, “ooh, whatever happened to Blue?” and then out of the nowhere they made a triumphant return to the pop landscape by competing at Eurovision.
Getty ImagesGraham Norton
Year: 2008 - Current
Country: N/A. He’s the host, innit.
Terry Wogan’s Eurovision legacy was a tough act to follow but Graham Norton took on the role in 2008 and absolutely nailed it. His quick-witted and irreverent humour is exactly why we’re still tuning in.
Rex FeaturesCeline Dion
Year: 1988
Country: Switzerland (even though she is Canadian. Huh?)
Umm, this is basically where La Dion’s career kicked off and another reason why we, as a world, are eternally indebted to Eurovision.
PA PhotosLoreen
Year: 2012
Country: Sweden
2012’s winner, Loreen absolutely boshed the competition and won by a staggering 372 points.
Rex FeaturesNicole
Year: 1982
Country: Germany
Nicole - whose appropriation of a single moniker was later copied by the likes of Prince and Madonna (LOL) – made Germany proud in ’82 when she swept the board and took home the coveted title of winner for her song 'A Little Peace'.
Who can't forgetthis cracking tune which went on to be Number 1 in the UK charts.
Getty ImagesLulu
Year: 1969
Country: Great Britain
Boom Bang-a-Bang. That. Is All.
PA PhotosSandie Shaw
Year: 1967
Country: Great Britain
Sandie deserves a big, fat special mention as she is the fairy godmother of Eurovision having been the first UK act to win the contest in 1967 with Puppet On A String. She pleased her fans by sticking to her USP of not wearing shoes.
Rex FeaturesDana International
Year: 1998
Country: Israel
Transgender Jewish performer Dana International – real name Sharon Cohen – broke all sorts of barriers down when she not only performed the brilliantly camp Diva for the heavily religious Israel in Birmingham in 1998, but then went on to win it. Go Dana!
Getty ImagesLordi
Year: 2006
Country: Finland
When a bunch of dudes who’d CLEARLY been watching too much Beavis & Buthead dressed up as US band Gwar and stomped onto the Eurovision stage in Greece to thrash out metal anthem (in the loosest sense of the term) Hard Rock Hallelujah, metal fans Europe over rushed to the phones to cast their vote. And it worked, too. The group romped home to win the ruddy thing, and became the first ever heavy band to do so.
PA PhotosKatrina And The Waves
Year: 1997
Country: United Kingdom
There was outcry up and down the British Isles when we found out that the sort-of-from-the-UK-but-really-quite-Stateside Katrina And The Waves would be representing Team GB at the Eurovision Song Contest with Love Shine A Light, held in Dublin in 1997. Weren’t so many complaints when it went and won it though, was there! Victory at last. Again… Assisted by the Americans.
PA PhotosJemini
Year: 2003
Country: United Kingdom
Nul points? Well. That was embarrassing. Sadly, Jemini failed to capitalise on their great success of COMING IN LAST PLACE at the contest in Latvia in 2003, and split up shortly after their track Cry Baby bombed.
Getty ImagesConchita Wurst
Year: 2014
Country: Austria
Conchita is a drag queen portrayed by Tom Neuworth and his crowdpleaser hit Rise Like a Phoenix AND his beard were huge winners in the 2014 contest.
Rex FeaturesSébastien Tellier
Year: 2008
Country: France
Sébastien Tellier is possibly one of the coolest French musicians EVER, so it was a given that he'd fail miserably in Eurovision. He did. Everyone back to their seats. Bon.
Getty ImagesTwin Twin
Year: 2014
Country: France
After the terrible betrayal of Sébastien Tellier and his English version of Divine, France got back to their (bad) disco roots and gave us Moustache. Strangely one of the better offspring from Eurovision was deemed the worst song that was ever created and came last. Très mauvais.
