After more than five decades featuring 1,100 songs, Eurovision has become a modern tradition that’s embedded itself into Europe's collective pop psyche. With ongoing rivalries, outrageous outfits and a battle between heady Euro-pop choruses and indigenous music from around the continent, the talent show is preparing for its 58th outing.
This year, power ballad legend Bonnie Tyler will fly the flag for Britain, while Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has penned the Armenian entry.
Tyler will perform the song Believe in Me, which was written by Desmond Child, Lauren Christy and Christopher Braide, and produced by David Huff.
Eurovision Top 10 facts:
1. Sixties songstress Sandie Shaw gave the UK its first win in 1967 with Puppet on a String. The famously barefoot star may not have been keen on the song but its fairground sound triumphed on the night. It also gave Sandie her third and final UK number one hit.
2. Cliff Richard’s involvement with not one but two Eurovisions must surely be among the reasons he was knighted! His 1968 entry Congratulations placed second and is still a favourite at weddings and anniversaries. There has been speculation in recent years that the voting was rigged in Spain’s favour for political reasons though these claims were later withdrawn. Cliff popped up again in 1973 with Power to All Our Friends which came third. Read our feature on writing of Congratulations here.
3. Another sixties pop princess Lulu was the second UK winner with the unforgettably catchy Boom Bang-a-Bang though she had to share the title with Spain, France and the Netherlands in a four way tie. The title and “oompah” feel of the 1969 song became synonymous with Eurovision for years to come.
4. Super Swedes ABBA made their global debut in 1974 with Waterloo at the Brighton Dome. Although, worryingly, the UK gave the foursome no votes, other countries thankfully saw a future pop phenomenon on the horizon!
5. Brotherhood of Man were the third UK act to take home the prize with the highly infectious Save Your Kisses for Me and its eye-catching dance routine. This 1976 winner remains one of the biggest selling Eurovision singles of all time. Read the story behind that song - an the dance routine - here.
6. Ireland’s Johnny Logan is the only performer to win Eurovision twice. The balladeer was victorious in 1980 with What’s Another Year and then did it again in 1987 with Hold Me Now. He even composed Ireland’s 1992 winner Why Me? for Linda Martin.
7. Bucks Fizz were put together especially for the competition and didn’t disappoint when Making Your Mind Up triumphed in 1981. The performance will of course always be remembered for that infamous mid-song costume change!
8. Katrina and the Waves, at the time known chiefly for their mid-eighties classic Walking on Sunshine, seemed like an odd choice in 1997. However Love Shine a Light became the UK’s fifth and sadly most recent winner to date. It even broke records on the night with a then unprecedented 227 points.
9. Israel’s Dana International became Eurovision’s first transgender winner in 1998 with Diva. Dana caused chaos at the ceremony in Birmingham following her win, keeping Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson waiting after deciding on an impromptu change of dress backstage.
10. Finnish monster rockers Lordi roared to first place with Hard Rock Hallelujah in 2006 giving Eurovision its debut heavy metal winner. The scary looking bunch have since scored five number one hits in their native country.
The contest takes place on 18 May in Malmö, Sweden, and will be broadcast live on BBC One with commentary by Graham Norton.
This year, power ballad legend Bonnie Tyler will fly the flag for Britain, while Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has penned the Armenian entry.
Tyler will perform the song Believe in Me, which was written by Desmond Child, Lauren Christy and Christopher Braide, and produced by David Huff.
Eurovision Top 10 facts:
1. Sixties songstress Sandie Shaw gave the UK its first win in 1967 with Puppet on a String. The famously barefoot star may not have been keen on the song but its fairground sound triumphed on the night. It also gave Sandie her third and final UK number one hit.
2. Cliff Richard’s involvement with not one but two Eurovisions must surely be among the reasons he was knighted! His 1968 entry Congratulations placed second and is still a favourite at weddings and anniversaries. There has been speculation in recent years that the voting was rigged in Spain’s favour for political reasons though these claims were later withdrawn. Cliff popped up again in 1973 with Power to All Our Friends which came third. Read our feature on writing of Congratulations here.
3. Another sixties pop princess Lulu was the second UK winner with the unforgettably catchy Boom Bang-a-Bang though she had to share the title with Spain, France and the Netherlands in a four way tie. The title and “oompah” feel of the 1969 song became synonymous with Eurovision for years to come.
4. Super Swedes ABBA made their global debut in 1974 with Waterloo at the Brighton Dome. Although, worryingly, the UK gave the foursome no votes, other countries thankfully saw a future pop phenomenon on the horizon!
5. Brotherhood of Man were the third UK act to take home the prize with the highly infectious Save Your Kisses for Me and its eye-catching dance routine. This 1976 winner remains one of the biggest selling Eurovision singles of all time. Read the story behind that song - an the dance routine - here.
6. Ireland’s Johnny Logan is the only performer to win Eurovision twice. The balladeer was victorious in 1980 with What’s Another Year and then did it again in 1987 with Hold Me Now. He even composed Ireland’s 1992 winner Why Me? for Linda Martin.
7. Bucks Fizz were put together especially for the competition and didn’t disappoint when Making Your Mind Up triumphed in 1981. The performance will of course always be remembered for that infamous mid-song costume change!
8. Katrina and the Waves, at the time known chiefly for their mid-eighties classic Walking on Sunshine, seemed like an odd choice in 1997. However Love Shine a Light became the UK’s fifth and sadly most recent winner to date. It even broke records on the night with a then unprecedented 227 points.
9. Israel’s Dana International became Eurovision’s first transgender winner in 1998 with Diva. Dana caused chaos at the ceremony in Birmingham following her win, keeping Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson waiting after deciding on an impromptu change of dress backstage.
10. Finnish monster rockers Lordi roared to first place with Hard Rock Hallelujah in 2006 giving Eurovision its debut heavy metal winner. The scary looking bunch have since scored five number one hits in their native country.
The contest takes place on 18 May in Malmö, Sweden, and will be broadcast live on BBC One with commentary by Graham Norton.
