Soundnet looks back at Eurovision’s most memorable moments
Here are Soundnet, we were amazed last week to learn that legendary British rock ballad singer, Bonnie Tyler, will be representing the UK in this year’s Eurovision song contest in May.
In recent years, the international musical competition has become something of a novelty for British viewers, not least because political motivations seem to have quashed any hope that the UK might win.
Seeing an iconic artist like Tyler taking up the challenge for our country however, we were reminded that Eurovision hasn’t always been quite so much of an exaggerated spectacle. In fact, a surprisingly large number of well-known artists have entered the competition since it began over fifty years ago, and this week we’ve decided to dedicate the blog to some of the most memorable.
Undoubtedly the most recognised band to ever gain fame from the contest is Swedish pop sensation Abba, who won the contest in 1974 with their first ever single; ‘Waterloo.’ The enduring popularity of this pop classic, including on jukeboxes across the country, is proof that the characteristic upbeat, catchy style of the contest doesn’t have to mean bland pop songs.
Five years before Abba’s win, British treasure Lulu claimed a joint win with Spain, France and the Netherlands, singing Boom Bang-a-Bang. The song not only won the attention of Eurovision fans though, it also reached second place in the UK singles chart.
The 2000 song contest saw a surprise winner from Denmark’s Olsen Brothers, bucking the trend of young performers as two of the oldest artists to enter, with their traditional ballad, ‘Fly on the wings of love.’ What makes this entry more memorable though, is the fact it was later covered to become an international dance hit in nightclubs across Europe.
Looking ahead to this year’s competition in two months’ time, we hope that Bonnie Tyler’s entry might repeat the success of these tracks in the nation’s pubs and bars, if not in the contest itself. Who knows, perhaps one day we may even see a return to the days when Eurovision just stood for great popular music.
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