The Eurovision Song Contest All-Time Favourites: 10 Songs That Got Away!

Back in the bad old days when I found it impossible to predict the ESC winners (I hardly got any right!), I seem to be totally at odds with the rest of Europe in my choices! However, I have gradually learnt to deal with that vast diversity of countries taking part and have gradually seen the songs with their eyes.

There have been some amazingly beautiful songs that never saw the light of day, songs that should have been No.1 (as far as I was concerned), songs that moved me, even though I couldn't understand a word of of them, and songs that still thrill me to listen to years later. I would like to share them with you and have put them in my all time favourite list.

All Time List of ESC Songs That Didn't Quite Make It
(For any translation of these songs and further information about them, this site is excellent. It lists them by both year and country for easy navigation: Diggiloo. PHOTOS courtesy of http://www.eurovisioncovers.co.uk (a simple but excellent archive site for the Eurovision).


1. Denmark 1995: Aud Wilken....singing Fra Mols Til Skagen (My all-time BEST of the runners-up. Simply beautiful! and sung so well, yet It was placed 5th of 23 in that year's contest)


2. Switzerland 1981: Peter, Sue and Marc....singing Io Senza Te (A stirring, engaging song, which had tons of competition and was placed 4th of 18)


3. Austria 1964: Udo Jurgens....singing Warum Nur Warum (A delightful little ballad which was rendered by one of the most beautiful male voices I've heard. Placed 6th of 16)


4. Germany 1886: Ingrid Peters....singing Über Die Brücke Geh'n (There's something about the rhythm of this song that just reaches the parts other songs can't reach! Placed 8th of 20)


5. Spain 1973: Mocedades....singing Eres Tu (A beautiful song which actually came second -of 17- to France by just 4 points! Pity.)


6. Sweden 1995: Jan Johansen....singing Se Pa Mig (Absolutely scrumptious - and I don't just mean the song! :o) Placed 3rd of 23.)


7. Turkey 1993: Burak Aydos....singing Esmer Yarim (They were robbed that night! Great song which keeps me dancing in the aisles. Placed only 21st of 25. Shocking!)


8. United Kingdom 1963: Ronnie Carroll....singing Say Wonderful Things To Me This went on to become a major hit but didn't seem to cut the mustard at the Eurovision being placed 4th of 16! Lovely song.)


9. Italy 1958: Domenico Modugno....singing Nel blu dipinto di blu (Volare) (Made internationally famous later on by Dean Martin, and won two Grammys, this one should have come tops but managed 3rd place of 10. But who remembers the other two above him?)


10. Italy 1988: Luca Barbarossa....singing Vivo (Ti scrivo) (Great song and singer - Mama mia! I was bowled over by this one but it came only 12th of 21. There's something about italian that always gets me! :o)

Now that's my selection, but which ones would be your favourite?