Eurovision Song Contest winners
History
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition, held primarily among the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The contest has been broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1956, making it one of the longest-running television shows in the world. It is also one of the most-watched non-sporting events globally, with audience figures having been quoted in recent years as anything between 100 million and 600 million internationally.
Format
Each participating country submits an original song to be performed on live television and radio, then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the winner. These votes are cast by a combination of professional juries and televoting from each participating country. The country with the highest number of votes is declared the winner.
Winners
Over the years, the Eurovision Song Contest has had a diverse range of winners, from solo artists to groups, from ballads to pop songs. Some winners have gone on to have successful international careers, while others have faded into obscurity.
1950s
The first Eurovision Song Contest was held in 1956, and the winner was Switzerland with the song "Refrain" performed by Lys Assia. This marked the beginning of a tradition that continues to this day.
1960s
The 1960s saw a variety of winners, including France's Jacqueline Boyer with "Tom Pillibi" in 1960, and the United Kingdom's Sandie Shaw with "Puppet on a String" in 1967. The decade also saw the first win for a non-European country, with Israel's Dana International taking the crown in 1969 with "Diva".
1970s
The 1970s were a decade of change for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the introduction of the new voting system. This decade saw winners such as Luxembourg's Vicky Leandros with "Après Toi" in 1972, and Sweden's ABBA with "Waterloo" in 1974, a song that went on to become a global hit and launch the band's international career.
1980s
The 1980s saw a mix of winners, from Germany's Nicole with "Ein bißchen Frieden" in 1982, to Ireland's Johnny Logan with "Hold Me Now" in 1987. Logan became the first and only artist to win the contest twice, having previously won in 1980.
1990s
The 1990s saw a range of winners, from Italy's Toto Cutugno with "Insieme: 1992" in 1990, to Sweden's Charlotte Nilsson with "Take Me to Your Heaven" in 1999. This decade also saw the first win for a non-European country, with Israel's Dana International taking the crown in 1998 with "Diva".
2000s
The 2000s saw a variety of winners, from Denmark's Olsen Brothers with "Fly on the Wings of Love" in 2000, to Norway's Alexander Rybak with "Fairytale" in 2009. This decade also saw the first win for a country from the former Soviet Union, with Ukraine's Ruslana taking the crown in 2004 with "Wild Dances".
2010s
The 2010s saw a mix of winners, from Germany's Lena with "Satellite" in 2010, to the Netherlands' Duncan Laurence with "Arcade" in 2019. This decade also saw the first win for a country from the former Yugoslavia, with Serbia's Marija Šerifović taking the crown in 2007 with "Molitva".
2020s
The 2020s have just begun, and the first winner of the decade was Italy's Måneskin with "Zitti e buoni" in 2021.
Impact and Legacy
The Eurovision Song Contest has had a significant impact on popular music in Europe and beyond. It has launched the careers of many successful artists, and its songs have often become hits in their own right. The contest has also been a platform for promoting cultural diversity and unity among European nations.