Waterloo Named Best Eurovision Song Ever

Last week, we ran profiles on the contestants taking part in last weekend’s Eurovision 50 celebrations - the competition that sought to find the best Eurovision song ever.

And, in possibly the least-surprising turn of events in the history of mankind, the winner of the competition was Waterloo by Abba.

For some reason, Eurovision 50 wasn’t broadcast in the UK. The BBC
claims that the competition - held to mark the 50th anniversary of the
Eurovision Song Contest - was "too remote," while some Irish
broadcasters have said that the BBC’s decision not to show Eurovision
50 stems from a decision to host the celebration in Denmark, not London.

Whatever the reason, it meant that British viewers did not get to see
the wondrous displays of talent by Johnny Logan, Brotherhood Of Man,
Dana International, Ronan Keating and Riverdance. Oh well, our loss.
We’ll get over it.

Presented by two Eurovision legends - Katrina from Katrina And The
Waves and a Latvian bloke that came third in Eurovision once - Eurovision 50 was a
show all about nostalgia and provided a chance to see all those famous Eurovision faces
on one stage again. Kind of.

Cliff Richard  - who came eighth with Congratulations - couldn’t be
bothered to turn up, but he sent a video message. Which is more than Celine Dion - who
came tenth - as she didn’t turn up at all. Nor did France Gall or,
unsurprisingly, Abba - the long-time favourites to win Eurovision with Waterloo.

Despite the anticipated no-show from Abba, the winning song Waterloo
still got performed by Huutajat - a group of thirty Finnish men who
shout and whistle rather than sing. Their version of The Star-Spangled
Banner is genuinely nightmarish, so we kind of wish we could have heard
them tackle Waterloo.

Here are the results of Eurovision 50, as voted for text messages and 31 national juries:

1 - Abba, Waterloo

2 - Domenico Modugno, Voltare

3 - Johnny Logan, Hold Me Now

4 - Helena Paparizou, My Number One

5 - Brotherhood Of Man, Save Your Kisses For Me

6 - Olsen Brothers, Fly On The Wings Of Love

7 - Nicole, Ein Bisschen Frieden

8 - Cliff Richard, Congratulations

9 - Sertab Erener, Every Way That I Can

10 - Celine Dion, Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi

11 - Mocedades, Eres Tú

12 - Johnny Logan, What’s Another Year?

13 - Dana International, Diva

14 - France Gall, Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son

Read more:

Hallo, Copenhagen Calling - Eurovision.tv

[story by Stuart Heritage]