With the announcement of this year’s Eurovision Top 250 results shortly, we want to tell you all who our all time Eurovision favourites are. In this series, our editors will be looking closely at their Top 3 entries (the ones that got 8, 10, and 12 Points) and will also provide their honourable mentions (a song they really like, but did not make their ESC 250 list). Today, it is Lisa’s (@birdy87) turn to let you know who she voted for in this year’s edition of #ESC250.
Lisa: Bops ’til you drop!
Last year in my #ESC250 I made it clear it’s 100bpms or bust when it comes to my music taste. But my taste is as turbulent as my pulse on the dance floor. Which means this year I wanted to bring more of my favourites to the fore. So I went on an elaborate mission involving a spreadsheet, to work out what my top three favourites from every competing nation are and then whittled it down until I had ten of the best I regularly return to. With that in mind, get your banger klaxon ready as we delve into what should be on the next Eurovision party playlist when we’re allowed to meet again!
Below and just missing out on my #ESC250 top 3 are:
- 🇪🇪 1 Point – Urban Symphony – Rändajad (Estonia 2009)
- 🇳🇴 2 Points – Stella Mwangi – Haba Haba (Norway 2011)
- 🇪🇸 3 Points – Beth – Dime (Spain 2003)
- 🇧🇬 4 Points – Poli Genova – If Love Was A Crime (Bulgaria 2016)
- 🇨🇾 5 Points – Tamta – Replay (Cyprus 2019)
- 🇨🇾 6 Points – Eleni Foureira (Cyprus 2018)
- 🇳🇴 7 Points – KEiiNO – Spirit In The Sky (Norway 2019)
🇦🇿 8 Points – Efendi – Cleopatra (Azerbaijan 2020)
Let it be known that I could have easily put five 2020 entries in my list. However, I make it an unofficial rule that I’m only allowed one from the current year. So it is ‘Cleopatra’ that gets that lucky honour. Ever since ‘Always’ I’ve been dying for Azerbaijan to become the ‘Land of Bangers’ again, and wow Efendi doesn’t disappoint! From the bassline and chanty chorus that could resurrect the ancient pharaohs. To the choreography that was ready for the Eurovision stage. It is such a shame we will never know what the true potential of this amazing entry could have been. All I ask is that the section from the instrumental break, bridge and final chorus is played at my funeral.
🇨🇾 10 Points – Ivi Adamou – La La Love (Cyprus 2012)
“Everybody dance!” Indeed! Ivi finishing only 16th is quite frankly criminal. This has everything I need in a song. Simple catchy lyrics I can lose my voice to at Eurovision parties and a hip-shaking thumping beat that brings the sun into any dreary British day. It is relentless from start to finish and I come back to it so often that it now outdoes ‘Euphoria’ for me. That breakdown and fierce choreography is up there as some of the best ten seconds in Eurovision. The Mediterranean duo of Greece and Cyprus are at their best when they send female bangers, as my votes show!
🇮🇸 Honourable mention: Silvia Night – Congratulations (Iceland 2006)
Yes, there have been many attempts to send up Eurovision and not take the competition too seriously. But the likes of Dschinghis Khan only walked so Silvia Night could run. Nobody has embraced method acting and their character role in the way Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir did. Only someone with true dedication to the art of performance could get themselves booed before a note is sung! Not sure if it was the blasphemy, swearing or this infamous rant that gave the Greeks a sense of humour bypass, but this entry will always live rent free in my mind.
🇺🇦 12 Points – Ruslana – Wild Dances (Ukraine 2004)
This is simply the perfect Eurovision song to me. From Ruslana being possessed by some Ukrainian spirit of the forest, to the costumes, choreography and that opening call to arms with the horn intro. Maybe Ruslana had been watching too much Xena: Warrior Princess like me! But it is there to brace you for impact of three minutes of infectious energy, as the drum beats become your new life force. “Just maybe, I’m crazy”, is arguably the best opening lyric in Eurovision and so prophetic. Although my ranking doesn’t show it, Ukraine are easily my favourite nation in Eurovision for constantly delivering the beats, as well as the creative staging and revamps! I could have easily filled my whole #ESC250 top 10 with their entries.
What do you think of Lisa’s votes for this year’s #ESC250? Let us know! Next time it is the turn of Tim to share his favourite Eurovision entries.
Stay up to date by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! As well as subscribing to our YouTube channel. Where you can watch our reactions to the news in the upcoming months. You can also follow our Spotify for more music from your favourite acts!
