TOP 10: Winning Eurovision Songs
Since 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest has enchanted all of Europe and beyond. In the last decade, Americans have started to fall under the spell of the spectacle of Eurovision. And now that it livestreams on Peacock, it’s even easier for more Americans to watch!
The 2025 Eurovision finale will broadcast Saturday, May 17. So far 72 songs have won the previous 68 contests (there was a four-way tie in 1969 and the 2020 contest was cancelled for obvious reasons). I discovered Eurovision in 2011-ish when a friend, during a break between classes in grad school, showed me the absolute circus of a performance that was by Verka Serduchka, Ukraine’s entry for the 2007. It was the runner-up that year, so it won’t feature in this list, but you MUST watch that performance.
And that’s part of what makes Eurovision what it is: the performances! They are camp, they are stoic, they are a spectacle! Go check out the songs from my ranking from the 2024 Contest (and at least find the performances of “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” by Baby Lasagna and “Doomsday Blue” by Bambi Thug).
Below find my rankings of the best songs to win the Eurovision Song Contest. The way I have hemmed and hawed over these! I’m not sure that I’m solidified on this ranking, but I’m very late on my (self-imposed) deadline and the GPCD Powers That Be are cruel and unusual when we miss our (self-imposed) deadlines.
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10. “Viva Cantando” by Salomé (1969, Spain)
1969 was the year of four winners because they didn’t have a way to break ties yet, so instead of fighting to the death (that’s the only correct response, obviously) they crowned the United Kingdom AND the Netherlands AND France AND Spain, and for my money, “Viva Cantando” (I Live Singing) is the winner. It’s a song about the bodily desire to be near a new love and how they have brought excitement to their life. It’s got a fun beat and two key changes, and you know the gays love a key change.
9. “The Code” by Nemo (2024, Switzerland)
The most recent winner and our first non-binary winner! This song moves from lovely pop fare, to some heavy breathing, to an operatic aria, and into a rap. Nemo crafted a wonderful song about living outside of the binary and loving themself for exactly who they are, and standing in their power.
8. “Molitva” by Marija Šerifović (2007, Serbia)
This was the song that beat “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” in 2007, and I was aghast. But over the last 18 years I have grown as a person, and listening to the sapphic Serbian lyrics, I have realized the song truly is a lovely prayer (the English translation of the word molitva). A mournful, prayerful song about missing a lover, a partner. The song builds in its intensity and ends softly. It really is the best of 2007 and one of the best of the contest.
7. “Rise Like a Phoenix” by Conchita Wurst (2014, Austria)
This song had quite the moment when it was released and won. It’s got a very Bond theme feel (try not thinking about Adele’s “Skyfall” as you listen to this power ballad) and it earns every moment of it. It’s a direct confrontation to a person that hurt you. “I will rise like a phoenix/But you’re my flame.” Telling your abuser that you’re not going to seek revenge, but retribution, can be a powerful and soul-shaking feeling. It’s a great and powerful song you need to add to your Power Playlist.
6. “Fångad av en stormvind” by Carola (1991, Sweden)
All the fun of an ‘80s power dance song with a burgeoning ‘90s feel. It’s a great song about getting swept up in the delight of a new love. “I am caught in a storm wind/Fixed for you/Nothing can stop me/When it blows in my heart.” Add it to your dance party mix right next to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and it’ll fit right in. Also a key change…because I’m gay.
5. “Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley” by Herreys (1984, Sweden)
This song is honestly just pure fun. Life is going well and you’ve got a sweet pair of kicks (golden high tops). It’s not deep. It’s not serious. It just a damn bop that makes me feel good. Good enough to maybe buy some golden high tops myself.
4. “Waterloo” by ABBA (1974, Sweden)
Arguably the most famous song to have won Eurovision. I know you’ve heard of ABBA and I know you’ve heard this song. It’s a true bop that you need to add to every dance mix you’ve ever created. What more needs to be said?
3. “What’s Another Year” by Johnny Logan (1980, Ireland)
Time to slow things down a bit and introduce a song by Mr. Eurovision himself, the first person to win Eurovision twice as a singer, and the only person to have won Eurovision three times at all (the third time was as a songwriter). Let’s get a little sad as we listen to Johnny Logan. A song opining about waiting for the love of your life, and you’ve been waiting this long so…what’s another year of waiting? (Logan was 25 when he won with this song and already married, so what does he know, really?)
2. “Euphoria” by Loreen (2012, Sweden)
Let’s bring things back up and dance for joy. It’s another song about the joy of love. A song by the second person to win Eurovision twice, Loreen’s dance hit “Euphoria” is a song about the euphoria of falling in love and finding your person. You know what? Add this song next to Carolina and Whitney Houston, too.
Honorable Mentions
I needed to add these songs somewhere. They’re essential. And maybe they should have been Top 10, but alas. Fight about it in the comments.
“Refrain” by Lys Assia (1956, Switzerland)
The original. The first.
“Poupée de cire, poupée de son” by France Gall (1965, Luxembourg)
Tune in this year for another Luxembourgish song about being a doll.
“A-Ba-Ni-Bi” by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta (1978, Israel)
A children’s word game turned winner.
“Only Teardrops” by Emmelie de Forst (2013, Denmark)
Hey y’all. Let’s have some peace, please. Stop being dicks.
“Zitti e buoni” by Måneskin (2021, Italy)
The rare rock song to win Eurovision
“Ne partez pas sans moi” by Céline Dion (1988, Switzerland)
If I’m wishwashy about the order of the previous nine songs (and five honorables), there is no question to me about the BEST song to win. This song is going to end up on my Spotify Wrapped this year, and I’m thrilled. “Ne partez pas sans moi” (Don’t Leave Without Me) by Céline Dion - yes THAT Céline Dion, the same woman that made the world sob when she sang atop the Eiffel Tower at the 2024 Olympics - won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988 when she was 20 years old. That voice was as powerful then singing about not wanting her spaceman lover to leave her behind, as she was when she sang about the Titanic sinking, or how she drove all night, or about how when you touch her like this. Add this damn song to your Day Time Céline Dance Parties (I know you have them like a red-blooded human person like the rest of us) and fall in love with her even more.
What are some of your favorite Eurovision songs or performances? Drop them in the comments.
