Congratulations: Best Eurovision Song Ever: Down to the top 5!

[jawnbc]

We're in the home stretch, and look who's left:

• The only Eurovision entry to hit #1 on the US singles chart (Volare)#


• A song which takes every stereotype about her culture--particularly with respect to gender--and turns it on its ear.(Everyway Way that I Can)


• One of the biggest Spanish language singles in history, in terms of worldwide sales and chart success (Eres tu)


• A song that attracted a great deal of controversy even before its singer stepped onstage (Diva)


• The only winner that directly launched a phenomenal international career for the artist (Waterloo)
  
  Polls close in 24 hours
  [Poll #593313]
  
  And for those who aren't familiar with the songs, you can check them out by clicking below (WMA format)*:
  
  1958 - Italy - Domenico Modugno - Nel blu di pinto di blu (Volare)
  1973 - Spain - Mocedades - Eres tu
  1974 - Sweden - ABBA - Waterloo
  1998 - Israel - Dana International - Diva
  2003 - Turkey - Sertab Erener - Everyway that I can
  
  *Right click or Apple-click or Control-click and Save As will download the file to your computer
  
  #As progbear rightly pointed out, Volare didn't win...

Comments

[jawnbc]

It was a remarkable year (98) in a number of ways. it was the first time viewers voted instead of nominated, secret juries from each country. The fall of the Iron curtain and collapse of Yugoslavia meant a wave of eager countries (eager to join the EU and the West) saw the Contest not as a sort of corny culture joke (OK something of a cultural joke) but of incredible symbolic value. Those countries started sending their very best artist--pushing much of "Old Europe" to do the same.

There were nearly 10 absolutely good-to-excellent entries. They were professionally performed, staged for best TV presentation, and the net result was a revitalized contest.

Oh feck it...I'll write an entrie about it!