I’m American, so I don’t have a dog in the fight, but I just think the concept of Eurovision as a whole is just so iconic and kinda wholesome. I love how a whole continent agreed to an annual singing competition. It’s the kind of whimsy the world needs more of, in my opinion. I hope to stream it next year if possible!
As a german... 29 years old now... i can't remeber anybody hating Lena for Satellite? Germany is still immensly proud of her and what she gave us with her win. Lena herself had a lot of highs and lows since, but Satellite is still a beloved classic here and she is still seen as a star here.
the german 'press' (bild etc.) were really nasty about her around 2011. because being a young successful woman obviously means she's arrogant and needs to be knocked down a peg. also, they made ludicrous claims about how disappointing her 2011 performance supposedly was. i'm glad it's stopped but man, she was like 19? 20? must have been horrible for her
@ yeah she was 18 years old starting in 2010. Pretty embarrassing of the shitty papers like BILD to build up controversies… but that’s what they make money with x)
Okay so i am german too, and there was a time where everybody (at least around me) was just so sick of this song that we would say "we hate it" mabey someone would also say "we hate her". But i dont think it was really meant against her, it was this really awful, but mind sticking Song. Hearing that literally over a thousand times, i even had to play it in school music lessons - horrible. Even today i know at least the chorus word for word and i really tried to get away from this song back then. But you are right, i too know nobody personaly who really had something against her and germany was & is sure proud of her win.
Alexander Rybak was huge after the Eurovision in so many countries. This boy had everything - catchy song, cool dance, pretty face and even a violin. So yes, not a surprising win but still an iconic one.
Also, it still regularly pops up in the top20 monthly videos on the official ESC channel. This song is still in the zeitgeist. That alone is an accomplishment.
That’s who I’ve been thinking of!! I’ve sat racking my brain trying to think who it was! Gabe is better looking tho 😍😁 Edit: I hadn’t got to Gabe saying this in the vid when I posted. Don’t ban me please! 😂
I'm a Finn and I was 11 at the time in 2006. Before that we had a saying that Hell freezes over before Finland wins Eurovision. It was unreal watching Finland finally getting 12 points over and over again, the commentators were going totally nuts.
I contend that if Eurovision happened before the hockey olympic final, this would've been their pump up song and Finland would've won that final against Sweden.
I was a 100% sure Europe was not ready for monsters playing heavy rock, put I thought it was great and so much fun we were sending them. Them winning was INSANE. Never ever did I expect that could happen. I also really loved Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät as a representative, but sadly they weren't appreciated amongst Europeans. I guess Eurovision wasn't ready for punk rock. They SLAPPED.
I got really mad they lost 2023. It lost to a cover of all things which I thought you guys didn't even permit into Eurovision....you got robbed that year hands down. While not a genre I really listen to, that song was genuinely good. But Japan can't vote so I will just sit in my corner now and wish you had won that year.
@@Pippis78 Actually if I heard correctly, apparently if they had counted only the public votes, PKN would have made it to the finals. But as per usual, the jury votes ruined it.
@@Ombby Oh yeah! I think that's right! I do think jurys are a good thing, but there should be better standards to who are chosen into the jurys. They're full of tv bosses and celebrities who understand nothing about music. And different music genres don't get representation.
While I'm not 100% sure why you didn't go in chronological order and I certainly disagree with some (maybe a lot) of your takes, this was still fun to watch/listen to.
Specific disagreements that stood out enough to remember after watching the whole thing: * Quite a few of your takes seemed to have more to do with recent politics than songs, let alone within the context of their original release * Given your almost violent denouncement of Azerbaijan's rigging of the popular vote, why aren't you as rabidly against the clear rigging of the jury vote for Loreen's Tattoo? * I may be missing something, but I don't see the impact of Euphoria that you see... unless you mean it's the clearest breaking point after which the contest stopped pretending to be a song contest? But even then, I'd argue there were precedents... Personally, I'd say, Rise like a Phoenix and even Molitva deserve the S ranking more than Euphoria does. * I personally always found Ruslana's wild dances cringe, even when it came out; I'd rate it a lot lower... then again, off the top of my head I can't come up with a suggestion that should've won instead of it (I don't remember that year's contest very well) Things I agree with the most: * Dima Bilan was (and probably still is) obnoxious. It doesn't help that that song in particular wasn't worth the level of arrogance he exuded. I'm glad I'm not the only one that has this kind of reaction to him xD * Sobral's song was awesome and absolutely deserved to win as it did. Also, while his infamous comment was poorly worded, the dude had a point :P * Kalush Orchestra's Stefania was win-worthy even without the political situation, despite it being hard to decouple the two. Bonus points for it not being sung in English.
@@lemonZzzzs How was Tattoo clearly rigged? We have actual evidence that Azerbaijan rigged their popular votes up until 2014 but we have no proof that there was any rigging for Loreen's Tattoo. And no, ABBA's 50th anniversary just so they could put on that ungodly AI hologram of ABBA is not proof
@@lemonZzzzs Re: Tattoo winning in 2023, as Gabe said, Loreen/Käärijä debate has been done to death, so he was not going to cover it again. Having said that, Käärijä is setting off on his second European tour today! He was on fire last night too in Helsinki and is first and foremost a live artist.
I don't think I've ever been happier in front of a TV than when Finland won in 2006 ... or more disappointed than when Finland didn't win in 2023. I'm not even Finnish.
I was furious when Finland lost. It was extremely clear who the crowd wanted to win. Graham had to tell the crowd to calm down because they were singing cha cha cha while points were being awarded! I feel like the viewers and the juries haven't aligned in recent years and that makes it feel like the public vote doesn't really matter. :(
Estonia 2001 has always given me the vibe of a scene from a comedy where a man is trying to bond with his teenage stepson by taking him out for karaoke where they both realize that they love the same cheesy song. I have no idea how it won, but I’m so glad it did.
As a German person I don’t remember anyone hating Satellite. Slightly overplayed, sure. But I (and everyone I know who cares for Eurovision) remember it quite fondly. And yes the accent was a choice xD but I can’t bring myself to care and she laid that off since.
Alexander Rybak C tier ARE YOU KIDDING ?!! I loved this song without knowing it was Eurovision winner ! I was so proud for Lordi. I was 15 and new in metal culture and listening to the old french grumpies in my small city screaming "SCANDAL !!" or asking "Where Jesus is when we need him" was pure joy and happiness ! I had goosebumps with Conchita Wurst ! The stage ?! Wow Manneskin S tier, no debate !
Abuse as requested: I completely agree that Marija Šerifović deserved to win in 2007, that performance was so ahead of its time. But to say no other song that year would have been a deserving winner is sieben, sieben very rude.
Jamala deserved her win, but if anyone was robbed that year it was Australia - Europe wasn’t ready for Australia’s participation back then and that was reflected by a poor televote. Sound of Silence still sounds as relevant now as it did back then.
Fairytale in C tier, damn! I get that it's your opinion, that's cool. But you complimented some winners on their legacy and impact on Eurovision as a whole, so you do factor that in... But then you seem to totally brush off the legacy of Fairytale as one of the most popular winners ever, that has remained very beloved and continues to introduce people to Eurovision! I think you talked through your reasoning for most placements very well but you didn't justify C tier for Fairytale so much. (edit: love your vids tho, no hate)
Rybak is one of the few winners who STILL appear on ESC most played songs nearly every month! Grouping him together with Olson Brothers, and having Heroes and Teardrops above him is absolutely criminal.
Poland 1994 was quite close to that but the singer decided to sing partly in English during the 2nd rehearsal and since it was against the rules back then, it cost Poland several points and the No.1 spot. Till this day no one knows if this was a diva behaviour from the singer or a secret ploy of the Polish broadcaster to escape the win and organising next year, as they couldn't afford that.
@@erinnadia0409 Mess & chaos seems to be the modus operandi in the Polish delegation. Has been for the last decade at least. If there is no huge overhaul of the concept and the organisation of the preselection, there won't be any results, I'm afraid. Established artists will stay away from this dumpster fire, and new artists from independent brands (which tend to be were new talent in Poland starts) won't be able to afford such risky participation. In effect we too often get starlets backed by big labels who can throw money on production and promotion to cover the shortcomings of their inexperienced singers (sometimes, as with Blanka, it works, and sometimes, as with Luna, it doesn't). Also, there hasn't been a single year when the rules and format of Polish preselections didn't change from year to year (sometimes it's internal, sometimes it is part of "Szansa na Sukces" contest, sometimes they make separate public preselections, and no consistent point awarding systems either). They also usually start to give info in January or so (!), with unspecific song submission usually open in November, which leaves hardly any time to actually prepare the performance for the big stage (this is no Sweden, where the performers enter with more or less finished stage concept and production). The only thing Poland has of good quality, are Eurovision media (Misja Eurowizja, eurowizja.org, Dziennik Eurowizyjny, Dobry Wieczór Europo) and the Polish chapter of OGAE (OGAE Polska also run the eurowizja.org page).
They had been associated with the contest since the early 60s as Yugoslavia and participated as Serbia and Montenegro. It may have been "Serbia's" first entry under that name but it certainly wasn't their first time.
@@ashleyfry1976 I am from Serbia and whilst Molitva was welcomed as winner it never felt it was our first entry on ESC. That was Ljiljana Petrović's song in 1961
No, Stefania, Zitti e Buoni and Fairytale are absolutely S tier! I join the choir of other comments here. Fairytale is massive song with massive impact. Stefania is amazing, Oleh has a great flow, Tymofii's voice is great, the song is put together well and the song easily has life after the show. If you understand a tiny bit Ukrainian it becomes even better. Zitti e Buoni has a combination of the above and brought back the interest in eurovision of rock and metal fans. Also Z-tier is generous for Running scared. Truly aweful.
I agree with a lot of your takes, but the one i simply have to mention is 2009. That song is possibly the best song in eurovision history and still keeps a spot in the top 5 most listened to songs consistantly, even 15 years later. Rybak is a eurovision legend and has to be in S tier.
Alexander Rybak introduced me to Eurovision. A few months later, I witnessed Emmelie de Forest taking the win. This year, Nemo won. What do these three winners all have in common? They all broke their trophies.
as someone who is half estonian and half ukranian, thank you for explaining the true meaning and evolution of Jamala's - 1944. It had a true impact on so many people and is relevant especially in 2024. ❤
Completely disagree with Wild Dances being "angrier" than "Everyway that i can". Ruslana is smiling and having so much fun on that stage while Sertab is filled with conflicted and possible angry emotions during her performance. Wild dances punches more soundwise probably, but the performance is just childlike happiness 😊
as a russian i wanna say that Bilan's performance looks like the most tryhard thing to me 💀 like they said "let's cram as many popular guys on stage as we can". it's funny as fuck but i was only 8 at the time so i thought it was cool back then... honestly an iconic flop so it should be remember
Hey Gabe! Really love your videos and would consider myself a eurovision enthusiast. A bit of feedback on what I think would make the videos even better: With you knowing all of the gossip around the contest, you tend to assume I as a viewer also know and reference things without explanation. In this video for example mentioning "the statement" from salvador - I remember there being some drama, but forgot the specifics. Same goes for how Duncan mishandled someone in 2023 at 17:30. Both seem like things that can be explained in one sentence for enthusiasts like me that dont remember all the gossip. Other channels on differen topics i.e. 'explain' stuff by putting a screenshot of an article headline briefly on screen that the viewer can pause to read to not drag out the length of the video
Appreciate your opinion to Lena (and I am from Germany) and trust when I say when „satellite“ is being played in a club, everybody dances and sings along. :)
@ oh well there is a HUGE backstory of Lena between her victory in 2010 and 2011 in terms of her public perception (she was treated rather badly). But that is so long ago. Nowadays especially satellite is honestly remembered fondly of
@@escgabe She didn't talk to biggest german tabloid BILD (same as her mentor Stefan Raab did), so they were especially invested in painting her in a negative light. That coupled with her way of reacting to stupid or dull questions in press conferences made it easy to paint her as smug and not likeable. I would say that changed from 2012 on (coinciding with her split from her mentor and from then on cowriting her songs) and since then she is a successful artist in Germany.
to make a case about Latvia 2002: this song feels like it belongs in the context of the early 00's (unlike some others in that period), plus I don't see many people talking about the artist's great on-stage charisma, her face expressions totally pump energy to the performance, it's kinda underrated by the fandom IMO
I'd never seen/heard it before (was living in a non-EU country at the time) ... so I watched the video on RUclips. I quite like it! I rated it as a solid C ... better than, for example, Duncan Lawrence (D), Alexander Rybak (E) and Salvador Sobral (Z). Edit: no, I changed my mind ... it's a B 🙂.
Yeah. I agree. This is so underrated, but for 2002 it was a great performance and the song is actually catchy! It was a bit ahead of its time, because it literally feels like a cross between Dancing with the Stars and Eurovision.
Same. I think it's such a fun and uplifting song. And I also don't know anyone who didn't like it back then ... People disliked the fact that it was played 1000 times a day on the radio, but not the song itself.
As a metalhead who studied jazz in college, I'm glad you share my opinions on Amar Pelos Dois and Hard Rock Hallelujah, I actually discovered Eurovision and became a fan because I loved Finnish metal like Nightwish, Insomnium, and of course Lordi
Fairytale is S tier and Alexander is a Eurovision icon. Salvador's win and his following comments made me feel genuine rage. Finland should have won in 2023 but i am glad that Sweden got stuck with organizing the contest in the end.
Tattoo isnt a bad song, but personally her delivery irked me so much. Dunno - didnt like the harmony at all especially with the weird pauses in her singing, and it was far less fun and memorable than Finnland in both song and overall presentation..
It felt bland to me, and absolutely not deserved when there were other great entries that year. Just, pure “oh yeah we liked this gal last time” vibes ugh
9:07 the ice scater is Evgeni Plushenco , four-time Olimpic champion, three-time World champion and seven -time European champion. For us who follow figure skating it was a pleasant surprise.
@@ChrolliForever I've heard way worse songs since the first time I started watching ESC (early 80s). Isn't hate a strong word for someone you've never met?
Strangely enough the song that won the contest that I personally love the most is 1995's Nocturne by Secret Garden. I absolutely adore the sound of a well-played violin, and Nocturne is just magical in every aspect. It's also why I really like Fairytale. The instrumentation on that entry is just on a whole other level
Yes, phonograms were forbidden so you had live orchestras with conductors. If I remember correctly, one of our (Estonia) conductors was voted as the orchestra's favorites.
Funniest part about Lordis win was the absolute insane panning and slander Lordi got as devil worshipers from Finnish press before the win and then the brutal whiplash after the win when it became the national achievement :D
It's interesting that there's been a rewriting of history with 1944, cause that's the song that made me realise that damn, Eurovision actually has good music and made me a eurofan.
Yes! I'm shocked to hear that some people were disappointed with her winning... I was shaken to my core when I first saw it, nothing else that year mattered to me. The staging itself is so beautiful and powerful, it's true art. Jamala's voice in this song sounds truly heartbroken, that was the first time I saw my father cry watching ESC (there was a second time many years later)
I laughed when you declared your love for Estonias winner, that's so precious. Sometimes love defies all rhyme and reason... I also absolutely love how much you hate Running Scared. I'm still fuming all these years later
As a German, whose first Eurovision was 2010, I don't remember there being any hate towards Satellite. Maybe it was overplayed, but I remember it still being adored by everyone and Lena is considered to be somewhat of a national treasure. Though for me personally, I prefer her song from 2011 (and also everything she has released afterwards). Also, putting Fairytale in C-Tier is a crime.
I will NEVER understand the hype of Euphoria. Never ever ever. Booooriiiinggg. Tbh 2010-2012 was a roughhh time to be a eurovision fan bc of thew winning songs. And justice for Margarewt Berger!!!! Forever my winnerrrr
As a Portuguese, I can only thank you for the way you spoke about our entry. We fell in love with it in 2017 in FdC and are so grateful that Europe also fell in love with it!
As a Swede, I absolutely agree regarding Loreen's 'Tattoo' entry. It felt like Sweden was riding on the Euphoria hype and the song, as well as the set, felt like it tried to replicate Euphoria as much as possible without it being a cannibalizing carbon copy. I can't believe you didn't say 'It was nowhere in the odds until it rose like a pheonix as soon as we saw it live' when talking about Conchita's entry though!
Anyways my S tier songs - 2004 Ukraine - When the craziness started. - 2005 Greece - Still very popular at Balkans - 2006 Finland - 180 degrees turn from previous years - 2014 Austria - Such an epic and impactful moment - 2017 Portugal - Out of the would performance and last but not least - 2024 Switzerland - Against all odds, beating massive fanfavorite, and televoting organised song, just by pure quality. Another epic moment like with Austria 2014 which none of other competing songs had - and it was one of the strongest years if anyone ask me.
As a portuguese a love the fact despite people constantly hating on Salvador Sobral, He still holds the record for most points (758), and on top of that he won both the Jury and the Public vote! And on top of that he still manages to win 2 Marcel Bezençon Awards (Artistic Award & Composer Award)!! Literally no other winner accomplish that since him.
if you shoot against the ESC community you will get hate. I think he did a lot of damage with trashing the event as cheap circus. even if thats actually true, he first used it to his own benefit and after distanced himself and felt too good for it. thats arrogant.
As a Brazilian, I must say I’m probably biased when I say this is my favorite winner ever. I actually feel sorry non-Portuguese speakers will never understand how beautifully simple and deep Amar Pelos Dois is. It was my birthday when he won and I remember screaming and crying. The following year, I was in Lisbon for my first Eurovision in person.
@@igor_patrick I can understand that. As a Serb I feel the same for Incorpore sano by Konstrakta. Without understanding her lyrics and performance one simply can't appreciate it as it deserve. Glad Amar Pelos Dois has won despite not my cup of tea
For me it is the perfect Eurosong. Originally it was Molitva and eurovision could've totally stopped there but now that Amar pelos dois exists, and now that eurovision gas become a politically motivated clown fest, I really think it's time to pull the plug
Nice video, I think my tendencies are pretty much similar to yours, with minor differences. For me, I picked 5 S-Tier winners: Marija Šerifović, Lordi, Emelie de Forrest, Conchita and Nemo
Estonian watching. Gabe: Moving forward a year, it's Estonia 2001... Me: Yes, I know. F tier. Deserved. It's horrible. 🙄 Gabe: I really can't explain why I absolutely love this song! A tier! Me: *spits drink out* WHAT? 😲😳
36:43 “For Nemo I think we’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg” Saying that a month before Nemo was on the Eurovision Iceberg video… You slayed that foreshadowing xD
After the 2017 semi-finals, I showed Salvador Sobral's performance to my mum, because she was curious about who the favourite was, and I suddenly started crying midway through. Just now, when you started describing the atmosphere in the arena in 2017, I started crying yet again. This always hits me when I least expect it.
1944 was actually really important for me as a Ukrainian child. It was when I learnt about deportation of Crimean Tatars, and about Crimean Tatars outside of school course, at all it was literally a part of my Ukrainian political identity awakening two years about Crimea was occupied by Russia. I learnt the Crimean Tatar-language part by heart not understanding a word. This is probably one of the most important songs for me ever.
Yesss for creating a new bottom level for Azerbaijan 2011 - just utter drivel. I remember my mum and I sitting staring incredulously at the TV wondering what on earth we'd just witnessed when it won.
As an Azerbaijani myself, what maddens me more is that our entries the two consecutive years before and after 2011 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) were miles better than whatever that was, so yeah, we also got extremely surprised when that song won
@@SpectraVV I think it's pretty safe to say that every other entry from Azerbaijan is better than the 2011 one, my personal favorite is Chingiz - Truth from 2019.
That was fun, Gabe. I agreed with you on a lot more than I expected to. However, Sobral knew exactly what he was saying with that comment and it sickened me. I intensely disliked his ludicrous performance too.
I never really got the Euphoria hype. Sure it's a good song and a deserved winner, but I don't understand why people think it's the greatest Eurovision song and if it for all the hype it, gets, I could easily have forgotten it. Am I seriously missing something?
Good video, I agree at least somewhat with all your takes so far (half way in). I approve of the random order too. Tip: I think the video will perform better if you add timestamps.
I'd put Måneskin as S-tier, but then I've been a total stan since, and have watched them play Zitti e Buoni live on the main stage at Rock Werchter twice now, as well as at their own show, and it's just whoah. It hits me every single time I listen to it and the opening riff starts. As for Nemo, aside of it being jury heavy, it also had the benefit of a really divided televote that year. (in fact that televote would have been even more divided if Joost had been there as well) It might not have been 'my' winner, but it definitely deserved the win it got. (and I'll always appreciate the judges for tanking Israel that year)
If you feel nothing when you listen to Fairytale you are dead inside. That song IS eurovision. Whenever I mention the contest the first association people have is this song.
Is there proof that Lena's accent was fake or is it an internet rumor? If this rumor comes from that article in Der Spiegel, I'm pretty sure the writer of that text is just a complete idiot.
Somebody else who appreciates 2001 Estonia! I'm not quite sure why I love it so much - there's a real underdog feel to the performance, just two dudes having an absolute blast with their absurdly uncoordinated and synchronized dance moves.
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO ADORES & APPRECIATES AMOR PELOS DOIS 😭 this song is truly a masterpiece and I will NEVER understand why it’s still getting so much hate…
from the moment the FdC entries were only revealed and i found myself bawling to a song i barely understood a few words in, salvador was winning eurovision to me and to this day, i still cannot comprehend the hate for this entry. i spent all season rooting for it at the time and i doubt the day will ever come that i'll stop loving it.
saw salvador live in 2019 and i mostly remember how chill he was on stage. he has his own unique stage presence that makes him super charismatic without needing to be very extra.
can i just say that the danish version of the Olsen Bothers song is an absolute classic in denmark and that every person over 20 could probably sing at least the chorus from heart, so it might not have had much international prescence but, again, the danish version totally slaps
I love your videos Gabe! It is the Eurovision content I need all year around. I feel so happy and lucky that we regularly get videos from you WHILE you are working on the massive project that are the coveted iceberg videos! ❤ I'm so excited for the next vid! 🎉
I still remember in 2017 watching my country create what was most likely the worst song ever to embrace the contest while our neighbours creating the biggest sucess in terms of points was such a weird thing i must say. I'm just glad that made us realise that we needed to take the contest more seriously
I'd move a few up or down a tier due to different personal enjoyment of the songs, but for the most part agree with your ranking and the reasons for it. Special mention to the Margaret Berger shoutout (underrated masterpiece, also one of my all-time faves) and the seething hatred of "Running Scared" and "A Million Voices" (two of the most loathsome Eurovision entries of all time alongside Israel this year). The Salvador, Jamala and Stefania parts especially articulated my thoughts about each of them. Spot on.
The way I forgot that so many of these songs were Eurovision songs is kinda impressive lol. As a danish person the fly on the wings of love is truly so impactful. The danish version ‘smuk som et stjerneskud’ which translates to ‘[As] beautiful as a shooting star’ means a lot to me especially since I had to learn it for a theatre performance. I can definitely also understand how the beauty of teardrops could be muddled by some other very talented and deserving artists.
Bucks Fizz just made some dance moves clung to their microphone stands, like more or less everyone with up-tempo songs up until 2002. Marie N did the combination of a multiple-stage costume change while doing a cabaret style show number. Too bad that the song itself is extremely boring and forgettable.
Funnily enough I was in the city where Lordi's from when they won. Ofc I don't remember anything of it, I was 5 yo but my mum told me that outside our hotel in the streets ppl absolutely exploded and cheered and a big party happened 🎉
Lynch me, arrest me as you said, but 2011 was a worthy winner. Not because the song is amazing, it's not, but in a garbage year like 2011 there wasn't much of a choice. In 2015 or 2016 it would be a horrible winner, but in horrible 2011 it's not that bad of a winner
@@matijapongracic4812 there were many songs on the night that were far better - I was there in Düsseldorf and France, Serbia and Hungary were all great entries in their own right. And of course Sweden was well performed too.
@@michduncg I also have 6 songs higher than Azer in 2011, but most of them were never going to win. There were some good songs in 2011, but songs like Celebrate, Boom Boom, Ding Dong, One Life, portuguese one and many more are some of the biggest tragedies ever performed on ESC stage
So sad you don’t enjoy Tattoo. To me it’s a showcase of Loreen as an artist, the staging, the outfit, the Berber tattoos. She’s truly amazing. The sand on stage to connect to her Berber roots, the long nails to enhance her hand movements. It merges the main stream aspects of Euphoria with the artistic expressions of Statements.
salvador sobral is easily one of my favorite artists ever, of all time, period. everything he's put out has blown me away. i got to see him live earlier this year and it was the coziest, most entertaining concert i've ever been to. amar pelos dois still makes me cry. i genuinely think he's a beautiful man with immense talent
Actually, Swedish reporters are eerily accurate when it comes to predicting most winners. Originally from Sweden (I live in Germany nowadays), I still follow some Swedish Eurovision-related podcasts and while listening to them and then the songs, I usually am like "Are they drunk or high or both?" And mostly their picks are correct. There are sooo many winners that I didn't like, like at all. But if I'd be betting money on something, I would go with the picks from Aftonbladet's journalists because they ace this months in advance.
Ahh Fairytale was one of my dearest Eurovision memories! The song is ok at best, but this violin bridge is such a stellar piece, im in love with it to this day! It was a great joy watching Alexander getting all the 12 points
@@goranvojinovic6233 But so was the whole 2002 lineup, I don't like the song but it's still in my top 3 given how ridiculously bad that year was. The only quality song imo was France, the rest was just absolute trash (and so was the hosting, especially compared to the neighbors in 2003)
The best Eurovision winner of all time for me will always be Jamala's 1944. Music is about feeling, and the way that massive note near the end conveys generations of hurt, betrayal, grief but also resilience is magic. Chills every time I hear it.
Heroes and Arcade: if there were such songs winning these years, I surely wouldn't follow ESC anymore. Can't stand the way these songs meant for effect and being claptraps.
I’m American, so I don’t have a dog in the fight, but I just think the concept of Eurovision as a whole is just so iconic and kinda wholesome. I love how a whole continent agreed to an annual singing competition. It’s the kind of whimsy the world needs more of, in my opinion. I hope to stream it next year if possible!
You can watch Eurovision live at RUclips unless it is region blocked. And then you just need VPN.
Yes IT was a nice Idea in post war europe. But russia is not in the competition anymore. Ist's frightening
My former host family in the US watches Eurovision every year. I introduced them to it and they loved it lol.
As a german... 29 years old now... i can't remeber anybody hating Lena for Satellite? Germany is still immensly proud of her and what she gave us with her win. Lena herself had a lot of highs and lows since, but Satellite is still a beloved classic here and she is still seen as a star here.
the german 'press' (bild etc.) were really nasty about her around 2011. because being a young successful woman obviously means she's arrogant and needs to be knocked down a peg. also, they made ludicrous claims about how disappointing her 2011 performance supposedly was. i'm glad it's stopped but man, she was like 19? 20? must have been horrible for her
@ yeah she was 18 years old starting in 2010. Pretty embarrassing of the shitty papers like BILD to build up controversies… but that’s what they make money with x)
Okay so i am german too, and there was a time where everybody (at least around me) was just so sick of this song that we would say "we hate it" mabey someone would also say "we hate her". But i dont think it was really meant against her, it was this really awful, but mind sticking Song.
Hearing that literally over a thousand times, i even had to play it in school music lessons - horrible.
Even today i know at least the chorus word for word and i really tried to get away from this song back then.
But you are right, i too know nobody personaly who really had something against her and germany was & is sure proud of her win.
@@ComicIn and it works because people are terrible
Everybody hated it after 2 months be real. Radios overplayed it waaaaaaay too much. I personally still switch channels if they play it.
Alexander Rybak was huge after the Eurovision in so many countries. This boy had everything - catchy song, cool dance, pretty face and even a violin. So yes, not a surprising win but still an iconic one.
Lol Fairytale was playing at my local mall yesterday 😂😅 this was in Australia
But him kissing Lena the year after was suuuuper weird
Right? This is one of my favourites! I was super surprised to see it in C tier
I only disagreed with Gabe on this one. Fairytale still lives and deserved better than C tier.
Also, it still regularly pops up in the top20 monthly videos on the official ESC channel. This song is still in the zeitgeist. That alone is an accomplishment.
I’m not saying Gabe looks like Duncan Lawrence, but I am saying it took a rewatch for me to realize it was Gabe in the photo and not duncan
Edgy...
That’s who I’ve been thinking of!! I’ve sat racking my brain trying to think who it was! Gabe is better looking tho 😍😁
Edit: I hadn’t got to Gabe saying this in the vid when I posted. Don’t ban me please! 😂
Yeah, he looks like Duncan Lawrence from Temu.
I'm a Finn and I was 11 at the time in 2006. Before that we had a saying that Hell freezes over before Finland wins Eurovision. It was unreal watching Finland finally getting 12 points over and over again, the commentators were going totally nuts.
I contend that if Eurovision happened before the hockey olympic final, this would've been their pump up song and Finland would've won that final against Sweden.
I was a 100% sure Europe was not ready for monsters playing heavy rock, put I thought it was great and so much fun we were sending them.
Them winning was INSANE. Never ever did I expect that could happen.
I also really loved Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät as a representative, but sadly they weren't appreciated amongst Europeans.
I guess Eurovision wasn't ready for punk rock. They SLAPPED.
I got really mad they lost 2023. It lost to a cover of all things which I thought you guys didn't even permit into Eurovision....you got robbed that year hands down. While not a genre I really listen to, that song was genuinely good. But Japan can't vote so I will just sit in my corner now and wish you had won that year.
@@Pippis78 Actually if I heard correctly, apparently if they had counted only the public votes, PKN would have made it to the finals. But as per usual, the jury votes ruined it.
@@Ombby Oh yeah! I think that's right!
I do think jurys are a good thing, but there should be better standards to who are chosen into the jurys. They're full of tv bosses and celebrities who understand nothing about music. And different music genres don't get representation.
putting fairytale the most widely recognizable Eurovision song ever after maybe just Abba in C is insane
I think it's a nice song but not that great. Not an A or S tier for me.
While I'm not 100% sure why you didn't go in chronological order and I certainly disagree with some (maybe a lot) of your takes, this was still fun to watch/listen to.
Specific disagreements that stood out enough to remember after watching the whole thing:
* Quite a few of your takes seemed to have more to do with recent politics than songs, let alone within the context of their original release
* Given your almost violent denouncement of Azerbaijan's rigging of the popular vote, why aren't you as rabidly against the clear rigging of the jury vote for Loreen's Tattoo?
* I may be missing something, but I don't see the impact of Euphoria that you see... unless you mean it's the clearest breaking point after which the contest stopped pretending to be a song contest? But even then, I'd argue there were precedents... Personally, I'd say, Rise like a Phoenix and even Molitva deserve the S ranking more than Euphoria does.
* I personally always found Ruslana's wild dances cringe, even when it came out; I'd rate it a lot lower... then again, off the top of my head I can't come up with a suggestion that should've won instead of it (I don't remember that year's contest very well)
Things I agree with the most:
* Dima Bilan was (and probably still is) obnoxious. It doesn't help that that song in particular wasn't worth the level of arrogance he exuded. I'm glad I'm not the only one that has this kind of reaction to him xD
* Sobral's song was awesome and absolutely deserved to win as it did. Also, while his infamous comment was poorly worded, the dude had a point :P
* Kalush Orchestra's Stefania was win-worthy even without the political situation, despite it being hard to decouple the two. Bonus points for it not being sung in English.
@@lemonZzzzs How was Tattoo clearly rigged? We have actual evidence that Azerbaijan rigged their popular votes up until 2014 but we have no proof that there was any rigging for Loreen's Tattoo. And no, ABBA's 50th anniversary just so they could put on that ungodly AI hologram of ABBA is not proof
Yes! I didn't agree with all, but even when I don't agree, Gabe's opinions are always interesting and well thought out!
@@lemonZzzzs Re: Tattoo winning in 2023, as Gabe said, Loreen/Käärijä debate has been done to death, so he was not going to cover it again. Having said that, Käärijä is setting off on his second European tour today! He was on fire last night too in Helsinki and is first and foremost a live artist.
@@lemonZzzzs Sometimes I tell myself that growing up is realising that Sobral's comments are not as offensive as many made it out to be.
I don't think I've ever been happier in front of a TV than when Finland won in 2006 ... or more disappointed than when Finland didn't win in 2023. I'm not even Finnish.
And I have never been more disappointed in front of a TV...😢
Finnland got so robbed...
I was furious when Finland lost. It was extremely clear who the crowd wanted to win. Graham had to tell the crowd to calm down because they were singing cha cha cha while points were being awarded! I feel like the viewers and the juries haven't aligned in recent years and that makes it feel like the public vote doesn't really matter. :(
Most Germans learned to appreciate Lena again btw 👀 if u play it at parties now, ppl will sing along and get all nostalgic
To be honest I prefer Stefan Raabs version from the 2011 show! We were there and saw it live - he was frickin awesome!
@@michduncg yeah respectable, it was amazing
@@michduncgLena was also better in 2011 - Taken by a Stranger is way better than Satellite.
@@EmoBearRightsain't no way
I mean, everything about this song and performance is a little bit cheesy but also really endearing. I always liked it a lot, and still do😂
Estonia 2001 has always given me the vibe of a scene from a comedy where a man is trying to bond with his teenage stepson by taking him out for karaoke where they both realize that they love the same cheesy song. I have no idea how it won, but I’m so glad it did.
as an estonian, I can agree with you
it wasn't the best entry but I kind of understood the charm of it and why it resonated with people.
Yeah that's like straight out of the "A Goofy Movie". 😅
Putting Fairytale in the C tier is a literal crime lmao
It's totally a S tier Eurovision song. Not necessarily an amazing song in general, but it ticks every single Eurovision box.
Right, Fairytale is THE Eurovision song no matter how you feel about the song or Eurovision haha
Putting it in the same category as Euphoria would be a bigger crime lol.
As a German person I don’t remember anyone hating Satellite. Slightly overplayed, sure. But I (and everyone I know who cares for Eurovision) remember it quite fondly.
And yes the accent was a choice xD but I can’t bring myself to care and she laid that off since.
Alexander Rybak C tier ARE YOU KIDDING ?!! I loved this song without knowing it was Eurovision winner !
I was so proud for Lordi. I was 15 and new in metal culture and listening to the old french grumpies in my small city screaming "SCANDAL !!" or asking "Where Jesus is when we need him" was pure joy and happiness !
I had goosebumps with Conchita Wurst ! The stage ?! Wow
Manneskin S tier, no debate !
Abuse as requested: I completely agree that Marija Šerifović deserved to win in 2007, that performance was so ahead of its time. But to say no other song that year would have been a deserving winner is sieben, sieben very rude.
sieben sieben FIGHT ME
@@escgabe Alright, you're on. Tanzen vs. Veisson battle. Let's go.
Imagine thinking Verka isn't anything but a joke. 😂
Jamala deserved her win, but if anyone was robbed that year it was Australia - Europe wasn’t ready for Australia’s participation back then and that was reflected by a poor televote. Sound of Silence still sounds as relevant now as it did back then.
Australia wasn't robbed, it got a fully deserved 2nd place.
Yes agree 100%. At the time I was sad Australia didn’t win, but Jamala has grown on me massively as time has gone on.
@@trildiI liked it a lot more than Jamala. Didn't dislike her but I thought Dami Im was fantastic!
@@aekelly Absolutely, Dami was amazing!
Sound of Silence 100% robbed that year.
Fairytale in C tier, damn! I get that it's your opinion, that's cool. But you complimented some winners on their legacy and impact on Eurovision as a whole, so you do factor that in... But then you seem to totally brush off the legacy of Fairytale as one of the most popular winners ever, that has remained very beloved and continues to introduce people to Eurovision! I think you talked through your reasoning for most placements very well but you didn't justify C tier for Fairytale so much. (edit: love your vids tho, no hate)
Rybak is one of the few winners who STILL appear on ESC most played songs nearly every month! Grouping him together with Olson Brothers, and having Heroes and Teardrops above him is absolutely criminal.
Exactly Fairytale is S tier
Fairytale has become my go-to Karaoke song and people absolutely love it, even the Americans who have never heard it before.
Serbia winning their debut year will always be the biggest flex! ❤😂
Poland 1994 was quite close to that but the singer decided to sing partly in English during the 2nd rehearsal and since it was against the rules back then, it cost Poland several points and the No.1 spot.
Till this day no one knows if this was a diva behaviour from the singer or a secret ploy of the Polish broadcaster to escape the win and organising next year, as they couldn't afford that.
@@berlineczka I'm still rooting so hard for Poland! I want them so get a win soon, even though they always messing things up 😂😅❤️
@@erinnadia0409 Mess & chaos seems to be the modus operandi in the Polish delegation. Has been for the last decade at least.
If there is no huge overhaul of the concept and the organisation of the preselection, there won't be any results, I'm afraid.
Established artists will stay away from this dumpster fire, and new artists from independent brands (which tend to be were new talent in Poland starts) won't be able to afford such risky participation.
In effect we too often get starlets backed by big labels who can throw money on production and promotion to cover the shortcomings of their inexperienced singers (sometimes, as with Blanka, it works, and sometimes, as with Luna, it doesn't).
Also, there hasn't been a single year when the rules and format of Polish preselections didn't change from year to year (sometimes it's internal, sometimes it is part of "Szansa na Sukces" contest, sometimes they make separate public preselections, and no consistent point awarding systems either). They also usually start to give info in January or so (!), with unspecific song submission usually open in November, which leaves hardly any time to actually prepare the performance for the big stage (this is no Sweden, where the performers enter with more or less finished stage concept and production).
The only thing Poland has of good quality, are Eurovision media (Misja Eurowizja, eurowizja.org, Dziennik Eurowizyjny, Dobry Wieczór Europo) and the Polish chapter of OGAE (OGAE Polska also run the eurowizja.org page).
They had been associated with the contest since the early 60s as Yugoslavia and participated as Serbia and Montenegro. It may have been "Serbia's" first entry under that name but it certainly wasn't their first time.
@@ashleyfry1976 I am from Serbia and whilst Molitva was welcomed as winner it never felt it was our first entry on ESC. That was Ljiljana Petrović's song in 1961
molivta is mentioned in my history book as a momunetal part in serbia's history
I love that lmao
are they wrong though
@@wilyriley_ well no!
Molitva
Best winner ever.
"Nobody else really deserved to win that year"
Dancing Lasha Tumbai: THE FUCK YOU JUST SAY TO ME
Serdyuchka was (and is!) GORGEOUS
No, Stefania, Zitti e Buoni and Fairytale are absolutely S tier!
I join the choir of other comments here. Fairytale is massive song with massive impact.
Stefania is amazing, Oleh has a great flow, Tymofii's voice is great, the song is put together well and the song easily has life after the show. If you understand a tiny bit Ukrainian it becomes even better.
Zitti e Buoni has a combination of the above and brought back the interest in eurovision of rock and metal fans.
Also Z-tier is generous for Running scared. Truly aweful.
I'M SORRY, YOU CAN'T SAY "STOP SAYING I LOOK LIKE DUNCAN LAURENCE" AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHOW A PHOTO OF YOU BURIED UNDER A DUTCH FLAG
Daði Freyr was robbed in 2020 but I’m okay because he doesn’t seem to mind and has gone on to make incredible music since.
Lordi's song aged so well that they made a film out of it. I am chuffed that you have a metal background.
I agree with a lot of your takes, but the one i simply have to mention is 2009.
That song is possibly the best song in eurovision history and still keeps a spot in the top 5 most listened to songs consistantly, even 15 years later.
Rybak is a eurovision legend and has to be in S tier.
Alexander Rybak introduced me to Eurovision. A few months later, I witnessed Emmelie de Forest taking the win. This year, Nemo won.
What do these three winners all have in common? They all broke their trophies.
By accident, or deliberately?
as someone who is half estonian and half ukranian, thank you for explaining the true meaning and evolution of Jamala's - 1944. It had a true impact on so many people and is relevant especially in 2024. ❤
Completely disagree with Wild Dances being "angrier" than "Everyway that i can". Ruslana is smiling and having so much fun on that stage while Sertab is filled with conflicted and possible angry emotions during her performance. Wild dances punches more soundwise probably, but the performance is just childlike happiness 😊
as a russian i wanna say that Bilan's performance looks like the most tryhard thing to me 💀 like they said "let's cram as many popular guys on stage as we can". it's funny as fuck but i was only 8 at the time so i thought it was cool back then... honestly an iconic flop so it should be remember
Hey Gabe! Really love your videos and would consider myself a eurovision enthusiast. A bit of feedback on what I think would make the videos even better: With you knowing all of the gossip around the contest, you tend to assume I as a viewer also know and reference things without explanation. In this video for example mentioning "the statement" from salvador - I remember there being some drama, but forgot the specifics. Same goes for how Duncan mishandled someone in 2023 at 17:30. Both seem like things that can be explained in one sentence for enthusiasts like me that dont remember all the gossip. Other channels on differen topics i.e. 'explain' stuff by putting a screenshot of an article headline briefly on screen that the viewer can pause to read to not drag out the length of the video
I agree with most, but i really think Rybak deserved better than B.
He deserved less than F. It's the most annoying winner of all time for me
Appreciate your opinion to Lena (and I am from Germany) and trust when I say when „satellite“ is being played in a club, everybody dances and sings along. :)
Maybe a nostalgia factor now? I remember people liked it a little less in 2011 😅
@ oh well there is a HUGE backstory of Lena between her victory in 2010 and 2011 in terms of her public perception (she was treated rather badly). But that is so long ago. Nowadays especially satellite is honestly remembered fondly of
@@MarvinNeumannOfficial I can imagine given how awful the 00s and early 2010s were in particular for women in the public eye
@@escgabe She didn't talk to biggest german tabloid BILD (same as her mentor Stefan Raab did), so they were especially invested in painting her in a negative light. That coupled with her way of reacting to stupid or dull questions in press conferences made it easy to paint her as smug and not likeable. I would say that changed from 2012 on (coinciding with her split from her mentor and from then on cowriting her songs) and since then she is a successful artist in Germany.
to make a case about Latvia 2002: this song feels like it belongs in the context of the early 00's (unlike some others in that period), plus I don't see many people talking about the artist's great on-stage charisma, her face expressions totally pump energy to the performance, it's kinda underrated by the fandom IMO
I'd never seen/heard it before (was living in a non-EU country at the time) ... so I watched the video on RUclips. I quite like it! I rated it as a solid C ... better than, for example, Duncan Lawrence (D), Alexander Rybak (E) and Salvador Sobral (Z). Edit: no, I changed my mind ... it's a B 🙂.
Yeah and Latvia 2002 was first choreographed girl bop, so we gotta give some credit to her for that
Yeah. I agree. This is so underrated, but for 2002 it was a great performance and the song is actually catchy! It was a bit ahead of its time, because it literally feels like a cross between Dancing with the Stars and Eurovision.
I still listen to "Satellite" on the regular lmao
I wish I was able to turn my brain off too 😮💨
Same tbat and fairytale are in my top 5 most listened eurovision songs
Lena hard carried that song I thought. I think it's such a meh song but she made it what it was. I think she's criminally undervalued.
Same. I think it's such a fun and uplifting song. And I also don't know anyone who didn't like it back then ... People disliked the fact that it was played 1000 times a day on the radio, but not the song itself.
It's a great format! If you ever have too much time on your hand, I would like more - e.g. judging 2nd places, or winners from earlier years.
Or songs that should have won. 🤔
@@FromtheWindowSeat Like bulgaria 2017! Or norway this year...
@@xX100dudeXx I don't think Norway deserved to win this year but boy were they robbed, last place is insane
@@user-mg3xx6vh4c no, no. they deserved to win.
As a metalhead who studied jazz in college, I'm glad you share my opinions on Amar Pelos Dois and Hard Rock Hallelujah, I actually discovered Eurovision and became a fan because I loved Finnish metal like Nightwish, Insomnium, and of course Lordi
I am living for the bulletpoint summary of each song!
Fairytale is S tier and Alexander is a Eurovision icon. Salvador's win and his following comments made me feel genuine rage. Finland should have won in 2023 but i am glad that Sweden got stuck with organizing the contest in the end.
Tattoo isnt a bad song, but personally her delivery irked me so much. Dunno - didnt like the harmony at all especially with the weird pauses in her singing, and it was far less fun and memorable than Finnland in both song and overall presentation..
It's flying free with her voice plastered there
It felt bland to me, and absolutely not deserved when there were other great entries that year. Just, pure “oh yeah we liked this gal last time” vibes ugh
9:07 the ice scater is Evgeni Plushenco , four-time Olimpic champion, three-time World champion and seven -time European champion. For us who follow figure skating it was a pleasant surprise.
But Believe IS sooo Trash. Hate bilan and His awful Song and performance since then.
@@ChrolliForever I've heard way worse songs since the first time I started watching ESC (early 80s). Isn't hate a strong word for someone you've never met?
Didn't like the song. I'd say a lot of people didn't like it either. The actual person getting the audience votes was legendary Evgeni not the singer.
Strangely enough the song that won the contest that I personally love the most is 1995's Nocturne by Secret Garden. I absolutely adore the sound of a well-played violin, and Nocturne is just magical in every aspect. It's also why I really like Fairytale. The instrumentation on that entry is just on a whole other level
yesss nocturne's my favorite too
I'm just infuriated that every studio release I can find of that song is the English version
were music instruments played live on stage in these years? Because they are not since years
Yes, phonograms were forbidden so you had live orchestras with conductors. If I remember correctly, one of our (Estonia) conductors was voted as the orchestra's favorites.
Funniest part about Lordis win was the absolute insane panning and slander Lordi got as devil worshipers from Finnish press before the win and then the brutal whiplash after the win when it became the national achievement :D
The one thing that the Satellite win did for the culture is that it launched Lena’s career. Her songs outside of the contest are a lot stronger.
hello from Estonia 🇪🇪 thank you for putting us to A ❤️
In Germany "Satellite" is still played really often and people get quite nostalgic about it. Lena has far better songs though.
It's interesting that there's been a rewriting of history with 1944, cause that's the song that made me realise that damn, Eurovision actually has good music and made me a eurofan.
Yes! I'm shocked to hear that some people were disappointed with her winning... I was shaken to my core when I first saw it, nothing else that year mattered to me. The staging itself is so beautiful and powerful, it's true art. Jamala's voice in this song sounds truly heartbroken, that was the first time I saw my father cry watching ESC (there was a second time many years later)
I laughed when you declared your love for Estonias winner, that's so precious. Sometimes love defies all rhyme and reason... I also absolutely love how much you hate Running Scared. I'm still fuming all these years later
As a German, whose first Eurovision was 2010, I don't remember there being any hate towards Satellite. Maybe it was overplayed, but I remember it still being adored by everyone and Lena is considered to be somewhat of a national treasure. Though for me personally, I prefer her song from 2011 (and also everything she has released afterwards).
Also, putting Fairytale in C-Tier is a crime.
I will NEVER understand the hype of Euphoria. Never ever ever. Booooriiiinggg. Tbh 2010-2012 was a roughhh time to be a eurovision fan bc of thew winning songs. And justice for Margarewt Berger!!!! Forever my winnerrrr
I am with you. Never liked that song and the way she sings it
I totally agree, I never understood the hype about Euphoria and Loreen who shouts 90% of the song. I cannot stand it.
As a Portuguese, I can only thank you for the way you spoke about our entry. We fell in love with it in 2017 in FdC and are so grateful that Europe also fell in love with it!
As a Swede, I absolutely agree regarding Loreen's 'Tattoo' entry. It felt like Sweden was riding on the Euphoria hype and the song, as well as the set, felt like it tried to replicate Euphoria as much as possible without it being a cannibalizing carbon copy.
I can't believe you didn't say 'It was nowhere in the odds until it rose like a pheonix as soon as we saw it live' when talking about Conchita's entry though!
Anyways my S tier songs
- 2004 Ukraine - When the craziness started.
- 2005 Greece - Still very popular at Balkans
- 2006 Finland - 180 degrees turn from previous years
- 2014 Austria - Such an epic and impactful moment
- 2017 Portugal - Out of the would performance
and last but not least
- 2024 Switzerland - Against all odds, beating massive fanfavorite, and televoting organised song, just by pure quality. Another epic moment like with Austria 2014 which none of other competing songs had - and it was one of the strongest years if anyone ask me.
As a portuguese a love the fact despite people constantly hating on Salvador Sobral, He still holds the record for most points (758), and on top of that he won both the Jury and the Public vote! And on top of that he still manages to win 2 Marcel Bezençon Awards (Artistic Award & Composer Award)!! Literally no other winner accomplish that since him.
hats off, however I still cant stand that song. simply not my cup of tea
if you shoot against the ESC community you will get hate. I think he did a lot of damage with trashing the event as cheap circus. even if thats actually true, he first used it to his own benefit and after distanced himself and felt too good for it. thats arrogant.
As a Brazilian, I must say I’m probably biased when I say this is my favorite winner ever. I actually feel sorry non-Portuguese speakers will never understand how beautifully simple and deep Amar Pelos Dois is. It was my birthday when he won and I remember screaming and crying. The following year, I was in Lisbon for my first Eurovision in person.
@@igor_patrick I can understand that. As a Serb I feel the same for Incorpore sano by Konstrakta. Without understanding her lyrics and performance one simply can't appreciate it as it deserve. Glad Amar Pelos Dois has won despite not my cup of tea
For me it is the perfect Eurosong. Originally it was Molitva and eurovision could've totally stopped there but now that Amar pelos dois exists, and now that eurovision gas become a politically motivated clown fest, I really think it's time to pull the plug
Nice video, I think my tendencies are pretty much similar to yours, with minor differences. For me, I picked 5 S-Tier winners: Marija Šerifović, Lordi, Emelie de Forrest, Conchita and Nemo
Estonian watching.
Gabe: Moving forward a year, it's Estonia 2001...
Me: Yes, I know. F tier. Deserved. It's horrible. 🙄
Gabe: I really can't explain why I absolutely love this song! A tier!
Me: *spits drink out* WHAT? 😲😳
Lenas accent isn’t a fake accent that’s literally what u learn to talk like in school here in Germany lol
36:43 “For Nemo I think we’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg”
Saying that a month before Nemo was on the Eurovision Iceberg video… You slayed that foreshadowing xD
hehehehe
After the 2017 semi-finals, I showed Salvador Sobral's performance to my mum, because she was curious about who the favourite was, and I suddenly started crying midway through. Just now, when you started describing the atmosphere in the arena in 2017, I started crying yet again. This always hits me when I least expect it.
1944 was actually really important for me as a Ukrainian child. It was when I learnt about deportation of Crimean Tatars, and about Crimean Tatars outside of school course, at all it was literally a part of my Ukrainian political identity awakening two years about Crimea was occupied by Russia. I learnt the Crimean Tatar-language part by heart not understanding a word. This is probably one of the most important songs for me ever.
Yesss for creating a new bottom level for Azerbaijan 2011 - just utter drivel. I remember my mum and I sitting staring incredulously at the TV wondering what on earth we'd just witnessed when it won.
As an Azerbaijani myself, what maddens me more is that our entries the two consecutive years before and after 2011 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013) were miles better than whatever that was, so yeah, we also got extremely surprised when that song won
@@SpectraVV 2012 was peak Azerbaijan for me - still in my Top 5 Eurovision songs of all time 🔥
@@SpectraVV Azerbaijan's 2009 entry is actually one of my favourite eurovision songs ever! I think it's just peak eurovision
@@SpectraVV I think it's pretty safe to say that every other entry from Azerbaijan is better than the 2011 one, my personal favorite is Chingiz - Truth from 2019.
That was fun, Gabe. I agreed with you on a lot more than I expected to. However, Sobral knew exactly what he was saying with that comment and it sickened me. I intensely disliked his ludicrous performance too.
I never really got the Euphoria hype. Sure it's a good song and a deserved winner, but I don't understand why people think it's the greatest Eurovision song and if it for all the hype it, gets, I could easily have forgotten it. Am I seriously missing something?
I feel the same way as you. And Tattoo by Loreen is even more forgettable in my opinion.
I agree with you, I like tattoo more? It's not that Euphoria is bad it's just not s tier
Good video, I agree at least somewhat with all your takes so far (half way in). I approve of the random order too. Tip: I think the video will perform better if you add timestamps.
As upset I was at the Fairytale slander, you got me back on board with the Running Scared Z-tier. 90% of the songs were better than that in 2011
I'd put Måneskin as S-tier, but then I've been a total stan since, and have watched them play Zitti e Buoni live on the main stage at Rock Werchter twice now, as well as at their own show, and it's just whoah. It hits me every single time I listen to it and the opening riff starts.
As for Nemo, aside of it being jury heavy, it also had the benefit of a really divided televote that year. (in fact that televote would have been even more divided if Joost had been there as well) It might not have been 'my' winner, but it definitely deserved the win it got. (and I'll always appreciate the judges for tanking Israel that year)
I will never be over the 2023 results tbh. You are a better person than me
If you feel nothing when you listen to Fairytale you are dead inside. That song IS eurovision. Whenever I mention the contest the first association people have is this song.
Is there proof that Lena's accent was fake or is it an internet rumor? If this rumor comes from that article in Der Spiegel, I'm pretty sure the writer of that text is just a complete idiot.
Somebody else who appreciates 2001 Estonia! I'm not quite sure why I love it so much - there's a real underdog feel to the performance, just two dudes having an absolute blast with their absurdly uncoordinated and synchronized dance moves.
Tattoo by Loreen is so incredibly boring, I'll never understand how it won.
They wanted Eurovision to be in Sweden for ABBA's 50th anniversary
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO ADORES & APPRECIATES AMOR PELOS DOIS 😭
this song is truly a masterpiece and I will NEVER understand why it’s still getting so much hate…
Salvador Sobral in the thumbnail
As a portuguese person, I'm glad there are people who actually like his song.
There are dozens of us!
It is a beautiful, atmospheric song 😊
from the moment the FdC entries were only revealed and i found myself bawling to a song i barely understood a few words in, salvador was winning eurovision to me and to this day, i still cannot comprehend the hate for this entry. i spent all season rooting for it at the time and i doubt the day will ever come that i'll stop loving it.
Ireland here, while I didn't think it was the best song of the competition that year it's still a beautiful heartfelt piece of music.
FINALMENTE 😭😭😭
Portugals win was so outstanding I still get the shivers
1944 literally is the kind of thing I listen to over and over again
saw salvador live in 2019 and i mostly remember how chill he was on stage. he has his own unique stage presence that makes him super charismatic without needing to be very extra.
can i just say that the danish version of the Olsen Bothers song is an absolute classic in denmark and that every person over 20 could probably sing at least the chorus from heart, so it might not have had much international prescence but, again, the danish version totally slaps
the english version is a classic in sweden too !!
Thank you for your love for Finlands LORDI!
I think 2009 and Alexander Rybak is the first Eurovision I actually have memories from. I was 5 and in love. Or, as much as you can at age 5.
I love your videos Gabe! It is the Eurovision content I need all year around.
I feel so happy and lucky that we regularly get videos from you WHILE you are working on the massive project that are the coveted iceberg videos! ❤
I'm so excited for the next vid! 🎉
I still remember in 2017 watching my country create what was most likely the worst song ever to embrace the contest while our neighbours creating the biggest sucess in terms of points was such a weird thing i must say. I'm just glad that made us realise that we needed to take the contest more seriously
What was the worst song ever?
I'd move a few up or down a tier due to different personal enjoyment of the songs, but for the most part agree with your ranking and the reasons for it. Special mention to the Margaret Berger shoutout (underrated masterpiece, also one of my all-time faves) and the seething hatred of "Running Scared" and "A Million Voices" (two of the most loathsome Eurovision entries of all time alongside Israel this year).
The Salvador, Jamala and Stefania parts especially articulated my thoughts about each of them. Spot on.
The way I forgot that so many of these songs were Eurovision songs is kinda impressive lol. As a danish person the fly on the wings of love is truly so impactful. The danish version ‘smuk som et stjerneskud’ which translates to ‘[As] beautiful as a shooting star’ means a lot to me especially since I had to learn it for a theatre performance. I can definitely also understand how the beauty of teardrops could be muddled by some other very talented and deserving artists.
Sorry, how old were you in 2002? You're saying costume changes were new. Erm, Bucks Fizz 1981!!!!
Bucks Fizz just made some dance moves clung to their microphone stands, like more or less everyone with up-tempo songs up until 2002. Marie N did the combination of a multiple-stage costume change while doing a cabaret style show number. Too bad that the song itself is extremely boring and forgettable.
There were A LOT of acts with costume changes between 1981 and 2002.
Funnily enough I was in the city where Lordi's from when they won. Ofc I don't remember anything of it, I was 5 yo but my mum told me that outside our hotel in the streets ppl absolutely exploded and cheered and a big party happened 🎉
thats gonna be one hell of an icerberg, good luck!
Toy belongs in Z tier for me. Absolutely dreadful.
Also, I had no idea Azerbaijan interrogated people who voted for Armenia in 2009!!
1944 gives me chills everytime.
Yes one of the best winners ever
She released a symphonic version and it is heart wrenching
Lynch me, arrest me as you said, but 2011 was a worthy winner. Not because the song is amazing, it's not, but in a garbage year like 2011 there wasn't much of a choice. In 2015 or 2016 it would be a horrible winner, but in horrible 2011 it's not that bad of a winner
@@matijapongracic4812 there were many songs on the night that were far better - I was there in Düsseldorf and France, Serbia and Hungary were all great entries in their own right. And of course Sweden was well performed too.
@@michduncg I also have 6 songs higher than Azer in 2011, but most of them were never going to win. There were some good songs in 2011, but songs like Celebrate, Boom Boom, Ding Dong, One Life, portuguese one and many more are some of the biggest tragedies ever performed on ESC stage
Bruh, even Germany themselves could've won it again, that's how plain and unremarkable esc 2011 was.
Just spotted this comment now, which makes my own comment somewhat redundant. 100% agree
I wanted Eric Saade to win.
So sad you don’t enjoy Tattoo.
To me it’s a showcase of Loreen as an artist, the staging, the outfit, the Berber tattoos. She’s truly amazing.
The sand on stage to connect to her Berber roots, the long nails to enhance her hand movements.
It merges the main stream aspects of Euphoria with the artistic expressions of Statements.
salvador sobral is easily one of my favorite artists ever, of all time, period. everything he's put out has blown me away. i got to see him live earlier this year and it was the coziest, most entertaining concert i've ever been to. amar pelos dois still makes me cry. i genuinely think he's a beautiful man with immense talent
My favorite winner will always be Nemo. The Code means so much to me and they DESERVED their win!
❤
They were one of my winners this year..I was happy for a week after the Grand final 😍😍💖💖💖💖
Croatia should have won this year their song was way better than The Code
I wish you would recap your list at the end. Nice job!
Actually, Swedish reporters are eerily accurate when it comes to predicting most winners. Originally from Sweden (I live in Germany nowadays), I still follow some Swedish Eurovision-related podcasts and while listening to them and then the songs, I usually am like "Are they drunk or high or both?"
And mostly their picks are correct. There are sooo many winners that I didn't like, like at all. But if I'd be betting money on something, I would go with the picks from Aftonbladet's journalists because they ace this months in advance.
Ahh Fairytale was one of my dearest Eurovision memories! The song is ok at best, but this violin bridge is such a stellar piece, im in love with it to this day! It was a great joy watching Alexander getting all the 12 points
latvia literally organized one of the most amazing eurovision contests in 2003 ☠️ don’t hate on our winner
esc in latvia was great and it is a wonderful country. song is still bad sorry
now be real for a second, the latvian winning song was absolutely abysmal
@@goranvojinovic6233i love it :/
And t.A.T.u. totally deserved to win!
@@goranvojinovic6233 But so was the whole 2002 lineup, I don't like the song but it's still in my top 3 given how ridiculously bad that year was. The only quality song imo was France, the rest was just absolute trash (and so was the hosting, especially compared to the neighbors in 2003)
The best Eurovision winner of all time for me will always be Jamala's 1944. Music is about feeling, and the way that massive note near the end conveys generations of hurt, betrayal, grief but also resilience is magic. Chills every time I hear it.
Tatars were terrorists for centuries.
1944 is just a revisionist failed attempt.
Heroes and Arcade: if there were such songs winning these years, I surely wouldn't follow ESC anymore. Can't stand the way these songs meant for effect and being claptraps.
Your fab mr ! Keep up the great work x ❤
I was really looking forward to your opinion on Portugal and I'm so glad with it! 😍
That song is amazing 🥹
As an estonian - surely our winning song is in the bottom, right? Although I think Russia 2008, Azerbaijan 2011 and Israel 2018 are worse :P
ARE YOU READY. ALRIGHT! EVERY NIGHTS A FRIDAY NIGHT
AHA! WHAT NIGHT? Don't be so modest of your song, sometimes you just need to set the right mood for friday night. Makes me laugh everytime 😂😂
Its so sweet. I was 2 back then so I don't remember it live 😂 but I kinda love it