Eurovision is not just 2021's Netflix comedy of a similar title starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, it is also the source of stellar pop songs across the continent, especially for the past decade.
These last ten years of Eurovision have been phenomenal and full of unity during times of immense uncertainty. However, it's always welcome to be reminded of which ones defined the musical contests over the last couple of years.
10 2011: Azerbaijan's "Running Scared" - 221 Points
In 2011, Azerbaijan pulled off their first-ever victories with one of the lowest scores in the history of the song contest. Ell and Nikki performed "Running Scared," a bona fide pop hit that charted across the continent.
The song was written by Stefan Örn, Sandra Bjurman, and Iain James Farquharson. Most notably, it was a testament to the hope that Eurovision can be anyone's game.
9 2012: Sweden's "Euphoria" - 372 Points
Thomas G:son and Peter Boström wrote the 2012 song, "Euphoria," which was performed by Loreen. Loreen brought the contest back to Sweden after performing in the city of Baku.
"Euphoria" is a song that transcended the contest and became one of the all-time most acclaimed. It had a whopping amount of points recorded and is easily among the most memorable from the past ten years.
8 2013: Denmark's "Only Teardrops" - 281 Points
After the delirious contest of 2012, it was impossible for the subsequent Eurovision to follow up. Fortunately, "Only Teardrops" was serviceable enough, bringing a bit of folk to the pop-laden spectacle.
Performed by Emmelie de Forest, it's mostly established as a staple of Eurovision with little success outside of the rounds. But the formidable songwriting team of Lise Cabble, Julia Fabrin Jakobsen, and Thomas Stengaard create an admirable winner.
7 2014: Austria's "Rise Like A Phoenix" - 290 Points
While a song like "Euphoria" may be among the most iconic tunes from the decade, it's Conchita Wurst who is among the most iconic performers from the last ten years. Wurst notably made a cameo in Netflix's Eurovision movie, but he's best known for his Eurovision winner.
With a songwriting squad of Charlie Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali Zuckowski, and Julian Maas, "Rise Like a Phoenix" dominated the competition in 2014 and helped Austria win the contest.
6 2015: Sweden's "Heroes" - 365 Points
The only country with multiple wins in the last decade was Sweden. Their most recent victory came in 2015 with the song, "Heroes," which was performed by Måns Zelmerlöw.
"Heroes" was written by Anton Hård af Segerstad, Joy Deb, and Linnea Deb. It's a short song with dance-pop energy that gets in and out and entertains anyone who hears it. It's good when they have some fun.
5 2016: Ukraine's "1944" - 534 Points
Ukraine won the competition in 2016 winner, with Jamala's "1944" capturing the viewers' attention. It was the first song since Serbia's "Molitva" in 2007 to not be fully sung in English and earned an impressive 534 points.
There was some controversy over the potential that the song had political elements (Eurovision strives to exclude politics outright), but, ultimately, the song performed remarkably across the contest, even without charting much outside of the home country.
4 2017: Portugal's "Amar Pelos Dois" - 758 Points
Non-English languages had a bit of a run following the 2016 victory, as songwriter Luisa Sobral and singer Salvador Sobral took "Amar pelos dois," a Portuguese song, to the final in 2017. The song was jazzy, but also embraced some waltz elements and is certainly an anomaly from the past ten contests.
3 2018: Israel's "Toy" - 529 Points
Although they weren't considered favorites, Israel came out of nowhere to win the whole contest. "Toy" was sung by Netta, who also appeared in the Netflix film, and it was written by Doron Medalie and Stav Beger.
"Toy" has ended up having a bigger impact on the world than some other winners did. It charted, appeared in video games, and returned Israel to prominence in the contest, forty years after their first win. Netta's campiness has helped propel many Eurovision elements to gem status, albeit under-the-radar.
2 2019: Netherlands' "Arcade" - 498 Points
Duncan Laurence performed the 2019 Eurovision winner, "Arcade." Laurence also co-wrote the song with Joel Sjöö, Wouter Hardy, and Will Knox.
"Arcade" was a massive hit after its victory. It charted in the United States and garnered over a billion streams. It was also a song that was a runaway favorite. From the minute it was first performed, it was expected that Laurence had won it for the Netherlands. This held true all the way through the contest.
1 2021: Italy's "Zitti E Buoni" - 524 Points
The most recent winner was recently crowned, with Måneskin earning 524 points. Italy brought an all-Italian song to the mix and ran away with a contest that might be best known for making a mockery of the United Kingdom.
"Zitti e buoni" was sung by Måneskin and it was written by Damiano David, Ethan Torchio, Thomas Raggi, and Victoria De Angelis. While some considered Cyprus' "El Diablo" to be a top contender, it was ultimately Italy that pulled away.
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July 16, 2021 at 12:00AM
