Throughout the month run-up to the Eurovision 2023 final, held in Liverpool, the History Department has been sharing its favourite Eurovision entries of the past. All those who were nominated, along with their reason for nomination are below.

1967: Sandie Shaw – Puppet on a String (UK)

Our oldest nomination, this song is one from the wonderful world of classic Eurovision

Prof David Stack – Surely that has to be Sandie Shaw, ‘Puppet on a String’ – what other Eurovision winner could go on to collaborate with The Smiths?

1974: ABBA – Waterloo (Sweden)

Nominated not by one, but two of the History department, ABBA’s ‘Waterloo’ came first in our public votes, and was nominated by:

Prof Rebecca Rist – Has to be one of the Abba entries. Mind you I am torn because my popes would have regarded Eurovision as pure debauchery and put everyone involved in one of Dante’s Seven Circles of Hell. Not sure which one.

Graham Moore – I’m basic, I think I’d go for ABBA and ‘Waterloo’.

1976: Brotherhood of Man – Save your kisses for me (UK)

After being nominates twice, this song only received one public vote, despite winning the contest for the UK in 1976. This is why it was nominated:

Fiona Lane – Horrors of a 70s/80s childhood. Everyone sang it, it was played everywhere you went…and it won.

Dr Jacqui Turner – I am so sorry – I loathe Eurovision with a passion!!! I am aware making such a statement is tantamount to asking to be cancelled!!!!
If I was forced to choose one though it would be ‘Save Your Kisses for Me’, Brotherhood of Man, 1976.  Not because I love the song but because, like many Eurovision songs, it is so evocative of a time in my life – taking the old 11+ exam in the sweltering heat and starting senior school after a very long hot summer.

Eastern Bloc Intervision Song Contest

An interesting nomination here that showed a very different song contest held in the Eastern Bloc between 1965 and 1968, and was revived between 1977 and 1980.

Prof Matt Worley – I’m afraid I grew up with the Eastern Bloc Intervision Song Contest so I pick this…

1983: Nena – 99 luftballons (West Germany)

Coming third in our public vote, Nena’s 99 luftballons was nominated by only one member of staff, despite being a popular hit:

Prof Emily West – 99 luftballons! Didn’t realise at the time it was all about the Cold War… It was later recorded in English for Top of the Pops!

1996: Father Ted – My Lovely Horse (Ireland parody)

Our only parody nomination, but an honourable one at that!

Prof David Stack – But an honourable mention for Father Ted and ‘My Lovely Horse’!

2006: Lordi – Hard Rock Hallelujah (Finland)

Surprisingly the only hard rock Eurovision song to be nominated, but definitely one that sticks in the memory:

Dr Ben Bland – I’ll go for this chiefly because it manages to be even sillier than the usual Europop winners. On a more niche note, it briefly allowed teenage me to maintain the illusion that this harmless fare was the sort of thing I meant when I said I listened to “extreme metal”, an illusion shattered when (much to her horror) my mum found across all my Darkthrone and Napalm Death records. 

2007: Verka Serduchka – Dansing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine)

Coming a very close second in the public votes, this perfectly Eurovision song has become a classic, and Verka Serduchka is performing at this year’s Eurovision too!

Caroline Johnson – Totally Eurovision and very catchy.

2012: Loreen – Euphoria (Sweden)

Performing again this year with their new song ‘Tattoo’, Loreen was nominated for their wonderful song, and the remix too!

Christos Giannatos – I’ll go Euphoria by Loreen from 2012. Such a good song; also, has a House Remix which is FIRE!

2015: Genealogy – Face the Shadow (Armenia)

A poignant nomination here, with a lot of historical significance.

Dr Jeremy Burchardt – Group made up of Armenians from five continents. The aim was to raise awareness of the Armenian genocide in 1915-17. That would be my choice

2021: Destiny – Je me casse (Malta)

The first of two nominations from 2021 from a island that neighbours the winners that year.

Amy Longmuir – Such a catchy and angry song to blare out in the car when you need a pick up

2021: Måneskin – Zitti E Buoni (Italy)

The 2021 winners of Eurovision round off our collection of nominations from our department.

Abbie Tibbott – Their cover of ‘Beggin’ from 2021 is on my Spotify rewind and On Repeat, so it’s only right to nominate them.