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Some of these performances deserved twelve points and so much more! Join us as we count down our picks for the Eurovision songs that, in another life, could've taken home the trophy — the snubs, the near-misses, and the fan favorites that history refuses to forget!
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00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Eurovision songs that,
00:08in another life, under different circumstances, could have won.
00:19Number 20. Is it true? Johanna. If you were watching Eurovision in 2009,
00:25you'll remember when Iceland's Johanna stepped on stage and delivered a vocal masterclass that
00:31left Europe spellbound. Is it true? is a hauntingly gorgeous ballad that lingers long after the final
00:46note, thanks to her crystal clear vocals and aching vulnerability. Its melancholy melody
00:52wrapped listeners in a bittersweet embrace. It was truly beautiful.
00:56Is it true? Is it true? Is it over?
01:02While Alexander Rebac's fairy tale swept the scoreboard with a record-breaking score,
01:08many fans insist her musicality and depth were unmatched. The return of juries recognized her
01:14technical brilliance, yet even a trophy-worthy performance can't overcome a Eurovision
01:19juggernaut, leaving her near-miss one of the contest's greatest what-ifs.
01:26Number 19. I Treni di Tozer. Alice and Franco Batiato. If Eurovision ever handed out a diploma
01:34for sophistication, I Treni di Tozer would have graduated top of its class.
01:47This 1984 entry from Alice and Franco Batiato is legendary among fans for taking the contest on a
01:55stylistic detour and delivering something akin to high art. Still, it lost out to upbeat traditional
02:01Swedish winner, Digilu Digilet. Franco's avant-garde sensibilities collided beautifully with Alice's
02:08ethereal vocals, creating a soundscape that felt both experimental and timeless.
02:18The arrangement was pure elegance, weaving in a touch of Mozart's The Magic Flute.
02:23Some believe its fifth-place finish was due to the entry being, quote,
02:27too ahead of its time.
02:35Number 18. It's My Life. Cesar. If you've ever wondered what would happen if Dracula fronted
02:41the Eurovision entry, look no further.
02:50This gloriously over-the-top poppera spectacle is the kind of audacious,
02:55genre-bending performance that Eurovision was made for. Cesar's vocals alone are worth tuning in for,
03:01swooping from a rich baritone to a glass-shattering countertenor with the kind
03:06of theatrical flair that leaves Jaws on the floor.
03:17Sure, Denmark's Emily de Forst took home the trophy with her folksy only teardrops,
03:23but Cesar's high-energy performance embodied the contest's spirit. Bold, distinctive,
03:29technically demanding, and unforgettable. It may not have been the bookie's favorite,
03:33but it lives on rent-free in our collective memory.
03:44Number 17. We Are The Winners. LT United. Finland came to rock the continent. Lithuania came to
03:52ruffle some feathers.
03:53We are the winners of Eurovision.
03:56We are, we are, we are, we are.
03:59In 2006, a six-man band called LT United arrived in Athens, looking to break the country's losing
04:07streak. While their boastful song didn't end up netting them the win, the hubris, memorable
04:12lyrics, and straight-up hilarity of the song ranks it among one of the best to never win.
04:17Every day you hear us on the radio. Radio.
04:20Every day you see us on the news. That's right.
04:24The Greek audience wasn't amused. They openly booed the song, but the song still finished the contest
04:30in sixth place. It's been a fan favorite ever since, and those who aren't partial to Finland's
04:35hard rock hallelujah prefer it to this day.
04:38Vote, vote, vote, vote. The winners.
04:41Because we are the winners of Eurovision. Vote!
04:45Number 16. Congratulations. Cliff Richard.
04:48Among the songs that outgrew the contest itself, it's Cliff Richard's Congratulations.
05:03It's a pure shot of pop joy delivered by one of Britain's most charismatic icons,
05:08the kind that gets entire generations singing along.
05:11Heading into the 1968 final, it was the runaway favorite.
05:21But then came one of Eurovision's most infamous plot twists. Spain's La La La edged out
05:28congratulations by a single point, with rumors swirling for decades about political interference
05:33behind the scenes. For many, Richard's loss was a pop culture injustice. Yet the song's legacy has
05:39only grown, outlasting its rival, and proving that sometimes, the real winner is the one we're
05:45still singing all these years later.
05:47I want the world to know, I'm happy as can be.
05:53Number 15. Rim Tim Tagidim, Baby Lasagna.
05:57From the moment Baby Lasagna hits the stage, Rim Tim Tagidim comes in fast and loud.
06:03Hey, I'm a big boy now, I'm ready to leave. Ciao, I'm a child. Hey, I'm a big boy now,
06:09I'm going away and I so like how...
06:11Croatia's 2024 entry is packed with riotous energy, a chorus that sticks straight away,
06:17and that perfect mix of humor, chaos, and heart all crashing together in one moment.
06:23While Switzerland's The Code ultimately clinched the win with a slick, poignant performance,
06:28Rim Tim Tagidim had what every Eurovision hopeful dreams of.
06:32Real, grassroots momentum.
06:41Bookmakers kept it in the running all season, but it was the audience's wild, stadium-shaking
06:46reaction that told the real story.
06:48This quirky underdog could have easily stormed the winner's circle any other year.
06:53For fans, it's already a modern classic.
06:56My anxiety and sex.
06:58What is that?
07:02Number 14, Calm After the Storm, The Common Linets.
07:06Every so often, Eurovision delivers a moment of pure, unfiltered authenticity.
07:11And The Common Linets, Calm After the Storm, is a textbook example.
07:16Ooh, skies are black and blue.
07:20In a contest famous for pyrotechnics and sequins, this Dutch duo stripped it all back to the
07:26essentials.
07:27Two voices, a guitar, and a connection so real you could feel it through the screen.
07:32Ilse DeLang and Waylon's chemistry was magnetic, their harmonies heartbreakingly beautiful,
07:37and the song's folk-country vibe was a breath of fresh air.
07:48While Conchita Wurst's Rise Like a Phoenix soared to a well-deserved win, Calm After the Storm
07:53quietly stole hearts across Europe, climbing the scoreboard and proving that sometimes,
07:58the most powerful moments are the simplest ones.
08:01There ain't nothing new, here in the Calm After the Storm.
08:09Number 13, Sound of Silence, Dami M.
08:12If you want to spark a Eurovision debate, just mention Dami M's Sound of Silence.
08:25She delivered a performance that checked every box, powerhouse vocals, cutting-edge staging,
08:30and a chorus that soared into the stratosphere.
08:41Dami absolutely owned the jury vote, but when the televotes rolled in, Ukraine's Jamala
08:47edged her out with the haunting 1944.
08:50Fans still argue that Sound of Silence was the total package,
08:54a modern pop anthem with a show-stopping visual twist that set a new standard for the contest.
08:59Dami's stage presence was magnetic, her vocals flawless, and for many,
09:03she remains the champion of the fans' hearts, no matter what the scoreboard says.
09:13Number 12, Spaceman, Sam Ryder.
09:16For generations of British Eurovision fans, disappointment had basically become something to celebrate.
09:28Until Sam Ryder rocketed onto the scene with Spaceman.
09:32Ryder's soaring vocals and infectious stage presence reignited a sense of national pride
09:36that had long been dormant.
09:44From the moment Ryder opened his mouth, for the first time in years, Brits could dare to dream.
09:49Of course, viewers ultimately showed solidarity with Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra,
09:54who took the crown with the anthemic Stefania.
09:57In another timeline, Sam, or even Spain's Chanel, might have clinched it.
10:01But Ryder's near-victory stands as a watershed moment.
10:05He'll forever be celebrated as the one who nearly brought Eurovision home for British fans.
10:10Number 11, We Could Be The Same, Manga.
10:18Turkey's manga stormed the stage with an alt-rock spectacle that felt like a love letter to both
10:23headbangers, sci-fi aficionados, and, of course, Eurovision devotees.
10:34We could be the same pulsed with heavy beats, electronic flourishes, and a unifying message.
10:40The staging was an easy bingo card win, with robot dancers, futuristic visuals,
10:45and frontman, Fairman Akgul, commanding the spotlight with effortless swagger.
10:57While Germany's Lena charmed Europe with the irresistibly quirky satellite,
11:02there's a reason manga's story still sparks debate among fans.
11:06Many fans felt their bold fusion of styles and unforgettable performance
11:09offered a fresher, more daring alternative that deserved a stronger chance at victory.
11:23Number 10, Spirit in the Sky, Kano.
11:26Given that the 2019 winner, Arcade, topped international charts after its win in Tel Aviv,
11:31it's pretty bold to say another song should have taken the contest that year.
11:35But we're here to say Norway's entry, Spirit in the Sky, was the true crowd pleaser.
11:40Just stay.
11:43It's in my spirit, lost in the night.
11:47Performed by Kano, a band fronted by an indigenous Sami rapper,
11:51the song married traditional Norwegian folk music with upbeat dance pop.
11:55It's in this line.
11:57I can see your spirit in the sky.
12:02It's bridge features traditional yoik singing and a drumline.
12:06And honestly, what other country could say that?
12:09The song handily won the public vote, but only placed sixth when factoring in the jury vote.
12:24Number 9, Genghis Khan, Genghis Khan.
12:27Boney M had Rasputin.
12:29Genghis Khan had, well, Genghis Khan.
12:32Clad in extravagant period costumes,
12:34the 1979 West German entry gave us a brutal history lesson,
12:39wrapped in an infectious disco beat.
12:49What also set it apart was the staging.
12:51It may look tame compared to the thrills and horrors that would come later,
12:55but it was still early days for outrageous performances.
13:05The song itself was covered and translated into several different languages after the contest
13:10ended, despite it only placing fourth in the finals.
13:13If the length of the applause at the end is any indication,
13:16this stunt is just unforgettable.
13:31It wasn't necessarily unheard of for a Eurovision song to jump across the pond
13:36and make a splash on the U.S. charts,
13:38but Spain's 1973 entry was one of the most successful examples.
13:52The fact that it's entirely in Spanish only makes the feat more impressive.
13:57Eres Tu, or It's You in English, was performed by the Spanish band Moserades.
14:03Between the soaring choruses and the crystal clear vocals of Amaya Uranga,
14:08it's no wonder the song broke into several non-competing countries' music charts.
14:21Eres Tu has been covered and translated plenty of times since its performance at the contest.
14:27Though Spain lost to a worthy winner,
14:29the beautiful Tut Reconetra from Luxembourg,
14:33we think this one could have at least been a tie.
14:39Number 7, Grande Amore, Y Volo.
14:43This one launched a few thousand villain origin stories.
14:53Talk to anyone who watched Italy's Y Volo pour their souls into the passionate pop opera single,
15:00Grande Amore,
15:00and you might actually be hit with the heat of a thousand suns.
15:04An explosion of vocal technique and passion,
15:07the song was an unprecedented success.
15:09They came third in the finals despite winning the public's heart.
15:19The next year, Eurovision broke from decades of tradition
15:22and overhauled the voting system to give the public vote more weight.
15:27We're not saying Grande Amore actually broke Eurovision,
15:30but you could make a case.
15:32Unico Grande Amore!
15:40Number 6,
15:41Ooh, ah, just a little bit.
15:43Gina G.
15:44Considering the amount of play this one got,
15:46it's hard to believe that the United Kingdom only earned 8th place out of 23.
15:50From its opening synthesizer to its breathy chorus,
15:53Gina G.'s Ooh, ah, just a little bit is peak 90s techno Europop.
15:58Ooh, ah, just a little bit.
16:00Ooh, ah, a little bit more.
16:02Ooh, ah, just a little bit.
16:04You know what I'm looking for.
16:06Its electronic sound led to a charmingly awkward bit of staging.
16:10Old contest rules required every instrument used in the song to be physically present on stage,
16:15which is why there are two computers just chilling behind Gina G and her backup dancers.
16:20How can I prove my love to you?
16:22Baby, please, you're all I need.
16:26Despite its lackluster result in the 1996 Eurovision,
16:29the track found more success after the contest.
16:32It even made it to the 1998 Grammys as a nominee for Best Dance Recording.
16:37What I'm looking for, ooh, ah, just a little bit.
16:40Ooh, ah, a little bit more.
16:43Just a little bit.
16:44Yeah!
16:45Number five, Fuego, Eleni Forera.
16:48Cyprus did not come to play in 2018.
16:52Eleni Forera dazzled the stadium with a fiery, pop-chart-friendly song of female empowerment.
16:58Take a dive into my eyes.
17:00Yeah, the eyes of the lioness.
17:03Feel the power, they align.
17:05The hierography alone was worth the price of admission.
17:08On grand final night, this song had the crowd in Lisbon beside itself.
17:13Fuego is a catchy, well-produced dance hit bursting with energy and sensuality.
17:24Even if you don't know it was a Eurovision entry,
17:28Fuego sounds like a hit single that would be at home in any country's top 40.
17:32It finished in a strong second place, but some still think it deserved to be in the top spot.
17:37Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh
17:47yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah.
17:47The party's so boring!
17:48Number four, think about things.
17:51Dadio Gognemogned.
17:52For the first time in Eurovision's long and complicated history,
17:56the contest was officially cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
18:01Every participating country had already chosen and released their songs,
18:05and fans could only speculate who would have won.
18:14Iceland's quirky, meme-worthy, and genuinely brilliant
18:18Think About Things by Dodi Freire became the odds-on favorite.
18:23The song and its endearing, charmingly nerdy music video achieved viral success,
18:28helped along by the isolation of lockdowns and quarantines.
18:39To add insult to injury, if it had won, it would have been the country's first ever.
18:45Dodi would get a second chance at the next year's contest,
18:48where he and his band finished fourth.
18:55Number 3. Cha Cha Cha. Karia.
18:59Eurovision 2023 will forever be remembered as the year Karia
19:03turned the stage into a neon-lit fever dream.
19:09With his electric green bolero, infectious energy,
19:13and a sound that offered a fresh mashup of metal and schlager,
19:17Karia's Cha Cha Cha united the arena in a euphoric, collective chant
19:22that felt like a once-in-a-generation pop culture moment.
19:32When the jury handed the victory to Laureen's polished, radio-friendly entry instead,
19:37it launched a debate about who Eurovision is really for,
19:41the passionate fans or the so-called experts behind the scenes.
19:45During the voting sequence, the live audience in Liverpool famously drowned out the presenters
19:50with their thunderous cha-cha chant.
19:53He got the trowel, you're quite right.
19:55It was clear who truly won the night.
20:09Number 2. Dancing Lasha Tumbay.
20:13Serbia's winning song is a heart-rending and powerful ballad,
20:17but Ukraine's outlandish, semi-incoherent second-place entry
20:22has more than earned its legendary status.
20:31In 2007, drag queen Vierka Sendushka brought the house down with Dancing Lasha Tumba.
20:38Despite allegations that the song's gibberish title bore resemblance to the phrase,
20:43Russia Goodbye, the song managed to avoid an international incident,
20:47winning over millions of fans.
20:56When people talk about how unhinged Eurovision is, this is what they mean.
21:01It's an overstimulating mix of campiness, joy, and sheer nonsense.
21:16Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
21:20Ein Lied kann eine Brücken sein, Joy Fleming.
21:24Fleming's soul-shattering vocals turned a simple bridge into unforgettable Eurovision history.
21:38Rhythm Inside
21:40Loic Notet
21:41Avant-garde choreography and minimalist beats brought a modern, artistic edge to Eurovision.
21:47On the beautiful wind that blows on a cosmic track, love attack, I'm gonna get that rhythm back.
21:56Soldi
21:57Mahmood
21:58A strong contender in a year of strong contenders.
22:10Hold Me Closer
22:12Cornelia Jacobs
22:13Jacob's raspy intimacy and cinematic staging made every viewer feel her heartbreak.
22:19Hold Me Closer
22:21I'm gonna leave for the time right
22:24I'll be bleeding
22:26Don't you fire
22:27Mustache
22:29Twin Twin
22:29While it came last, its colorful energy and satirical humor defined campy fun.
22:52Before we continue, check out this single from Sound Mojo's album Balance, classical music reimagined
22:58as rock, hard rock, and metal.
23:00Check out the full track and album below.
23:03Born in the sunlight
23:05Born in the rain
23:07Life is a rhythm
23:10Running through veins
23:16NUMBER 1
23:17NEL BLU DI PINTO DI BLU
23:19VOLARE
23:20Domenico Madugno
23:21Our 12 points go to Italy for the classic song Volare.
23:27Volare
23:28Oh oh oh oh
23:32Domenico Madugno's entry, known by its original name, NEL BLU DI PINTO DI BLU,
23:37already sounded timeless when he performed it at the 1958 contest.
23:42Despite placing third overall, it is widely regarded as the contest's first veritable hit record.
23:56Modugno won two awards at the very first Grammy ceremony in 1959, beating songs by English language stars Frank Sinatra,
24:05Peggy Lee, and Perry Como.
24:06It has since been recorded by some of the most famous and beloved singers of all time, including Dean Martin
24:13and David Bowie.
24:21Volare became a point of national pride for Italy, and would inspire many more singers to try their hand at
24:28the contest.
24:37Which Eurovision song do you feel was robbed of victory? Let us know in the comments.
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