Over a 
year ago, I wrote a long entry about the Eurovision song contest, in which I tried to attempt to link to all winning artists from the 70s to now. Since the rise of the YouTube phenomenon it’s finally possible to look back at some of those songs (if not all).
I’m going to be picky though and ignore everything before 1974 and after 1989: First of all, I don’t remember anything before 1974 anyways. Secondly, I don’t remember paying too much attention to the Eurovision contest after Canadian Celine Dion won for Switzerland. Scandalous! But, the shortlist with (thanks to the Internet) videoclips. Plus the clue to today’s ‘title’ of this entry:
Notice that many of the videos were taken down. I have made an effort to relink them, where ever possible.
- 1974: (Sweden) ABBA with ‘Waterloo’. I’m not sure if they were already famous at that stage, but I’m certain that the win of the 1974 contest was the tipping point in the band’s history.
- 1975: (The Netherlands) Teach-In with ‘Ding dinge dong’. Don’t ask me what it means. I don’t know. I actually thought that this Dutch band won in the late 60s, but I guess, my memory is slowly degrading. (Relink).
- 1976: (UK) Brotherhood of Man with ‘Save All Your Kisses For Me’. Looking back at the clip, I actually think this was a brilliant act: a catchy tune, a cute chorus and smashing choreography. It was the choreography. It must have been. They had a couple of hits in Europe after, to disappear for years to return during the late 90s’ Eurovision Songcontest revival. (Relink).
- 1977: (France) Marie Myriam with ‘L’oiseau et l’enfant’. I do remember the tune, but I don’t remember it. Really.
- 1978: (Israel) Izhar Cohen & Alphabeta with ‘A-ba-ni-bi’. The Eurovision contest: it’s like a lottery! I mean, listen to last year’s winner. Relink.
- 1979: (Israel) Milk and Honey with ‘Halleluja’. Despite the corny song title, this is actually a classy jazz song. This song was part of our musical class ciriculum, used as a classical example of a slow progressing song that reaches its climax at the end. As mentioned in the comments a couple of entries below, reminds of some of the music that was played during the Roaring Thirties. (Better video). (Relink).
- 1980: (Ireland) Johnny Logan with ‘What’s another year’. No comment.
- 1981: (UK) Buck’s Fizz with ‘Making your mind up’. They won because of the skirts. Being pulled off. No. Really. Wow.
- 1982: (Germany) Nicole with ‘Ein Bisschen Frieden’. I don’t know. I still think’s she’s cheating: I mean, playing guitar with a Capo. That’s not fair. But singing about peace in the days of the Cold War was a guaranteed win at the Eurovision songcontest. It seems that Nicole has been doing really good and is actually still quite popular in her home country (Relink)
- 1983: (Luxembourg) Corinne Hermes with ‘Si la vie est cadeau’. Right. I don’t really remember this. It’s about a present. I think. Corinne Hermes is now a (well known) rock artist in France. That’s better than what any other Song contest winner has achieved. Oh. And she’s left-handed.
- 1984: (Sweden) The Herreys with ‘Diggy-Loo’. And in Swedish! No offense meant, I keep thinking this would be a great song for toothpaste. Like in: ‘Diggy-loo, diggy-ley, brush your teeth everyday or you walk around with golden filling!’.
- 1985: (Norway) Bobbysocks with ‘La Det Swinge’. In a final attempt to win the Contest, Norway sent in two experienced background singers of previous years’ contestants. Guess what. They won! Noteworthy is that the Dutch were missing because that year’s Contest was held on a May 4th.
- 1986: (Belgium) Sandra Kim with ‘J’aime La Vie’. I saw her in a recent program singing her old song and, naturally, she was not able to sing the high registers she was able to do when she was 14 years old (or something). Hilarious. I keep hearing ‘J’aime pommes frites’. Dunno why.
- 1987 (Ireland) Johnny Logan with ‘Hold me now’. OMG, he’s BACK!?
- 1988 (Switzerland) Celine Dion with ‘Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi’. Right: A Canadian sings for Switzerland and wins the European Contest.
To complete the quest for older entries: Sandie Shaw’s winning 1967 song ‘Puppet on a string’. Ruth Jacott’s ‘Vrede’ (1993).