Europe has voted; ABBA wins Congratulations, the anniversary show dedicated to 50 years Eurovision Song Contest. Although the selection method raised the eyebrowes of many, the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest winner can now add a new title to the long, long list; the all-time winner of 50 years Eurovision Song Contest! What else can we say than… Congratulations!
The show
The show itself didn't bring any big surprises. The show's most hilareous moment was Birthe Wilke's intervention in the almost-kiss between Katrina and Renars. Slightly embarrasing was Lys Assia's announcement of Helena Paparizou's song… “what was the song title again?” With all respect for the winner of the first Eurovision Song Contest, of course!
Another remarkable detail was the continuous appearance of Nicole & Hugo in their purple suits; the same fragment of their song Baby, baby was shown four times! On purpose, it appeared after the second voting round, because Nicole & Hugo were there! For the fifth time we had to see them and finally, the sixth time we got the chance to see them for real… in their original purple suits!
The results
Remarkably, fans' favourites Eres tu, Everyway that I can and Congratulations didn't make it to the final five. The songs that made it through the first voting round;
� 1958 – Italy – Domenico Modugno – Nel blu di pinto di blu (Volare)
� 1976 – UK – Brotherhood of Man – Save your kisses for me
� 1974 – Sweden – ABBA – Waterloo
� 2005 – Greece – Helena Paparizou – My number one
� 1987 – Ireland – Johnny Logan – Hold me now
The final results of Congratulations, after the second round of voting, after a medley of many memorable Eurovision Song Contest songs ánd a special Congratulations edition of the Olsen Brother's Walk right back, it was finally time for the results! The grandma on stage with the drums was not the Moldovan one, because the event organisers couldn't find her anymore!
1. 1974 – Sweden – ABBA – Waterloo
2. 1958 – Italy – Domenico Modugno – Nel blu di pinto di blu (Volare)
3. 1987 – Ireland – Johnny Logan – Hold me now
4. 2005 – Greece – Helena Paparizou – My number one
5. 1976 – UK – Brotherhood of Man – Save your kisses for me
6. 2000 – Denmark – Olsen Brothers – Fly on the wings of love
7. 1982 – Germany – Nicole – Ein bißchen Frieden
8. 1968 – United Kingdom – Cliff Richard – Congratulations
9. 2003 – Turkey – Sertab – Everyway that I can
10. 1988 – Switzerland – Céline Dion – Ne partez pas sans moi
11. 1973 – Spain – Mocedades – Eres tu
12. 1980 – Ireland – Johnny Logan – What�s another year
13. 1998 – Israel – Dana International – Diva
14. 1965 – Luxembourg – France Gall – Poupée de cire poupée de son
The full results can be downloaded in PDF-format at the official website, here.
Earlier today, esctoday.com members correctly predicted ABBA as the winner of the 50th anniversary show. As none of the ABBA members was present in Copenhagen, one of the members' son received the award. It probably won't be busy at the winners' press conference…!
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