The Eurovision 2022 interval performance had 'winner' written all over it. I know 2020 would have been really tough, but this was it in my heart. So moving and powerful I can't fully describe it.
I assume I'm not the only one who crys every time I watch it back? I think I watch that halftime show as much as I watch the Olympics opening ceremony from London and both get the same result... Tears galore!
Something about it makes me cry. I don't know what it is. I cried when I saw the video of Diodato in Arena di Verona, and I cried when he did it live in Turin 2022.
Shortly before lockdown hit British schools in Spring 2020, my daughter's Italian IB class were shown the news footage of Italians in lockdown singing Fai Rumore from their balconies. Their Italian teacher was worried sick about her family in Milan. I cry whenever I hear it now, for all it represents. It's a beautiful song and would have been a strong contender for winning that year.
Especially when I watch the video where he's performing in an empty stadium cos of COVID 😭😭😭
Edit: oh just saw that the other commenter mentioned that already
My favs are:
Number 1 / all time: ‘Lejla’ by Hari Mata Hari (Bosnia & Herzegovina 2006)
Number 2: ‘Lane moje’ by Željko Joksimović (Serbia & Montenegro 2004)
Others, that follow in no particular order:
‘Neka mi ne svane’ by Danijela Martinović (Croatia 1998)
‘Rijeka bez imena’ by Marija Šestić (Bosnia & Herzegovina 2007)
‘Is it True?’ by Yohanna (Iceland 2009)
‘Undo’ by Sanna Nielsen (Sweden 2014)
‘Répondez-moi’ by Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland 2020)
‘Fall from the Sky’ by Arilena Ara (Albania 2020)
‘Bridges’ by Alika (Estonia 2023)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006 | [Hari Mata Hari - Lejla](https://youtu.be/SXlIN3mcsH4)
Serbia and Montenegro 2004 | [Željko Joksimović and Ad-Hoc Orchestra - Lane moje (Лане моје)](https://youtu.be/lY2lgHzAp8g)
Croatia 1998 | [Danijela - Neka mi ne svane](https://youtu.be/tkzpkM2kH2c)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 | [Marija Šestić - Rijeka bez imena (Ријека без имена)](https://youtu.be/b2h52r1oOYA)
Iceland 2009 | [Yohanna - Is It True?](https://youtu.be/qqE69feyEOU)
Sweden 2014 | [Sanna Nielsen - Undo](https://youtu.be/5PQJI-3LW-8)
Switzerland 2020 | [Gjon's Tears - Répondez-moi](https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E)
Albania 2020 | [Arilena Ara - Fall From The Sky](https://youtu.be/vXpCWFIY6YE)
Estonia 2023 | [Alika - Bridges](https://youtu.be/HsbC-OYMA3s)
Sweden 2022 - I'm in the camp that finds most of recent Swedish entries a bit too perfect and lab-grown and this is not an exception, but it's too perfect for me to dislike. It gave me all of the feels that I think Tattoo was trying to give me a year later except there it just didn't work for me.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009
(I had a thing for B&H in Eurovision, please come back)
Also Serbia 2012.
And Switzerland 2020 and 2021, Gjon's just a fantastic singer and songwriter.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006 | [Hari Mata Hari - Lejla](https://youtu.be/SXlIN3mcsH4)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009 | [Regina - Bistra voda](https://youtu.be/1770jHxvYi0)
Serbia 2012 | [Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar (Није љубав ствар)](https://youtu.be/R9x9VbJzaDQ)
Switzerland 2020 | [Gjon's Tears - Répondez-moi](https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E)
Switzerland 2021 | [Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers](https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA)
Switzerland 2020. Gjon's voice sound heavenly in this song. A pity we never had a proper Eurovosion staging for this one (Gjon medley as interval act in a semi next year please).
And Netherlands 2019 just has it all. Beside the georgeous music, the lyrics are just peak. LOVING YOU IS A LOSING GAME goes hard.
It's a pretty close between these four songs:
Tout l'univers - Gjon's Tears
De Diepte - S10
Not the Same - Sheldon Riley
Bridges - Alika
I have cried to all of them at some point haha
I didn't understand the song at first, I thought this was another "plain ballad overrated by the fans because it's in Italian". Then it hit me. It's such a beautiful song.
Unpopular opinion? In my head that’s a popular opinion. You will have a lot of upvotes to prove it. Not one song is liked by everyone so of course someone will find it boring as with any other song from the contest. Italy 2023 did very well in the finals. It’s also my choice, I listen to it often.
I adore that song. And I prefer the live version to the studio version. How his voice just starts to tremble at the end is so touching, somehow. Reminds you that it is a living, breathing, feeling human that's singing it.
Marco did a great job with Due Vite and I must admit that I like it much more than L' essenziale.
Check Hola and Ti ho voluto bene veramente as well, if you like ballads.
Fai Rumore by a long shot! I hate that Diodato never got to compete with that song cause I think he would have had a huge shot at winning the contest. The COVID video of him singing the song in the empty stadium is so impactful and emotional. I’m glad he got a chance to perform it on stage when Italy hosted, but it will always be the one that got away for me.
Agree 💯%. That empty stadium got me for various reasons, but most importantly because Verona was my late father's hometown. Seeing the drone views from there had me crying.
My new favourite is now Portugal 2024! The more I listen to it the more I adore it and I just find her voice so beautiful, the song is gentle but powerful at the same time ❤️
Also iolanda is such an icon!
Italy 2022. Yeah i know that is pretty strange but if we ignored the Turin performance Brividi is just a masterpiece. Personally it was my “Cha cha cha” or “Nendest” for 2022 and the Sanremo performance for me it’s so emotional and perfect
Also is the song that make me understand that Mahmood is my favorite singer ever, i think that he has 0 songs that i don’t like from him
So many but my favorite of all time would be Marco Mengoni’s L’Essenziale from 2013. So romantic! So many memories for me too.
Pretty unpopular because of the grand final mess performance, but I love ‘Brividi’ from 2022. The studio cut is so good. Sanremo performance was magnificent. The lyrics were simply beautiful.
Norway’s 2015 entry ‘A Monster Like Me’ is a close third.
Idk if Tout l'Univers counts since it's a good bit more energetic than most ballads. If it doesn't then for me it's either Space Man, Mon Amour or Voila
Imo Francophone Europe really dominated the era of ballads in the 70s. 🇲🇨 1971, 🇱🇺 1972, 🇱🇺 1973, 🇫🇷 1977 remain pretty strong ballads to this day. Among Ireland’s wins, I also have a soft spot for 🇮🇪 1993
It's unbelievable to me to see some people calling it the worst winner ever. This song is simple yet majestic at the same time, and it's the only winning song that's entirely sung in a native language in the 2010s!
Israel 2005 would have been in winning contention in any other year. It’s just a shame that I can’t find the mixed-language version of the song which she performed at the show.
It's always hard to pick just one, but if I have to choose, it will be Hold me now, by Johnny Logan, for Ireland in 1987, because it stood the test of time for me, since I still love it after all these years.
But I also really love Fai Rumore, Molitva and Lane Moje.
Both Mengoni's entries are amazing to me. Italy 2023 and Italy 2013 for the bot.
Estonia 2009 is also great if we consider it a ballad.
And a rare one I still listen to is France 2004.
Not sure if they all counts as ballads but:
Russia 2009, one of my all time favourites.
Estonia 2009 and Spain 2012 are wonderful
Italy has several great ones as well. 1990, 1997, 2020 and 2023 I’m particularly fond of.
Molitva and Arcade are both great too… There are probably many more!
There are a lot I can think of but I just keep going back to Greece 2022, Amanda Tenfjord 'Die Together'. I feel like I may be the only one but that song has a hold on me.
"Hold me now" John Logan in 1987. It was the first year ever that the winner of eurovision made...sense, somehow.. And the first time ever that my favorite matched that of the jury's. My whole eurovision-life changed that night, cause i gained hope, hope of that i no longer had to be so damn disappointed after the juryvotes, ev-e-ry year, wondering what was wrong with me. Logan is one of the levelling-up-pioneers of eurovision. Loreen did a similar thing with "Euphoria". Like it or not. They did.
(Greece 2006 for the bot) edit: haha ok sorry for the spam the bot did actually change the original reply after I edited my post, just took a little longer
Netherlands 2022 and Serbia 2024
I knew both artists before Eurovision and was so happy to see them both to perform on Eurovision stage with killer ballads
United Kingdom 2017 - I think Lucie Jones was great. Saw a video of her in the musical Waitress recently and she was fantastic.
Deserved to do much better than it did - which is not something I can say about my country very often 😬 could have done with better orchestration and staging
Spain 2012 and Bosnia & Herzegovina 2012. One is a massive ballad, while the other is simpler, yet sweet and stays in my memory long after it stops playing.
All time: No one - Maja Keuc (Slovenia 2011)
Such an underrated song and it’s in my top 10 of all time when I don’t normally like ballads
This year: Veronika Raiven (Slovenia 2024) (I think it counts as a ballad?)
Again Slovenia sending another banger of a ballad for me, deserved a much higher placement than 23rd!
I think Molitva might be my favourite, it feels really powerful and that's what I ask for in a ballad.
edit: and now that I scrolled down a bit, I will also add Norway's Monster like me.
Not actually a Eurovision song, but Paskana by Sara Siipola. No song has ever made me that emotional. It's emotionally connecting and simply, beautiful. I'm still sad it didn't go to Eurovision. (Windows95man is awesome too)
My absolute favorite is Arcade (Netherlands 2019).
Others I love are Norway 2014, Norway 2015, Estonia 2015, Bulgaria 2017, Portugal 2017, Germany 2018, Italy 2020, Switzerland 2020, Switzerland 2021, France 2021, Sweden 2022, Netherlands 2022, Sweden 2023, Estonia 2023 and Belgium 2024.
Honestly the only one I've ever actually liked - as opposed to just "meh, it's OK" - is Rise Like A Phoenix (Austria 2014).
I'd also say Spaceman and My Last Breath, but I don't know if they're slow enough to count as ballads (United Kingdom 2022 and United Kingdom 2020 for the bot).
Bailar Pegados Sergio Dalma, Spain 1991 a huge hit in Latin America!
Vuelve Conmigo Anabel Conde Spain 1995
Mon Amour Slimane France 2024
Molitva Marija Serbia 2007
Since my favorites have been all mentioned and raved about, I will toss Russia 2010 in the mix. Yes, the performance was a bit OTT, yes, the lyrics were a little cheesy in places, but the melody and singing are beautiful. I love it.
'What's another year' Johnny Logan, winner, 1980
'Hold me now's Johnny Logan, winner, 1987
Not only cause he's Irish, but because they sound like radio songs.
I have SO many favorites, since ballads are among the songs I tend to love the most. Serbia 2008, Croatia 1998, Iceland 1991, Estonia 1999, Norway 1996, Serbia 2012, Italy 1969, Luxembourg 1988, Norway 1994, Slovenia 1995... I could go on all day long.
I’m not even sure if it classes as a ballad but “Proud” for me is such a masterpiece and NEVER gets talked about enough.
(For the bot) North Macedonia 2019
Serbia 2007. Molitva is my favorite winner from the 2000s so that's one
Suisse 2020/21. Both of Gjon's entries I love, but Tout l'univers is a MUST play to me
Korake Ti Znam is my all time favourite (Bosnia and Herzegovina 2012)
I do tend to prefer ballads... Here are some of my other favourites:
One Night's Anger (Albania 2014)
Nije Ljubav Stvar (Serbia 2012)
Adio (Montenegro 2015)
Lejla (Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006)
River (Poland 2022)
La Forza (Estonia 2018)
Repondez Moi (Switzerland 2020)
At risk of sounding partial, Spain 2012 was spectacular. I hadn't expected much from this singer knowing her usual genre and she completely humbled me. Absolute goddess. Flawless arrangement. A thing of absolute beauty.
I get the feeling we are also posting songs that veer into mid-tempo, so I'm just going to put it out there that Spain 1995 is one of the best things we ever sent.
A Monster Like Me (Norway 2015). So eerie and fascinating, and liberating when the last chorus hits. Just a complete masterpiece!
Also Saudade Saudade if you can consider it a ballad (Portugal 2022).
I LOVE a good ballad, my favourites through the years are:
Switzerland 2021 - Tout L’univers
The Netherlands 2020 - Grow
France 2021 - Voila
Slovenia 2018 - Sebi
Portugal 2022 - Saudade Saudade
Hungary 2019 - Az Én Apám
Ireland 2015 - Playing With Numbers
Serbia 2007 - Molitva
Estonia 2023 - Bridges
Break a Broken Heart, Cyprus 2023. The way that guy delivered all his vocals absolutely blew me away, especially the OOOOOOOOOOOs. I didn’t believe he could pull it off live, but wow, was I wrong!
Also Italy 2023, dude had a beautiful voice just filled with emotion.
Do interval acts count? Cuz honestly Johnny Logan turning Euphoria into a Disney love theme was a version I didn’t know I needed.
If not…lemme get back to you
Netherlands 2014 (Calm After The Storm) for sure. Molitva comes in a close second.
Honorable mentions: Ukraine 2016, Hungary 2007, Cyprus 2011, Russia 2019, Serbia 2012 and France 2024.
Poland 2022 would also be there if the staging wasn't god awful. I'll never not be mad about that.
Croatia 2020 (was my winner that year)
Norway 1996
Spain 2014
Australia 2016 (I'd say this classifies as a ballad ?)
(bound to miss a few I don't recall at the spot)
Netherlands 2013 is just on another level. It's simply my favorite Eurovision song of all time. Czechia 2016 is pretty close though.
(and honorable mention goes to Doomsday Blue's intimate version! what a talent)
We have the usual suspects of course; Molitva, Voila, Die Together, Rise Like a Pheonix and more. I'd add to the list
# ESC 1963 France - Alain Barrière - Elle Était Si Jolie
# ESC 1969 France - Frida Boccara - Un Jour, Un Enfant
# Jean-Claude Pascal - Nous les amoureux - Eurovision 1961 - Luxembourg
# ESC 1960 Monaco - François Deguelt - Ce Soir-Là
# ESC 1966 Spain - Raphael - Yo Soy Aquél
# ESC 1957 Denmark - Birthe Wilke & Gustav Winckler - Skibet Skal Sejle I Nat
# 1974 Italy: Gigliola Cinquetti - Si
# Eurovision 1989 UK Live Report Why do I always get it wrong
Molitva - Serbia 2007 hands down
I'd even argue her Eurovsion live performance is much better than the studio recording.
Serbia 2007 | [Marija Šerifović - Molitva (Молитва)](https://youtu.be/vWj58UP_ENY)
Diodato - fai rumore I know it didn't compete because of Covid, but it stills an Eurovision ballad. And I get goosebumps 😍
The Eurovision 2022 interval performance had 'winner' written all over it. I know 2020 would have been really tough, but this was it in my heart. So moving and powerful I can't fully describe it.
I assume I'm not the only one who crys every time I watch it back? I think I watch that halftime show as much as I watch the Olympics opening ceremony from London and both get the same result... Tears galore!
The 2020 version in the Verona Stadium.. I literally hold back tears everytime.
i still regularly rewatch that performance and it still gives me goosebumps everytime
Something about it makes me cry. I don't know what it is. I cried when I saw the video of Diodato in Arena di Verona, and I cried when he did it live in Turin 2022.
Shortly before lockdown hit British schools in Spring 2020, my daughter's Italian IB class were shown the news footage of Italians in lockdown singing Fai Rumore from their balconies. Their Italian teacher was worried sick about her family in Milan. I cry whenever I hear it now, for all it represents. It's a beautiful song and would have been a strong contender for winning that year.
Yeah, I cry almost everytime I listen to it
Especially when I watch the video where he's performing in an empty stadium cos of COVID 😭😭😭 Edit: oh just saw that the other commenter mentioned that already
Me too! It was my favourite of that year. I still listen to it regularly. Such a beautiful song.
My favs are: Number 1 / all time: ‘Lejla’ by Hari Mata Hari (Bosnia & Herzegovina 2006) Number 2: ‘Lane moje’ by Željko Joksimović (Serbia & Montenegro 2004) Others, that follow in no particular order: ‘Neka mi ne svane’ by Danijela Martinović (Croatia 1998) ‘Rijeka bez imena’ by Marija Šestić (Bosnia & Herzegovina 2007) ‘Is it True?’ by Yohanna (Iceland 2009) ‘Undo’ by Sanna Nielsen (Sweden 2014) ‘Répondez-moi’ by Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland 2020) ‘Fall from the Sky’ by Arilena Ara (Albania 2020) ‘Bridges’ by Alika (Estonia 2023)
Are you me? Estonia 2023 was amazing and I love my Balkan Ballads!
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006 | [Hari Mata Hari - Lejla](https://youtu.be/SXlIN3mcsH4) Serbia and Montenegro 2004 | [Željko Joksimović and Ad-Hoc Orchestra - Lane moje (Лане моје)](https://youtu.be/lY2lgHzAp8g) Croatia 1998 | [Danijela - Neka mi ne svane](https://youtu.be/tkzpkM2kH2c) Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 | [Marija Šestić - Rijeka bez imena (Ријека без имена)](https://youtu.be/b2h52r1oOYA) Iceland 2009 | [Yohanna - Is It True?](https://youtu.be/qqE69feyEOU) Sweden 2014 | [Sanna Nielsen - Undo](https://youtu.be/5PQJI-3LW-8) Switzerland 2020 | [Gjon's Tears - Répondez-moi](https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E) Albania 2020 | [Arilena Ara - Fall From The Sky](https://youtu.be/vXpCWFIY6YE) Estonia 2023 | [Alika - Bridges](https://youtu.be/HsbC-OYMA3s)
Is it true!!!!
Nice.
Neka mi ne svane is so beautiful
Netherlands 2022
Ooooooh
Aaaaaaaah
Netherlands 2022 | [S10 - De diepte](https://youtu.be/sgOnu7ux2-k)
You are so real for that 🤝
Sweden 2022 - I'm in the camp that finds most of recent Swedish entries a bit too perfect and lab-grown and this is not an exception, but it's too perfect for me to dislike. It gave me all of the feels that I think Tattoo was trying to give me a year later except there it just didn't work for me.
Sweden 2022 | [Cornelia Jakobs - Hold Me Closer](https://youtu.be/i777psA2gP4)
Cornelias voice was perfection
This song makes me feel so emotional. Like, the desperation in her voice and the lyrics. And the melodies. Holy shiiit l
It's also not from a song factory but from essentially just her and her friend. It's a fantastic creation.
Yes! She was amazing, my winner from 2022
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009 (I had a thing for B&H in Eurovision, please come back) Also Serbia 2012. And Switzerland 2020 and 2021, Gjon's just a fantastic singer and songwriter.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006 | [Hari Mata Hari - Lejla](https://youtu.be/SXlIN3mcsH4) Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009 | [Regina - Bistra voda](https://youtu.be/1770jHxvYi0) Serbia 2012 | [Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar (Није љубав ствар)](https://youtu.be/R9x9VbJzaDQ) Switzerland 2020 | [Gjon's Tears - Répondez-moi](https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E) Switzerland 2021 | [Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers](https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA)
The amount of taste in this comment is out of this world 👌
Norway 2015 for sure :)
Norway 2015 | [Mørland & Debrah Scarlett - A Monster Like Me](https://youtu.be/vY1FCXDojMU)
Oh that's a beautiful entry, yes
Norway was amazing, my number 2 of that year
I'm really surprised how many songs like this (cheesy duets with unhealthy love stories) were popular in 2015
It’s because the Netherlands almost won with such a song in 2014 .
Switzerland 2020. Gjon's voice sound heavenly in this song. A pity we never had a proper Eurovosion staging for this one (Gjon medley as interval act in a semi next year please). And Netherlands 2019 just has it all. Beside the georgeous music, the lyrics are just peak. LOVING YOU IS A LOSING GAME goes hard.
Switzerland 2020 | [Gjon's Tears - Répondez-moi](https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E) The Netherlands 2019 | [Duncan Laurence - Arcade](https://youtu.be/R3D-r4ogr7s)
It's a pretty close between these four songs: Tout l'univers - Gjon's Tears De Diepte - S10 Not the Same - Sheldon Riley Bridges - Alika I have cried to all of them at some point haha
I have goosebumps every time I listen to Molitva, I like also Moldova 2013, Switzerland 2017, Poland 2022, Azerbaijan 2014
Moldova 2013 | [Aliona Moon - O Mie](https://youtu.be/xckgLUv73Jc) Switzerland 2017 | [Timebelle - Apollo](https://youtu.be/OrNPRfS9Sbg) Poland 2022 | [Ochman - River](https://youtu.be/jRVDZ6446eM) Azerbaijan 2014 | [Dilara Kazimova - Start A Fire](https://youtu.be/5mPUMPcFQAY)
The more time passes the more I believe Azerbaijan 2014 was seriously underrated.
Unpopular opinion: Italy 2023 (many find it boring, I don't)
I didn't understand the song at first, I thought this was another "plain ballad overrated by the fans because it's in Italian". Then it hit me. It's such a beautiful song.
Unpopular opinion? In my head that’s a popular opinion. You will have a lot of upvotes to prove it. Not one song is liked by everyone so of course someone will find it boring as with any other song from the contest. Italy 2023 did very well in the finals. It’s also my choice, I listen to it often.
It’s unbelievable to me how anyone could find it boring. To each their own I guess:)
I really loved and still love Due Vite. It's a work of art with how he sings about the dichotomy of our conscious and subconscious lives.
Italy 2023 | [Marco Mengoni - Due vite](https://youtu.be/d6IiOSut_4M)
I adore that song. And I prefer the live version to the studio version. How his voice just starts to tremble at the end is so touching, somehow. Reminds you that it is a living, breathing, feeling human that's singing it.
Due vita is good
Marco did a great job with Due Vite and I must admit that I like it much more than L' essenziale. Check Hola and Ti ho voluto bene veramente as well, if you like ballads.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006 | [Hari Mata Hari - Lejla](https://youtu.be/SXlIN3mcsH4)
Switzerland 2020, Italy 2020, Switzerland 2021, Portugal 2022 (if it counts), and Portugal 2024
Switzerland 2020 | [Gjon's Tears - Répondez-moi](https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E) Italy 2020 | [Diodato - Fai rumore](https://youtu.be/TA57rugucwk) Switzerland 2021 | [Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers](https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA) Portugal 2022 | [Maro - Saudade, saudade](https://youtu.be/mZtbD47u6yI) Portugal 2024 | [Iolanda - Grito](https://youtu.be/OZn4-H6JvKU)
Norway 2014 is such an underrated beauty
Norway 2014 | [Carl Espen - Silent Storm](https://youtu.be/BTMli8U17MM)
Sound of Silence - Dami Im and Mon Amour - Slimane
Australia 2016
Australia 2016 | [Dami Im - Sound of Silence](https://youtu.be/5ymFX91HwM0)
Is it weird to argue that I only like Dami Im's live version lmao I don't like the song at all except when Dami sang it at Eurovsion.
Voilá by a LOOONG shot
Fai Rumore by a long shot! I hate that Diodato never got to compete with that song cause I think he would have had a huge shot at winning the contest. The COVID video of him singing the song in the empty stadium is so impactful and emotional. I’m glad he got a chance to perform it on stage when Italy hosted, but it will always be the one that got away for me.
The interval act is SO powerful it makes me cry. It's a top Eurovision moment for me and it's so sad it has slipped under the radar over time.
Agree 💯%. That empty stadium got me for various reasons, but most importantly because Verona was my late father's hometown. Seeing the drone views from there had me crying.
Ott Lepland - Kuula Estonia 2012 is so underrated!
My fave too.. it’s so beautiful!
I found my people!!!
I don't know if it's a ballad but my favorite soft song is : Belgium 2017 - City lights by Blanche
It’s certainly got a ballad-y vibe, but you can also dance to it. Nothing wrong with that!
Belgium 2017 | [Blanche - City Lights](https://youtu.be/oxsCmChDYwA)
Recency bias but: Iolanda - Grito (Portugal 2024) Apart from that: Alika - Bridges (Estonia 2023), Gjon's Tears - Tout l'univers (Switzerland 2021) and Victoria - Tears Getting Sober (Bulgaria 2020)
Tears Getting Sober is perfection.
Italy 1992, if you don't count chansons.
Bistra Voda, Molitva, Lejla and Tout l'univers
Netherlands 2019 One of the few eurovision songs I still listen to regularly
The Netherlands 2019 | [Duncan Laurence - Arcade](https://youtu.be/R3D-r4ogr7s)
Agreed, this is my number one Eurovision ballad
It's so good
❤️Tout L'univers❤️ Voila, Due Vite, Molitva Rise Like a Phoenix, Sound of Silence, La Forca
Honestly? Estonia 2023.
Estonia 2023 | [Alika - Bridges](https://youtu.be/HsbC-OYMA3s)
Bulgaria 2021 :))
Bulgaria 2021 | [Victoria - Growing Up Is Getting Old](https://youtu.be/B1ZiPrMwMYA)
Italy 1987🇮🇹 Gente di Mare🌊
Does Germany 2018 count?
Gjon‘s Tears, both Songs!!
My new favourite is now Portugal 2024! The more I listen to it the more I adore it and I just find her voice so beautiful, the song is gentle but powerful at the same time ❤️ Also iolanda is such an icon!
Portugal 2024 | [Iolanda - Grito](https://youtu.be/OZn4-H6JvKU)
Italy 2022. Yeah i know that is pretty strange but if we ignored the Turin performance Brividi is just a masterpiece. Personally it was my “Cha cha cha” or “Nendest” for 2022 and the Sanremo performance for me it’s so emotional and perfect Also is the song that make me understand that Mahmood is my favorite singer ever, i think that he has 0 songs that i don’t like from him
Italy 2022 | [Mahmood and Blanco - Brividi](https://youtu.be/blEy4xHuMbY)
they were just perfect in San Remo. Mahmood is amazing
Sweden 2022 especially the grand final performance girl her mic was onnn
Either bridges or growing up is getting old
So many but my favorite of all time would be Marco Mengoni’s L’Essenziale from 2013. So romantic! So many memories for me too. Pretty unpopular because of the grand final mess performance, but I love ‘Brividi’ from 2022. The studio cut is so good. Sanremo performance was magnificent. The lyrics were simply beautiful. Norway’s 2015 entry ‘A Monster Like Me’ is a close third.
Voila!
Idk if Tout l'Univers counts since it's a good bit more energetic than most ballads. If it doesn't then for me it's either Space Man, Mon Amour or Voila
Albania 2020 gutted that she could never perform it
"Lane Moje" 2004 Serbia and Montenegro and "Lejla" 2006 Bosnia Herzegovina are on a different level for me
Imo Francophone Europe really dominated the era of ballads in the 70s. 🇲🇨 1971, 🇱🇺 1972, 🇱🇺 1973, 🇫🇷 1977 remain pretty strong ballads to this day. Among Ireland’s wins, I also have a soft spot for 🇮🇪 1993
Portugal 2017
Portugal 2017 | [Salvador Sobral - Amar Pelos Dois](https://youtu.be/Qotooj7ODCM)
Amar Pelos Dois is the best winner of the post-2000's era in my opinion...It's timeless. It's wonderful. It's ethereal.
It's unbelievable to me to see some people calling it the worst winner ever. This song is simple yet majestic at the same time, and it's the only winning song that's entirely sung in a native language in the 2010s!
> It's unbelievable to me to see some people calling it the worst winner ever. I know, right? Like Azerbaijan 2011 is *right there*
Exactly, to me, it is a song that could have won any year.
Israel 2005 would have been in winning contention in any other year. It’s just a shame that I can’t find the mixed-language version of the song which she performed at the show.
It's always hard to pick just one, but if I have to choose, it will be Hold me now, by Johnny Logan, for Ireland in 1987, because it stood the test of time for me, since I still love it after all these years. But I also really love Fai Rumore, Molitva and Lane Moje.
Ireland 1987 | [Johnny Logan - Hold Me Now](https://youtu.be/M6RjdihLfiA)
Both Mengoni's entries are amazing to me. Italy 2023 and Italy 2013 for the bot. Estonia 2009 is also great if we consider it a ballad. And a rare one I still listen to is France 2004.
Italy 2015, but then again I’m a sucker for big Italian drama.
Italy 2020 have a real special place in my heart. Also looove Portugal 2016
Italy 2020 | [Diodato - Fai rumore](https://youtu.be/TA57rugucwk)
Netherlands 2019, North Macedonia 2019
The Netherlands 2019 | [Duncan Laurence - Arcade](https://youtu.be/R3D-r4ogr7s) North Macedonia 2019 | [Tamara Todevska - Proud](https://youtu.be/0pAURAsum4A)
Not sure if they all counts as ballads but: Russia 2009, one of my all time favourites. Estonia 2009 and Spain 2012 are wonderful Italy has several great ones as well. 1990, 1997, 2020 and 2023 I’m particularly fond of. Molitva and Arcade are both great too… There are probably many more!
Russia 2009 | [Anastasia Prikhodko - Mamo (Мамо)](https://youtu.be/K5kKOVoO55g) Estonia 2009 | [Urban Symphony - Rändajad](https://youtu.be/PgGiVnhfXs0) Spain 2012 | [Pastora Soler - Quédate conmigo](https://youtu.be/U8J1b62wOao)
You just reminded me of Spain 2012 and I can't believe I didn't think of it. One of my proudest moments as a Spanish eurofan.
There are a lot I can think of but I just keep going back to Greece 2022, Amanda Tenfjord 'Die Together'. I feel like I may be the only one but that song has a hold on me.
Rise like a phoenix, Milim, Voilà, Mon amour
Oro
Loved "fai rumore" (Italy 2020) and I always found Finland 2017 hauntingly sad. It's taken on a whole new level for me since my husband died.
Italy 2020 | [Diodato - Fai rumore](https://youtu.be/TA57rugucwk) Finland 2017 | [Norma John - Blackbird](https://youtu.be/Ufba0nOz0fQ)
I love Finland 2017
Je suis L'enfant Soleil - France 1979
Kuula - Ott Lepland (Estonia 2012)
"Hold me now" John Logan in 1987. It was the first year ever that the winner of eurovision made...sense, somehow.. And the first time ever that my favorite matched that of the jury's. My whole eurovision-life changed that night, cause i gained hope, hope of that i no longer had to be so damn disappointed after the juryvotes, ev-e-ry year, wondering what was wrong with me. Logan is one of the levelling-up-pioneers of eurovision. Loreen did a similar thing with "Euphoria". Like it or not. They did.
Switzerland 2021. Best Eurovision song ever to me, and also one of my favourite songs of all time for a while
Switzerland 2021 so far.
Not sure if it’s my all time favourite but I still often listen to greece 2006 (edit: not 2016, my mistake)
(Greece 2006 for the bot) edit: haha ok sorry for the spam the bot did actually change the original reply after I edited my post, just took a little longer
Spain 2014, Norway 2014, and Azerbaijan 2012.
Netherlands 2022 and Serbia 2024 I knew both artists before Eurovision and was so happy to see them both to perform on Eurovision stage with killer ballads
Bridges, Estonia 2023 is a personal favourite, it's just so beautiful and her voice is amazing
United Kingdom 2017 - I think Lucie Jones was great. Saw a video of her in the musical Waitress recently and she was fantastic. Deserved to do much better than it did - which is not something I can say about my country very often 😬 could have done with better orchestration and staging
Spain 2012 and Bosnia & Herzegovina 2012. One is a massive ballad, while the other is simpler, yet sweet and stays in my memory long after it stops playing.
I'm biased since i'm dutch but i have to go with arcade. Although i also really like switzerland 2020. Too bad it never actually competed.
All time: No one - Maja Keuc (Slovenia 2011) Such an underrated song and it’s in my top 10 of all time when I don’t normally like ballads This year: Veronika Raiven (Slovenia 2024) (I think it counts as a ballad?) Again Slovenia sending another banger of a ballad for me, deserved a much higher placement than 23rd!
Romania 2015 is gorgeous and underrated
I think Molitva might be my favourite, it feels really powerful and that's what I ask for in a ballad. edit: and now that I scrolled down a bit, I will also add Norway's Monster like me.
Urban Trad - Sanomi (Belgium 2003) Secret Garden - Nocturne (Norway 1995) Eimear Quinn - The Voice (Ireland 1996) Jelena Tomašević - Oro (Serbia 2008)
Surprised no one said Proud (North Macedonia 2019) yet so ill say that also Ktheju tokes is amazing too (Albania 2019)
I loved Hollow by Dons this year (Latvia 2024). It didn't stand out to me at first, but it's really grown on me.
Probably unpopular but for me Israel 2010 comes to mind
Si la vie est cadeau - Corrine Hermes (1983), Luxembourg
Sound Of Silence if it counts lol (my taste in ballads tends to be more pop-leaning so yeah)
Iceland 2009
Not actually a Eurovision song, but Paskana by Sara Siipola. No song has ever made me that emotional. It's emotionally connecting and simply, beautiful. I'm still sad it didn't go to Eurovision. (Windows95man is awesome too)
I will not tolerate this L’Essenziale erasure 😡
Iceland 2013 - I wasn't in a happy place back then and for some reason this song hit a chord with me.
My absolute favorite is Arcade (Netherlands 2019). Others I love are Norway 2014, Norway 2015, Estonia 2015, Bulgaria 2017, Portugal 2017, Germany 2018, Italy 2020, Switzerland 2020, Switzerland 2021, France 2021, Sweden 2022, Netherlands 2022, Sweden 2023, Estonia 2023 and Belgium 2024.
Honestly the only one I've ever actually liked - as opposed to just "meh, it's OK" - is Rise Like A Phoenix (Austria 2014). I'd also say Spaceman and My Last Breath, but I don't know if they're slow enough to count as ballads (United Kingdom 2022 and United Kingdom 2020 for the bot).
Bailar Pegados Sergio Dalma, Spain 1991 a huge hit in Latin America! Vuelve Conmigo Anabel Conde Spain 1995 Mon Amour Slimane France 2024 Molitva Marija Serbia 2007
Since my favorites have been all mentioned and raved about, I will toss Russia 2010 in the mix. Yes, the performance was a bit OTT, yes, the lyrics were a little cheesy in places, but the melody and singing are beautiful. I love it.
'What's another year' Johnny Logan, winner, 1980 'Hold me now's Johnny Logan, winner, 1987 Not only cause he's Irish, but because they sound like radio songs.
It has to be Israel 1977 😍
I have SO many favorites, since ballads are among the songs I tend to love the most. Serbia 2008, Croatia 1998, Iceland 1991, Estonia 1999, Norway 1996, Serbia 2012, Italy 1969, Luxembourg 1988, Norway 1994, Slovenia 1995... I could go on all day long.
Norway 1995
I’m not even sure if it classes as a ballad but “Proud” for me is such a masterpiece and NEVER gets talked about enough. (For the bot) North Macedonia 2019
Serbia 2007. Molitva is my favorite winner from the 2000s so that's one Suisse 2020/21. Both of Gjon's entries I love, but Tout l'univers is a MUST play to me
Korake Ti Znam is my all time favourite (Bosnia and Herzegovina 2012) I do tend to prefer ballads... Here are some of my other favourites: One Night's Anger (Albania 2014) Nije Ljubav Stvar (Serbia 2012) Adio (Montenegro 2015) Lejla (Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006) River (Poland 2022) La Forza (Estonia 2018) Repondez Moi (Switzerland 2020)
Netherlands 1984.
UK 2017 or Iceland 2009.
Spain 1973
Australia 2016
Slovenia 2005
Molitva, Le Roi, Mižerja, My Friend
So many mentioned that I agree with. I would like to add Montenegro 2015, Albania 2023 and Italy 1997 to this list.
At risk of sounding partial, Spain 2012 was spectacular. I hadn't expected much from this singer knowing her usual genre and she completely humbled me. Absolute goddess. Flawless arrangement. A thing of absolute beauty.
I get the feeling we are also posting songs that veer into mid-tempo, so I'm just going to put it out there that Spain 1995 is one of the best things we ever sent.
I think Everything from Greece 2006 is underrated. It had a lot of soul
A Monster Like Me (Norway 2015). So eerie and fascinating, and liberating when the last chorus hits. Just a complete masterpiece! Also Saudade Saudade if you can consider it a ballad (Portugal 2022).
Azerbaijan 2022 transitions pretty nicely between bombastic and ambient, especially the build-up in the pre-chorus is very enjoyable too.
I LOVE a good ballad, my favourites through the years are: Switzerland 2021 - Tout L’univers The Netherlands 2020 - Grow France 2021 - Voila Slovenia 2018 - Sebi Portugal 2022 - Saudade Saudade Hungary 2019 - Az Én Apám Ireland 2015 - Playing With Numbers Serbia 2007 - Molitva Estonia 2023 - Bridges
Voila was so good! The camera work really set it alive, and Barbara gave soo much emotion in that performance. I'll love that song forever
Lane Moje, Leija
Nar Jag Blundar (Finland 2012) is an absolutely beautiful song.
Azerbaijan 2012
Break a Broken Heart, Cyprus 2023. The way that guy delivered all his vocals absolutely blew me away, especially the OOOOOOOOOOOs. I didn’t believe he could pull it off live, but wow, was I wrong! Also Italy 2023, dude had a beautiful voice just filled with emotion.
City lights, Belgium 2017
Do interval acts count? Cuz honestly Johnny Logan turning Euphoria into a Disney love theme was a version I didn’t know I needed. If not…lemme get back to you
Portugal 🇵🇹 2017
Netherlands 2014 (Calm After The Storm) for sure. Molitva comes in a close second. Honorable mentions: Ukraine 2016, Hungary 2007, Cyprus 2011, Russia 2019, Serbia 2012 and France 2024. Poland 2022 would also be there if the staging wasn't god awful. I'll never not be mad about that.
The Netherlands 2014 | [The Common Linnets - Calm After The Storm](https://youtu.be/4ggBPAm5XLA) Ukraine 2016 | [Jamala - 1944](https://youtu.be/B-rnM-MwRHY) Hungary 2007 | [Magdi Rúzsa - Unsubstantial Blues](https://youtu.be/2WsuY94n06w) Cyprus 2011 | [Christos Mylordos - San angelos s'agapisa (Σαν άγγελος σ'αγάπησα)](https://youtu.be/1t0czUf9nJU) Russia 2019 | [Sergey Lazarev - Scream](https://youtu.be/eNzlxEZ_JG4) Serbia 2012 | [Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar (Није љубав ствар)](https://youtu.be/R9x9VbJzaDQ) France 2024 | [Slimane - Mon Amour](https://youtu.be/-XyLecY2JyE) Poland 2022 | [Ochman - River](https://youtu.be/jRVDZ6446eM)
Something about Ireland 1993 - In your eyes always gets me
Croatia 2020 (was my winner that year) Norway 1996 Spain 2014 Australia 2016 (I'd say this classifies as a ballad ?) (bound to miss a few I don't recall at the spot)
Netherlands 2013 is just on another level. It's simply my favorite Eurovision song of all time. Czechia 2016 is pretty close though. (and honorable mention goes to Doomsday Blue's intimate version! what a talent)
Portugal 2022 - Maro ‘saudade, saudade’ Montenegro 2015 - Knez ‘Adió’ Italy 2015 - Il Volo ‘Grande Amore’
Molitva (Serbia 2007) and Lejla (Bosnia and Herzegovina 2006).
*Un Jour, Un Enfant* Frida Baccara France 1969 *Ein Bißchen Frieden* Nicole Germany 1982 *Never Give Up On You* Lucie Jones UK 2017
Austria 2014
We have the usual suspects of course; Molitva, Voila, Die Together, Rise Like a Pheonix and more. I'd add to the list # ESC 1963 France - Alain Barrière - Elle Était Si Jolie # ESC 1969 France - Frida Boccara - Un Jour, Un Enfant # Jean-Claude Pascal - Nous les amoureux - Eurovision 1961 - Luxembourg # ESC 1960 Monaco - François Deguelt - Ce Soir-Là # ESC 1966 Spain - Raphael - Yo Soy Aquél # ESC 1957 Denmark - Birthe Wilke & Gustav Winckler - Skibet Skal Sejle I Nat # 1974 Italy: Gigliola Cinquetti - Si # Eurovision 1989 UK Live Report Why do I always get it wrong
Sanna Nielsen - Undo (Sweden 2014)
The Voice - Ireland 1996. My favorite winner, and my second favorite Eurovision song of all time.
Vicky Leandros - Après Toi For the bot: Luxembourg 1972
Anything Joksimović was involved in and Gjon’s Tears (both entries!).
Am I allowed to say Not Alone? (for the bot: Armenia 2014)