Eurovision Song Contest 1970 Review

The one without the Nordics

As Spain and the UK hosted in 1969 and 1968 respectively, a draw was held between France and the Netherlands to decide who’d host. In the end, the Netherlands won the draw, which is why we’re in Amsterdam this year, missing our nordic friends and Portugal.

Eurovision Song Contest 1969 Review

The one with the four-way tie

Welcome to Madrid for the only time Spain actually hosted Eurovision (despite having taken part every years since their debut). Austria decided to skip out on this year as a protest against Franco’s regime, but everyone else stayed here.

Eurovision Song Contest 1968 Review

The one in colour

Welcome to London. Again. For the third time. But now we’re here because the UK actually won! We’re joined by the same countries as before and hosted by Katie Boyle.

Eurovision Song Contest 1967 Review

The one my grandma watched live

And we’re in Vienna this time, for the first out of (so far) two times. Denmark is out until the head of DR retires, but everyone else is still in (for now). This time, we’re in a palace that belonged to the Habsburg dynasty.

Eurovision Song Contest 1966 Review

The one where Udo Jürgens wins on his third try

Welcome back to Luxembourg. We’ll be back several more times. No changes in the lineup this time, which is nice, there’s no need to introduce any newcomers.

There was a big change in the rules though - all countries were forbidden from singing in non-official languages, changing the direction of most of the 20th century forever.

Eurovision Song Contest 1965 Review

The one where Sweden decided to sing in English

We’re visiting Italy for the first out of (so far) three times. We’re joined by Sweden, who are back after skipping last year (and will do the same two more times) and Ireland (who will only sit out one contest in the future).

Eurovision Song Contest 1964 Review

The one with video missing

This time, the contest is hosted by a broadcaster who hated it so much that they didn’t even want to spare any of the four recording machines they owned to preserve it (no, the recording wasn’t actually destroyed in a fire). Thankfully, other parties preserved the audio, so at the very least we can hear all of the songs.

Eurovision Song Contest 1963 Review

The one held in a studio

And we’re back in London. France didn’t want to host for the third time, so the BBC hosted on their behalf. Once again, we’re joined by the same set of countries as last year, making it the third year in a row with no additions or withdrawals.

Eurovision Song Contest 1962 Review

The one with heavy running order bias

We’re off to Luxembourg, which is the smallest country to have ever hosted Eurovision (Monaco won in 1971, but the UK hosted in 1972). No changes in the lineup, nobody new joined or withdrew, for the first time in the contest’s history. Our host is Mireille Delannoy, who welcomes every participating country in their language, which is always something I’ll approve of.

Eurovision Song Contest 1961 Review

The one with the first Slavic nation participating

We’re once again back in Cannes, still hosted by Jacqueline Joubert. The stage got a bit of a downgrade in my opinion, we don’t get the fun revolving carousels this time. We’re joined by three new countries, giving us 16 participants this year.