Eurovision: Successful Countries by Decade (1950s-2010s)

Today we are going all the way back to the beginning to look at the countries that perfomed the best in each decade!
I included all the countries that sent entries to at least half the contests in each decade/period, with the logic that if they were not there for at least half the decade then they didn't really help define it. I thus excluded countries like Ireland from the 50s & 60s (5 entries over 14 contests), Serbia & Montenegro, Azerbaijan and Armenia from the 00s (2, 2 and 4 entries respectively).
I combined the 50s with the 60s as there were only 3 years in the 50s with full results (1957-1959) and I only included Switzerland's 1st place from 1956.
I then calculated the average placement of each country per decade and ranked them. To convert semi-final placement to total placement, I ranked the non-qualifying entries by average points received by every other country. In case of ties, I did not break the tie, but assigned the same placement to the tying entries.
In the video you will see the top 5 countries for each decade and their 3 most successful entries by placement. In case of a tie in placement, the entry competing against the most other entries won the tie. If still tied, then the entry with the higher percentage out of the maximum possible points won the tie. If still tied (OMG Sweden '95 and '96 that exist to make my life difficult), then the entry that received votes from most other countries won the tie.
Enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments!
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:10 1950s & 1960s
1:43 1970s
3:15 1980s
4:48 1990s
6:21 2000s
7:54 2010s
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FEATURING
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Australia
Dami Im - Sound of Silence
Guy Sebastian - Tonight Again
Isaiah - Don't Come Easy
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Deen - In the Disco
Hari Mata Hari - Lejla
Regina - Bistra voda
France
Catherine Ferry - Un, deux, trois
Frida Boccara - Un jour, un enfant
Isabelle Aubret - Un premier amour
Jacqueline Boyer - Tom Pillibi
Joël Prévost - Il y aura toujours des violons
Marie Myriam - L'Oiseau et l'Enfant
Germany
Lena Valaitis - Johnny Blue
Nicole - Ein bißchen Frieden
Wind - Laß die Sonne in dein Herz
Greece
Helena Paparizou - My Number One
Kalomira - Secret Combination
Sakis Rouvas - Shake It
Ireland
Colm C.T. Wilkinson - Born to Sing
Dana - All Kinds of Everything
Eimear Quinn - The Voice
Johnny Logan - Hold Me Now
Johnny Logan - What's Another Year
Linda Martin - Terminal 3
Niamh Kavanagh - In Your Eyes
Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan - Rock 'n' Roll Kids
The Swarbriggs Plus Two - It's Nice to Be in Love Again
Israel
Ilanit - Ey Sham
Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta - A-Ba-Ni-Bi
Milk and Honey - Hallelujah
Italy
Alan Sorrenti - Non so che darei
Alice and Battiato - I treni di Tozeur
Il Volo - Grande amore
Jalisse - Fiumi di parole
Mahmood - Soldi
Mia Martini - Rapsodia
Raphael Gualazzi - Madness of Love
Toto Cutugno - Insieme: 1992
Umberto Tozzi and Raf - Gente di mare
Luxembourg
Camillo Felgen - Petit bonhomme
France Gall - Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Jean-Claude Pascal - Nous les amoureux
Malta
Chiara - The One That I Love
Mary Spiteri - Little Child
Moira Stafrace and Christopher Scicluna - More than Love
Monaco
François Deguelt - Ce soir-là
François Deguelt - Dis rien
Romuald - Où sont-elles passées
Russia
Alsou - Solo
Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for Everybody
Dima Bilan - Believe
Dima Bilan - Never Let You Go
Polina Gagarina - A Million Voices
Sergey Lazarev - You Are the Only One
Spain
Betty Missiego - Su canción
Julio Iglesias - Gwendolyne
Mocedades - Eres tú
Sweden
Carola - Fångad av en stormvind
Carola - Främling
Charlotte Nilsson - Take Me to Your Heaven
Eric Saade - Popular
Herreys - Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley
Jan Johansen - Se på mej
Kikki Danielsson - Bra vibrationer
Loreen - Euphoria
Måns Zelmerlöw - Heroes
Switzerland
Esther Ofarim - T'en va pas
Lys Assia - Giorgio
Lys Assia - Refrain
Turkey
Hadise - Düm Tek Tek
Kenan Doğulu - Shake It Up Şekerim
Sertab Erener - Everyway That I Can
Ukraine
Ani Lorak - Shady Lady
Jamala - 1944
Mika Newton - Angel
Ruslana - Wild Dances
Verka Serduchka - Dancing Lasha Tumbai
Zlata Ognevich - Gravity
United Kingdom
Brotherhood of Man - Save Your Kisses for Me
Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
Imaani - Where Are You?
Kathy Kirby - I Belong
Katrina and the Waves - Love Shine a Light
Live Report - Why Do I Always Get It Wrong
Lulu - Boom Bang-a-Bang
Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran - Rock Bottom
Sandie Shaw - Puppet on a String
Scott Fitzgerald - Go
Sonia - Better the Devil You Know
The Shadows - Let Me Be the One
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Intro song: Cyprus 2021 - Elena Tsagrinou | El Diablo
Outro song: Iceland 2003 - Birgitta Haukdal | Open Your Heart
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#BecauseEurovision #Eurovision #Subscribe #eurovisiontops #eurovisionrankings

[@BecauseEurovision]

Take 2! Apologies for the errors in the previous version of this video! Quick note, I only included countries with participations in at least half the contests of each period. This did allow Italy to be the top 90s country which I know is kind of ironic given Ireland is right there, but still, their average placement was better than Ireland's. For more info, check the description. This is my last history video for this Eurovision season (more may come during the summer - I'll see how my hiatus will go). After this we're going back to 2023 for good with my updated top 37 and my predictions for the semis! Let me know what you think in the comments and don't forget to subscribe!

[@BrickmotionYT]

*Rankings for the 2020s so far:* 1. 🇮🇹 Italy - Average Placement: 3.67 2. 🇺🇦 Ukraine - Average Placement: 4.00 3. 🇸🇪 Sweden - Average Placement: 6.33 _4. 🇷🇺 Russia - Average Placement: 9.00_ (only participated once, so might not be counted by the rules of this ranking) 5. 🇫🇮 Finland - Average Placement: 9.67 (would take 4th place if Russia doesn't count) _6. 🇳🇴 Norway/🇱🇹 Lithuania - Average Placement: 11.00 (tied)_ (would take 5th place if Russia doesn't count)

[@ericforsyth]

This list counts Italy for the 90's, which only had five entries. It's still theoretically possible for Russia to reach 5 this decade (albeit unlikely in practice). And because the others have only participated three times, I'd say they ought to count, so far. Good start for Finland, which ought to be one of the worst countries for average placement, especially when considering how many times they've taken part.

[@axt6570]

The fact that Ireland has more wins in the 90s than fit in this video is insane!

[@treverthetree]

This is also true for France in the 50s / 60s section, but one win comes from 1958 while the rest are from the 1960s so I guess it doesn’t really count as much haha

[@jaersonestera5276]

What's more surprising was Ireland wasn't no.1 in the 90s despite the 3 consecutive wins, it was Italy despite of only appearing in the contest 5 editions in the 90s

[@stepoutskz]

Totslly unexpected to see Ireland no.2 in the 90s when then won like 4 years in that decade

[@klaudiaszilagyi669]

Great video as always! But it also got me thinking that the biggest shifts in Eurovision don't always coincide with the start of a new decade. For example, I think 2002, 2014 and 2021 brought about the biggest changes in the past few years.

[@davidarnold5271]

Ok having my country top for the 1st 3 DECADES and then all comes crashing down from 00s onwards is incredibly frustrating 🤣😤

[@esccyprus]

I miss 2000s

[@eurovisionhistories]

What a great video ❤. Thank you so much for making this!

[@Aussievisionnet]

Not using Zero Gravity for Australia's 3rd best result! SHOOKETH.

[@BecauseEurovision]

Believe me I'd prefer to, but Isaiah came 9th with 42 entries competing, while Kate came in 9th with 41 entries competing, so he edged her out of this video

[@Aussievisionnet]

@@BecauseEurovision Ha no worries, totally understand. Can I just say, we are a big fan of your channel. Keep up the amazing work! ~ Dale

[@lexezlao]

same with not using Dan vilda for Sweden in the 90s

[@treverthetree]

Very well done :)

[@jaevlaunghee8502]

How the fuck ireland is not 1 in the 90’s is really weird

[@TumbleTower]

Ireland at the ESC in the 1990s: Four wins: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 Two second place: 1990, 1997 Other: 10th in 1991, 14th in 1995, 9th in 1998, 17th in 1999 Their places in 1995 and 1999 evidently pulled their average placement for 1990 to 1999 down a bit. Ireland were lucky the qualification method for 2000 was based on an average of best scores over 1995 to 1999 inclusive, plus Big Four (as it then was) plus hosts Sweden. Had the EBU relegated the bottom six of 1999 alone (not counting Big Four), Ireland would have been unable to participate in 2000.

[@jaevlaunghee8502]

@@TumbleTower ye i know all that but it is still weird

[@LeafHuntress]

Sees title; ooh nice! Sees 50s & 60s combined: well, there goes the chance for the Netherlands to be good in any decade....

[@arvinroidoatienza7082]

I mean they have 3 wins in those decades

[@lexezlao]

y'all did ok in the 2010s and 90s

[@diekommentarekommentiererin]

The 80's were Germany's decade. Of course Johnny Logan takes two spots for Ireland in the 80's. Surprising they didn't "win" the 90's despite their four wins. Russia doesn't surprise me since with the exception of 2005, they were always on the left-hand side of the scoreboard (Dima Bilan pulling a Johnny Logan by occupying the top 2) I thought Greece would beat them though. But yeah, Serbia & Montenegro would've slayed them all 😄

[@lexezlao]

Russia 2005 is underrated af

[@lehnrik]

00:48 Did Luxembourg send Lurch from The Addams Family to sing their entry...?

[@ImStevan]

idk Serbia definitely feels like it should make an appearance in 2000s, 2nd in 2004 1st in 2007 6th in 2008 26th in 2009

[@StarTheTripleDevil]

Serbia and Montenegro is not considered the same country as Serbia. (S&M competed in 2004 and 2005. Serbia from 2007 onward.)

[@zalkkareita9017]

Spain finished 2nd in 1971, why is that entry not in the video?

[@timchen1]

🇩🇪 Germany's 80s game was so strong

[@JeSuisRene]

🇬🇧 UK says hi!

[@tugrakaancakroglu9558]

We see Balkan domination in the 2000s

[@_blank-_]

9:08 Sweden gave me a headache

[@lehnrik]

Me too! That song is as enjoyable as toothache.

[@llamathedrama1454]

ı didn't expect to be hit by my countries super old tunes so suddenly lol. I literally jumped lol (2000's were so cringe i am so glad that it's over lol)