Interesting facts about EUROvision

Statistics

51 years of Eurovision Song Contest brought us some fascinating statistics! Some of them can be interesting to take into account when you take part in the competition, others are just fun!

More than 1,000 songs already took part in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2006, the song of Ireland's Brian KENNEDY was number 1,000. In 2003, Cyprus delivered the 900th song for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1999, Lydia's No Quiero Escuchar was the 800th song. Number 100 was T'en Va Pas, performed by Esther OFARIM for Switzerland, De Troubadour performed by Lenny Kuhr was the 200th song in 1969. Malta brought number 300 in 1975; Singing This Song. He, He M'sieurs Dames was the 400th song performed on the Eurovision Song Contest, this time by France in 1980. Luxembourg had the 500th song in 1986, L'amour De Ma Vie, Portugal the 600th song in 1990 with Ha Sempre Slguem and in 1994, the Polish representative performed song number 700, To Nie Ja.

The 1,100th song will probably be performed in 2008.

Winners on stage

Number of performers on stage In history

One artist           11 times
Two artists      4 times
Three artists 1 time
Four artists     8 times
Five artists        12 times
Six artists           18 times

This table includes the four winners of the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest. Backing vocalists, musicians on stage and dancers are not included in case they are fulfilling a supporting role to the lead singer.

Eurovision Song Contest records

• Noel KELEHAN conducted five winners (1980, 1987, 1992, 1993 and 1996)
  
  
• Dutch conductor Dolf VAN DER LINDE conducted for seven different countries (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.
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• Johnny LOGAN won the Eurovision Song Contest three times. In 1980 and 1987 he represented Ireland as performer and won both times, in 1992 he wrote Linda MARTIN's winning entry
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• Poland made the most impressive debute in 1994, when Edyta GORNIAK came 2nd with To Nie Ja
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• Norway could be found at the bottom of the list as many as ten times! The unfortunates came last in 1963, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1990, 1997, 2001 and 2004. Nevertheless, they also won twice (in 1985 and 1995)
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• Ireland won 7 times, Luxembourg, France and the United Kingdom 5 times. Sweden and the Netherlands won 4 times
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• In 2001, the largest audience ever attended the Eurovision Song Contest. Almost 38,000 people gathered at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium
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• In 2007, 42 countries will participate, smashing the 2006 record

The running order

To which extend does the running order affect the final outcome of the competition? Let the figures speak!

Facts & Figures
The best place to start at is the last          6 winners
The second best place to start is the first 3 winners
Within the last three songs                          14 winners
Within the first three songs                      6 winner

In 51 years, an entry never won starting at the 2nd, the 7th, the 16th, the 21st, the 23rd, the 25th and the 26th place.

Get your facts right!

• German songwriter and composer Ralph SIEGEL took part 18 times, often together with Bernd MEINUNGER
  
  
• Only three women conducted the orchestra at the Eurovision Song Contest. Nurit NIRSCH conducted the Israeli entries of 1973 and 1978, Monica DOMINIQUE conducted the Swedish 1973 entry and Anita KERR appeared in front of the orchestra for Switzerland in 1985
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• Most winning songs were performed in English - songs (mostly) in English won 22 times. French is also popular, with 14 victories. Dutch and Hebrew songs won 3 times each
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• Six different systems were used over the past decades to pick the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest
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• ABBA is the most successful Eurovision Song Contest winner. The Swedish pop band won the contest in 1974
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• The most covered Eurovision Song Contest song is Domenico MUDUGNO's Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu, also known as Volare. The song has been covered by famous stars such as Frank SINATRA, Cliff RICHARD, David BOWIE and many, many more
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• Morocco took part in the Eurovision Song Contest only once (1980). Unfortunately, their first attempt was not very successful

Source: http://www.eurovision.tv/content/view/174/155/