What were the vintage years of the contest?

[Andalublue]

Taking into account the quality of the entries, not so much the staging as technical developments mean you cannot compare, but in musical terms, which year of the ESC did you think was best?

As an oldie, my choice is 1987; a year in which I liked every song but 2 (UK and Iceland). It was alse a year in which one of ESC's biggest stars won and which included 2 of my all-time favourite ESC songs: Gente Di Mare and Sata Salamaa. I can't remember another ESC that I enjoyed more.

How about you?

 

[Fluke]

Re: What was the vintage years of the contest?

I'd hate to say it, but..... personally, 2007-2010, possibly including 2006. The last few years have had the greatest variety of entries ever, more elaborate and original stagings and more experienced artists. 2011 was a bit of a slump, this year is slightly better though and it remains to see what it will look like in retrospect, but i think those four years will stand out as the most colorful and extravagant period for the ESC overall

 

[Andalublue]

Re: What was the vintage years of the contest?

I'd hate to say it, but..... personally, 2007-2010, possibly including 2006. The last few years have had the greatest variety of entries ever, more elaborate and original stagings and more experienced artists.

You're right in terms of spectacle, although I think Düsseldorf was over-blown, but from a musical point of view there's less variety these days than there used to be. There's very little folk music, a bit of jazz and lots and lots of ballads and electro-pop. Check out 1987 and you'll see that it had it all. I blame the semi-final system which has made people play it safe, fearful to fail at the first hurdle.

 

[Yamarus]

Re: What was the vintage years of the contest?

1998 is one of my favourite ESCs. I love almost all the entries that year, except for France and Cyprus.

I'm not familiar enough with other years unfortunately!

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Re: What was the vintage years of the contest?

2009-2011 for me.

 

[Andalublue]

Re: What was the vintage years of the contest?

2009-2011 for me.

You must be very young.

 

[Hegepege]

I'm old, but 1983 was fantastic.

 

[Knightofalbion]

Moscow was my favourite.

I remember the old era Eurovision. It is so much better now.

That being said, every ESC is special. People of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds coming together in a common bond, no fighting, no arguing, no discrimination, just everyone united in a spirit of happiness and friendship. It's a wonderful concept.

 

[Matt]

I wasn't really around for it but I loved the 1983 contest, so many good songs. Although the winner was kinda blah Israel, Germany, Yugoslavia, United Kingdom, Sweden etc all had fantastic songs.

I always thought the 90's were overall the weakest decade and it picked up in the early 2000's again. I enjoyed 2002 (another bad winner though) and loved 2007. And overall I think that 2012 was a great year and quite diverse, one of my favorites in recent years.

 

[Andalublue]

I wasn't really around for it but I loved the 1983 contest, so many good songs. Although the winner was kinda blah Israel, Germany, Yugoslavia, United Kingdom, Sweden etc all had fantastic songs.

I always thought the 90's were overall the weakest decade and it picked up in the early 2000's again. I enjoyed 2002 (another bad winner though) and loved 2007. And overall I think that 2012 was a great year and quite diverse, one of my favorites in recent years.

1983 was a good year, as was 1988, but I completely disagree with you on the Nineties. I think the standard of the winners throughout the Nineties much, much higher than during the Noughties; three classic winners from Ireland, plus Diva, Love Shine A Light, Take Me To Your Heaven and Insieme... all brilliant.

 

[MyHeartIsYours]

Re: What was the vintage years of the contest?

You must be very young.

I've not seen any pre-2003 contests fully, but the clips I've seen of them I dont like them .

 

[94ayd]

The 90s must be my fave decade, I've really enjoyed most of the years. On the other hand 1987 I find one of my least faves of all time. 1981 & 1983 are probably my faves of the 80s. Just watched 1979 today - I like 2/3 of the songs.

 

[PoppySnuggleGlass]

Re: What was the vintage years of the contest?

1998 is one of my favourite ESCs. I love almost all the entries that year, except for France and Cyprus.

I'm not familiar enough with other years unfortunately!

Hell yeah! That was the first contest I sat down and watched the entirety of (I had, and still have, a short attention span )



14 years ago!? Now I feel old. I was abroad when I watched it (in Belgium), so I remember voting for the UK )


2006 was another great year!

 

[TheLuflee]

Absolutely 1997 and 1996!
1983 was quite nice, too. From the recent years I like 2010 and 2012

 

[A-lister]

Well, my first ESC experience was probably 1997... but I have listened to all entries from 1956-

I think the 90's in general was a strong decade, but just like the older editions, the quality of songs were very uneven. The good ones usually better than many of the 00's entries, but then a large bunch that I just didn't like. If I would just judge my top. 10's, I could easily put many 90's years here, but since I'm judging the whole editions, then it's not that easy.

I have a very hard time getting into the really old editions (50's - mid 60's)... I guess the style of music is maybe just too dated for my taste, although there are some really good songs there aswell. 70's-80's have good entries, but all in all I think ESC wasn't taken serious back then, most entries sounded almost tacky/silly or just depressingly dated for its time... 80's probably more so than the 70's.

In terms of coherent quality (based on all competing entries in any given year): 2009, 1998, 2008, 2005, 1997, 2004, 2012, 1969

2009 remains my favorite one since it had the largest amount of good songs and even quality.

 

[r3gg13]

I think that the 1990's ESC songs were very good. I have only seen the 1990 song contest in its entirety. It is so different from the ESC nowadays. It was so dignified! The hosts were wonderful and professional. Eurocat was cute.

From the recent years, I think that 2007, 2009 and 2012 have really good and diverse songs. 2012 even has well esteemed singers!

 

[A-lister]

I think that the 1990's ESC songs were very good. I have only seen the 1990 song contest in its entirety. It is so different from the ESC nowadays. It was so dignified! The hosts were wonderful and professional. Eurocat was cute.

Well, I can't recall 1990 in particular, but I agree that the decade was a good one indeed. High quality of the good songs, professional hosts (unlike the silly hosts we tend to get nowadays). It was a decade when ESC was treated fairly seriously imo. The first half of the 00's was a disaster, especially 2001-2003... such a decline in quality from the general 90's years.

But contrary to popular western belief (), I do think that the influx of eastern states and the two semi system actually made the contest more interesting again and raised the bar... 2010-2011 (the first two years which saw the effects of bringing back juries) were just bad though. I dunno what happened in 2012, but it was like almost every country decided that they would take this atleast somewhat seriously, and I hope that this mindset will continue.

 

[AdelAdel]

My favorite decade was the 80s, with the 90s as a close second. The songs were really unique back then and also they were sung in a country's native language. I'm not into the 50s and 60s for the same reason as A-lister said - too dated. When they banned the official language rule, many songs there were sung in English sounded alike, that's why I'd like to see the language rule re-introduced.