Inspired by the Italian Sanremo Festival, the idea to organise a pan-European competition for light music was born at a meeting of the European Broadcasting Union in 1955. It was decided that the first ever Eurovision Song Contest would be hosted the following year in the Swiss resort of Lugano.
Due to that historical decision Refrain by Lys Assia became the first ever winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. It was chosen by a jury but the scores of the voting have never been made public, leaving room for lots of speculation throughout the history of the contest.
2009 Fairytale Alexander Rybak Norway
2008 Believe Dima Bilan Russia
2007 Molitva Marija Serifovic Serbia
2006 Hard Rock Hallelujah Lordi Finland
2005 My Number One Helena Paparizou Greece
2004 Wild Dance Ruslana Ukraine
2003 Everyway that I can Sertab Erener Turkey
2002 I Wanna Marija Naumova Latvia
2001 Everybody Tanel Padar, Dave Benton & 2XL Estonia
2000 Fly on the Wings of Love Olsen Brothers Denmark
1999 Take me to your heaven Charlotte Nilsson Sweden
1998 Diva Dana International Israel
1997 Love shine a light Katrina and the Waves United Kingdom
1996 The Voice Eimear Quinn Ireland
1995 Nocturne Secret Garden Norway
1994 Rock ‘N Roll Kids Paul Harrington & Charlie McGettigan Ireland
1993 In Your Eyes Niamh Kavanagh Ireland
1992 Why Me? Linda Martin Ireland
1991 Fangad Av En Stormvind Carola Sweden
1990 Insieme:1992 Toto Cutugno Italy
1989 Rock Me Riva Yugoslavia
1988 Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi Celine Dion Switzerland
1987 Hold Me Now Johnny Logan Ireland
1986 J’Aime La Vie Sandra Kim Belgium
1985 La Det Swinge Bobbysocks Norway
1984 Diggi Loo-Diggi Ley Herreys Sweden
1983 Si La Vie Est Cadeau Corinne Hermes Luxembourg
1982 Ein Bisschen Frieden Nicole Germany
1981 Making Your Mind Up Bucks Fizz United Kingdom
1980 What’s Another Year Johnny Logan Ireland
1979 Hallelujah Milk & Honey Israel
1978 A Ba Ni Bi Yizhar Cohen & Alphabeta Israel
1977 L’Oiseau Et L’Enfant Marie Myriam France
1976 Save Your Kisses For Me Brotherhood of Man United Kingdom
1975 Ding Dinge Dong Teach-in Netherlands
1974 Waterloo ABBA Sweden
1973 Tu Te Reconnaitras Anne-Marie David Luxembourg
1972 Apres Toi Vicky Leandros Luxembourg
1971 Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue Severine Monaco
1970 All Kinds Of Everything Dana Ireland
1969 Vivo Cantando Salome Spain
1969 Boom Bang-A-Bang Lulu United Kingdom
1969 De Troubadour Lennie Kuhr Netherlands
1969 Un Jour, Un Enfant Frida Boccara France
1968 La La La Massiel Spain
1967 Puppet On A String Sandie Shaw United Kingdom
1966 Merci Cherie Udo Jurgens Austria
1965 Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son France Gall Luxembourg
1964 No Ho L’Eta Gigliola Cinquetti Italy
1963 Dansevise Grethe & Jorgen Ingmann Denmark
1962 Un Premier Amour Isabelle Aubret France
1961 Nous Les Amoureux Jean-Claude Pascal Luxembourg
1960 Tom Pillibi Jacqueline Boyer France
1959 Een Beetje Teddy Scholten Netherlands
1958 Dors Mon Amour Andre Claveau France
1957 Net Als Toen Corry Brokken Netherlands
1956 Refrain Lys Assia Switzerland
