Top 10 Eurovision Songs of 2018

Top 10 Eurovision Songs of 2018

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  It’s that magical time of the year again… Well, at least if you’re European or an avid non-EU fan of Eurovision. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for Top 10 Eurovision Songs of 2018.   For this list, we’ll be looking at the most memorable songs and performances from this year’s Eurovision competition. For those not in the loop, Eurovision is a musical festival where the best of the best from countries across Europe (and Australia) compete for the champion title. Every year, the competition is rife with theatrics, controversy, and music genre variety.  So whether you’re a fan of ESC or still trying to figure out what exactly Eurovision is, welcome aboard and enjoy the ride!  

#10: “Under the Ladder” Mélovin from Ukraine

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Setting fire to pianos is so 2015. Enter Mélovin, part vampire prince, part Marilyn Manson melodic genius…emerging from his piano coffin, Nosferatu style and with ominous synth music. Why? Because it’s Eurovision. “Under the Ladder” is about failures that ultimately lead to success and though Mélovin’s gothic electropop thriller didn’t win, it succeeded in upholding Eurovision’s tradition of strange and unusual performances. Last year’s Eurovision may have influenced the 2018 entries to tone it down with the pyrotechnics and other theatrics, but fire lasts forever, and so too will Mélovin in Eurovision history.    

Annie Lennox-esque look? Check. Inspirational lyrics? Check. Catchy beat? Check. Microphone? Uhhh… In the past, Eurovision has had its share of bizarre stage invaders but this year’s interruption was most insidious. Halfway through SuRie’s performance, a protester appeared seemingly from nowhere and grabbed her microphone. Despite this, the crowd chanted louder in solidarity with the singer who, slightly shaken from what transpired, persevered and continued the song with her head held high. This made her performance all the more emotional and a testament to SuRie’s professionalism and tenacity. We’re just shocked at how little people are talking about the performance itself and it deserved a higher standing in light of what happened as well as its message of hope.     

#8: “La Forza” Elina Nechayeva from Estonia

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Opera and Eurovision have a strange relationship. Sometimes, it works and other times, not so much. Just ask Jacques Houdek who competed last year with operatic pop “My Friend”. This year, Estonia shined with “La Forza” and they kept it simple. Nechayeva was decked in a long, flowy dress that changed colour throughout the performance thanks to a projector. Watching this spectacle felt like we were traveling through space, and that’s not a bad thing. Eurovision tends to be eccentric with entries relying on elaborate set pieces, yet Estonia’s “La Forza” is a beautiful combination of a traditional meets twenty-first century arrangement.     

#7: “Together” Ryan O’Shaughnessy from Ireland

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Many Eurovision songs are about love’s triumphs and heartbreaks; it’s a theme that we can all relate to. Ireland’s “Together” is no exception yet distinguishes itself from earlier love songs because it explicitly portrays a gay couple. It’s a bittersweet ballad reminiscent of Ed Sheeran’s storytelling style and just as the singer is mystified about the loss of love, we ourselves wonder why we’re an emotional wreck each time we listen to this song. Even though the message is about love being universal, not all networks showed this performance, reminding us how we still have a way to go in being inclusive and accepting of others regardless of sexual orientation.    

If you’re looking for a new summer jam packed with good vibes, Cyprus has you covered. Eleni Foureira shimmers and sizzles on stage with her hypnotic voice while being surrounded by dancers and impressive pyrotechnics. This, paired with Eleni’s energy, presence and majestic waves, makes us immediately think of Béyonce and Shakira. There is no hidden agenda or political message to decipher, “Fuego” is exactly what you hear, a hot track that you’ll find yourself humming and dancing along to, probably on repeat.    

#5: “My Lucky Day” DoReDos from Moldova

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This entry gets top marks for most inventive stage setup and animated act. “My Lucky Day” is a fun song with eastern-European flare about feeling attraction to someone and hoping that they reciprocate. DoReDos tells the story with practical effects and impressively timed choreography. Usually the backdrop supplements the song, but in this case, the swinging doors, partitions and performers themselves bring the story to life. If you haven’t watched the full act, we can’t recommend it enough, you’ll be enchanted. It’s an absolute delight to watch.     

#4: “Higher Ground” Rasmussen from Denmark

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Is that…Tormund Giantsbane? Not only did Rasmussen wow us for being a dead ringer of our favourite wildling, but he’s also got the voice of an angel…a Viking angel, that is. His song “Higher Ground” is an inspirational track about the importance of resolving conflicts by peaceful means and this message definitely resonates with ongoing conflicts happening around the globe. The imagery of a peaceful Viking may seem ironic but it’s actually inspired by the legend of Magnus Erlendsson, a Nordic chieftain. Adding to the epic feel of the song are billowing sails, mist, and chilling vocalists. Just when you think it couldn’t get more awesome, it starts to snow. So epic.    

#3: “Lie to Me” Mikolas Josef from Czech Republic

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Your ears aren’t playing tricks, Mikolas Josef’s “Lie to Me” has a catchy riff that sounds awfully close to Jason Derulo’s “Talk Dirty” but they’re more like distant relatives than the Czech singer blatant copying. “Lie to Me” is about a cheating girlfriend and how the narrator knows of the infidelity but does nothing about it. Mikolas’ performance is distinct for its blend of rap, hip hop, and pop as well as the choice of wardrobe; decked in a white shirt, suspenders, bowtie, ¾ length slacks and…a backpack?. Think nerdy Macaulay Culkin meets Macklemore. Don’t be fooled by Mikolas’ adorkable persona, he has quite the moves.    

#2: “Nobody but You” Cesár Sampson from Austria

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Austria’s entry is interesting since it can be interpreted multiple ways; it could be about finding oneself, or a declaration of love that could be seen as either romantic or creepy. To be honest, the only uncomfortable thing about this performance is the choice of wardrobe that is somewhat futuristic but questionable. Like many of the entries this year, “Nobody but You” stayed low-key with the fanfare, relying more on emotional and spiritual drive of the singer’s vocals and crowd engagement. Cesár definitely has the range, making him unforgettable and a top choice in the competition.     Before we cue up our number one pick, here are our honorable mentions:   “Viszlát nyár” AWS from Hungary   “Oniro mou” Gianna Terzi from Greece   “Non mi avete fatto niente” Ermal Meta & Fabrizio Moro from Italy  

#1: “Toy” Netta from Israel

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When “Toy” was initially released it received mixed reactions with listeners either getting immediately hooked to the infectious beat or unimpressed with the chicken clucking. Yet Netta’s song has a stronger message of female empowerment, spurring confidence while also challenging beauty standards. Netta herself stands out with her bold personality, fully embracing her quirks and stunning everyone with her impressive vocals. A clear favourite from the beginning, Netta ranked third with international juries and won the competition for being the most voted song by fans. To all the haters, Netta only has one last thing to say...