NORWAY 1995 : "Nocturne"  - Secret Garden
This is one Eurovision winner that seems to divide people. There are some that think it is not really a song given that it only has two lines of lyrics and over two minutes of music in between.  Personally I have no issue with that and I love the haunting melody, so much so that I have bought and enjoyed every Secret Garden album that has been released in the last decade.    

GERMANY 1965 : "Paradies, Wo Bist Du"  - Ulla Weisner
This is one of two songs on my countdown that failed to score a single point at Eurovision, but with four songs finishing pointless in 1965, that might not be such a disgrace. There's something disturbing about this song, as the orchestra play a cheery bossa nova rhythm, the singer tells a bitter tale of love found and lost. It's rare for anyone to try something so subversive at Eurovision.   

NETHERLANDS 1993 : "Vrede"  - Ruth Jacott
This Dutch entry was one of the favourites to win in Millstreet in 1993. It appeared to have everything necessary to do well, including a great melody and a fantastic performer. The one thing it lacked was a big finish, and that probably stopped it doing better than 6th place. Despite the disappointment, it became a massive hit in the Netherlands and always does well in fan polls.    

FINLAND 1976 : "Pump Pump"  - Fredi & Friends
If God truly loves a tryer, then he must have an intense affection for the Finns, as they've been entering Eurovision for over 40 years, and they still haven't managed a Top 5 result. This adorable piece of nonsense gets trotted out at every history of Eurovision, but until this year it's been impossible to get the English version on CD. All together now "let your hip go hippety pump pump".  

ITALY 1992 : "Rapsodia"  - Mia Martini
As much as I enjoyed Ireland's win in the 1992 contest, I must admit that if I had my way, this song would have won triumphed in Malmo. I certainly did my bit by giving it 10 out of 10 on the Irish jury. Singer Mia Martini sounded like she gargled with razor blades, but the emotion she fitted into a three minute performance is breathtaking.  Sadly she passed away in 1995.  

SWEDEN 1959 : "Augustine"  - Brita Borg
There are few songs on my list that I can genuinely say are before my time, but this is one. I first got to hear this quaint little song, which has a passing resemblance to "Shall We Dance?" from the musical "The King And I" on a compilation of Swedish entries released in 2000. Earlier this year I finally got to see the Eurovision performance on a Swedish DVD and it's absolutely charming.

GREECE 2001 : "(I Would) Die For You"  - Antique
There's not much I like about the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest, the venue was just far too big, the stage was bland, the camerawork boring, the presenters irritating, and worst of all the result was a farce. For me, this is the song that should have brought Greece its first Eurovision victory. Instead Antique split, singer Helena Paparizou went solo, and the rest as they say is history.    

SPAIN 1969 : "Vivo Cantando"  - Salomé
Here's a Eurovision winner that has it all, a moody introduction that kicks into a catchy chorus without any advance warning, a succession of key changes and the big finish. Above all that however, this is the Eurovision song with tassels, hundreds of them dripping from Salomé's dress, which apparently cost a fortune and is now housed in a museum. Bring back Eurovision tassels, I say! 

CROATIA 1999 : "Maria Magdalena"  - Doris Dragovic
The delightfully named Doris Dragovic has twice performed at Eurovision and this dramatic song is the better of her two entries. Interestingly by 1999 backing tracks had replaced the orchestra, but the Croatian broadcasters appear to have missed the rule that the track could not have vocals, and "Maria Magdalena" was almost disqualified. However it's still a great song. 

FRANCE 1976 : "Un, Deux, Trois"  - Catherine Ferry
France has inflicted some dreadfully dull ballads on the Eurovision audience through the years, but it also has given us some fine pop songs. In almost any other year the 176 points which "Un, Deux, Trois" scored would have won, but not in 1976 when Catherine Ferry was beaten by Brotherhood Of Man. Any song that mentions Kafka and also does handclaps like this deserves recognition. 

RUSSIA 2000 : "Solo"  - Alsou
2000 saw me leave the Eurovision parties behind, to attend the live show for the first time, taking advantage of "the great unwashed" being able to get tickets. This is still one of my favourite contests, and this song still sounds very fresh. Despite being beaten into second place it became the biggest selling single ever in Russia, but Alsou's big international break has yet to come.

GERMANY 1968 : "Ein Hoch Der Liebe"  - Wenche Myhre
Is it the laugh in her voice, the instantly memorable chorus, or that fabulous bright yellow mini skirt? I'm not sure why I love this long forgotten piece of 1960's pop, but I suspect it has a more than a little to do with the great melody written by German bandleader Horst Jankovski, famous for his worldwide hit "A Walk In The Black Forest". 

IRELAND 1970 : "All Kinds Of Everything"  - Dana
Surprise!  One of my fondest childhood memories is the night that Dana won in Amsterdam. Ireland doesn't win many Olympic gold medals (especially after they've done the drug tests) and we're not likely to win the World Cup, but when it comes to Eurovision, we're top of the world! This sweet song started our run of successes and it really should be in competition in Copenhagen.  

NETHERLANDS 1994 : "Waar Is De Zon"  - Willeke Alberti
Dutch star Willeke Alberti recorded several Eurovision songs (including "All Kinds Of Everything") before competing in 1994. Unfortunately this gorgeous if slightly old-fashioned ballad fared badly in Dublin, but it came back on my radar screen a few years later when visiting Amsterdam for the first time. Willeke was singing live in Dam Square and as she sang this song, I swear the grey clouds parted. 

CYPRUS 1992 : "Teriazume"  - Evridiki
I've always had a soft spot for torch songs and this Cypriot entry from 1992 is one of my favourites. Evridiki looked and sounded stunning and squeezed more drama into three minutes than a Hitchcock cliffhanger. I was part of the Irish jury which awarded it six points, but it would have been far more had I had my way. Evridiki returned to Eurovision in 1994 and I'd love to see her back again.  

UNITED KINGDOM 1972 : "Beg Steal Or Borrow"  - The New Seekers
Another song that started as the pre contest favourite, but came up short on the night. In 1972 the New Seekers were one of the biggest pop groups in the world and this typically uptempo close harmony song would probably have won either a year earlier or later, but came up against "Apres Toi", the strongest of the three French sung ballads which won between 1971 and 1973.           

RUSSIA 2003 : "Ne Ver' Ne Bojsya"  - t.A.T.u.
Forget  the hype, forget the dreadful live performance and forget that it was the hottest favourite to win Eurovision for decades and when you do, you have one of the bravest and most contemporary songs ever entered in the contest. It also gave us one of the funniest misheard lyrics, unless of course they were actually singing about "moist boys from Brazil".       

PORTUGAL 1996 : "O Meu Coração Não Tem Cor"  - Lucia Moniz
And I continue with another Iberian ethnic song. While I fully understand how and why "The Voice" won in 1996, I can't help thinking that it would have been so much better for Eurovision had this catchy song and its charming performer come out on top in Oslo. Someday the Portuguese will gain the victory that they are so long overdue and I'll finally get to see Eurovision in Lisbon.  

SPAIN 1974 : "Canta Y Sé Feliz"  - Peret
The second song in a row from my favourite contest, and there are a couple of others to come later. Every now and again Spain goes "ethnic" and I especially enjoy their flamenco flavoured songs. Peret is still popular in Catalonia and I saw him perform live a few years ago while on holiday in Barcelona. This song is just so full of fun and life it's almost infectious.   

SWEDEN 1974 : "Waterloo"  - ABBA
It's certainly not their best song, nor is it for me the best Eurovision song, but there's still something magical about the performance of "Waterloo". It's difficult to believe that this wasn't the pre-contest favourite and indeed for a year after the contest it looked like Abba were going to be one hit wonders. This song changed the contest in a way that no other has done, before or since. 

ICELAND 1997 : "Minn Hinsti Dans"  - Paul Oscar
1997 saw me heavily involved in Eurovision for the first time, reporting on the rehearsals from The Point. Iceland's flamboyant singer Paul Oscar was my personal favourite, and not just because he dressed up as Dana and sang "All Kinds Of Everything" at the Icelandic party. This song, which is a suicide note put to music was a very brave choice and deserved a lot better than 20th place.

GERMANY 1994 : "Wir Geben 'ne Party"  - Mekado
My third choice in a row with a party theme, Germany's 1994 entry is from the pens of Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, Eurovision's most prolific songwriters. This happy sing-along song was one of the favourites to win but finished a distant 3rd, but is still perfect for Eurovision parties. It's the only Siegel/Meinunger song in my Top 50 (although "Genghis Khan" came close).  

SPAIN 1985 : "La Fiesta Terminó"  - Paloma San Bastillo
The 1985 Contest doesn't go down as a classic, and is only remembered for Norway's first win and the presenter's deliberate "wardrobe malfunction". The song that stood out for me  is this wonderful ballad, even if the performance may have inspired the "Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown" film. I deliberately holidayed in Spain that year, just so I could buy the single.

NETHERLANDS 1976 : "The Party's Over"  - Sandra Reemer
The mid 1970's were Eurovision's "gold era" for me and certainly those years gave us some great songs. Sandra Reemer represented Netherlands on three occasions, and all three of songs are personal favourites. I fully accept that the chorus is a little too close to Mary Hopkins' "Those Were The Days" but there's no better way of finishing a Eurovision party than with this song.

UNITED KINGDOM 1967 : "Puppet On A String"  - Sandie Shaw
An obvious choice to start, "Puppet On A String" gave the UK its first Eurovision win and the song (co-written by Irishman Phil Coulter) went on to be a huge hit. I missed seeing the 1967 show because I was sent to bed early as a punishment for cycling my bike on the the road. However the emotional scars haven't stopped me loving this wonderfully catchy pop song.