Hello friends!
There is this unwritten rule that songs are influenced by the previous year’s winner and immitate the music genre. For example, when Lordi won the ESC in 2006 dressed up as monsters, the following year there were many dressed up acts. Also this year we are seeing an increase in the number of rock bands, and that’s probably influenced by the legendary Maneskin. As a rock fan, I decided to write a post about rock in Eurovision, and some of my favourite rock songs! Is rock a genre that brings success in the contest? Let’s find out!
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To start with, rock is a music genre that cannot be defined since it is so broad that totally different sounding songs can be considered to be rock. There is hard rock, pop rock, punk, glam rock, folk rock and so many more subgenres. The first time rock appeard in ESC was in the very first contest in 1956 with Germany (So geht das jede Nacht by Freddy Quinn= It’s like this every night). With the years and many more rock genres becoming popular, the ESC rock entries kept rising, until 2006 when the first rock song won the contest. The Finnish hard rock band Lordi with their song Hard Rock Hallelujah landed on the top of the charts with what became the most popular rock song in ESC! Since then more and more rock songs from different coutnries started making their history in the contest. Here are 4 of my favourite rock eurovision songs!
1.Manga- We could be the same (Turkey, 2010, 2nd)
This is probably my favourite rock song in ESC! Manga is a popular rock band from Turkey, and with this ethnic rock entry they manage to land second on the charts! This is an example of a great rock entry in Eurovision, with some ethnic elements that remind the audience where they come from.
2. Blind Channel- Dark side (Finland, 2021, 6th, Nu Metal)
‘Every psycho in the scene-hands up and follow me saying (hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo)’. This nu metal song by the Finnish band Blind Channel was loved by the people and finished 6th in ESC 2021, with tele voting placing it 4th! Finland is the mother land of rock, especially hard rock and metal, and keeps proving it in ESC by sending legendary rock songs. Blind Channel were also so fun on stage and managed to transfer their energy to the audience!
3. Minus one- Alter Ego (Cyprus, 2016, 21st)
Although finishing at the 21st place, Minus one are remembered in Eurovision as a great rock band, with their authentic sound and performance! Also they showed to Europe that Cyprus has a rock scene with so many great rock bands!
4. Maneskin-Zitti e Buoni (Italy, 2021,1st)
Another winning rock entry after Lordi in 2006 were last year’s winners Italian rock band Maneskin with their song Zitti e Buoni (=quiet and good). Maneskin made history in Eurovision by becoming a worldwide phenomenon, with huge artists like Iggy Pop and Miley Cyrus wanting to collaborate with them. Their unique fashion sense, Italian lyrics, memorable guitar and bass riffs and Damiano’s voice and performance on stage took them off and landed them not only on top of the scoring board but also on top of the charts worlwide, having now their own headline tours and headlining music festivals globally. It is a band that I listen to all year round and I also own their vinyl, which I love! That is an example of success after Eurovision.
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Is rock a succesful genre in Eurovision? I think there are many examples proving that with a strong rock entry and a unique performance it can bring success in Eurovision, even placing it on top of the board. Which are your favourite rock entries? Or which ones did you like from the above? Let me know in the comments, I would love to see.
