The top 10 Eurovision Song Contest facts

The Eurovision Song Contest, which is held annually, continuously breaks records year after year.

17:40 09 May 2014

The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual song competition participated by the member countries of the European Broadcasting Union since 1956. Every year, the world-renowned contest is watched by about 125 million viewers. 

 

Below are some of the amazing Eurovision Song Contest facts! 

 

1.Each year an estimated 125 million viewers tune in to watch the Eurovision show.

 

2.The most covered Eurovision song is Domenico Mudugno's Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu, which is better known as Volare. Chances are you've heard Dean Martin's crooner version. 

 

3.Three-time Eurovision Song Contest winner Johnny Logan has represented Ireland as a performer twice and won both times in 1980 and 1987 – he also wrote Linda Martin's winning song Why Me. 

 

4.In 2008 and 2011, 43 countries participated in the contest which represented a record number. 

 

5.To date, the majority of the winning songs are in English (24), the runner up being songs in the French language (14). 

 

6.Noel Kelehan conducted five winners, while Dolf van der Linde conducted for seven different countries. 

 

7.As of 2014, Ireland has won 7 times while the United Kingdom took home the grand prize five times. 

 

8.In terms of post-appearance album sales, the most successful Eurovision contest winner is ABBA who went on to global superstardom. 

 

9.Over the past decades, six different systems have been used to pick the winner. 

 

10.Morocco qualified for the contest just once in 1980 but failed to bring home the prize.