The Eurovision Song Contest kicks off next week in Malmö, Sweden with a series of qualifiers before the main event on Saturday 11th May.
There have been some memorable acts over the years, not least Ukrainian rap group Kalush, who won 2022’s edition in Italy with their song ‘Stefania’, accumulating a massive 631 points in the process – the second highest points tally ever.
But who holds the record for the highest ever score, and who makes up the best of the rest? We analyse the top 5 highest scoring Eurovision songs of all time below
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Jamala – 2016 – ‘1944’ (534 points)
Jamala, real name Susana Jamaladinova, represented Ukraine in Stockholm in 2016 with her emotional and political single ‘1944’. The song is a haunting ballad that tells the story of her Crimean great-grandmother and her forced deportation by Joseph Stalin in 1944.
The song was performed partly in English and partly in Crimean Tatar and was widely loved by voters, receiving seventeen sets of twelve points, including eleven from the jury vote and six from the televote, eventually ending the evening on 534 points in a closely-fought contest with Australia.
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Loreen – 2024 – ‘Tattoo’ (583 points)
Loreen, real name Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui, represented Sweden in last year’s competition and took the arena by storm with her powerful song ‘Tattoo’.
Loreen’s vocals were unrivalled and the performance was striking and disturbing, so it came as no surprise when the different countries voted her to the top on results night. Sweden’s song finished nearly 50 points ahead of the runner up, which was Finland with ‘Cha Cha Cha’.
Kristian Kostov – 2017 – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (615 points)
Kristian Kostov was the Bulgarian act the following year after Jamala’s success in Kiev with the song ‘Beautiful Mess’. Kostov was internally selected by BNT, the main Bulgarian national broadcaster, and his powerful voice, emotional delivery and youthful charisma made him an fan favourite across the continent.
The single itself was a contemporary song that talks about the complexity of relationships, with the lyrics co-written by Kostov himself, somewhat adding to its authenticity in the eyes of the audience. It received eleven sets of twelve points, including four from the jury vote and seven from the televote. The song accumulated 615 points, which was only enough to claim second place in the 2017 edition!
Kalush – 2022 – ‘Stefania’ (631 points)
2022’s Ukrainian act Kalush, a band with a fusion of modern pop, folk and rock, emotionally represented the nation in Turin with their single ‘Stefania’. The song is a tribute to a girl named Stefania and features a mix of Ukrainian and English lyrics, with a memorable chorus that incorporates traditional Ukrainian instruments such as the bandura and the tsymbaly.
The band’s energy, charisma, and unique sound captivated the audience and the jury. The song received thirty-three sets of twelve points – the most dozen hauls in the competition’s history – and racked up a total of 631 points, with the UK second on 466.
Salvador Sobral – 2017 – ‘Amar pelos dois’ (758 points)
Lisbon-born Salvador Sobral was the Portuguese entry in the aforementioned 2017 edition in Kiev, performing his single ‘Amar pelos dois’ (Love for both). The entry won the hearts of the audience and the jury with its elegant and pure performance, aided by Sobral’s heartfelt delivery. The song’s lyrics talk about a lost love that is missed but never forgotten, with the instrumental inspired by classic Portuguese fado music.
The combination of Sobral’s expressive voice and the song’s emotional content resonated with viewers and critics alike, making it one of the most memorable and beloved entries in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest. The song received thirty sets of twelve points, including eighteen from the jury vote and twelve from the televote, amassing a remarkable 758 points – the highest in the history of the competition. The song’s victory also marked Portugal’s first and only win in the competition to date, making it a historic moment for the country and for Sobral’s career.