TV
Top 5 UK Eurovision acts
As Eurovision is fast approaching and the UK hopes for a year as successful as last, we take a look back at a handful of the UK’s best performances in the competition.
Whether it be a win, points earned or sheer wow factor, all these performances were iconic in their own way.
5. “Love Shine a Light” – Katrina and The Waves (1997)
This universal, positively all-encompassing classic Eurovision song provides the UK’s most recent memory of a Eurovision win.
It may be our highest scoring winner ever but that is largely down to changes in the voting system as well as the increased size of the competition as it went up against songs from 24 other nations.
However, it failed to truly make its mark on the mainstream in the UK as it peaked at number three in the UK singles charts with British magazine “Music Week” giving it a 3/5 rating
4. “Space Man” – Sam Ryder (2022)
The only non-victor on the list comes in the form of Space Man sung by TikTok star Sam Ryder.
Despite not winning the contest Ryder’s song scored a whopping 466 points, more than doubling the UK’s highest ever points tally at Eurovision and achieving a commendable second place in the rankings.
Space Man peaked at number 2 in the UK charts but did manage to win the number ne spot in the Official Top 40 charts. The song also took home the “Best Video” award from Eurovision 2022 and the music video has since amassed over 7.7 million views on YouTube.
3. “Making Your Mind Up” – Bucks Fizz (1981)
This 80’s classic provided the UK’s fourth Eurovision victory scoring 136 points. Bucks Fizz skyrocketed their career with this Eurovision hit as it spent three weeks at the UK number one spot.
‘Making Your Mind Up’ provides a sense of classic Eurovision pop and has become synonymous with the competition ever since, gaining popularity outside the UK, selling over four million copies worldwide.
2. “Puppet on a String” – Sandie Shaw (1967)
This song shot the UK to a maiden Eurovision success in 1967 scoring 47 points, seeing them ease to victory by 25 points from runners-up Ireland.
The song was equally as successful in the charts as it sat at number one in the UK for three weeks as well as reaching the number one spot around the world in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and West Germany.
1. “Save Your Kisses for Me” – Brother of Man
As well as being the UK’s third Eurovision triumph, Brotherhood of Man demolished the charts with this hit single.
The numbers don’t lie with this song, scoring 164 points in a Eurovision triumph and spending as many as six weeks at number one in the UK charts.
The song saw incredible commercial success as it became a global success reaching number one in eight countries and cementing itself as one of the best-selling Eurovision winners ever, and to this day it remains the best-selling Eurovision winner in the UK.
