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Eurovision is music's Olympics, with all the glitter, props, multiple key changes and wind machines your heart could desire. Clearly, it's my idea of heaven. It's the event where everything you know and love about music is turned up to 11. What's not to love?
So here is a Eurovision playlist down the decades for you to peruse to get in the mood. What's not to love?
![Myf Warhurst will present Eurovision on SBS, with Joel Creasey.](/web/20170511200047im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/y/d/g/t/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvydfz.png/1494406099036.jpg)
Domenico Mudugno – Nel Blu Del Pinto Di Blu,1957
Back in the day, Eurovision was quite a sophisticated affair and this song is testament to that. Also, Who hasn't sung this at some point in their lives pretending to be a smooth lounge singer like Dean Martin? Oh, that's just me then … This didn't win, but my goodness, it cemented itself as a Eurovision classic!
Abba – Waterloo, 1974
This song changed everything for Eurovision and of course, for Sweden's finest double partner duo, Abba. A glorious catchy pop song, with a serious heart, but also some of the most unforgiving satin outfits ever to be seen on the tellie that inspired an entire generation to follow suit – I'm looking at you, Mum. Thanks Abba. For everything.
![Swedish pop group Abba, winners of the 1974 contest, proved a game-changer for Eurovision.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170511200047im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/y/d/h/n/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1494202095895.png)
Swedish pop group Abba, winners of the 1974 contest, proved a game-changer for Eurovision. Photo: Getty Images
Buck's Fizz – Making Your Mind Up, 1981
This awesome foursome were the UK's answer to Abba, only without the beards and sexual tension. This song, a pop gem, was chirpy and delightful with the baffling lyrics of "don't let your indecision, take you from behind". Ooh er, Vicar. The dance routine went down in Eurovision history with a signature move that remains unrivalled today – two gents raunchily tearing off the skirts of the ladies, mid-song, to reveal an even shorter skirt. Sadly one of the blokes simply forgot to do it. Priceless.
Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now, 1987
Eurovision is the home of the power ballad and the key change, and this song has it all. It's a searing, heartbreaking song brought to you by Ireland, delivered to you by a young Johnny Logan, wearing what looks to be some sort of angelic Bell Boy outfit. Interestingly, there's an Australian connection here. Johnny had Irish heritage, but in fact, he's locally grown, hailing from Frankston in Victoria.
Guildo Horn – Guildo Hat Euch Lieb ,1998
I truly fell in love with the spirit of Eurovision when I saw this performance. Horn's stagecraft is truly freeform – what's not to love about a middle aged, balding man crawling through an audience and a stomach slide across a balcony? And then, the whole thing is topped off with a sweaty solo mid-song, on bells! Eurovison loves a prop, and while this prop hasn't been utilised since. I wonder why?
Lordi – Hard Rock Hallelujah, 2006
I love me some metal, and Finland's Lordi were the first metal hard rock act to take out the title. It sent the competition into a spin. Add to that they were dressed like the White Walkers from Game of Thrones long before they were even invented. This suggests that Lordi were even more inspired than we thought.
![Hard rock act Lordi, from Finland, perform at the 2006 Eurovision song contest.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170511200047im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/z/z/9/g/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1494202095455.png)
Hard rock act Lordi, from Finland, perform at the 2006 Eurovision song contest. Photo: Getty Images
Jedward – Lipstick, 2011
Hyperactive twins with matching high hair and ridic outfits, I suspect these two were part of some evil scientific plot and bred specifically for Eurovision.
Buranovskiye Babuski – Party For Everybody, 2012
With a combined age of over 400, these dear ladies set dancefloors in Euro discos alight with this song, even though they probably couldn't dance without a zimmer frame themselves. While they came second that year, they won all of our hearts with their smiles (mostly toothless), their costumes, and of course, one of the most original set design props Eurovision has ever seen, an oven!
![Buranovskiye Babuski's <i>Party For Everybody</i> set dancefloors alight in 2012.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170511200047im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/y/d/i/a/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1494202095751.png)
Buranovskiye Babuski's Party For Everybody set dancefloors alight in 2012. Photo: AP
Cesar – It's My Life, 2013
A totally shocking entry with a reveal quite unlike any other. The song started out like any other – volcanic prop, a hint of a Euro disco beat, then, BAM, this strapping singer breaks into one of the highest male soprano voices ever heard at Eurovision. An operatic reveal! Controversial, it' was both admired and hated, but cats around the world agreed, they loved it.
Conchita Wurst – Rise Like a Phoenix, 2014
Conchita's beard and dress meant that most thought the performance was a novelty act, and when the competition began, she wasn't even close to being a favourite. But the bearded glamour, created by singer Tom Niewwurth, had the world in tears with one of the most ripper and uplifting tracks to ever grace the Eurovision stage.
![Singer Conchita Wurst (Tom Niewwurth) stole the show in 2014.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170511200047im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/b/j/9/o/image.imgtype.articleLeadwide.620x349.png/1453425939341.png)
Singer Conchita Wurst (Tom Niewwurth) stole the show in 2014. Photo: AP
Dami Im – Sound of Silence, 2016
Last year I had the honour of representing Australia as a judge for Eurovision. And while the rules decreed that we could not vote for our own, Dami Im's performance completely blew everyone out of the competition. Such poise, what a voice. An extraordinary effort that cemented Australia as a real contender in the competition. We had to watch this for the semi-finals and finals, and I cried every single time. Legendary. Dami is a true champion.
Myf Warhurst and Joel Creasey will present Eurovision on SBS, Friday to Sunday at 7.30pm.