Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest was a television programme organized by the EBU to celebrate the Eurovision Song Contest's fiftieth anniversary and to determine the Contest's most popular entrant of its fifty years. It took place at Forum Arena, Copenhagen on 22 October 2005. The host broadcaster was DR. Fourteen songs from the Contest's first half-century, chosen through an internet poll and by a jury, contested the event. Thirty-one EBU-member countries broadcast the concert (although the United Kingdom, Italy and France did not, it was also aired on SBS in Australia with Irish commentary) and televoting and juries in these countries decided the winner. The top five highest scores from the first round of voting advanced to a second round where another vote took place to determine the winner.
2.5 million votes were cast in total on the night. The event was hosted by 1997 winner Katrina Leskanich and 2000 participant/2003 co-presenter Renārs Kaupers. The event was won by Swedish group ABBA, performing Waterloo; the band had originally won the Contest for Sweden in 1974.
The songs were backed by three of Ireland's past winners: Linda Martin, Eimear Quinn and Charlie McGettigan, along with 2005 Danish representative Jakob Sveistrup.
To coincide with the event, the EBU released two CDs featuring Eurovision songs from the previous fifty years. Two DVDs with original Eurovision performances of these songs were also released.
Results[]
Top 5[]
- Waterloo by ABBA (Sweden 1974)
- Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu by Domenico Modugno (Italy 1958)
- Hold Me Now by Johnny Logan (Ireland 1987)
- My Number One by Helena Paparizou (Greece 2005)
- Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood of Man (United Kingdom 1976)
Remaining Entries (by running order)[]
- Congratulations by Cliff Richard (United Kingdom 1968)
- What's Another Year by Johnny Logan (Ireland 1980)
- Diva by Dana International (Israel 1998)
- Eres tú by Mocedades (Spain 1973)
- Ein Bisschen Frieden by Nicole (Germany 1982)
- Fly on the Wings of Love by Olsen Brothers (Denmark 2000)
- Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son by France Gall (Luxembourg 1964)
- Everyway That I Can by Sertab Erener (Turkey 2003)
- Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi by Celine Dion (Switzerland 1988)