They will rock you!

 

It is often said: Rock music… that doesn’t belong  in the Eurovision Song Contest. But why not? And who decides? That is the counter-question. 

The answer is simple; If we look at the rules of the EBU, there are rules about length, publication, originality, but not about the genre.
So…. Rock music at Eurovision: Sure thing!

The early years

For the very first Rock entry, we’re going all the way back to…..1956!

An entry in the very first year of Eurovision, which would not be out of place for Elvis (regardless of the language). The Austrian Freddy Quin was one of the German representatives; his song was called was “So geht das jede Nacht”. As with every entry in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1956, apart from the winner, the placement is unknown.

Varying degrees of success and the lowest ranking

Rock songs were submitted with varying degrees of success in the years that followed. In 1982 a Rock-bottom was reached: Finland’s Kojo with “Nuku pommiin”, took the very last place with 0 points.

Was it really that bad, or was Europe not ready for it? Judge for yourself:

Rock Win

It took quite some time before Rock really made a difference at Eurovision, but in 2006 the time had come: Lordi for Finland with “Hardrock Hallelujah” won the contest with 292 points.

Rock is part of it

After that, Rock as a type of music at Eurovision was taken a lot more seriously.
Bigger successes were achieved, and in 2018 even a Hungarian hard metal band managed to reach the finals. That AWS with “Viszlát Nyár” finished last in the grand final, doesn’t matter… They made it to the finals.

RIP Örs Siklósi

The icing on the Rockcake was, of course, Måneskin in 2021. France was the big favorite (Barbara Pravi), but with 524 points, Italy left France behind. 

The conclusion may be that Rock definitely belongs at Eurovision, although opinions will always be divided on this. 2024 was a year without Rock. We are curious to see what 2025 will bring.

 

 

 

 

 

Related news

Eurovision 2026

Noam Bessan represents Israel

Israel participates in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Noam Bessan has won the contest. The song will be announced later. Assaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon, Eden Hasson and Itay Levy were the judges. The song titles are no Eurovision Songs, as HaKokhav Haba is a talent show. The final starts at 20.30 CET and will be aired through Mako. Final date: 20 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one.  * Alona Erez Chandelier   elimintade a     * Gal De Paz Fame   advanced       * Noam Bettan Nitzacht Iti Hakol   advanced       * Shira Zloof Ahava   advanced       The three finalists are:           * Shira Zloof Hoplessly Devoted To You 74 3       * Noam Bettan Dernière Danse 192 1       * Gal De Paz All I Ask 94 2       The song, the winner will sing, will be announced later.       32nd round, semifinal date: 16 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one.  1 Alona Erez You Are The Reason   64 3       2 Shaked Solomon Standing At The Gate   53 5       3 Gal De Paz Oscar-winning tears   68 2       4 Shira Zloof Behom Shel Tel Aviv   56 4       5 Noam Bettan Formidable   70 1       The jury saved Shira Zloof. Shaked Solomon had to leave the show.   31st round, quarter final date: 13 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. In this round, all the artists had to sing a song from the repertoire of Hanan Ben Ari. 1 Gal De Paz Mimech Ad Elay   60 1       2 Shaked Solomon Ma Ata Rotze Mimeni?   46 4       3 Alona Erez Shvurei Lev   41 5       4 Michael HarPaz Amen Al Hayeladim   38 6       5 Shira Zloof Im Tirtzi   52 3       6 Noam Bettan Atalef Iver   58 2       The jury saved Alona Erez. Michael HarPaz had to leave the show.   30th round date: 13 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. 1 Michael Harpaz Lose Control   46 4       2 Shaked Solomon Brit olam   44 5       3 Gal De Paz Proud Mary   50 3       4 Alona Erez Idontwannabeyouanymore   42 6       5 Nave Levi Sipur makhur   37 7       6 Noam Bettan Someone You Loved   52 2       7 Shira Zloof Million Years Ago   58 1       The jury saved Alona Erez. Nave Levi had to leave the show.   29th round date: 11 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. In this round, all the artists had to sing a song from the repertoire of Shlomo Artzi. 1 Michael HarPaz Tagidi   90% 1       2 Alona Erez Gever Holekh Lelbud   43% 5       3 Agam Hazan Alash   66% 4       4 Nave Levi Yareach   90% 1       5 Noam Bettan Latet ve Lakachat   84% 3       The jury saved Alona Erez. Agam Hazan had to leave the show.   28th round date: 10 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. In this round, all the artists had to sing a song from the repertoire of Shlomo Artzi. 1 Tamir Levy Navreti lach   79% 3       2 Shira Zloof Iceland   92% 1       3 Shaked Solomon Sadot shel Iruzim   55% 4       4 Gal De Paz Akhrei Hakol At Shir   81% 2       The jury saved Shaked Solomon. Tamir Levy had to leave the show.   27th round date: 7 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. 1 Nave Levi Mademoiselle   88% 1       2 Agam Hazan How Far I’ll Go   66% 4       3 Shaked Solomon Ananim   79% 3       4 Dorin Or Leilot ve kelalot   52% 5       5 Shira Zloof Kol Hazman Haze   86% 2       The jury saved Agam Hazan. Dorin Or had to leave the show.   26th round date: 6 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two

Read More »
Eurovision 2026
Martijn

Noam Bessan represents Israel

Israel participates in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Noam Bessan has won the contest. The song will be announced later. Assaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon, Eden Hasson and Itay Levy were the judges. The song titles are no Eurovision Songs, as HaKokhav Haba is a talent show. The final starts at 20.30 CET and will be aired through Mako. Final date: 20 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one.  * Alona Erez Chandelier   elimintade a     * Gal De Paz Fame   advanced       * Noam Bettan Nitzacht Iti Hakol   advanced       * Shira Zloof Ahava   advanced       The three finalists are:           * Shira Zloof Hoplessly Devoted To You 74 3       * Noam Bettan Dernière Danse 192 1       * Gal De Paz All I Ask 94 2       The song, the winner will sing, will be announced later.       32nd round, semifinal date: 16 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one.  1 Alona Erez You Are The Reason   64 3       2 Shaked Solomon Standing At The Gate   53 5       3 Gal De Paz Oscar-winning tears   68 2       4 Shira Zloof Behom Shel Tel Aviv   56 4       5 Noam Bettan Formidable   70 1       The jury saved Shira Zloof. Shaked Solomon had to leave the show.   31st round, quarter final date: 13 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. In this round, all the artists had to sing a song from the repertoire of Hanan Ben Ari. 1 Gal De Paz Mimech Ad Elay   60 1       2 Shaked Solomon Ma Ata Rotze Mimeni?   46 4       3 Alona Erez Shvurei Lev   41 5       4 Michael HarPaz Amen Al Hayeladim   38 6       5 Shira Zloof Im Tirtzi   52 3       6 Noam Bettan Atalef Iver   58 2       The jury saved Alona Erez. Michael HarPaz had to leave the show.   30th round date: 13 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. 1 Michael Harpaz Lose Control   46 4       2 Shaked Solomon Brit olam   44 5       3 Gal De Paz Proud Mary   50 3       4 Alona Erez Idontwannabeyouanymore   42 6       5 Nave Levi Sipur makhur   37 7       6 Noam Bettan Someone You Loved   52 2       7 Shira Zloof Million Years Ago   58 1       The jury saved Alona Erez. Nave Levi had to leave the show.   29th round date: 11 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. In this round, all the artists had to sing a song from the repertoire of Shlomo Artzi. 1 Michael HarPaz Tagidi   90% 1       2 Alona Erez Gever Holekh Lelbud   43% 5       3 Agam Hazan Alash   66% 4       4 Nave Levi Yareach   90% 1       5 Noam Bettan Latet ve Lakachat   84% 3       The jury saved Alona Erez. Agam Hazan had to leave the show.   28th round date: 10 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. In this round, all the artists had to sing a song from the repertoire of Shlomo Artzi. 1 Tamir Levy Navreti lach   79% 3       2 Shira Zloof Iceland   92% 1       3 Shaked Solomon Sadot shel Iruzim   55% 4       4 Gal De Paz Akhrei Hakol At Shir   81% 2       The jury saved Shaked Solomon. Tamir Levy had to leave the show.   27th round date: 7 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two participants with the least points. They could save one. 1 Nave Levi Mademoiselle   88% 1       2 Agam Hazan How Far I’ll Go   66% 4       3 Shaked Solomon Ananim   79% 3       4 Dorin Or Leilot ve kelalot   52% 5       5 Shira Zloof Kol Hazman Haze   86% 2       The jury saved Agam Hazan. Dorin Or had to leave the show.   26th round date: 6 januariPlace: Communication Centre, Neve IlanHosts: Assi Ezer & Rotem Sela As this is a talent show, the songs were not their Eurovision songs. The jury had to choose between the two

Read More »
Follow Us: