It’s almost unbelievable that Friderika Bayer, the first (and best) Hungarian act ever, performed over 20 years ago in Dublin. Girl could singggggg – and she got perfect scores from the first three countries voting: something never repeated since. Sadly the rest of the 90s weren’t so pretty for the land of Liszt…
Some of Budapest’s best efforts came in 2005 with NOX and in 2007 with Magdi Rúzsa. Despite significant improvement, both failed to match Bayer’s Top 5 result. Hungary remained off of the Eurovision map.
In 2011 Kati Wolf, one of the biggest divas that year, became a huge fan wank with her song, ‘What About My Dreams?’ The bookies were convinced that Budapest would be hosting in 2012.
She went through the final and although she only managed to finish 22nd on the night, her performance gave Hungary a burning passion for Eurovision that led to the creation of A Dal, Hungary’s national selection show. Compact Disco, ByeAlex and Kállay-Saunders were selected through this show and all of them qualified easily for the Eurovision final. The last two cracked the top 10 and today Hungary is considered a potential future winner.
Recent history:
1994 – Friderika Bayer with Hogyan mondjam el vétkeimet?, 4th place with 122 points
1995 – Csaba Szigeti with Új név a régi ház falán, 22nd place with 3 points
1997 – V.I.P. with Miért kell, hogy elmenj?, 12th place with 39 points
1998 – Charlie with A holnap már nem lesz szomorú, 23rd place with 4 points
2005 – NOX with Forogj világ, 12th place with 97 points
2007 – Magdi Rúzsa with Unsubstantial Blues, 9th place with 128 points
2008 – Csézy with Candlelight, Failed to qualify (19th place with 6 points)
2009 – Zoli Ádok with Dance with me, Failed to qualify (15th place with 16 points)
2011 – Kati Wolf with What about my dreams?, 22nd place with 53 points
2012 – Compact Disco with Sound of Our Hearts, 24th place with 19 points
2013 – ByeAlex with Kedvesem, 10th place with 84 points
2014 – Kállay-Saunders with Running, 5th place with 143 points
A Dal:
The show might only be three years old but it’s already one of the best national finals. It showcases the best musical talent in the country and outclasses Hungarian X-factor in every way. Thanks to A Dal, the international community has been introduced to talents like Kállay-Saunders, ByeAlex, Laura Cserpes, Gigi Radics, Bogi, HoneyBeast, Viktor and Linda Király, and Fool Moon. This is the most viewed show in Hungary and in a few years it might just be as big as Melodifestivalen. We definitely think that’s where the producers are looking!
Best Scoring entry:
Kállay-Saunders ran all over the stage–and in to everyone’s heart. Hungarians were really optimistic because the bookies loved him and, he also won the heart of our Wiwi Jury. In the semi-final he finished in 3rd place and on a beautiful Saturday evening he got 143 points from Europe and took 5th place behind an extremely strong field of Austria, The Netherlands, Sweden and Armenia. Running’s dark subject matter was a real contrast to the normal Eurovision fluff and all the more powerful for it. We got some deep feelings from the performance, y’all! Truly beautiful.
Worst Scoring entry:
Hungary has had a lot of bad entries and we would like to forgot about them. But they are all the part of our shared ESC history. At least the worst song managed to get 3 points in 1995. I doubt you can remember Csaba Sziget, and we certainly don’t remember who chose him. But God, please forgive them.
http://youtu.be/SfFhgjaaJQA
And here’s what Team Wiwi have to say about Hungary’s recent performances:
Francheska: Hungary is the ultimate ESC redemption story. Since 2011 they have gone from strength to strength and shown a lot of musical variety. Kati Wolf is definitely my favorite. She was severely robbed (but tbh, the staging seemed haphazard), and her bilingual strength anthem is timeless. On the other end of the spectrum, 2012 was a disaster. A song with forced meaning and forced music (it didn’t flow at all), along with a sloppy band does not a good song make.
Deban: Hungary really upped its game in 2014. András Kállay-Saunders engaged millions on the dark subject of child abuse. “Running” may have a light R&B sound, but its delivery was deeply emotional, and helped gather momentum for Hungary on the ESC stage. Hungary has made A Dal into one of the most exciting music platforms, as well as made Hungarian music appealing and exportable.
Patrick: From atmospheric ballads to weird disco-hits, Hungary has really showed variety. Friderika may have come fourth, but there is another victory on Hungary’s list too – even if it’s not a good one. Zoli Adok, entrant of 2009, won the Barbara Dex Award for the worst outfit in that year (lol!). In all seriousness though Hungary rocks! They always show that a country has more choices…even when they aren’t good ones.
Mike: Hungary is like a little brother or sister: you struggle to deal with them, but when they are not there you really miss them! Songs like Forogj, világ, What about my dreams? and Running were all in my personal top five but at the same time I don’t understand how Compact Disco and ByeAlex got in the final!! Hungaria joining us in Vienna for the 5th year in a row (a record in Hungarian Eurovision history) is giving me the hope they will send us at least 5 more years of good (and sometimes awful) music!
Angus: A Hungarian victory is super close at hand. Like so many countries they’ve understood the advantage of gaining momentum on the Eurovision playing victory before going for gold. The 10th place in 2013 was a solid foundation to catapult ‘Running’ into the Top 5 and all eyes should be on Budapest for an extremely strong showing in 2015. Kati Wolf has a special place in my heart as a disco diva because she had craaaaaazy beautiful vocal runs to show off in Dusseldorf in 2011. ‘Sound of Our Hearts’ didn’t do too much for me though and was actually a toilet break moment for me in the 2012 final (harsh but true!).
What do y’all think about Hungary? Could they win in 2015? Is Kati Wolf amazing or not? Did ‘Running’ leave you begging for more or running for the door? Comment below peeps!
Source: Daily Mirror
I am not a fan of Kedvesem, but since the people of Europe has spoken about how most of them love it, I highly respect the song. Also, it’s great to see how Hungary is fighting back to earn the highest rank in the finals. They should host the contest some time.
I hated 2013 with a passion and I don’t get why it got so high… It seemed like just…filler, no feeling, no momentum, no depth… worst of that year.
But boy did they give the best of the following year. Running is a masterpiece and my winner of 2014. AKS also got it after sending two iffy shallow love songs. When he got serious, he blew everyone’s minds.
2011 was enjoyable, 2007 was also amazing.
I saw Eurovision (with interest…) since 2012.
Since then, I always like Hungary. “Running” was their best song (it sound very international, top chart), but byalex and compact disco were nice.
So well done Hungary!
You are so right, Kati was robbed. It still stands up as a brilliant song all these years later. Zoli had a great song too, he just did too much dancing which left him a bit short of breath, really disappointing. At least Kati was able to fall back on her Schwarzkopf connections……
I think that the only song that I ever liked from Hungary was at 2005. However 2011 and 2014 are still enjoyable… eem anything else is bad for me
Hungary is going through the exact same phase that Denmark went through before they won last year. Average qualification streak, fair or poor results in the final and then eventually increase their momentum to top 5 placings. All eyes should be on Budapest in 2015.
Wonderful Copenhagen in 2014, Goodnight Vienna in 2015. Could,it be George Ezra’s hidden treasure chest that is Budapest hosting ESC in 2016?
It’s worth remembering that Hungary came second in the 2007 semi (the longest eurovision show ever)….
I enjoyed ’09 and ’11 from the studio but the live performances were a bit ropey- Zoli looked like Guile from Street Fighter…..
When I think of Hungary in Eurovision only two songs and two performers come to my mind as breath taking and remarkable … they were really the great ones and for that reason were both blessed with Hungary’s best scorings ever in the competition: Friderika Bayer and Kállay-Saunders. I also liked Compact Disco’s song though it sounds way better as a recording than live and Kati’s gay club dance dramatic song is, in Eurovision fashion, overrated … and there is only one queen in dance music for the gay world: Donna Summer RIP and RESPECT! I have no recollection or… Read more »
I still listen Csezy-Candlelight. It was good song and i still dont understand it came 19th place with 6 points. She deserved to be in the final. Adok Zoli’s costume i can still remember 🙂
>Digi
>Kati Wolf=Suzy Guerra 😀
Suzy was a flight attendant and Kati was an airline purser.
http://wiwibloggs.com/2014/05/30/day-jobs-eurovision-stars/51564/
I have loved all of Hungary’s song 2011-2014 with Kati & Compact Disco battling it out for my favourite. I liked Zoli from 2008 too. Hungary deserves to win ESC for giving us so many great songs.
Kati Wolf=Suzy Guerra 😀
Kati Wolf <3
Some artists I’d love to see represent Hungary who can also definitely win:
-Gigi Radics
-Bogi
-Laura Cserpes
-Viktor Kiraly
-Linda Kiraly
-Heni Der
-Marge
-Hien (with a good song not like the one she sent to A Dal this year)
This is one country that is on the way to a phenomenal victory very soon. If not 2015, well then probably 2016. In a way, A DAL is definitely making Hungary into the Eastern European equivalent to Sweden.
Let’s look at some key points:
1. Since their return in 2011, Hungary has qualified every year for the final.
2. As a whole, Hungary have a 75% qualification success rate. They have failed to qualify in 2008 and 2009.
3. Surge in public interest.
4. MTV’s commitment to Eurovision.
Also, A Dal had lots of great songs this year in the national selection. You’ve gotta think Hungary will keep its momentum going and eventually win.
Hungary is easily one of the best countries in recent Eurovision history. 2011-2014 were all great songs, my favorite of them being Sound of Our Hearts. 2007 was also a massive standout (victim really of an early draw more than anything). I do need to get to know the country’s history before the 2000s, admittedly. But 1994’s entry is nice too. Regarding Hungary’s disappointing placings: 2008 – I don’t remember the live performance, but the song is really too pleasant for last place. In 2009, Dance With Me was a great song, but man, talk about overemphasizing the topic of… Read more »
@ David, you are absolutely right. It’s a shame Europe missed the chance to crown Poland or Hungary in 1994. They were far better than Ireland that year, and Ireland wasn’t keen on winning anyway
Hungary was a victim of the political voting of 2007. They had the best song and were the clear favourite from Western Europe, if you pull out all the votes going to diaspora countries.
A country with a win guaranteed very soon .. A DAL is a great selection process ..
Top from Hungary 2005-2014:
1. 2014
2. 2013
3. 2012 (THEY WERE AWESOME!)
4. 2005
5. 2007
6. 2011 (I really don’t get the hype about this song)
7. 2009
8. 2008
As you can see, the last three years were getting better each time. I’m certain that A Dal will deliver a winner soon 😀
Kati Wolf good
Hungary is a really special country in Eurovision! I actually don’t hate any one of their songs.. Their all time best though for me remains their debut. Kinek Mondjam El Vetkeimet? is one of the all time best esc songs to me. So, here is how I rank the Hungarian efforts: 1. ’94: Kinek Mondjam El Vetkeimet? 2. ’11: What About My Dreams? 3. ’05: Forogj, Vilag! 4. ’13: Kedvesem 5. ’07: Unsubstantial Blues 6. ’14: Running 7. ’12: Sound Of Our Hearts 8. ’08: Candelight 9. ’95: Uj nev a regi haz falan 10. ’97: Miert Kell, Hogy Elemenj?… Read more »
I’m not that crazy about Hugary in the ESC. I loved Kati and NOX, and Friderika was good too, but I really didn’t like their other entries. Especially what they have given us since A Dal was definetely not my thing. A Hungarian victory, fine by me but please with something good like Kati or NOX.
ByeAlex was a breath of fresh air: so simple, and yet so effective. ‘Running’ was a bit overhyped, in my book (I preferred Kallay-Saunders’s cover of ‘Azerbaijan’s ‘Start s Fire’). In any case, both Hungary and the Netherlands are ripe for an ESC win, and we wish them both all the best for Vienna, but it’s such a fickle game …
Also, I don’t understand the hype over Kati Wolf, her voice is nice but the song was horrible in my opinion (didn’t hate it though and still made my Top 20). And I feel like I’m the only one who liked Compact Disco.
@Bledar Leka – I don’t think anyone thinks Hungary’s a poor Eastern country :/ if they do then they don’t have much knowledge about Europe, I thought everyone knew Central Europe (where Hungary really is) was pretty much just as nice as Western Europe. Also the Baltics aren’t categorised as Eastern, they’re considered Northern. Anyway, Hungary is one of the countries I predict will have their first win sometime soon. The others are: -Malta -Georgia -Armenia -Bosnia and Herzegovina -Iceland -Romania -Moldova (doubt they can put on a really good show though) I enjoy Hungary’s entries a lot (My favourites… Read more »
People will be like “Hungary can’t host it because they’re a poor Eastern country, but in reality since 1990 Hungary, like Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia and the Baltics, is more like a Western European country. The Hungarians will be amazing hosts who can definitely host it in the beautiful city of Budapest