A good Eurovision song is not complete without good lyrics. Just look at last year’s winner, “1944” — its emotional text proved both deeply controversial but also instrumental in securing Jamala‘s victory in Stockholm. Words can propel a song to hit status or, on the contrary, attract ridicule and shame. So we want to know: Which Eurovision 2017 lyrics will help drive certain songs to the top this year? It’s time to vote for the best lyrics of Eurovision 2017!
In this poll, you are invited to judge not so much the musicality of the track itself, but the poetry, the message, and the overall quality of the lyrics. Forget about your favourite country or song: it’s all about the text. Are you moved by a love story? Or do you prefer a philosophical song with a metaphorical twist? Or maybe you’d rather vote for a fun number with a positive message? The choice is yours!
Before you cast your vote in the poll at the bottom of this page, please check the lyrics of the 42 contestants of Eurovision 2017 below. They are listed in the alphabetical order of the country name. The foreign-language lyrics have been translated to English. You can vote for as many entries as you want, but you can only vote once, so make it count! You have 20 days to make up your mind. We will close the best lyrics poll on 8 May.
Eurovision 2017 lyrics
- Albania: Lindita with “World”
- Armenia: Artsvik with “Fly With Me”
- Australia: Isaiah with “Don’t Come Easy”
- Austria: Nathan Trent with “Running on Air”
- Azerbaijan: Dihaj with “Skeletons”
- Belarus: NaviBand with “Historyja majho žyccia”
- Belgium: Blanche with “City Lights”
- Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov with “Beautiful Mess”
- Croatia: Jacques Houdek with “My Friend”
- Cyprus: Hovig with “Gravity”
- Czech Republic: Martina Barta with “My Turn”
- Denmark: Anja Nissen with “Where I Am”
- Estonia: Koit Toome and Laura with “Verona”
- Finland: Norma John with “Blackbird”
- France: Alma with “Requiem”
- Georgia: Tako Gachechiladze with “Keep the Faith”
- Germany: Levina with “Perfect Life”
- Greece: Demy with “This is Love”
- Hungary: Joci Pápai with “Origo”
- Iceland: Svala with “Paper”
- Ireland: Brendan Murray with “Dying to Try”
- Israel: Imri Ziv with “I Feel Alive”
- Italy: Francesco Gabbani with “Occidentali’s Karma”
- Latvia: Triana Park with “Line”
- Lithuania: Fusedmarc with “Rain of Revolution”
- FYR Macedonia: Jana Burceska with “Dance Alone”
- Malta: Claudia Faniello with “Breathlessly”
- Moldova: SunStroke Project with “Hey Mamma”
- Montenegro: Slavko Kalezic with “Space”
- Netherlands: O’G3NE with “Lights and Shadows”
- Norway: JOWST feat. Aleksander Walmann with “Grab the Moment”
- Poland: Kasia Mos with “Flashlight”
- Portugal: Salvador Sobral with “Amar pelos dois”
- Romania: Ilinca feat. Alex Florea with “Yodel It!”
- San Marino: Valentina Monetta & Jimmie Wilson with “Spirit of the Night”
- Serbia: Tijana Bogicevic with “In Too Deep”
- Slovenia: Omar Naber with “On My Way”
- Spain: Manel Navarro with “Do It for Your Lover”
- Sweden: Robin Bengtsson with “I Can’t Go On“
- Switzerland: Timebelle with “Apollo”
- Ukraine: O.Torvald with “Time”
- United Kingdom: Lucie Jones with “Never Give Up On You”
After you vote for the best lyrics of your choice, feel free to discuss them in the comments box and on the wiwibloggs app.
Do you think that the lyrics can make or break a song? What are your favourite Eurovision lyrics of all time? Sound off below!
On a scale of one to ten
You got the biggest score, you’re heaven sent
No one will doubt that you’re an angel
So what went wrong this time
Hurt nobody, did no crime
What’s with the universe, why you
this made me cry, because i lost my mother who got cancer, so i know the struggling that these girls has with their dying mother.
sorry forget to mention, this poetry is from Og3ne
1. UK
2. Bulgaria
3. Sweden
4. Denmark
5. Australia
the deserved top 5 please everyone vote for them
Uk’s lyrics are one of the best, which is why people should vote for the Uk, and Sweden, Denmark. Italy is not good and should not win
Ireland’s lyrics are lovely and Brendan delivers them with a really great flow/ rhythm:
‘Cause I know that love can be so strong and yet, so frail
And there ain’t no guarantee, that you and me, won’t fail’
‘I’ll keep you safe, in my arms,
build a bridge, to your heart,
everyday’
I’ll give you it all,
but I’m not gonna lie,
cause no one can promise, that love will ever learn, how to fly’
Italy’s lyrics are objectively the most learned in the competition; few songs dare venture into the territory of Occidentali’s Karma.
Portugal clearly has the best song and lyrics,”Amar pelos Dois” is clearly the best this year!
1-Portugal
2-France
3-Armenia
4-Bulgaria
5-Finland
Finland is perfection in everything! Second for lyrics is definitely UK. That song has incredible and optimistic lyrics. Third is Hungary. Hungary is so underrated! Despite all the hate for Spain I actually enjoy the lyrics of that song. In fact, I rather enjoy the whole song altogether. Definitely not a winner but I’m not understanding all hate for it. I was glad to see Sweden rank so low here. The only reason that song gets the praise that it does is because Robin is hot, knows how to sing, and knows how to sell the song. The lyrics are… Read more »
I love Italy, France and Portugal this year, because of the lyrics in their native languages, it sound very charming. But my favourite english lyrics this year belongs to Lucie Jones from the UK. It’s a simple lyrics, but beautiful and hopeful, a specially this part: “Just give me your hand and hold on, together we’ll dance through this storm [..] Now you can see how far you’ve walked, the mountains climbed, the oceans crossed.” I also love those fragments: – Dihaj: “Now I’m stuck in daydreams, surrounded by thorn jeans.” – Kasia Mos: “You call the dogs off, I… Read more »
great results. I agree with both the top and the bottom
“Occidentali’s Karma” is interesting because it’s such a play on words.
“Amar Pelos Dois” is absolutely beautiful, it’s so touching! Portuguese is my native language and I have to say that my Portuguese friends have good reasons to be proud of their entry!
If Jamala’s English could win with “when strangers are coming they come to your house” then anyone could
I think you forget there was more English to the song than that. Let’s see you write a song and win Eurovision since anyone can! 😀
I hate Portugal. How is it possible that a song like that is stealing protagonism from Italy, my lovely Francesco??? WTF. And what I hate the most is seeing Italians on Face and Youtube praising Salvador, saying that he has the best song of all on the contestl. WTF Please don’t vote for Portugal…
If you expect people to respect your opinion, you should respect the other people! You have the right to hate the song, but don’t criticize the ones who like it… Your music taste isn’t better than theirs, just different!!
I’m Italian and I like Salvador. I’m rooting for Francesco A LOT but if Italy is not gonna win I would like a Portugal victory. I also like Hungary, Belgium, Azerbaijian, Finland, Belarus and France. Carla, don’t forget the sense of this competition: we should celebrate us, not fight us, it’s a party. This doesn’t mean I don’t want Italy to win, of course I want that, but I like a lot of songs and artists and I wish them well.
Because it has a similar vibe to Anouk’s “Birds”. Like “Birds”, it sounds like a song that could have won the contest in the 1960s, yet it is quite worthy of THIS day and age; and since Anouk finished 9th in 2013, I fully expect Salvador to have no trouble at all finishing in the top 10. He is in my top 5 right now and could be Portugal’s first top-5 finisher.
You have by far the most hateful and disgraceful comment. You must be a very sad person…
Because not everyone thinks the same. Isn’t that a beautiful thing? Portugal is quite lovely and by being lovely it doesn’t downgrade Italy. They are both amazing!
The 3 better aren’t in English… Italy, France and Portugal…. not that English songs aren’t good…. but it’s curious that those 3 non-english have much better quality and don’t sound that annoying and repetitive like “Do it for your lover”, “I can’t go on” or “Paaaaaaperrr” that have nothing to say.
Portugal , obra literaria de amor incondicional
The people who voted for Sweden should be ashamed of themselves.
Finland, no doubt in that.
Italy. No doubt. The clever, ironic, witty, and fun lyrics (as far as we can understand through the translations of course) are part of the song’s charme.
If there is a God above…Italy will not win. Patronizing to say the least, insulting, why do you think is not against you? Oh, right, you do think is always about somebody else, not you…..but he is making fun of you.
i’m asian and i don’t take selfie. so this song is definitely about me. namaste! ale! 🙂
not about me i mean lol.
@Asam Otof It’s not patronising, it’s not insulting, and it’s not against anyone. It’s self-deprecating and ironical, it’s making fun of US (himself included).
Don’t be so extreme, it’s just a funny catchy song with a message.
1 word. Iceland.
Watch this and everything will change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V46Ujkumjs&list=PL96lUkIUZJd907eACl0290IO5_YXognPc
Top 4 right now is just songs written in their country’s language. Good job! 😀
Not 4 but top 5 is written in their country language.
Lyrics with most sense? Definitely Croatia.
Shame that it’s an underrated song, also have you seen the Acoustic version of it? It shares a deep message for deaf people.
Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/aKXlwubm4Zw
Voted for Finland, UK and Bulgaria, those are really beautiful, specialy Finland.
I think that the best lyrics are undoudtedly in the Italian song, there is no other song this year with such a deep meaning!
Solely voted for Hungary.
Might not be the best lyrics but one of the only one, that are coming from the heart of the artist himself.
Agree. Awesome lyrics, should be in top 5.
Obviously no one has taken a minute to read Spain’s lyrics…
Macedonia has the most hidden meaning in the lyrics
I think Macedonia’s message is only perceived in the video. The lyrics themself don’t tell me anything. That’s why I thought that the video from Jana was really clever, because it sends a message deeper than the song itself.
GEORGIA THE BEST SONG AND SUPER VOICE . TAMARA AMAZING
Italy and Portugal. Without any competition.
Watch Blanche performing on Flemish radio MNM, she is slaying! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5BGfeZpZpM&list=WL&index=69&t=3s
Or try Qmusic 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LscmL6ewOSc
Well, my opinion.
Best romantic lyrics: Portugal
Best clever lyrics: Italy [the haters who comment under every article about him, are exactly the one to which the song is dedicated 😉 ]
Best dramatic lyrics: France
Best poetic lyrics: Finland
Best emotional lyrics: Croatia, Ukraine
I agree!
Italy takes the crown by a mile and a half (what else is new?). Finland, UK, Portugal and Ireland have beautiful lyrics. Norway has clever lyrics that deliver the message of the song perfectly. The French verses in Requiem are deep and poetic, too bad the chorus in English captures none of that and is just some gibberish about love.
Montenegro deserves a special mention. I never knew you could fit so many sexual metaphors and analogies in only three minutes. Truly a feat.
I think both Occidentali’s Karma and Amar Pelos Dois have great lyrics, extremely different yes, but still beautiful each on its own way
Lol. I love the italian entry but no way the lyrics are better than Amar pelos Dois. Get real!
I agree with you! Amar pelos Dois is a lyric and musical masterpiece. Kudos to Luisa Sobral for such sublime and meaningful songwriting. I always feel goosebumps and cry with the very last verse of the song: I can love for the both of us. It doesn’t get more simple, yet romantic and beautiful than that!
“Amar pelos dois” slays! This is poetry! I love the lyrics! Now I appreciate the song even more! (really liked it since the beginning, such a beautiful song!)
Weird to see that two songs with really good lyrics (Austria and Norway) are behind Azerbaijan – a song I also like, but I’m not sure if the lyrics here have any further purpose than having something to sing during the song. I might be blind, but I think it’s like Riptide by Vance Joy, where fans see more into the song than the writer actually wanted.
Based on lyrics, this is my TOP5
1. Portugal
2. Finland
3. UK
4. France
5. Austria
Based on lyrics UK stands out with a powerful message as does Finland and Bulgaria voted for:
1. UK
2. Finland
3. Bulgaria
4. Austria
5. Belgium
All these songs are in my top 5 as well just in a different order
I like Albania, Georgia, France and Croatia
Italy=a collection of quotes from FB and you think its clever
BINGO
Actually I can find a meaning in it. Being in form of quotes is a stylistic way of writing, it doesn’t mean that it has no sense. Look up at post-modern writings. But also if you don’t know the reference you still can undertsand the meaning. The fact that you recognise them it’s a plus nerdy factor, it’s not a necessity. For example I didn’t know that “The naked ape” was a reference from a book, but I still get it because after thinking that every ape is naked, I thought that’s not true in fact they all have fur… Read more »
Just because the quotes ended up on Facebook doesn’t mean they are “from” FB…
If it boils down to the lyrics I’d have to say Italy (most other songs have the typical “Love, Love, Peace, Peace” kind of lyrics).
This gives a better view if how the juries will vote as they have to look at the vocals, staging, lyrics etc.
If we judge them separately and we combine the results we could end up with the winner.
The only lyrics that makes me cry in the last verse (before and after the translation)… Portugal.
The only lyrics that makes me think… Italy. That’s why I voted for both. But if you ask me which one “sells” the message better? No doubt, Salvador.
Francesco has already failed before the media as he tries to explain the content of the spirituality that lies behind his song. It is not worth dressing up as a Buddhist monk and then saying that you do not understand anything about Buddhism.
He never said that he doesn’t understand anything about Buddhism, he said that he doesn’t do yoga. I’ve studied Religions History (as annual course, not the degree) at University, am I praticing anything of those religions? No. Does this mean I know nothing about them? No. His English is so basic that he couldn’t explain better than that. And the Buddist monk dress was to mock us (including himself) so, even if he doesn’t understand Buddhism, the message is that we don’t understand other cultures but we tend to appropriate them, I can’t see why in your logic this is… Read more »
I understand what you’re saying, but I think he can’t explain that in interviews because he already explained it in his song. When it is expressed so brilliantly it’s hard to say it in another way. I think Italy’s song this year is really that good.
About “Amar Pelos Dois”, I’m from Portugal, so I can’t be imparcial about this song’s lyrics. I really love them and I’m really happy to see so many non-portuguese apreciating it too. 🙂
For me (random order): Italy, Portugal, Finland, UK, Hungary, Estonia, Germany.
Agree with the top 3 (I would put Portugal 2nd). I haven’t seen the translation of Hungary, now I’m curious.
It’s About him being a gypsy and he talks About discrimination. I don’t know what the chorus means
http://wiwibloggs.com/2017/02/21/origo-lyrics-joci-papai-hungary-eurovision-2017/176201/
You chose ce qu’il a donné hmm c’est la beauté d’un requiem or embrasse-moi, dis-moi que tu m’aimes were more lovely but that is your choice. 😛 I voted for Italy, France, Portugal, Finland, Belgium and Armenia (random order) !
For me it’s easy: Italy! These are inspiring lyrics! It’s not the lyrics someone can easily write and the phrases that easily come to your mind! Love! I also love France! We are born, we live and die, life has an end. But love doesn’t end. It’s eternal! And that’s what “Requiem” wants to say! I like Austria’s and Croatia’s positive messages, Azerbaijan’s “Have my skeletons” (love it!), Hungary’s beautiful story, UK’s strong and emotional message, Portugal’s poetic lyrics and all the love the song expresses, Ireland’s also beautiful lyrics, Norway’s “grab the moment” message, Switzerland’s “I follow you Apollo”,… Read more »
Yes you understood the message of Alma’s song, such a lovely comment, thank you. 🙂
I happen to speak French so it was easier for me to get the message before adding the english lyrics. This song is just great! J’adore!
Climbing all the Walls that always felt too high BREATHLESSLY !
My own country, The Netherlands!!
The story of the live of the girls from O’G3NE is very emotional!
Italy best lyrics? LOL, nice joke. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Switzerland and the UK have the best lyrics.
Well, I think Italy’s lyrics are by far the most original, totally far from the usual loved-unloved-peace (which I also like); it refers to current social and technological trends while being inspired by classic references such as Darwin, Buddhism, etc… It is cynical, it is funny, and it is wildly original.
I would say Azerbaijan if I was able of understanding a single sentence she was singing :/
J(ESC) would you mind explaining to us the meaning of the azerbaijani song? I mean I have yet to understand these very elaborate lyrics: “Drum, drum, drum bring out the guns, bad boy”
There is a saying that everyone has skeletons in their closet which means everyone has secrets and a past that they try to hide. In the song she says have my skeletons. She’s fallen in love and she’s ready to reveal her darkest secrets to him or her.
Of course lyrics of Polish entry aren’t included in graphic… don’t tell me you don’t like Poland…
I’m Polish but please shut up , stop behaving like a child….