We’ve all been there. Whether back at home following a party or near the end of a long night of boxset binging, we’ve found ourselves home alone during the early hours of the morning. If we want to keep ourselves awake until we’ve brushed our teeth, or we just want to keep the giggles going…it’s time to turn to Eurovison. Certain songs overwhelm our inhibitions and let us dance like we’re lip syncing for our lives. Thank God no one is watching. For those who are yet to experience this late night phenomenon, let these Eurovision anthems take you on a journey. It is the weekend after all…

Quero Ser Tua (Portugal 2014)

Enter Suzy, a ray of sunshine who blessed us with three minutes of flesh, pina colada and hips that don’t lie. From the moment she says wah-wah-way-wah-way, we want to throw our backs into it. This song is danceable, energetic and happy. Her act is about a lot more than hot nights on the dance floor. She tells the story of Portuguese explorers who, from the 15th century, took religion and culture abroad, but came back with the music of Brazil (samba) and Africa (tribal drumming).

Allez! Ola! Olé! (France 2010)

In case we were in any doubt, Jessy Matador insists that booty shaking is a vital part of happiness. Born Jessy Kimbangi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France’s dance king mixes zouk, dancehall, reggae, and hiphop, building on American, African and Caribbean influences to make his unforgettable floor filler. He essentially takes Eurovision outside of Europe and that is really something. His infectious beat is like a hip-hop version of the “Macarena”. Who could resist a dance to this Eurovision classic?

Dancing Lasha Tumbai (Ukraine 2007)

Eurovision legend Verka Serduchka traveled to Helsinki in 2007 — and we’ve never looked at tin foil the same way again. Singing in English, German and gibberish, he worked it with his eccentric dancers, who also looked ready-to-bake. Even his dance moves are iconic: who hasn’t used a gif of his wave, or forgotten the spotty dog that we thought we’d left in sport lessons at school? If Verka’s “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” doesn’t get you on the dance floor, nothing will!

Making Your Mind Up (United Kingdom 1981)

The United Kingdom’s winning song from Bucks Fizz is iconic. Audiences from across the continent never fail to recognise those green and blue skirts, and of course the dance that went with them (or without them). To those of you who have the confidence to pull off one of those iconic miniskirts in town, we salute you. However, the rest of us will play it safe and simply dance along to the catchy track at home — wearing pyjamas.

Golden Boy (Israel 2015)

“Golden Boy” is not just a tourism promo for hip Tel Aviv. It’s also a song in at least three parts — and we love all of them. It’s fun, energetic and clever and can inject life into all of us, no matter what time it is! It’s cheeky without being a joke, and, owing to clever production and changing instrumentation, the gag doesn’t get old. Ultimately this song is about freedom and the right to live and to love. To quote Nadav – “now dance, dance, dance, dance”!

Shady Lady (Ukraine 2008)

Ukrainian pop star Ani Lorak said she would strike like thunder, and boy did she ever! Despite the song title, Ani Lorak wasn’t shady at all — she was shining. She shimmied her way across the Belgrade stage, aided by four very energetic dancers and a reflective light box. Almost 10 years on, and we’re still doing the same — only without the light box. She sang and danced with her boys with conviction and sensuality, and made us all love her. Her technologically advanced mirror and on-point dancers remain benchmarks for all Eurovision artists even today. We may not be able to dance quite like Lorak, but we’ll certainly enjoy giving it a go!

Ninanajna (FYR Macedonia 2006)

Elena Risteska’s hips certainly don’t lie, and neither does the scoreboard. Ninanajna is FYR Macedonia’s highest placing entry to date, achieving 12th place in the final. She calls on the dancing queens, Beyonce and Shakira, to ninanajna with her and who could refuse? Europe certainly didn’t. Whether you want to embrace the August summer heat, or get an arse like Kim Kardashian — the answer is always to ninanajna.

Zaleilah (Romania 2012)

The opening bars of “Zaleilah” will bring a smile to anyone’s face and fulfil Eurovision’s mission to be Europe’s Joy Factory. It is a blast of sunshine with the upbeat rhythm and enthralling sounds matching the song’s story line. It’s about a woman deeply in love with her “chocolate boy.” We don’t know if this refers to someone who is merely sweet, or to someone who is of African descent. But it doesn’t matter because “you touching me and kissing me makes me want to dance/ I’m so happy, I can shout out loud.” The English-language chorus is slightly mangled, but the intended meaning comes through. “When you love you say, everyday, everybody” should be read as “when you’re in love, say it everyday and tell everybody.” Who wouldn’t dance to a message like that?

Be my Valentine! (Ukraine 2009)

Ukraine certainly knows how to send a good dance track to Eurovision. We’d already boogied to Verka Serduchka and Ani Lorak, but then came Svetlana Loboda. She brought an oversized wheel and a red dress that didn’t really cover much. The result was a series of jokes about a stripper in a hamster wheel and a whole lot of sweaty Eurofans. Not because of the stripper, but because we can all have a good dance to Svetlana’s track. She asked Europe to “be her valentine”, so we’re shaking our booties all the way to Kiev and back!

Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit (United Kingdom 1996)

The United Kingdom’s high-energy, aerobics-friendly entry was tipped to do very well in 1996 (over 20 years ago… Dear me), but finished a disappointing eighth in the final. Even so, Gina G’s dance track became the fourth most successful Eurovision entry on the US charts, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording and cracked the Top 10 in seven countries, becoming a commonly heard track in clubs and bars across Europe. After 21 years, it still gets us onto the dance floor!

What is your favourite song on the list? What other songs do you think should have made it? Let us know in the comments section down below.

Read more of our Eurovision lists

Total
165
Shares
51 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mateja Purple Panda
Mateja Purple Panda
6 years ago

I always dance to “Moustache” (France 2014) and “Euphoria” (Sweden 2012)

Miros?awa Štern
Miros?awa Štern
6 years ago

“Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit”, “Making Your Mind Up” and “Dancing Lasha Tumbai” are favourites of mine from this list. However, this list is not complete with my all-time favourites ESC classics “La det swinge” (Norway), “Diva” (Israel), “Hajde da ludujemo” (Yugoslavia), “Bandido” (Spain), “Eres tú” (Spain), “Wir Geben ‘ne party” (Germany), “Dschinghis Khan” (Germany) and “J’aime la vie” (Belgium) make shake, rattle and roll at home.

Mateja Purple Panda
Mateja Purple Panda
6 years ago

I would put moustache (France 2014)

slaytina
slaytina
6 years ago

I’ve always thought that if, at that time, Shady Lady had been sung by some international popstar such as Britney or Katy Perry, it would have been an international huge success!

Juanillo
Juanillo
6 years ago

Suzy (Queen of IBeria) Eu quero ser tua. Dance Dance Bailarrr

Napaw
Napaw
6 years ago

Boom Boom Chaka Chaka.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Where is Secret Combination, the real hoe anthem of the Eurovision Song Contest? That’s a song that makes me want to dance!

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

That’s a great list!
Definitely “Allez! Ola! Ole!” is a dance hit! I love this song! Other songs I want to dance to are “Golden Boy” and “Zaleilah”!

However, I didn’t see “Quele Quele” for example. What a song!! Also, “Tornero”!

Lianne
Lianne
6 years ago

Allez Ale Ole is still played at some Lithuanian clubs, i always jam to it 😉

blondboybc
blondboybc
6 years ago

Verka Serduchka rules! 😀

Anne
Anne
6 years ago

I would add “Qele Qele”, “Shake it up shekerim” and “Dum tek tek” to that list 😀

Steven
Steven
6 years ago

So wait, let me get this straight. You made a list called “Dance Alone” WITHOUT “Dance Alone” by Jana Bur?eska??? What in the world…

Iain
Iain
6 years ago
Reply to  Steven

Oh my god, so much this! I dance along to Dance Alone every day still. Total tune! I hope Jana continues to make similar music now that Eurovision is over.

Nathan
Nathan
6 years ago
Reply to  Steven

I love “Dance Alone”.

Cesar
Cesar
6 years ago

you forgot Dum Tek Tek, Everyway That I Can, Number One, etc

Miss Uncongeniality
Miss Uncongeniality
6 years ago

In that song Suzy doesn’t tell the story of Portuguese explorers… The story is the typical love/obsession song, really cheesy and crappy… Yes she uses some Brazilian and African sounds but the song doesn’t have anything to do with Portugal’s colonial history… Is to cheap to do it

Charles
Charles
6 years ago

But Portugal used an uptempo song in 1989 to narrate exactly that … and did not work at all … 33 points and 16th position.

maria
maria
6 years ago

Exactly! That’s a cheap song with the most vulgar lyrics: http://lyricstranslate.com/en/quero-ser-tua-i-want-be-yours.html
It has nothing to do with the Portuguese colonial history (except for trying to be a cheap copy of the 80’s lambada)

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  maria

Suzy has said in interviews — indeed, to me — that the staging was inspired by Portugal’s history abroad.

maria
maria
6 years ago

The stage was red and green and it had drums… that’s all about it.

She’s a sweet girl and indeed did her best to sell a bad song as something more meaningful than what it actually is.

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  maria

Maria: It’s a good song that many people still listen to this day. You just happen to dislike it.

Rui
Rui
6 years ago

lulz, lambada? african and brazillian sounds? so many ignorance concerning Portugal’s traditional sound. It’s a portuguese music sound called Pimba. Do some research before making a fool of yourself, lmao.

maria
maria
6 years ago
Reply to  Rui

Pimba is tradicional? Lol man, the only ignorant here is you. I said it has nothing to do with Portuguese heritage or tradition. If it has anything to do with the former colonies, as they are trying to imply here, then it could only be for trying to imitate the Brazilians. It has nothing to do with Portuguese identity. Its justiça a trashy sonho. Stop being pathetic.

Avoc
Avoc
6 years ago
Reply to  maria

Maria, please shut up. You’re way too clueless.

Desfolhada
Desfolhada
6 years ago
Reply to  Rui

First of all, Pimba’s genre contains lyrics with sexual undertones. And Quero ser tua has a different accordion arrangement of tradicional Pimba. And Pimba It’s more uptempo.
Quero ser Tua is Lambada, but of course it has exoctic arrangements, and it has a weak lyric content, It’s deep as Gustavo Santos.

Avoc
Avoc
6 years ago
Reply to  Desfolhada

Lambada? Desfolhada, please shut up. You know nothing of what you’re writing.

SashassEsc
SashassEsc
6 years ago

Dum Tek Tek.. Love every second

Andy
Andy
6 years ago
Reply to  SashassEsc

ew…she could not sing live. It’s an outdated, floppy performance.

Maria
Maria
6 years ago

Yasss, Be My Valentine is my song to dance alone to!

Charles
Charles
6 years ago

None … Just None …

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
6 years ago

Ukraine 2009 is such a guilty pleasure! That over-the-top performance felt so right.

brunowskii
brunowskii
6 years ago

When nobody is watching, I also love to dance “Party for everybody” with the babushki

Eurovision Now!
Eurovision Now!
6 years ago
Reply to  brunowskii

ohmigod… i thought that was only me:D

boris
boris
6 years ago

Oh God! Excactly those we use to listen to clean up the house at home! Susy, Shady Lady, Verka, of course, Zaleilah… amazing! You’re our neigbors? 😉

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wAQGBtPqk4

Hari Mata Hari and Elena Risteska teamed up in March for this Balkan beauty…ESC 2006 reunion!

Denis
Denis
6 years ago

What’s your obsession with Suzy?
It was a cheap cheesy stereotypical outdated entry, not even a good song!

Canciones a Bailar
Canciones a Bailar
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Because it’s a very fun song to dance to.

DBBK

No Name
No Name
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

I have one thing to say to you: WA WA WE WA WE

Charles
Charles
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

It is the Portuguese entry fans wished it had become the true first Portuguese winner instead of Salvador Sobral … It’s like as if someone felt that Britney Spears was a far more talented woman than … Barbra Streisand … and Bieber way better than … Frank Sinatra … in other words … when everything wrong is considered the greatest thing ever. 21st century … I once considered being worried … but at this stage there is no cure for this … Plus: Susy has no other platform to promote herself than this … in Portugal she is a nobody.… Read more »

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  Charles

Charles: Different stroke for different folk.

What matters is that Portugal finally won. You should be proud of that.

GV for the weekend, y’all.

Kai
Kai
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

because Suzy was among the eurofans favourites in 2014…
so wa wa we wawe

Charles
Charles
6 years ago
Reply to  Kai

The favourite of Eurofans … cause she had the cheesy uptempo song that fans wanted desperately … Imagine Eurovision managed solely by fans … it would be the death of music … and the uprising of a true Pride Event …

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Yes, the song is bad…but it’s who cares
WA WA WE WA WE

Charles
Charles
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

You clearly don’t care .., why bothering following Eurovision if you are not focusing on the real good songs? Oh wait … my bad … how can I forget …

Evan
Evan
6 years ago
Reply to  Charles

You say as if Amar Pelos Dois is even a song,atleast Quero Ser tua is

It was no way near my favourite in 2014 but it was better than the winner in 2014 and in 2017 definitely

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Charles

Of course, I prefer “Amar pelos dois” than “Quero ser tua” and I hope Eurovision gets better in terms of music quality. However, I won’t mourn a past bad entry, “what’s done is done”.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago
Reply to  Jo

I criticised this song in 2014. Now…who cares?!

Andy
Andy
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

if she’s outdated then so are the others. SHE SLAYS, there’s nothing outdated or cheesy about it.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

But if you had seen the comments left at YouTube, you’ll understand why it had major trouble trying to qualify: “Lambada 2.0”. It was too reminiscent of Kaoma’s 1989 hit, which itself used the music from another song. I actually thought Leonor Andrade’s song that was sent the following year was better.

Kris
Kris
6 years ago
Reply to  CookyMonzta

Oh yes!! I think Leonor Andrade with Ha um Mar que nos separa is the best entry Portugal has sent this decade.

Mateja Purple Panda
Mateja Purple Panda
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Wa-wa-way-wa-way!