Eurovision reflects the times — and, for better or worse, the fashion, style and musical trends of the day. Through the years we’ve seen all sorts of trends come and go. And one of the most fruitful periods for this was definitely the ’00s. Trends considered en vogue back then now have us raising our eyebrows (fully grown eyebrows, I might add — not the pencilled-in ones). So, nodding to the good and the bad, let’s take a look at the Eurovision trends that came and went in the noughties.

Spiky hair (dash of glitter optional)

From around 2000 it was clear that Eurovision was changing. Gone were the conservative evening gowns and sophisticated hairstyles. Now it was all about making your hair as wild as possible. It had to be seen from outer space! After going on hiatus at the end of the 80’s, the use of hairspray returned with a bang (and thank goodness no one lit a match).

Spiky hair, with loads and loads of bobby pins and/or butterfly pins, as well as wacky colours and frosted tips, was all the rage. And those who were feeling particularly wild also sprinkled endless amounts of glimmer over their hair, which already had at least one can of “strong hold” hairspray in it. Not even a hurricane (or jumbo wind machine) could move an artist’s hair in those glory days.

The contest in Stockholm in 2000 is the biggest offender (or winner?) regarding this trend. The Swedish backing vocalists for Malta probably used about a gallon of hairspray in total. Iceland’s Telma not only had the spiky part down, she also rocked some seriously funky purple stripes in her hair. Alex Panayi was spiked AND glimmering during his powerful performance of “Nomiza”. But the award for the most use of all those trends together goes to the Norwegian girl group Charmed. So much spiky, so much glimmer, so much colour, so much hairspray!

Fake tan

It’s safe to say that this particular trend won’t be missed. But we have to face the fact that fake tan was da shizzle back in the 00’s! Reality TV was at its height with shows such as The Simple Life and Jersey Shore ruling the airwaves. Thanks to reality tv celebrities like Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, and for those who go for that sort of thing, Snookie, everybody wanted to look like they’d rolled in a pool of chocolate. And of course this horrible trend entered Eurovision.

This was painfully visible in 2004 and reared its ugly orange head every now and then for the next couple of years. That year Spain sent the Latin heartthrob Ramón del Castillo. So Spanish in every single way. But clearly not enough for he was lathered in fake tan to emphasize the fact that he was Latin. The Slovenian duet Platin, from the same year, had also bathed in Hawaiian Tropic before going on stage, although they’d toned it down a bit since the national finals. The Oompa Loompa worship was full-on again in 2005, but the ultimate fake tan award has to go to Keith Camilleri, the Maltese member of Six4One, the pan-European group representing Switzerland in 2006. He was practically on the verge of being burnt orange. Poor Keith. Guess he didn’t want the trend to die…

https://youtu.be/GWYhRRa96B8

Short dresses and skirts

When I say short, I’m talking SHORT. If the camera couldn’t catch someone’s vajayjay from the right angle, that outfit was too prudish. Through the first six years of the 21st century, one could almost see the dresses and skirts get shorter by the minute.

In 2002 we saw one of the first über short garments when Estonia’s Sahléne came on stage wearing a white skirt, which was cut all the way up to her ovaries. The following year, 16-year-old Claudia Beni represented Croatia wearing a top and a skirt that left literally nothing for the imagination. And they still managed to rip some of her clothes off during the performance. The UK’s Jemma Abbey had to deal with a cut back at the BBC…when it came to making her dress. In 2004, Romania’s Sanda Ladosa rocked a specially made nothing with a frill attached to it, and in 2006 Moldova’s Natalia Gordienko not only had to wear a belt disguised as a skirt, she also had her few garments removed during the performance, before popping backstage to change into a wedding dress.

Songs of peace

It’s a trend as old as Eurovision itself and it seemed to reach its peak in the 00’s. Before there was “Love love peace peace”, there were all sorts of songs about peace, unity and harmony in some shape, sound or form.

Israel has been the master of peace songs throughout the years, like in 2009 when the Israeli/Palestinian du0 of Noa and Mira Awad proved that it doesn’t matter where you come from in matters of friendship and hope. Other countries have also expressed their wish for a peaceful world, such as “Keine grenzen”, Poland’s entry in 2003, which was performed in Polish, German and Russian. Latvia entered in 2005 with their peace anthem “The war is not over” and Ireland’s Eamonn Toal begged for a “Millennium of Love” back in 2000. But it was in the same year that the Israelis opened the contest with a bang when the group Ping Pong showed up, all loose and relaxed, not afraid to show affection for each other…or for their neighbouring country Syria. Israel and Syria were, of course, embroiled in a serious feud, and the group expressed their wish for a peaceful relationship by waving both the Israeli and Syrian flags. Needless to say Ping Pong ruffled some feathers: Their own state broadcaster disowned them ahead of the broadcast.

Denim and earthly colours

The 00’s was, as mentioned before, all about being casual and free. Not many contestants had worn jeans before the millennium, and those who did were considered “wacky”. In 1995 Belgium’s Frederick Etherlinck wore jeans and a denim shirt during his performance. The Icelandic commentator said he had borrowed his outfit from a nearby construction site when Frederick (clearly not the tuxedo type) was simply keeping it casual and comfortable.

But then the 2002 contest happened. Suddenly everyone was dressing like the extra in a bad movie about cowboys and Indians. It was all about beige, light brown, white and denim that year. Everything was frilled, with weird accessories such as random strings. Basically all 2002 outfits looked like someone had gone on a rampage with scissors and leather strings, after taking a crash course in what Hollywood considered to be the “Native American” look. Oh, and every woman was wearing pointy shoes.

The UK’s Jessica Garlick was sporting some sort of that Native American/”oops, I went through the shredder” look. Her outfit seemed to be seconds away from completely falling into pieces.

Bosnia’s Maja had shoes so pointy that they could’ve pierced through someone’s heart…if she had taken a roundhouse kick in the wrong direction.

But the trophy goes to Sergio and the Ladies, who represented Belgium. An energetic performance with Sergio doing all sorts of stunts on stage, resulting in him being completely out of breath by the end. But his Ladies in the back took all of the above mentioned trends to a whole new level. They had everything going on. Frills, denim, lightbrown colours, jackets that looked worn out, but weren’t, skirts over jeans, leather strings and pointy shoes. You name it — it was there! They summed up 2002 fashion with a bang. Those trends could be seen on and off in following years, but nothing can beat the contest in Tallinn.

Those are just a few of the trends that came and went during the 00’s. There are so many more — enough to fill another list, really. Which spoke to you the most? What did we forget? And which trends do you want to see as part of a revival? Let us know in the comments box below. 

Read more of our Eurovision lists

24 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bastian
Bastian
6 years ago

The early 00’s were amazing. wish we could go back to that time 🙂

Graph
Graph
6 years ago
Reply to  Bastian

Haha I hope we don’t

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I’ll agree with sb who said the balkan ballads! That was a trend!

Richardinho
Richardinho
6 years ago

Or to put it another way: ‘Things that were fashionable in the 90s…’

Omar Mexico
Omar Mexico
6 years ago

You should consider make a list of the top 20 best dressed from the 2000’s!

R
R
6 years ago
Reply to  Omar Mexico

YESS!

Carmen
Carmen
6 years ago

loca boca choca rappa This song is great, am I crazy? I’m romanian and you might think I like Moldova anyway, but I like this song. They are insane.

R
R
6 years ago
Reply to  Carmen

2006 was a wild year. Loca, Lordi, Silvia Night, the Andorran ladies in lingerie, Belarus singing a sexy song for ‘Mum’, Dima Bilan dancing on a piano with a human head, the Lithuanian wiiners of Eurovision, Las Ketuchup’s Bloody Mary…

(those were simpler times 🙁 )

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
6 years ago

I have good memories of the 2000s, despite some of the horrors mentioned above. It was good times. We were all getting to know one another and trying out different things.
The 2010s, in contrast, have been uber serious and much less fun. 🙁

Teo
Teo
6 years ago

“In 2004, Romania’s Sanda Ladosa…”

Her name is Sanda Ladosi

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Dark age lol

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

The 00s were the best decade for music. It was all about bops and schlager–no artsy-fartsy snoozefests or whatever. Also, I love myself some tan!

Azaad
Azaad
6 years ago

Agree. As someone who supports a two state/binational one state, I really appreciated Israel’s 2009 entry. While I vehemently disagree with the actions of the Israeli right wing in relation to the occupied territories, I know they don’t represent all Israelis, and I for one really like Israel’s last 5 entries (especially 2013, 2014 and 2016).

On the main subject of the article, wow Eurovision of the 2000s was bad. Reintroducing the juries did wonders for the contest’s credibility, which is definitely experiencing a renaissance right now.

Denis
Denis
6 years ago

The Balkan ballads? They were everywhere those years. At least one per year-
And groups. Everyone were in groups back then.

It was a fun time. Yet I don’t want it back. It’s easy to see why ESC had a bad reputation and no one took it seriously.

Carmen
Carmen
6 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Balkan ballads give esc a bad reputation? Why? Many people want traditions.

Carmen
Carmen
6 years ago

Ha Ha, I’ve heard that for Wiwibloggs, the worst dress of all time is Sanda Ladosi from Romania 2004. Sanda had problems, her husband was in jail for corruption and he had cancer, and she said that the hard life she had must be karma, because she was very arrogant during those times (2004). I believe today she is a better person. The problems are in the past now, and they have two children.

William Lee Adams
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Carmen

She sounds like a strong woman. Wishing her all the best.

Carmen
Carmen
6 years ago

Yes, she is singing again now, I hope she reads this blog.

Neil Norton
Neil Norton
6 years ago

Everyone had to have a backing group of some sort. Very few performers did it alone and 2003 everyone had someone on stage with them.

Allexo
Allexo
6 years ago

and again a question mark for an emoji what the flip is happening with my laptop???

Allexo
Allexo
6 years ago

I know a trend you can have… block voting
???
Oh yeah and eastern Europe making up a special little mafia and spoiling esc for loads of people but at least we got quality acts from them.

Allexo
Allexo
6 years ago
Reply to  Allexo

those three question marks were emojis do not know why the hell they came out like that it just did ?

Mark
Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Allexo

People who accuse eastern Europe of ‘ruining’ Eurovision are just butthurt that Eastern Europe, former Communist countries are superior to them in a contest of cultural output.

Carmen
Carmen
6 years ago
Reply to  Mark

Then why didn’t you like the romanian yodel?