In modern Eurovision it is the performer we see collect the trophy and celebrate as the victor of the contest, but it hasn't always been that way.
The contest was set up as a song competition, with composers/songwriters the ones collecting the trophy before the artist's reprise.
To celebrate the songwriters from composing to lyrics, we have picked our 10 favourite individuals or teams from the 2010s decade.
Mary Susan Applegate (USA)
American Mary Susan Applegate has been song writing since the 70s and has been responsible for some world famous songs like 'The Power of Love' performed by Jennifer Rush and No Mercy's 'Please Don't Go'. So her Eurovision songs may come as a surprise.... She has finished 2nd in the contest with Buranovskiye Babushki's song 'Party for Everybody'. She also wrote for Serhat's 2019 entry and Ivan's 2016 entry. The songs may not win any composer awards but all three have been iconic this decade.
Party for Everybody - Buranovskiye Babushki (Russia) - 2nd in 2012
Say Na Na Na - Serhat (San Marino) - 19th in 2019
Help You Fly - Ivan (Belarus) - 12th in semi final 2016
Alexander Papaconstantinou - "Alex P" (Sweden/Greece)
Alex P and his collaborators (Victor Svensson, Anderz Wrethov, Geraldo Sandel) have been responsible for three absolute bangers this decade. Their best result and most famous entry was 'Fuego' by Eleni Foureira with their other two entries for Cyprus 'La La Love' and 'Replay' also being firm fan favourites. Alex P's record in Eurovision has been:
Fuego - Eleni Foureira (Cyprus) - 2nd in 2018
Replay - Tamta (Cyprus) - 13th in 2019
La La Love - Ivi Adamou (Cyprus) - 16th in 2012
Anthony Egizii and David Musumeci (Australia)
The two Australians songwriters founded their production company DNA which has been responsible for three of their nation's Eurovision entries. Their best result was 2nd in 2016 with 'Sound of Silence' which won the Marcel Bezençon composer award. Their three songs have all qualified for the final and they've reached the Top 10 twice. Other than Eurovision they have written several well known Australian hits including 'Wings' by Delta Goodrem, 'In My Blood' by The Veronicas, 'What You've Done to Me by Samantha Jade and most recently 'Little Things' by Jessica Mauboy. Their Eurovision songs have been:
Sound of Silence - Dami Im (Australia) - 2nd place in 2016
Don't Come Easy - Isaiah (Australia) - 9th in 2017
We Got Love - Jessica Mauboy (Australia) - 20th in 2018
Gabriel Alares (Sweden)
The 36-year-old rose to fame by finishes 7th on Swedish Idol back in 2013. He has been part of the writing team for four songs in the contest representing Russia, Norway and Moldova. His best result was a 2nd place with 'A Million Voices' in 2015 and he was also responsible for one of our guilty pleasures, 'Falling Stars' from 2016. For many of his songs he has also been a backing vocalist.
A Million Voices - Polina Gagarina (Russia) - 2nd in 2015
What If - Dina Garipova (Russia) - 5th in 2013
Icebreaker - Agnete (Norway) - 13th in semi finals 2016
Falling Stars - Lidia Isac (Moldova) - 17th in semi finals 2016
Lise Cabble (Denmark)
The 61-year-old Danish former rock singer, has written three of Denmark's entries in the 2010s. She won the contest with 'Only Teardrops' in 2013 while the other two songs finished a credible 5th and 12th. Two other songs of Lise's finished 2nd (Starlight 2018) and 3rd (Tæt på mine drømme 2015) in Dansk Melodi Grand Prix. Her Eurovision songs have been:
Only Teardrops - Emmelie de Forest (Denmark) - 1st in 2013
New Tomorrow - A Friend in London (Denmark) - 5th in 2011
Love is Forever - Leonora (Denmark) - 12th in 2019
Charlie Mason (USA)
Charlie is an American lyricist based out of New York and is known for his part in the winning act of 2014, Conchita Wurst's 'Rise Like a Phoenix'. He has had five songs in the contest this decade with four of them qualifying for the final and three making the top 10. He was introduced to the contest by songwriter Kristian Lagerstrom who was part of the team that wrote 'This is My Life' from 2010.
Rise Like a Phoenix - Conchita Wurst (Austria) - 1st in 2014
L'amore è femmina - Nina Zilli (Italy) - 9th in 2012
Beauty Never Lies - Bojana Stamenov (Serbia) - 10th in 2015
Here for You - Maraaya (Slovenia) - 14th place in 2015
The Dream - Roko (Croatia) - 14th in semi finals 2019
Doron Medalie (Israel)
The 42-year-old from Israel has written the three most succesful entries from his nation this decade. Most notably he co-wrote the 2018 winning song 'Toy' performed by Netta. There is also an additional songwriter added now, Jack White of the White Stripes, following a copyright claim that the rhythm and harmony were similar to 'Seven Nation Army'. His addition was the agreed settlement. His full list of songs are:
Toy - Netta (Israel) - 1st in 2018
Golden Boy - Nadav Guedj (Israel) - 9th in 2015
Made of Stars - Hovi Star (Israel) - 14th in 2016
Philipp Kirkorov, Dimitris Kontopoulos, John Ballard, Ralph Charlie (Russia, Greece, UK)
Known collectively as the 'Dream Team' these four songwriters, lyricists and producers have been responsible for six Eurovision songs this decade. Although not all four of them have been involved in each song, for the majority they have worked together to finish in the top five three times and the top 10 five times. An impressive record! Kirkorov himself competed in the contest back in the 90s, John Ballard produced first three albums from Ace of Base and Dimitirs Kontopoulos is one of the most famous songwriters in his native Greece.
The 'Dream Team' songs at Eurovision this decade has been:
Hold Me - Farid Mammadov (Azerbaijan) - 2nd in 2013
You Are the Only One - Sergey Lazarev (Russia) - 3rd in 2016
Scream - Sergey Lazarev (Russia) - 3rd in 2017
Shine - Tomalchevy Sisters (Russia) - 7th in 2014
My Luck Day - DoReDos (Moldova) - 10th in 2018
This is Love - Demy (Greece) - 19th in 2017
Borislav Milanov (Bulgaria)
Borislav Milanov is a Bulgarian songwriter based in Vienna. He and his production company (collaborating with other songwriters Joacim Persson, who also worked on Chameleon this year, and Sebastian Arman) have been behind eight Eurovision songs in the 2010s. Although he has yet to win the contest he has had four top 10s including a 2nd, 3rd and 4th AND he met his wife Tamara at the contest when she represented Georgia in 2017. He also won the Marcel Bezençon composer award for 'Bones' in 2018.
Beautiful Mess - Kristian Kostov (Bulgaria) - 2nd in 2017
Nobody But You - Cesar Sampson (Austria) - 3rd in 2018
If Love Was a Crime - Poli Genova (Bulgaria) - 4th in 2016
Truth - Chingiz (Azerbaijan) - 8th in 2019
Bones - Equinox (Bulgaria) - 14th in 2018
In Too Deep - Tijana Bogićević (Serbia) - 11th in semi final 2017
Na Inat - Poli Genova (Bulgaria) - 12th in semi final 2011
Dance Alone - Jana Burčeska (North Macedonia) 15th in semi final 2017
Thomas G:Son
Last but by no means least.... Thomas G:Son. The 51-year-old from Sweden has been a songwriter since the late 90s and is well known for his association with Eurovision and the National Final contests. He has written around 90 songs for the National Finals with over half of them for his native Sweden.
In the contest itself he has had 14 entries with his sole win being the most popular Eurovision song of all time, Euphoria. He also won the Marcel Bezençon composer award for Euphoria. This decade his 10 entries have qualified nine times and he has had two other top 10s. His songs have been:
Euphoria - Loreen (Sweden) - 1st in 2012
In a Moment Like This - Chanée & N'evergreen (Denmark) - 4th in 2010
Quédate conmigo - Pastora Soler (Spain) - 10th in 2012
Warrior - Nina Sublatti (Georgia) - 11th in 2015
Waterfall - Sopho Gelovani & Nodiko Tatishvili (Georgia) - 15th in 2014
Midnight Gold - Nika Kocharov & Young Georgian Lolitaz (Georgia) - 20th in 2015
Amanecer - Edurne (Spain) - 21st in 2015
Alter Ego - Minus One (Cyprus) - 21st in 2016
Gravity - Hovig (Cyprus) - 21st in 2017
Taboo - Christabelle (Malta) - 13th in semi final 2018
That's the 10 songwriters with multiple songs and multiple good o r unique results we have chosen. Unfortunatley we could only choose 10 and many winners were not there like Luis Sobral, Julie Frost, Duncan Laurence, Stefan Orn plus Joy and Linnea Deb.
Also, a special mention to Canadian songwriter Laurell Baker who has written four Eurovision songs in the last two years (Stones, She Got Me, Bigger than Us, Sister), Serbian lyricist Marina Tucaković and Austrlaian Louis Schoorl who has had two Top 10 Eurovision songs (Tonight Again and Dance You Off).
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