Eurovision’s most-memorable nul points entries

Entry - Cry Baby by Jemini
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 2003

Britain has the proud distinction of being responsible for the most-recent nul point song in Eurovision history.

Our popularity in Europe was at a low due to the Iraq war, but it probably didn’t help that there was some remarkably off-key singing on this generic euro disco number.

Entry - Lass Ihn by Gunvor
Country: Switzerland
Year: 1998

1998 saw a huge Swiss miss for Gunvor Guggisberg, who had been one of the favourites before the contest.

A sex scandal in the run-up to the contest can’t have helped the song’s chances - and neither can being up against transgender pop sensation Dana International, who won this year with a landslide.

Entry - Antes Do Adeus by Celia Lawson
Country: Portugal
Year: 1997

Angolan-born Celia is a pretty good singer, but she stood no chance with this dull song.

It would not have been memorable at all, were it not for the bizarre inclusion of four sinister-looking male backing singers who looked like characters from The Matrix.

However the movie only came out two years later, which begs the question as to whether the costume designer was a Eurovision Song Contest buff?

[Related feature: Does anyone take Eurovision seriously?]

Entry - Lisa Mona Lisa by Wilfried
Country: Austria
Year: 1988

If you’re ever tempted to think that the ‘80s was all hip-and-happening fun with everybody wearing neon-coloured legwarmers then a quick search for Austria’s 1988 Eurovision entry will set you straight.

Hugh Dennis-lookalike Wilfried appeared very uncomfortable on stage for somebody with a lengthy and successful pop career in his native country. Perhaps it was that ill-fitting double-breasted suit.

To add insult to injury, Austria’s neighbour and rival Switzerland won this year with a young Celine Dion.

Entry - Mil Etter Mil by Jahn Teigen
Country: Norway
Year: 1978

So far our nul pointers have mostly been boring or just rubbish, but Jahn Teigen’s 1978 effort is probably the most awesome entry ever to draw a blank at Eurovision.

It’s got a great tune, catchy lyrics (we imagine, not speaking Norwegian) and a bold, brassy big-band sound. And Jahn is one hell of a natty dresser.

The Norwegian public displayed better taste than the Eurovision voters, keeping the record in their top ten for months.

[Related feature: Can the UK win the Eurovision Song Contest]

[Related feature: Eurovision party food ideas]

Entry - Dio Come Ti Amo by Domenico Modugno
Country: Italy
Year: 1966

Domenico Modugno had some pretty solid Eurovision pedigree, having come third in 1958 with Volare - which must be the most-successful song NOT to win the contest. It went on to sell 22 million copies worldwide!

However his more subdued 1966 effort – which translates as “God, How I Love You” – failed to win any love from the voters.

Entry - Muistojeni Laulu by Laila Halme
Country: Finland
Year: 1963

Finland’s 1963 entry has an utterly delightful melody which puts us in mind of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly driving an open-topped sports car in St Tropez, so how can it have ended up a nul pointer?

It might be something to do with the fact that Laila just sings “la la, la la” for an absurd length of time. Look it up, we bet you can’t watch it without laughing.

Entry - Ton Nom by Fud Leclerc
Country: Belgium
Year: 1962

Poor Fud Lecleric, a three-time Eurovision veteran, infamously became the first-ever act to go home empty handed in 1962.

His entry was pleasant enough, squint a bit and he could have been Dean Martin, but perhaps what seems suave and sophisticated now seemed old-fashioned and fusty in swinging 1962?

Other Eurovision songs that scored nul points...

1962: Llalame - Victor Balaguer (Spain)
1962: Nur In Der Weiner Luft - Eleonore Schwarz (Austria)
1962: Katinka – De Spelbrekers (Holland)
1963: Een Speeldos – Annie Palmen (Holland)
1963: Solhverv – Anita Thallaug (Norway)
1963: En Gang I Stockholm – Monica Zetterlund (Sweden)
1964: Mann Gewohnt Sich So Schnell An Das Schone – Nora Nova (Germany)
1964: Oracao – Antonio Calvario (Portugal)
1964: Zivot Je Sklopio Krug – Sabahudin Kurt (Yugoslavia)
1964: I Miel Pensieri – Anita Traversi (Switzerland)
1965: Que BUeno, Que Bueno – Conchita Bautista (Spain)
1965: Paradis, Wo BIst Du? – Ulla Wiesner (Germany)
1965: Als Heet Weer Lente Is – Lize Marke (Belgium)
1965: Aurinko Laskee Lanteen – Viktor Klimenko (Finland)
1966: Bien Plus Fort – Tereza (Monaco)
1966: Quel Coeur Vas-Tu Briser? – Geraldine (Switzerland)
1970: Je Suis Tombe Du Ciel – David A Winter (Luxembourg)
1981: Aldri I Livet - Finn Kalvik (Norway)
1982: Nuku Pommiln – Kojo (Finland)
1983: Opera – Cetin Alp (Turkey)
1983: Quien Maneja Mi Barca - Remedios Amaya (Spain)
1987: Sarkim Sevgi Ustune – Seyal Tanner (Turkey)
1989: Pad Sem Enginn Ser – Daniel (Iceland)
1991: Venedig Im Regen – Thomas Forstner (Austria)
1994: Lopisine Mylimaj – Ovidijus Vysniauskas (Lithuania)
1997: San Francisco – Tor Endresen (Norway)