We watched (well, kind of) the Eurovision Song Contest 1964.
Okay, fine, we listened to it. Nobody is watching it in 2024 or beyond, and the only people who did see it watched it live 60 years ago.
This contest is one of only two, with the other being 1956, in which there is no recording available to the public today. In fact, it’s not available to private audiences, either, because it is believed that the Danish participating broadcaster did not record the show on tape. Even if they did, it was forever lost.
A number of still images of this contest exist, including photos (some in color) of all of the 16 participating acts. There are also a few short clips of the winning song, Italy, and its singer, Gigliola CInquetti. Other than that, if you want to do what we did and evaluate this contest, be prepared to listen and not watch.
Now that all that’s out of the way, we give to you our rankings for the 1964 contest.
Eurovision Song Contest 1964 Ratings Video
Once again, 16 countries participated for a chance to win the trophy, pendant, medal, or whatever it is they gave away at this point in Eurovision history. The Euro Yard Deserve-O-Meter also makes its second appearance here after debuting in 1963. If a song didn’t deserve its fate, whether in a favorable or unfavorable direction, we will let you know.
Basic Info: Eurovision Song Contest 1964
- As noted, Italy won the contest for the first time. Out of the “Eurovision Original Seven” countries from the first contest, Italy was the fifth to get a victory. Belgium and Germany would not win for the first time until the 1980s.
- Held in Denmark, winner in 1963, this was the first time that a Nordic country hosted Eurovision.
- Though we could not watch video, photos indicate that the stage elements were a big downgrade from the 1963 contest, which used props, set design, and camera angles as part of the performances. 1964’s stage was more traditional and in-line with other past contests.
- Gigliola Cinquetti was 16 years old when she won this contest. As of 2024, she is its second-youngest winner ever.
- Portugal made its Eurovision debut in 1964.
Next Up: 1965
An iconic, contest-changing song is due up in the 1965 contest. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel when that rankings video drops.
