The Eurovision Song Contest is well known for its outrageous costumes and outlandish songs. Writing songs in a language other than the native tongue is a challenge, however as this list shows, we鈥檝e got a bit of a chequered history in the UK when it comes to song writing. Whilst some songs might get lost in translation, they can provide for some amusing lyrics. This is an affectionate retrospective of some of the bizarre lyrics and songs from over the years.
20) Belarus 2014 鈥� Cheesecake
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Kicking off with this year鈥檚 entry from Belarus, singer Teo sings 鈥淚 look over all the maps trying to escape 鈥榗ause I鈥檓 tired of your sweet cheesecake鈥�. Perhaps try a different dessert then?
19) Ireland 2000 鈥� Millennium Of Love
Despite singer Eamonn Toal鈥檚 sickly lyrics, Ireland finished 6th in 2000. 鈥淐elebrate the new millennium of love, where our footprints leave a harvest for the children鈥�.
18) Austria 1997 鈥� One Step
Poor Bettina Soriat didn鈥檛 far too well for Austria in 1997, getting just 12 points in total. The translation goes: 鈥淟ove is no bounced cheque, bad man. Oh鈥� sex with you passes by as fast as the spaceship Enterprise鈥�.
17) UK 1991 鈥� A Message To Your Heart
Samantha Janus finished 10th in Rome with her message to our hearts. Unfortunately Europe wasn鈥檛 listening. 鈥淗alf the world is hungry just through being born and every day is a compromise for a grain of corn鈥�.
16) Sweden 2011 鈥� Popular
Sweden finished 3rd in 2011 proving that you don鈥檛 always need inspired lyrics to succeed. It seems that bland was indeed popular. 鈥淪top, don鈥檛 say that it鈥檚 impossible, because I know it鈥檚 possible鈥�.
15) Germany 1998 鈥� 鈥淕uildo hat euch lieb鈥�.
Guildo鈥檚 Germany brought the house down in Birmingham in 1998, clambering all over the stage, jumping into the crowd singing 鈥淕uildo loves you, so even if there are tears, he鈥檒l come over and sing songs for you, Guildo loves you鈥�.
14) Ukraine 2014 鈥� Tick Tock
Ukraine鈥檚 entry this year will be watched with great interest given the wider political context this year and despite the rather dubious line. 鈥淲e belong to each other like a sister and a brother鈥�.
13) Israel 1987 - Shir habatlanim
The Israeli Minister for Culture threatened to resign in 1987 after this entry was selected for Eurovision. The song went to Eurovision and perhaps typically, the politician didn鈥檛 follow through on his promise. The translation: 鈥淭he birds come down to the plants of the balcony and sing with my the bums鈥� song. Hupe hule hule hule鈥︹��
12) Denmark 1997- 鈥淪temmen I mit liv鈥�
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Denmark鈥檚 entry in Dublin was about a man who fell in love with the woman from directory enquiries. As you do. 鈥淲hy am I alone? I feel so strange. I overshoot the mark every time I鈥檓 taking aim鈥�.
11) Spain 1968 鈥� 鈥淟a La La鈥�
Spain beat the UK鈥檚 Cliff Richard by a single point in 1968 with the lyrics 鈥淟a lalala lalala lalala鈥� La lalala lalala la鈥�. What a liberty!
10) Luxembourg 1965 鈥� 鈥淧oup茅e de cire, poup茅e de son鈥�
Serge Gainsbourg caused quite the stir with this winning song performed by France Gall. 鈥淎round me, I hear the rag dolls laughing, those who dance to my songs. Wax doll, sawdust doll鈥�.
9) Estonia 2008 鈥� 鈥淟eto Svet鈥�.
In 2008 Estonia opted for a bit of a joke entry, a joke which Europe didn鈥檛 quite get. Singing in Serbian, Finnish and German, 鈥淭wo double drum cake, bean pods, that鈥檚 enough, that鈥檚 enough. Summer light, it鈥檚 summer light鈥�. 翱办补测鈥�
8) Ukraine 2007 鈥� 鈥淒ancing Lascha Tumbai鈥�.
Ukraine鈥檚 Verka Serduchka finished second in 2007 with one of the more memorable entries from recent times. 鈥淟ascha tumbai鈥� does not actually mean anything, although in the song it sounded suspiciously like 鈥淩ussia goodbye鈥�. 鈥淚 want to see, I love you, I want to see 鈥� lascha tumbai鈥�.
7) Austria 1977 鈥� 鈥淏oom Boom Boomerang鈥�
Austria鈥檚 鈥淏oom Boom Boomerang鈥� is most remembered for the interesting way it was staged although the lyrics are pretty special too. 鈥淏oom boom boomerang, snadderydang, kangaroo, boogaloo, didgeridoo鈥�.
6) UK 2007 鈥� 鈥淔lying the flag鈥�.
Scooch flew the flag for the UK in 2007, injecting some innuendo into the contest and bringing us the infamous line 鈥渨ould you like something to suck on for landing?鈥�
5) Ireland 2008 鈥� 鈥淚relande Douze Points鈥�
Ireland sent Dustin the Turkey to Eurovision in 2008. The song failed to qualify but did provide some smiles along the way. 鈥淒rag acts and bad acts and Terry Wogan鈥檚 wig, mad acts and sad acts, it was Johnny Logan鈥檚 gig鈥�.
4) San Marino 2012 鈥� 鈥淭he Social Network Song鈥�.
This year will be the third consecutive time that Valentina Monetta has represented San Marino in Eurovision. Her debut in Baku was about social networking, it didn鈥檛 reach the final but it鈥檚 saucy lyrics did raise a few eyebrows. 鈥淒o you wanna be more than just a friend? Do you wanna play cybersex again? If you wanna come to my house, click me with your mouse鈥�.
3) Finland 1982
Finland鈥檚 entry in 1982 was a protest against nuclear weapons. It was rewarded with a big zero from the juries. 鈥淚f someone soon throws some nuclear poo here on our Europe, what will you say when we get all the filth on our faces鈥�.
2) Austria 2012 鈥� 鈥淲oki mit deim Popo鈥�.
Despite being a family show, Eurovision songs can sometimes be a little risqu茅 as Austria showed in Baku in 2012. 鈥淵our bum has feelings, your bum is a part of you, don鈥檛 put it on chairs, your bum has an opinion鈥�.
1) Sweden 1973 鈥� 鈥淵ou are Summer鈥�
Sweden has exported fantastic pop songs over the years and Eurovision fans hold the country鈥檚 Eurovision songs in high regard. However this little ditty isn鈥檛 one of those songs! 鈥淚 am blue and I long for your caress. Oh鈥� your breasts are like swallows a-nestling鈥�. What does that even mean?
Eurovision is home to diverse musical styles and song topics, it鈥檚 part of the charm. Do you have a guilty pleasure? Which is your weird and wonde