ESCTODAY.com
May 17 2009
Results analysis: Numbers and statistics in the final
As always after the Eurovision Song Contest, we take a look at the
results from a statistical point of view. The analysis is split into
four parts and the first part is dedicated to the numbers and records
in the final. The winner
Norway won the Eurovision Song Contest for the third time following
victories in 1985 and 1995 and is therefore along with Israel one of
two countries that have won three times exactly. For the first time it
happened that the contest was won by a male soloist two years in a row
as Dima Bilan had brought the trophy to Russia in 2008. Alexander
Rybak got 387 points, which is a record number, and 16 times 12
points, ten times 10 points and ten times 8 points. The winning song
got points from all other countries, which has not happened since 1997
and the lowest mark were two points from Bulgaria. For the first time
since 2000, the winning country was leading throughout the whole
voting. Norway got an average of 9.4 points from every other country
which is almost a record but still behind the United Kingdom’s average
score of 9.6 points in 1976.
Best results
Azerbaijan has achieved its best result ever finishing third. However,
it was only the second time the country took part. More impressively,
Iceland managed to equal its best result, the second place of
1999. However, of course, Yohanna achieved the highest amount of
points for Iceland ever. France and the United Kingdom both achieved
their best results since 2002 and they also break a curse as no big
four country has been in the top ten since 2004 (curiously enough, in
2004 the other two big four countries Spain and Germany were in the
top ten). Having reached the final for the first time since the
introduction of the semi final stage, Estonia also managed to achieve
its best result by a mile since 2002. With a larger gap Denmark
achieved its best result since 2005.
Worst results
Having been saved by the jury in the first semi final, Finland
achieved its lowest placing in a Eurovision Song Contest final ever
finishing 25th and last. It is the first last place for Finland since
1996 and ninth last place overall. Armenia is the seocnd country that
achieved its worst place ever despite finishing tenth in during its
fourth participation. Albania achieved its lowest palcing in a final
ever and even in every Eurovision show including semi finals equalling
the 17th place of the 2007 semi final. Spain was near the bottom many
times in recent years but the second last place in this year’s final
is still the lowest placing since 1999, when Spain finished
last. Lithuania’s 23rd place is the lowest result in a Eurovision
final since 2002, but it has to be mentioned that the country was
eliminated during the semi finals various times. Ukraine has not been
in the top ten for the first time since 2005 and the same accounts for
Russia. However, Russia has also not been in the top three for the
first time in four years. Sweden achieved its worst result since 1992,
when Christer Björkman finished 22nd on homeground.
12 points
The following countries got 12 points tonight:
Norway – 16 times
Turkey – 6 times
Iceland – 3 times
Bosnia & Herzegovina – 3 times
Greece – 3 times
Estonia – twice
Moldova – twice
Armenia – once
Spain – once
United Kingdom – once
Croatia – once
Azerbaijan – once
Romania – once
Russia – once
14 of the 25 competing countries got at least one set of points. Behind
Norway, Turkey got the second highest amount of top marks despite
finishing fourth after Iceland and Azerbaijan, who only got three and
one set respectively. The lowest placed entry that got 12 points is
the Spanish one reaching 24th place. This is also a record as the
lowest placing ever for a country that got 12 points at least once
behind Germany in 2008, who finished equal 23rd despite getting 12
points from Bulgaria.
The running order
Songs later in the running order did not seem to have an advantage in
the final. Only four of the entries that reached the top ten were
performed in the second half of the show. Furthermore, the songs
performed second last and last finished last and second last
respectively.
Stay tuned for the upcoming parts of our results analysis. The parts are:
Numbers and statistics in the final
Numbers and statistics in the semi final
What if…?
Voting blocs, friendly neighbours & diasporas