Duncan Laurence’s ‘Arcade’ Is First Eurovision Song Contest Winner to Hit Hot 100 in 45 Years
Nearly two years after winning the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence's "Arcade" debuts on the United States-based Billboard Hot 100, becoming the contest's first…
Nearly two years afterwinning the 2019Eurovision Song Contest, Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence’s “Arcade” crosses the Atlantic for a debut on the United States-basedBillboard Hot 100.
Notably, the song is the contest’s first champion to chart on the Hot 100 since “Save Your Kisses for Me” by England’s Brotherhood of Man in 1976.
Only one other Eurovision Song Contest winner has hit the Hot 100: the pop classic “Waterloo” by Sweden’s ABBA in 1974.
Beyond winning songs, “Arcade” is the competition’s first entry at all to appear on the Hot 100 in 24 years, since “Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit” by the U.K.’s Gina G in 1997.
“Arcade” arrives at the anchor spot on the Hot 100 (dated April 17) with 5.1 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 25%), 4.9 million streams (up 6%) and 1,400 downloads sold (up 136%) in the U.S. in the latest tracking week, according to MRC Data.
The Eurovision Song Contest began in 1956, two years before the Hot 100’s 1958 inception, and entries from the tournament span the chart’s entire history, with contenders peaking from No. 1 to (so far) No. 100.
Here’s a look at all the Eurovision Song Contest entries performed by their original artists that have hit the Hot 100, listed by their peak ranks:
“Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare),” Domenico Modugno, No. 1 (five weeks), 1958
“Waterloo,” ABBA, No. 6, 1974
“Eres Tu (Touch the Wind),” Mocedades, No. 9, 1974
“Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit,” Gina G, No. 12, 1997
“Save Your Kisses for Me,” Brotherhood of Man, No. 27, 1976
“Beg, Steal or Borrow,” New Seekers, No. 81, 1972
“Say Wonderful Things,” Ronnie Carroll, No. 91, 1963
“Knock, Knock (Who’s There),” Mary Hopkin, No. 92, 1972
“Piove (Ciao, Ciao Bambino),” Domenico Modugno, No. 97, 1959
“Congratulations,” Cliff Richard, No. 99, 1968
“Arcade,” Duncan Laurence, No. 100 (to-date), 2021
(Additionally, a cover of a Eurovision Song Contest entrant has topped the Hot 100: Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra’s “Love Is Blue [L’Amour Est Bleu],” for five weeks in 1968. Luxembourg’s Vicky Leandros competed with the original version in 1967.)
While originals from the Eurovision Song Contest have been rare on the Hot 100, the competition’s U.S. chart fortunes have grown in recent years (despite thecancelation of the 2020 edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Laurence’s debut follows Will Ferrell and My Marianne’s “Husavik,” whichreached No. 16 on Digital Song Sales last July. The ballad is from the filmEurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, starring Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, and isnominated for best original song at the 93rd Academy Awards, set for April 25.
Plus, Netta’s “Toy,” which won the Eurovision Song Contest for Israel in 2018, hit No. 1 on Dance Club Songs that August.
“Arcade,” which Laurence co-wrote, became the first Eurovision Song Contest champion for the Netherlands since 1975. In 2019, it topped multiple worldwide charts, including in Laurence’s home country. Now being promoted to U.S. radio by Capitol Records, it places at No. 14 onAdult Contemporary, No. 18 onAdult Pop Airplay and No. 38 onPop Airplay.
The song also ascends to the top 40, at No. 40, on the latestBillboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 16.9 million streams (up 3%) and 1,1000 sold (up 14%) in territories outside the U.S.
Following the country’s 2019 victory thanks to “Arcade,” the Netherlands isset to host the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for May 18-22 in Rotterdam.
Additional research by Fred Bronson
More From Pro
