A brief return to the old scoring system of 10 jurors each giving 1 point to their favourite entry produced one of the contest's hugest winners, not in terms of points scored or the margin of victory but by the sheer magnitude of what the winning artists went on to achieve. Having tried unsuccessfully to represent their country in 1973 (and changing their name as well) Abba took Eurovision to a new level (which was never really achieved again). After 3 years where the winner was a French chanson (albeit for Monaco and Luxembourg) which showed the contest was still dated it was a bold move by the Swedes to chose a modern song. Gigliola Cinquetti returned again 10 years after her victory to claim 2nd place. 1974 also saw the first of 18 entries written by Eurovision's most prolific composer, Ralph Siegel, he wrote the Luxembourg entry. Greece entered the contest for the first time. France withdrew from the contest a couple of days before it due to the death of President Pompidou. The Portuguese entry was used as an anthem for an uprising in Portugal that would ultimately overthrow the government.
RESULTS
1.(8 ) 24 points - Sweden - Waterloo - Abba
2.(17) 18 points - Italy - Si - Gigliola Cinquetti
3.(12) 15 points - Netherlands - I See A Star - Mouth & MacNeal
4.(2) 14 points - United Kingdom - Long Live Love - Olivia Newton-John
(9) 14 points - Luxembourg - Bye, Bye I Love You - Ireen Sheer
(10) 14 points - Monaco - Celui qui reste et celui qui s'en va - Romuald
7.(6) 11 points - Israel - Natati la khaiai - Poogy
(13) 11 points - Ireland - Cross My Heart - Tina Reynolds
9.(3) 10 points - Spain - Canta y se feliz - Peret
(11) 10 points - Belgium - Fleur de liberté - Jacques Hustin
11.(5) 07 points - Greece - Krassi thalassa ke t'agori mou - Marinella
12.(7) 06 points - Yugoslavia - Generacija 42 - Korni
13.(1) 04 points - Finland - Keep Me Warm - Carita
14.(4) 03 points - Norway - The First Day Of Love - Anne Karine Strøm
(14) 03 points - Germany - Die Sommermelodie - Cindy & Bert
(15) 03 points - Switzerland - Mein Ruf nach dir - Piera Martell
(16) 03 points - Portugal - E depois do adeus - Paulo de Calvalho