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The Top Ten Fan Favourite Failures at Eurovision Written by on April 13, 2011 | 11 Comments

Following on from Fan Favourites vs Reality,  which are the songs that really capture this strange ying and yang between the fans of the contest, and the millions of TV viewers that tune in on the night?

You gave us some suggestions on Monday, but now it’s time to mix them in with the huge debates we’re having in the Insight Studios and make up our list of the some of the more famous examples of fan-wank which have fallen at the final hurdle.

Tha ‘Ne  Erotas, by Marlain (Cyprus 1999)

It topped all the fan polls in the run-up to the contest and was seen as a real challenger for the Eurovision crown. It came 22nd with 2 points, both of which came from the United Kingdom.

One Life, by Xandeee (Belgium 2004)

Another song which was seen as a possible winner before the 2004 contest. It came 23rd with 7 points, pushing Belgium back into the semi-finals until Tom Dice popped up in 2010.

Je t’adore, by Kate Ryan (Belgium 2006)

The standard bearer of the Fan Favourite, Belgium’s Kate Ryan was high up in the betting odds to take the crown in 2006 and yet failed to qualify. It came 12th in the semi final with 69 points. I don;t think her supporters have ever forgiven the voting public.

Love me Tonight, by Angelica Agurbas (Belarus 2005)

Angelica and Belarus threw everything at this – along with the kitchen sink it was rumoured that over a million Euros was spent promoting this. Shame they didn’t have a singer who could sing though! During rehearsals some bloggers tipped this as a winner. It finished 13th with 67 points.

Era Stupendo, by Paolo Meneguzzi (Switzerland 2008)

Fans seemed to love Paolo and his song (topping the ESC Today “12 to go” poll as the likely winner!) but the voters in Eurovision didn’t agree. The song failed to escape its semi final, finishing 13th with 47 points.

Vertigo, by Olivia Lewis (Malta 2007)

Olivia Lewis tried to represent Malta and failed. Eleven times. She finally won through in 2007 and failed again,finishing 25th in the semi final with 15 points and handing Malta their first failure to make the Grand Final since returning to the Contest in 1991. Perhaps with a bit more work on the song rather than the show might have helped.

Vampires Are Alive, by DJ Bobo (Switzerland 2007)

Another ‘casualty’ of 2007 was the theatrial DJ Bobo. Switzerland was riding high with the bookies in 2007 but as they often do, the voters of Europe had other ideas. Final result? 20th in the semi final with 40 points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UgvWYwvPnc

Sata Salamaa, by Vicky Rosti (Finland 1987)

This song has become a cult classic amongst Eurovision fans however the juries ignored it on the night. Final total? A miserly 32 points and 15th in the final table.

Elakoon Elama, by Sonja Lumme (Finland 1985)

Another song from Finland which the Eurovision fans seem to adore and yet the jurors in 1985 overlooked. It came 9th with 58 points. However for Finland at that time this was actually quite a good result!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a25UuszhKHE

Hero, by Charlotte Perrelli (Sweden 2008)

There wasn’t a bad word to say about Charlotte Perrelli’s return to Eurovision from the fans, and even Terry Wogan said that Sweden was a likely winner. And then the lights came up, the fans started singing, and the viewers at home laughed out loud at the… courageous styling.


Only ten? Well, the Top Ten, in our opinion. You’ve all got access to YouTube, and the comments, so knock yourself and champion your own favourite once more!

About The Author: Ewan Spence

British Academy (BAFTA) nominated broadcaster and writer Ewan Spence is the voice behind The Unofficial Eurovision Song Contest Podcast and one of the driving forces behind ESC Insight. Having had an online presence since 1994, he is a noted commentator around the intersection of the media, internet, technology, mobility and how it affects us all. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, his work has appeared on the BBC, The Stage, STV, and The Times. You can follow Ewan on Twitter (@ewan) and Facebook (facebook.com/ewanspence).

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Have Your Say

11 responses to “The Top Ten Fan Favourite Failures at Eurovision”

  1. Karie says:

    I was shocked when Era Stupendo didn’t make it through the semis. Gorgeous song, great performance .. what made it sink? Him singing in Italian? It being Switzerland?

    And I think Kate Ryan was expected to do well because she is a Big Name in a certain genre.

  2. BBAnne says:

    I think worthy additions to this list are “Poor Anna Bergendahl” (I think that’s her full name now) from last year, and possibly the epic failure of France in 2008 to come any higher than 19th with a song that went on to become the backbone of many a car advert on TV

  3. Seán says:

    What about the great fail of Israel this year. I was blue in the face listening to how great it was. I was delighted when it didn’t do well as it was just so plain and was stuck in First gear.

    This year I reackon Hungary will fail to qualify (Nice enough song but thats it. UK and France are pretty dodge as well. Amaury is relying on jury votes and if the past has taught us nothing is never rely on jury votes. UK are just to Boring Boyband to standout on Eurovision even with legions of fans

  4. Hans Wollstein says:

    One of my all time favorite entries, period: Annet Artani “Why Angels Cry,” Cyprus 2006.

  5. Matthias B. says:

    I remember that in 2003 we thought that “Hello from Mars” could do well in Eurovision – not necessarily winning the thing, but at least being in the Top5… :))

  6. Chad says:

    PMSL at Angelica Agurbash! or is it Agurbush? I can’t remember… anyway… just awful rolling on the floor trying not to wet myself

  7. Olivia Lewis is an ICON!!! And her “Vertigo” performance is clearly the seminal Eurovision performance EVER!!!

  8. Sander says:

    Why didn’t this website chose Selma’s 2005 entry? And what about all the entries of Andorra. Harel Skaat last year, and of course Edsillia Rombley and Evridiki in 2007.

  9. Ohi says:

    So many! Anna Bergendahl comes straight to mind but also Selma – If I had your love Esdilia Rombly, Glennis Grace. To be honest though what a great article because everyone remembers that one that they thought was a hit but just fizzled. Vertigo for me was a welcome failure though I just have to add

  10. Malcolm Birdsall says:

    Any of the UK entries over the past twenty.years, apart from Jade Ewens. All had many more fans in the UK than they deserved, but nowhere else. This year will be no exception.

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