It’s the phrase you don’t need to finish to understand the meaning. So here’s seven suckers for punishment who’ve tried more than once to wear the Eurovision crown.
Sakis Rouvas (Greece): Two attempts
Sakis Rouvas Source: Eurovision.tv
Oh, and did we mention he’s also a pole vaulter? Show off!
Sakis Rouvas in 2009 Source: Getty Images
Dana International (Israel): Four attempts
Dana International Source: Eurovision.tv
1998’s victory came and went, much like her career. Then she returned as a writer in 2008 with ‘Fire in your Eyes’ that finished 9th. But in 2011 she returned singing her own song ‘Ding Dong’. It was a shocker. The Hebrew-English hybrid failed to make it to the finals.
ABBA (Sweden): Three attempts…technically
ABBA Source: Eurovision.tv
In 1973 ABBA entered with “Ring Ring”, but weren’t selected. They returned in 1974 and the rest, as they say is in....their 380 million records sales!
So ABBA went for a second win, offering to write a song – and Norway jumped at the chance in 1981.
Finn Kalvik performed the bouncy number ‘Never in my Life’, and never in their life did Norway expect this song to be the musical version of the Titanic.
It convincingly took out last place with zero points. Surprisingly ABBA never again took a chance on this dancing queen again!
Valentina Monetta (and San Marino in general): Three attempts
Valentina Monetta Source: Eurovision.tv
Enter Valentina Monetta. In 2012 she broke the rules and nearly got disqualified with a song about Facebook. Nevertheless, they didn’t qualify for the final.
Valentina came back in 2013 and, I’m not sure if you’re seeing a pattern here, again they didn’t qualify. So with a shattered reputation, and fast becoming the next ‘Portugal’ at the contest, San Marino entered Valentina for a 3rd time in 2014.
She wrote the song “Maybe” herself, and this time… cue drumroll…. San Marino qualified for their first ever Grand Final! Copenhagen partied with them at this historic time that saw them eventually finish second last.
Sir Cliff Richard (United Kingdom): Two attempts
Cliff Richard Source: Eurovision.tv
Sir Cliff’sfirst attempt was in 1968. He was the crowd favourite with the kitsch classic ‘Congratulations!’, and still he somehow lost to Spain! He came back in 1973 and finished third.
Eduard Romanyuta (Ukraine/Moldova): FIVE attempts
Eduard Romanyuta Source: Eurovision.tv
Eduard auditioned for the Ukrainian national selections four times and didn’t get through. So in 2015, when the Ukraine had withdrawn from the competition, he went to neighbouring Moldova and was selected!
Bonnie Tyler (United Kingdom): Two attempts
Bonnie Tyler Source: Eurovision.tv
The famous ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ crooner was a surprise choice to represent the UK in 2013. But that wasn’t her first knock on the door. Well, sort of. She was asked by the UK to represent in 1985, at the height of her success, but she said no.
