Welcome to Tie Break!
This page is dedicated to the songs that got away, including those songs which tied for first place at the end of the voting or won earlier rounds. Over time, we will identify as many of these songs as possible.
Belarus 2007
Koldun - Angel mechty
This won the semi-final, as voted by the public, from which the winner plus two others selected by a jury were invited to perform in the final. Koldun changed his song in the final and was selected as the Belarussian representative, making it their first song ever to reach the ESC final, finishing 6th. Download the Original and Extended versions.
Lithuania 2007
Ruta ciogolevaite - If I ever make you cry
Won the first round of televoting, only to slip back to 2nd place in the super final. You can download the Pop and Rock versions.
Slovenia 2007
Eva Cerne - Cudei smehljaja
Won the first round with a slender minority but slipped back to second in the sing-off. Download it here.
Moldova 2006
Serj Cuzecoff - Made in Moldova
Alexa, Rodica Stegarescu, Serj Coston & Dana Marchitan - Sing your song
Geta Berlacu - Zii lauta
What a farce this second-ever Moldovan selection process was. Three songs tied for first place. Under the rules in place, the youngest jury member was required to select which of the three songs should go forward! He (or she) refused to do this, or so we are led to believe. Clearly, however, the Moldovan broadcasters were less than tickled with any of the songs as, logically, they would have chosen one from the three. Instead, another final was organised which, initially, the singers of these three songs refused to enter. Subsequently Serj Cuzencoff, who arguably had the strongest chance, relented, and finished as runner-up to Arsenium from O-Zone. Download Made in Moldova, Sing your song and a live version of Zii lauta
Poland 2006
Kasia Cerekwicka - Na kolana
And another which tied for first place, however, in this case, it was the favourite song of the televoters, Follow my heart performed by Ich Troje, which would go to Athens. Download Kasia's song here.
Portugal 2006
Vānia de Oliveira - Sei quem sou (Portugal)
And another that ended up as joint winner but it was the jury favourite, Coisas de nada performed by NonStop, which would go to Athens. Vania, however, would release this song as Portugal's official world cup song, so all was not completely lost! Download it here.
Serbia-Montenegro 2006
Flamingosi feat. Luis - Ludi letnji ples
Nothing like finishing on a high profile one! Winners of Beovizija and, like Jelena's song the previous year, hot favourite to walk the pre-selection, however, not a single vote for this song was cast by the 4 Montenegran judges, who made up over 40% of the entire vote. As it it, it finished in second place just 4 votes behind Moja ljubavi performed by No Name, who were runners-up, not winners, in the earlier qualifying Montenegran selection, which was won by Cipele performed by Stevan Faddy. The Beovizija winner was considered the moral winner, by many, of the pre-selection. Serbia and Montenegro were unable to agree which song should go and therefore decided to withdraw completely. Download it here.
Austria 2005
Alf Poier - Good old Europe is dying
Belarus 2005
Polina Smolova - Smile
Polina won the televote, however the Belarussian broadcasters put the top 3 songs and singers through a closed door stage and they opted for Angelica Agurbush performing Boys and girls, which later morphed into Love me tonight, a completely different song. Download Polina's somg here.
Finland 2005
Kentala - Deck of cards
Despite just scraping through from the semi-final round, Kentala won the jury vote in the final, which selected the 6 songs to go through to the public televoting round, in which he finished runner-up to Norwegian singer Geir Ronning with his ballad Why? Download his song here. He would return in 2007 finishing 9th in the Finnish final.
Slovenia 2005
Rebeka Dremelj - Pojdi z menoj
This former Miss Slovenia won the first televoting round in EMA 2005. Unfortunately, the top 3 went through to a revote and the positions were completely reversed and Omar Naber won with Stop! She also recorded an English version entitled Come fly with me. Download the Slovenian, English and Alpski mixes.
Serbia-Montenegro 2005
Jelena Tomaevic - Jutro
A Zeljko Joksimovic composition which won Beovizija 2005 and was expected to walk the final. However, it would appear that the judges from Montenegro avoided voting for this and it finished a distant second. Sounds familiar? Of course but nowhere near the controversy caused a year later. What amazes me though is that the self-same voting procedure was used the very next year!!! Download the song here. The Montenegran winners No Name went on to finish a creditable 7th place with Zauvijek moja.
Germany 2005
Nicole Süssmilch & Marco Matias - A miracle of love
It would seem that this piece of Siegel schlager won the first televoting round but the positions were reversed in a subsequent head to head with Gracia and her song Run and hide. Marco was a member of Six 4 One, who represented Switzerland in 2006. Download both the Single and Karaoke versions.
Bosnia Herzogovina 2005
Tinka Milinovic - Sometimes I wish I were a child again
A good old-fashioned dead heat occured in this final. Although Tinka was the favourite of the televoting public, it was Femminem who went to Kiev with Zovi, later given an English lyric, an Abba-esque video and re-titled Call me. Like Marco Mattias, who tried representing Germany (above), Tinka would appear a year later as one sixth of Six 4 One. Download her song here.
Finland 2004
Anna Stenlund - A little crazy
12 songs competed, having been selected by the public in 2 earlier semi-finals. Juries then selected 6 songs which were then re-performed for public voting, with Jari Sillanpaa just making it to the top 6 but, not surprisingly, coming out on top in the final round with Takes 2 to tango. Anna won the first round and finished as runner-up overall. Download her song here.
Latvia 2004
Johnny Salamander & Meldra - We share the sun
This narrowly won the first round of televoting to go through to a top 3 re-vote, however the top 2 positions were reversed in the final round and Fomins & Kleins ended up in Istanbul singing Dziesma par laimi, which finished 17th in the qualifying round. Download the song here.
Lithuania 2004
Ruta ciogolevaite - Over
Edmundas Kucinskas - Hey, hey golden ray
Bosnia-Herzogovina 2003
Igor Vukojevic - Srce ne pita
18 songs competed with an expert jury voting on them. The top 4 from the first round were then re-voted on. In the first round, only 2 votes separated the top 3 songs and Igor won, ahead of Mija Martina and her song Ne brini. She would go on to Riga, finishing in 16th place and Igor ultimately finished in 3rd place. Downlad it here.
Germany 2003
Die Gerd Show - Alles wird gut
14 songs competed with the top 3 going through to a re-vote. This song was the favourite to win but was relegated to 3rd place in the final, allowing Lou and her enigmatic grin and Ralph Siegel gay anthem Let's get happy to progress to Riga. Download the early version here.
United Kingdom 2002
Zee Asha - Never in a million years
Reputedly won the radio semi-final broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The song was disqualified before the televised final was held due to the song having received a release in Hungary of all places. You can download the Song For Europe, Extended, Boy George, Eddie Fingers, Hedway Vocal and Quintessential mixes.
Greece 2001
Kae Connors - One more time
This won the expert vote whilst Antique won the televoting with (I would) die for you. This resulted in a tie and Antique were declared winners as a result of winning the televote. God forbid that this one should have gone to Copenhagen! Download it here.
Romania 2000
Valahia - Why?
Mihai Traistariu should have made his eurovision debut 6 years earlier than he actually did, as part of this duo. Due to an error, Romanian TV allowed televoting to go on three times longer than it should have and, as a result, Taxi overtook Valhalia and emerged as winners and would finish in 17th place in Stockholm with Moon. Download a remix here.
United Kingdom 1998
The Collective - When we're alone we dream
Strongly rumoured to have won the radio semi-final, only to finish in last place in the televised final. Imaani would go on to snatch the UK's last runner-up place we have obtained on home turf in Birmingham with Where are you? Download The Collective's song here.
Estonia 1996
Kadri Hunt - Me rõõm ei kao
It's difficult to understand how this song tied for first place in the 1996 Estonian final with Kaelakee hääl performed by Maarja-Liis Ilus & Ivo Linna but then that song was re-arranged out of recognition by the time it hit Oslo. You can download Kadri's song here.
Ireland 1995
Naoimh Penston - Always you
This finished a few votes behind Eddie Friel and his song Dreamin'. Allegations of plaguerism followed and Naiomh was therefore on standby to represent Ireland on home turf but it was not to be. Many feel that this song would have stood a better chance in the contest. Is there a studio/demo version knocking around? You can download the live version here.
Ireland 1991
Jane Hennessy - Dream come true
Two songs tied for first place at the end of the 1991 Irish final but it was Kim Jackson that won the re-vote with her song Could it be that I'm in love, which finished in joint 10th place with Samantha Janus in Rome. Is there a studio version? You can download the live version here.
Yugoslavia 1991
Danijel Popovic - Ma daj obuci levisice
This Croatian song finished just one vote behind the Bebi Doll song Brazil. Of course this was at a time when tensions between each of the regions was particularly high as, just a year later, the country would start to divide. The Serbian winner seemed to receive maximum points from the Serbia-friendly juries, whilst they either gave low marks, or none at all, to Danijel, who represented them back in 1983. No doubt this action was reciprocated. A case of deja vu 15 years later at the Serbia-Montenegro selection perhaps? Danijel was 4th for Yugoslavia in 1983 and you can download his 1991 attempt here.
Israel 1990
Rita - Song unknown
No Kdam in 1990 as Rita was pre-selected to go to Zagreb but I do remember hearing that there was an internal selection in which two songs tied for first place and the chairman of the jury decided to send Shara Barechovot. Can anyone validate this at all, or, better still, know what the song was, and even better still, share a copy?
Greece 1988
Aggeliki Bazigou - Hic
This was rumoured to have won the Greek selection in 1988 but some of the "experts" were reluctant to send a song about hic-cups to Dublin. Afrodyte Fryda was therefore sent in her place with the song Klown, finishing in 17th place in Dublin. Is there a studio version of Hic? You can download the live version here.
Turkey 1988
Denk - Onikiden
And a similar situation happened two years later with the jury chairman preferring the MFO song Sufi, which would go on to finish 15th in Dublin and be their second eurovision entry. Download it here.
Turkey 1986
Seyyal Taner - Dünya
There were just four songs in the 1986 Turkish final. 16 jury members each had to vote for their favourite and they cast 8 each to this and the Klips ve Onlar song Halley. In the event of the tie, the head of the jury's vote was counted as 2 and Seyyal would have to wait one more year before going to the eurovision final, only to end up last with nil points! Download the single and the extended versions of the song.
Spain 1981
Rosa Maria Lobo - Dame tu amor
This did not tie in the internal Spanish selection of that year but it was prepared as a standby entry following allegations of plaguarism in relation to Y solo tu performed by Baccheli. These claims were however not substantiated and she therefore stayed at home. Download her song here.
Norway 1980
Åge Aleksandersen & Sambandet - Bjųrnen sover
Finished joint first in the final but lost 5-4 after a revote. Download the song here.
United Kingdom 1980
Maggie Moone - Happy everything
Probably the better-known singer in the selection that year, at the end of the night she was level with Prima Donna and their song Love enough for two. Each regional jury was then asked to select one of the songs to go to The Hague and Maggie lost on countback. In an irrelevant eurovision twist, she would later alternate as the regular cabaret act on the quiz show, Name That Tune, with Ireland's 1981 representatives, Sheeba. Download Maggie Moone's song here.
Belgium 1979
Micha Marah - Comment ēa va?
Now what on earth went on here? The Belgian selection was a complex affair in 1979. Micha sang all the songs over 5 rounds with a song being eliminated from each round with Micha given the opportunity to reinstate one song in a later round. All the first four rounds were won by this song with Hey na na finishing runner-up on each occasion, as voted by the Belgian public. In the final though, the two songs reversed position, much to Micha's utter disgust and thanks to an "expert" jury, and she was saddled with the wrong song when she went to Jerusalem. She famously refused to record the winning song! I'll bet there were more than a few people on that jury who are not on her Christmas card list! Download her song here.
Denmark 1979
Grethe Ingmann & Bjarne Liller - Alt er skųnt
Oh my! What a lucky escape we had here! Fortunately, this one lost on a re-vote to Tommy Seeback and his Disco Tango. Grethe, of course, actually gave Denmark its first win back in 1963. Download their song here.
Greece 1978
Anna Vissi - Kyrios Nobel
A complicated one, this one! The internal selection jury voted this and Na Kseris S'Agapo performed by Robert Williams joint winners but decided on Robert's song on countback. However, ERT were not happy with either song as neither of the composers were Greek-born see No No Never. A further final was therefore commissioned and this was won by Charlie Chaplin performed by Tania Tsanaclidou, which was not entered in the original selection. Download Anna's song here.
Israel 1978
Hedva Amrani & Pilpel Lavan - Belev echad
Yes, that's right! The clear winner of the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest only managed to go to Paris after a recount! Mind you, I think this song would also have won that year but judge for yourself as you can download it here. Of course, the song that did go was Izhar Cohen & the Alpha-Beta with A-ba-ni-bi.
Sweden 1978
Lasse Holm, Kikki Danielsson & Wizex - Miss Decibel
How on earth did Bjorn Skifs and the mind-numbing Det blir alltid värre framåt natten go to Paris instead of the King and Queen of Swedish Schlager. What a travesty! Of course, Kikki was but a shadow of her current, even recently slimmed down, self back then. Download the song here.
Turkey 1975
Cici Kizlar - Delisin
Nothing like making your eurovision debut with a bit of controversy, is there? The girls of tied for first place with Cici KizlarSemiha Yanki and her song Seninle bir dakika. And the way they then selected the winner? By drawing a lucky envelope! Ah well, Semiha went on to poll just 3 points in Stockers finishing in last place. My theory is that the girls would probably have got 3 votes less! Judge for yourself here.
Yugoslavia 1975
Neka Ukraden - Srce u srcu
Allegedly, this song is thought to have tied for first spot with Pepel & Kri, also known as Ashes & Blood, with the song Dan ljubezni but lost on a re-vote. Can anybody throw further light on this? Download the song here.
Germany 1972
Cindy & Bert - Geh die Strasse
12 songs competed in the 1972 German final and it was decided to have two rounds of voting with the top four going through to a second round. The first round was narrowly won by Cindy & Bert, who were just one vote ahead of Mary Roos, however, this was reversed in the next round and it was Mary who opened the Edinburgh contest with Nur die Liebe laesst uns Leben, finishing in 3rd place. Cindy & Bert would go to Brighton two years later with Die Sommermelodie, finishing in joint last place, however, this was a much stronger song. See for yourself here.
Sweden 1969
Jan Malmsjö - Hej clown
Finished equal first in the voting, this song written by Benny and Bjorn, later of Abba fame, lost 54-45 on countback. You can download the song here. Interestingly, Frida also competed in this contest, finishing in 4th place.
France 1966
Mireille Mathieu - C'est ton nom
An internal selection chose the French entry in 1966. Rumour has it that the selection committee found it difficult to choose between this and Dominique Walter's song Chez nous, which went to the final in Luxembourg, giving France an unusually poor placing. It appears to have emerged that Dominique was the son of Michele Arnaud, who was part of the selection process and sang Luxembourg's two inaugural entries in 1956. Mireille went on to become one of France's best-loved female singers. In another twist, another of the songs, Quel couer vas-tu briser performed by Geraldine was entered in the Swiss final the following year, won and then scored nil points in Vienna. Equally, Michele Torr went on to represent Luxembourg in the same year after her 3 songs were overlooked in the selection. C'est ton nom was Mireille's first ever release. Download it here.
Yugoslavia 1964
Marjana Derzaj - Zlati April
At the end of the Yugoslav final of 1964, there was a tie between this song and Zivot je sklopio krug performed by Sabahudin Kurt with the latter declared as the winner as it polled more top marks. Sabahudin would go on to score the dreaded nil points in Copenhagen though. Would this song have improved Yugoslavia's chances that year? Who knows? Does anybody have a live or studio rip of the song?
Belarus 2007 Koldun - Angel mechty
This won the semi-final, as voted by the public, from which the winner plus two others selected by a jury were invited to perform in the final. Koldun changed his song in the final and was selected as the Belarussian representative, making it their first song ever to reach the ESC final, finishing 6th. Download the Original and Extended versions.
Lithuania 2007Ruta ciogolevaite - If I ever make you cry
Won the first round of televoting, only to slip back to 2nd place in the super final. You can download the Pop and Rock versions.
Slovenia 2007Eva Cerne - Cudei smehljaja
Won the first round with a slender minority but slipped back to second in the sing-off. Download it here.
Moldova 2006Serj Cuzecoff - Made in Moldova
Alexa, Rodica Stegarescu, Serj Coston & Dana Marchitan - Sing your song
Geta Berlacu - Zii lauta
What a farce this second-ever Moldovan selection process was. Three songs tied for first place. Under the rules in place, the youngest jury member was required to select which of the three songs should go forward! He (or she) refused to do this, or so we are led to believe. Clearly, however, the Moldovan broadcasters were less than tickled with any of the songs as, logically, they would have chosen one from the three. Instead, another final was organised which, initially, the singers of these three songs refused to enter. Subsequently Serj Cuzencoff, who arguably had the strongest chance, relented, and finished as runner-up to Arsenium from O-Zone. Download Made in Moldova, Sing your song and a live version of Zii lauta
Poland 2006Kasia Cerekwicka - Na kolana
And another which tied for first place, however, in this case, it was the favourite song of the televoters, Follow my heart performed by Ich Troje, which would go to Athens. Download Kasia's song here.
Portugal 2006Vānia de Oliveira - Sei quem sou (Portugal)
And another that ended up as joint winner but it was the jury favourite, Coisas de nada performed by NonStop, which would go to Athens. Vania, however, would release this song as Portugal's official world cup song, so all was not completely lost! Download it here.
Serbia-Montenegro 2006Flamingosi feat. Luis - Ludi letnji ples
Nothing like finishing on a high profile one! Winners of Beovizija and, like Jelena's song the previous year, hot favourite to walk the pre-selection, however, not a single vote for this song was cast by the 4 Montenegran judges, who made up over 40% of the entire vote. As it it, it finished in second place just 4 votes behind Moja ljubavi performed by No Name, who were runners-up, not winners, in the earlier qualifying Montenegran selection, which was won by Cipele performed by Stevan Faddy. The Beovizija winner was considered the moral winner, by many, of the pre-selection. Serbia and Montenegro were unable to agree which song should go and therefore decided to withdraw completely. Download it here.
Austria 2005Alf Poier - Good old Europe is dying
Won about 3 times as many votes as any other song but had to contend with second place due to the regionalisation of votes. Alf represented Austria in 2003, finishing in 6th place.
Belarus 2005Polina Smolova - Smile
Polina won the televote, however the Belarussian broadcasters put the top 3 songs and singers through a closed door stage and they opted for Angelica Agurbush performing Boys and girls, which later morphed into Love me tonight, a completely different song. Download Polina's somg here.
Finland 2005Kentala - Deck of cards
Despite just scraping through from the semi-final round, Kentala won the jury vote in the final, which selected the 6 songs to go through to the public televoting round, in which he finished runner-up to Norwegian singer Geir Ronning with his ballad Why? Download his song here. He would return in 2007 finishing 9th in the Finnish final.
Slovenia 2005Rebeka Dremelj - Pojdi z menoj
This former Miss Slovenia won the first televoting round in EMA 2005. Unfortunately, the top 3 went through to a revote and the positions were completely reversed and Omar Naber won with Stop! She also recorded an English version entitled Come fly with me. Download the Slovenian, English and Alpski mixes.
Serbia-Montenegro 2005Jelena Tomaevic - Jutro
A Zeljko Joksimovic composition which won Beovizija 2005 and was expected to walk the final. However, it would appear that the judges from Montenegro avoided voting for this and it finished a distant second. Sounds familiar? Of course but nowhere near the controversy caused a year later. What amazes me though is that the self-same voting procedure was used the very next year!!! Download the song here. The Montenegran winners No Name went on to finish a creditable 7th place with Zauvijek moja.
Germany 2005Nicole Süssmilch & Marco Matias - A miracle of love
It would seem that this piece of Siegel schlager won the first televoting round but the positions were reversed in a subsequent head to head with Gracia and her song Run and hide. Marco was a member of Six 4 One, who represented Switzerland in 2006. Download both the Single and Karaoke versions.
Bosnia Herzogovina 2005Tinka Milinovic - Sometimes I wish I were a child again
A good old-fashioned dead heat occured in this final. Although Tinka was the favourite of the televoting public, it was Femminem who went to Kiev with Zovi, later given an English lyric, an Abba-esque video and re-titled Call me. Like Marco Mattias, who tried representing Germany (above), Tinka would appear a year later as one sixth of Six 4 One. Download her song here.
Finland 2004Anna Stenlund - A little crazy
12 songs competed, having been selected by the public in 2 earlier semi-finals. Juries then selected 6 songs which were then re-performed for public voting, with Jari Sillanpaa just making it to the top 6 but, not surprisingly, coming out on top in the final round with Takes 2 to tango. Anna won the first round and finished as runner-up overall. Download her song here.
Latvia 2004Johnny Salamander & Meldra - We share the sun
This narrowly won the first round of televoting to go through to a top 3 re-vote, however the top 2 positions were reversed in the final round and Fomins & Kleins ended up in Istanbul singing Dziesma par laimi, which finished 17th in the qualifying round. Download the song here.
Lithuania 2004Ruta ciogolevaite - Over
Edmundas Kucinskas - Hey, hey golden ray
At
the end of the voting, not only did the public favourite not win
(Amberlife finished in 4th place) but 3 songs were joint first. In the
end Linas & Simona would go to Turkey with What's happened to your love?, which finished 16th in the qualifying round. Download Over and Hey, hey golden ray.
Serbia-Montenegro 2004
Negativ - Zbunjena
This won Beovizija 2004. The arrangement then was for the top 4 songs to go through to a final won, of course, by Zeljko Joksimovic and his song Lane moje, which went on to win the qualifying round and finish runner-up in the final. Negativ were 4th in the Serbia-Montenegro final. Download it here.
Serbia-Montenegro 2004Negativ - Zbunjena
This won Beovizija 2004. The arrangement then was for the top 4 songs to go through to a final won, of course, by Zeljko Joksimovic and his song Lane moje, which went on to win the qualifying round and finish runner-up in the final. Negativ were 4th in the Serbia-Montenegro final. Download it here.
Bosnia-Herzogovina 2003Igor Vukojevic - Srce ne pita
18 songs competed with an expert jury voting on them. The top 4 from the first round were then re-voted on. In the first round, only 2 votes separated the top 3 songs and Igor won, ahead of Mija Martina and her song Ne brini. She would go on to Riga, finishing in 16th place and Igor ultimately finished in 3rd place. Downlad it here.
Germany 2003Die Gerd Show - Alles wird gut
14 songs competed with the top 3 going through to a re-vote. This song was the favourite to win but was relegated to 3rd place in the final, allowing Lou and her enigmatic grin and Ralph Siegel gay anthem Let's get happy to progress to Riga. Download the early version here.
United Kingdom 2002Zee Asha - Never in a million years
Reputedly won the radio semi-final broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The song was disqualified before the televised final was held due to the song having received a release in Hungary of all places. You can download the Song For Europe, Extended, Boy George, Eddie Fingers, Hedway Vocal and Quintessential mixes.
Greece 2001Kae Connors - One more time
This won the expert vote whilst Antique won the televoting with (I would) die for you. This resulted in a tie and Antique were declared winners as a result of winning the televote. God forbid that this one should have gone to Copenhagen! Download it here.
Romania 2000Valahia - Why?
Mihai Traistariu should have made his eurovision debut 6 years earlier than he actually did, as part of this duo. Due to an error, Romanian TV allowed televoting to go on three times longer than it should have and, as a result, Taxi overtook Valhalia and emerged as winners and would finish in 17th place in Stockholm with Moon. Download a remix here.
United Kingdom 1998The Collective - When we're alone we dream
Strongly rumoured to have won the radio semi-final, only to finish in last place in the televised final. Imaani would go on to snatch the UK's last runner-up place we have obtained on home turf in Birmingham with Where are you? Download The Collective's song here.
Estonia 1996Kadri Hunt - Me rõõm ei kao
It's difficult to understand how this song tied for first place in the 1996 Estonian final with Kaelakee hääl performed by Maarja-Liis Ilus & Ivo Linna but then that song was re-arranged out of recognition by the time it hit Oslo. You can download Kadri's song here.
Ireland 1995Naoimh Penston - Always you
This finished a few votes behind Eddie Friel and his song Dreamin'. Allegations of plaguerism followed and Naiomh was therefore on standby to represent Ireland on home turf but it was not to be. Many feel that this song would have stood a better chance in the contest. Is there a studio/demo version knocking around? You can download the live version here.
Ireland 1991Jane Hennessy - Dream come true
Two songs tied for first place at the end of the 1991 Irish final but it was Kim Jackson that won the re-vote with her song Could it be that I'm in love, which finished in joint 10th place with Samantha Janus in Rome. Is there a studio version? You can download the live version here.
Yugoslavia 1991Danijel Popovic - Ma daj obuci levisice
This Croatian song finished just one vote behind the Bebi Doll song Brazil. Of course this was at a time when tensions between each of the regions was particularly high as, just a year later, the country would start to divide. The Serbian winner seemed to receive maximum points from the Serbia-friendly juries, whilst they either gave low marks, or none at all, to Danijel, who represented them back in 1983. No doubt this action was reciprocated. A case of deja vu 15 years later at the Serbia-Montenegro selection perhaps? Danijel was 4th for Yugoslavia in 1983 and you can download his 1991 attempt here.
Israel 1990Rita - Song unknown
No Kdam in 1990 as Rita was pre-selected to go to Zagreb but I do remember hearing that there was an internal selection in which two songs tied for first place and the chairman of the jury decided to send Shara Barechovot. Can anyone validate this at all, or, better still, know what the song was, and even better still, share a copy?
Greece 1988Aggeliki Bazigou - Hic
This was rumoured to have won the Greek selection in 1988 but some of the "experts" were reluctant to send a song about hic-cups to Dublin. Afrodyte Fryda was therefore sent in her place with the song Klown, finishing in 17th place in Dublin. Is there a studio version of Hic? You can download the live version here.
Turkey 1988Denk - Onikiden
And a similar situation happened two years later with the jury chairman preferring the MFO song Sufi, which would go on to finish 15th in Dublin and be their second eurovision entry. Download it here.
Turkey 1986Seyyal Taner - Dünya
There were just four songs in the 1986 Turkish final. 16 jury members each had to vote for their favourite and they cast 8 each to this and the Klips ve Onlar song Halley. In the event of the tie, the head of the jury's vote was counted as 2 and Seyyal would have to wait one more year before going to the eurovision final, only to end up last with nil points! Download the single and the extended versions of the song.
Spain 1981Rosa Maria Lobo - Dame tu amor
This did not tie in the internal Spanish selection of that year but it was prepared as a standby entry following allegations of plaguarism in relation to Y solo tu performed by Baccheli. These claims were however not substantiated and she therefore stayed at home. Download her song here.
Norway 1980Åge Aleksandersen & Sambandet - Bjųrnen sover
Finished joint first in the final but lost 5-4 after a revote. Download the song here.
United Kingdom 1980 Maggie Moone - Happy everything
Belgium 1979Micha Marah - Comment ēa va?
Now what on earth went on here? The Belgian selection was a complex affair in 1979. Micha sang all the songs over 5 rounds with a song being eliminated from each round with Micha given the opportunity to reinstate one song in a later round. All the first four rounds were won by this song with Hey na na finishing runner-up on each occasion, as voted by the Belgian public. In the final though, the two songs reversed position, much to Micha's utter disgust and thanks to an "expert" jury, and she was saddled with the wrong song when she went to Jerusalem. She famously refused to record the winning song! I'll bet there were more than a few people on that jury who are not on her Christmas card list! Download her song here.
Denmark 1979Grethe Ingmann & Bjarne Liller - Alt er skųnt
Oh my! What a lucky escape we had here! Fortunately, this one lost on a re-vote to Tommy Seeback and his Disco Tango. Grethe, of course, actually gave Denmark its first win back in 1963. Download their song here.
Greece 1978Anna Vissi - Kyrios Nobel
A complicated one, this one! The internal selection jury voted this and Na Kseris S'Agapo performed by Robert Williams joint winners but decided on Robert's song on countback. However, ERT were not happy with either song as neither of the composers were Greek-born see No No Never. A further final was therefore commissioned and this was won by Charlie Chaplin performed by Tania Tsanaclidou, which was not entered in the original selection. Download Anna's song here.
Israel 1978Hedva Amrani & Pilpel Lavan - Belev echad
Yes, that's right! The clear winner of the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest only managed to go to Paris after a recount! Mind you, I think this song would also have won that year but judge for yourself as you can download it here. Of course, the song that did go was Izhar Cohen & the Alpha-Beta with A-ba-ni-bi.
Sweden 1978Lasse Holm, Kikki Danielsson & Wizex - Miss Decibel
How on earth did Bjorn Skifs and the mind-numbing Det blir alltid värre framåt natten go to Paris instead of the King and Queen of Swedish Schlager. What a travesty! Of course, Kikki was but a shadow of her current, even recently slimmed down, self back then. Download the song here.
Turkey 1975Cici Kizlar - Delisin
Nothing like making your eurovision debut with a bit of controversy, is there? The girls of tied for first place with Cici KizlarSemiha Yanki and her song Seninle bir dakika. And the way they then selected the winner? By drawing a lucky envelope! Ah well, Semiha went on to poll just 3 points in Stockers finishing in last place. My theory is that the girls would probably have got 3 votes less! Judge for yourself here.
Yugoslavia 1975Neka Ukraden - Srce u srcu
Allegedly, this song is thought to have tied for first spot with Pepel & Kri, also known as Ashes & Blood, with the song Dan ljubezni but lost on a re-vote. Can anybody throw further light on this? Download the song here.
Germany 1972Cindy & Bert - Geh die Strasse
12 songs competed in the 1972 German final and it was decided to have two rounds of voting with the top four going through to a second round. The first round was narrowly won by Cindy & Bert, who were just one vote ahead of Mary Roos, however, this was reversed in the next round and it was Mary who opened the Edinburgh contest with Nur die Liebe laesst uns Leben, finishing in 3rd place. Cindy & Bert would go to Brighton two years later with Die Sommermelodie, finishing in joint last place, however, this was a much stronger song. See for yourself here.
Sweden 1969Jan Malmsjö - Hej clown
Finished equal first in the voting, this song written by Benny and Bjorn, later of Abba fame, lost 54-45 on countback. You can download the song here. Interestingly, Frida also competed in this contest, finishing in 4th place.
France 1966Mireille Mathieu - C'est ton nom
An internal selection chose the French entry in 1966. Rumour has it that the selection committee found it difficult to choose between this and Dominique Walter's song Chez nous, which went to the final in Luxembourg, giving France an unusually poor placing. It appears to have emerged that Dominique was the son of Michele Arnaud, who was part of the selection process and sang Luxembourg's two inaugural entries in 1956. Mireille went on to become one of France's best-loved female singers. In another twist, another of the songs, Quel couer vas-tu briser performed by Geraldine was entered in the Swiss final the following year, won and then scored nil points in Vienna. Equally, Michele Torr went on to represent Luxembourg in the same year after her 3 songs were overlooked in the selection. C'est ton nom was Mireille's first ever release. Download it here.
Yugoslavia 1964Marjana Derzaj - Zlati April
At the end of the Yugoslav final of 1964, there was a tie between this song and Zivot je sklopio krug performed by Sabahudin Kurt with the latter declared as the winner as it polled more top marks. Sabahudin would go on to score the dreaded nil points in Copenhagen though. Would this song have improved Yugoslavia's chances that year? Who knows? Does anybody have a live or studio rip of the song?