EUROVISION'S TOP 40 RUNNERS-UP. This post: #35-31. Continues tomorrow.

Caffé Latté presents:

#2

EUROVISION’S

GREATEST

RUNNERS-UP

Each year, the Eurovision Song Contest pits nations against each other, vying for a victory. Since 1956, the ESC has thrown up several unforgettable winning entries, but what about the songs that came close but finished in second place? Caffé Latté ranks 40 of the past 62 runners-up that still deserve special recognition.

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35 /

MADNESS OF LOVE

RAPHAEL GUALAZZI

ITALY / 2011

After a boycott lasting more than 10 years, Italy returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011. The country was welcomed back as one of the "Big 5" nations which pre-qualify for the Grand Final. "Madness Of Love" was a jazz/ pop song that was warmly embraced by the judges and televoters.

34 /

A MILLION VOICES

POLINA GAGARINA

RUSSIA / 2015

As voting results were being announced, Sweden, Italy and Russia were close to achieving victory. In the end, the former triumphed with "Heroes". Russia's participation at Eurovision has been divisive with entries such as "A Million Voices" attracting boos from the audience. Polina Gagarina's song was a sweeping ballad that proved popular. It accumulated the highest score in Semi-Final 1 (Sweden did the same in the 2nd Semi).

 

33 /

MYSTERIOUS WOMAN

MARC ROBERTS

IRELAND / 1997

The most recent time Ireland hosted Eurovision was in 1997, following its record-breaking 7th win the previous year. Marc Roberts performed the Irish entry which finished second and almost resulted in an eighth Irish victory. Katrina & The Waves proved too popular though, giving the win to the UK with "Love Shine A Light".

 

32 /

IS IT TRUE?

YOHANNA

ICELAND / 2009

Eurovision was won convincingly by Norwegian entry "Fairytale" by Alexander Rybak and his violin. His record-breaking score of 387 points prevented Iceland from finally achieving its first victory. Yohanna's sweet ballad finished runner-up with 218 points.

 

31 /

SANOMI

URBAN TRAD

BELGIUM / 2003

Only 2 points separated the winning Turkish entry "Every Way That I Can" from "Sanomi". Belgium's entry was sung in an imaginary language.