They may not have won Eurovision, but the third place finishers since 2008 remain highly popular among eurofans. Why else would y’all cast 4,536 votes in our poll to determine your favourite bronze medalist? In 2008, Greece’s Kalomira belly danced her way to your heart with the catchy ‘Secret Combination’. Duets from Azerbaijan and Romania took third place in 2009 and 2010. In 2011, Sweden’s Eric Saade seduced y’all with striking choreography. And in 2012, Zeljko Joksimovic brought a smooth ballad to Baku. Although each of these performances had their fair share of supporters, it was the three most recent songs which proved most popular in our poll…
Reacting to the results
Sweden’s Sanna Nielsen earned 12.19% of the vote. Unfortunately she couldn’t ‘Undo’ her near-miss from Copenhagen, and once again finishes third.
In second place it’s Italy’s Il Volo. As y’all will recall, they won the televote at Eurovision, but the less enthusiastic jury pulled them down to third overall, eliciting plenty of chatter about the relevance of juries.
And that leaves one lucky lady on top. Yes, Ukraine’s fabulous Zlata Ognevich of ‘Gravity’ fame takes the gold!
What a voice. What a song. What a performance. Whilst some may dismiss this as calculated, disneyfied and uninspired pop, they misunderstand its understated brilliance. Its lyrical simplicity and organic progression work so well with its central image of the butterfly, whose well-documented life cycle represents our own lives on a shorter timescale. Genius. And not only did Zlata sing ‘Gravity’- she defied it. That stunning entrance when she gracefully hovered over the platform (aided by a very tall man) was perfection. We salute you, Zlata.
Result: Which act is your favourite third place entry?
- 2013- Zlata Ognevich- “Gravity”: 1,315 votes (28.97%)
- 2015- Il Volo- “Grande Amore”: 1,135 votes (25.01%)
- 2014- Sanna Nielsen- “Undo”: 554 votes (12.21%)
- 2010- Paula Seling and Ovi- “Playing with Fire”: 381 votes (8.39%)
- 2008- Kalomira- “Secret Combination”: 325 votes (7.16%)
- 2011- Eric Saade- “Popular”: 292 votes (6.43%)
- 2009- Aysel and Arash- “Always”: 285 votes (6.15%)
- 2012- Željko Joksimovic- “Nije Ljubav Stvar”: 252 votes (5.55%)
Total Votes: 4,539
Well for once Il D… ops Il Volo did not win a fan-driven poll which means that not everyone has been so emotionally traumatized by their 3rd placing this year and some mature brains are still functioning properly … There is still hope for Eurovision. And for once … I agree … Zlata’s “Gravity” is actually so far the only time ever an Ukrainian entry has ever received my utmost praise and love. Extraordinary singer and extraordinary song not screaming desperately screaming “vote for me because I’m Ukraine” as their previous entries has because of Ruslana’s win in 2004 for… Read more »
I think Ukraine should have won in 2013. Emmelie had a very professional and polished performance, but Zlata was the one radiating magic that night. Greetings from Serbia
Well I really liked Zlata 🙂 I did wish she would win. 2012 is probably my 2nd place, I find Azerbaijan, and Greece overrated. Kthanxbai.
UNDO IS THE WINNER
love from Portugal
The strange thing for me that I found with this poll was how few third-placers I actually like. Sanna Nielsen was awesome, as were Paula & Ovi, and Zlata and Željko were okay, I guess, but other than that, I’m not particularly fond of the set of 2nd-runner-ups.
Zlata was one of my favourites back in 2013, she or Margaret should’ve won instead of Emmelie de whatever her name is… and also, I’m still wondering how Azerbaijan could finish in second place… they’re always so so so overrated!
Dar is spot-on, boring Disney ballad that only finished as high as it did because it was Ukraine’s entry… 2013’s top 3 should have been Denmark, Norway and Italy, in any order…
Kalomira was robbed. That song is more than a song, it’s a whole frickin’ performance. She KILLED it
I loved Ukraine’s entry in 2013 (Even though I am repeatedly growing tiresome of their eurovision formula) but I loved Denmark that year too so it didnt bother me so much, amazed how Azerbaijan got second that year though, apart from the guy being hot, the song and performance was just so dull. If Ukraine had have finished second it would have been a great Top 2. Greece’s 2008 entry Kalomira was very catchy, I had her tipped to win, but looking back now, it was obvious that Russia needed to win. Azerbaijan’s entry in 2009 was by far, one… Read more »
@ Peyton your opinions are perfect (but Denmark still deserved to win)
Popular is too low. Eric Saade was amazing, the song should’ve won the ESC 2011, not Azerbaijan..
Unpopular opinion: Il Volo is the worst 3rd place.
Plus my favourite 3rd placing is actually Turkey 1997.
Every odd year the 3rd placer sounds like a robbed winner. OMG, Zlata broke my heart like Il Volo this year by getting robbed. Also Eric Saade had a better song than those dull puppets from Azerbaijan, but I think Azerbaijan would have deserved much more in 2009. (Fairytale was such a circus act, but a Western victory was “necessary” back then after a streak of Eastern wins).
Funny how Zlata was the least slutty Ukranian act of all times.
tacky rubbish .. sounds like a mid 90s disney reject song .. 2013 looks like a weak year now compared to 2014 and 2015
And the winer is…Princesa Disney
I LOVE Zlata, I still get mad every time I remember Denmark and Azerbaijan beat such a masterpiece…
And I have to disagree with everyone else, I’ve never seen the appeal in either one of Zeljko’s songs, even though I loved his composition in Adio this year
This is completely the wrong order! It should read from bottom to top. Zeljko’s is one of the best Eurovision songs ever!
I listent to Gravity at 0:27 i expected the JESC 2014 Ukrainian song lol…
I’m surprised by Eric Saade he was was amazing in every way but I can’t believe that kalomira got so high for her song
yeah, i’m surprised by zeljko’s placing too. 🙁
Poor Zeljko. He was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G 🙁