Thousands of acts enter Eurovision national selection contests every year, but only one act per country can advance. There are plenty of gems amid the non-qualifying acts. And since 1987 OGAE International – the global Eurovision fan club — has organised a contest to find the best among them. Last year saw Italy take home the title with NEK‘s “Fatti avanti amore”, so this year we are bound for the Mediterranean to see the OGAE Second Chance Contest 2016.

These 23 songs were selected by their country’s respective OGAE club. Whilst most of the songs selected did finish as the runner-up in their national finals, this is not a prerequisite and some clubs have opted for another song from their contest.

All OGAE clubs have voted and submitted their points, which will be revealed at some point this summer. Before the official results are announced, we thought we would see who our readers want to win. Which of the following 23 entries should take home the title for the OGAE Second Chance Contest 2016? After listening to the songs, you can vote in our poll below. Please note that you can only vote once, but you can vote for as many songs as you like – so please choose wisely. Be sure to put a tick next to each act you want to support before pressing submit. Also note that we have done our best to find clips from the national finals, but some of them are geo-blocked so they’ve been replaced with audio, a lyric video or the official video.

OGAE SECOND CHANCE CONTEST 2016 – PARTICIPANTS

Albania: Besa Krasniqi – “Liroje zemrën”

Austria: Elly V – “I’ll Be Around (Bounce)”

Belarus: NAPOLI – “My Universe”

Belgium: Tom Frantzis – “I’m Not Lost”

Denmark: Anja Nissen – “Never Alone”

Estonia: Laura – “Supersonic”

Finland: Mikael Saari – “On It Goes”

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

Germany: Avantasia – “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose”

Hungary: Kállay Saunders Band – “Who We Are”

Israel: Ella Daniel – “Somebody Out There”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5XBAtrU8oE

Italy: Patty Pravo – “Cieli Immensi”

Latvia: MyRadiantU – “We Will Be Stars”

Lithuania: Erica Jennings – “Leading Me Home”

Malta: Brooke – “Golden”

Norway: The Hungry Hearts ft. Lisa Dillan – “Laika”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_mQRdXcH78

Poland: Margaret – “Cool Me Down”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTCI-qS4q34

Romania: Florena – “Behind The Shadows”

Slovenia: Raiven – “Crno bel”

Spain: María Isabel – “La vida solo es una”

Sweden: Wiktoria – “Save Me”

Switzerland: Vincent Gross – “Half a Smile”

Ukraine: The Hardkiss – “Helpless”

United Kingdom: Bianca – “Shine a Little Light”

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Josh
Josh
7 years ago

I’m thinking Anja Nissen for Australia in ESC 2017.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

Here are my top 10:

9.48 Finland
9.48 Ukraine
9.46 United Kingdom
9.42 Switzerland
9.42 Hungary
9.40 Sweden
9.36 Lithuania
9.36 Germany
9.36 Belgium
9.34 Malta

Colin
Colin
7 years ago

1. Finland – Mikael Saari: On it Goes
2. Poland – Margaret: Cool Me Down
3. Sweden – Wiktoria: Save Me
4. Malta – Brooke: Golden

All would be deserving winners for their respective countries.

#Mello
#Mello
7 years ago

Why Sweden didn’t choose Oscar Zia?
They would’ve won.

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
7 years ago

Crno Bel and Helpless <333

Napaw
Napaw
7 years ago

Margaret’s song is the best, there’s basically no doubt about that. The other songs are no competition in my opinion.

ConfusedSheep
ConfusedSheep
7 years ago

I believe that the winner should be able to sing. Margaret didn’t even make a good show, she looked as if she had no idea what to do on stage.
In my opinion, Sweden or Hungary should win, but I also like a few other songs like the ones from Belgium, Israel or Finland.

saschee
saschee
7 years ago

1. Spain
2. Norway
3. Albania
4. Ukraine
5. Hungary

I’d have loved Ella Endlich for Germany 😀

Omar - Mexico
Omar - Mexico
7 years ago

I was expecting Saara Aalto for Finland, my favorite is The Hardkiss!
I don’t like them more than Jamala, but def they’re my favs among the OGAE second chance contestants.

karminowe.usta
karminowe.usta
7 years ago

My top 3:
1. Ukraine
2. Hungary
3. Germany

Also I voted for Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Romania, United Kingdom, Sweden and Malta.

Glorious
Glorious
7 years ago

@Imk

Definitely. Simone would have been a great choice too.

@Thales

“Sing It Away”*.

lmk
lmk
7 years ago

Gosh, If they’ve sent this Denmark song instead of that Soldiers of Love, they’d have definitely been a qualifier and even done well in the final.

Thales
Thales
7 years ago

Margaret can’t sing.
I voted for Finland, Germany, Ukraine, Norway and Sweden.
Except for Sweden (even Save Me being a great song), they all should represent their countries. Specially Finland. How could they send that Sing Me Away instead Mikael’s masterpiece? C’mon…

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

1. Sweden
2. Poland (great song, but no show)
3. Norway (guilty pleasure)
4. UK
5. Germany

I think Poland would’ve slayed with a massive stage performace in Stockholm. If Color of your life came 3rd in televoting, Margaret would’ve easily came 2nd.

Pastora Soler haha!
Pastora Soler haha!
7 years ago

Maria isabel and performance with the awful audio of our dear TVE channel is not fair for her 🙁

Pastora Soler haha!
Pastora Soler haha!
7 years ago

Vincent Gross should have represented Switzerland!

Half a smile ^^

Héctor
Héctor
7 years ago

There are some great songs here, it has been a good eurovision season! In my opinion, the OGAEs could have made better choices: Oscar for Sweden, Laila, for Norway, Aslajdon Zaimaj (“Merrme qe sot”) for Albania or Saara Aalto for Finland. I like almost all the songs here, more or less, but since I don’t want to for too many countries I’ve voted for Belgium, Hungary, Israel, Romania, Slovenia and Ukraine. A special mention also to Switzerland, Albania, Latvia and Estonia. Anyway I think the contest is going to be won by either Poland or Norway. More probably Poland, the… Read more »

Glorious
Glorious
7 years ago

@oooops

I couldn’t agree more!

ct_greece
ct_greece
7 years ago

I voted for the Hungry Hearts and Patty Pravo.

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

Am I the only one who thinks “Who we are” is more like a soundtrack in a kids movie than an Eurovision song?

Calum Macleod
Calum Macleod
7 years ago

I would have preferred Ace or Oscar for Sweden.

Zebb
Zebb
7 years ago

Just for my taste with edm influence picked: austrian Elly V – “I’ll Be Around (Bounce)”, slovenian Raiven – “Crno bel” (liked more music than singing) and hungarian Kállay Saunders Band – “Who We Are” (which is still quite elusive for me). Szpak still way better than Margaret. Would love to pick a lot from Eesti Laul (it has won my heart for a few weeks) but never a ‘Supersonic’. Also it’s really good song from Hardkiss but I’d love to see something less dramatic from them, Jamala slayed way better. Nice outfits in Avantasia videos though 🙂

Glorious
Glorious
7 years ago

@OR

OK 🙂

OR
OR
7 years ago

@Glorious
I have no idea
i didn’t check because she is not interesting for my opinion 🙂

Glorious
Glorious
7 years ago

@OR

Margaret’s live performances of “Cool Me Down” have no sound here in Greece, this is the only video that has. Does the same happen in Israel?

Glorious
Glorious
7 years ago

@OR

Her voice needs improvement but in my opinion, her song is awesome! So catchy!

OR
OR
7 years ago

@Robyn Gallagher
Sorry i’m not remember because i’m not following Poland national selection..
I also not know that singer, this is the first time that i hear about her…..

OR
OR
7 years ago

@Glorious
Its your opinion… i dont like her voice, and she is nothing special………………

OR
OR
7 years ago

@Robyn Gallagher
I guess so 🙂 but i Personally think that Ella is much more special artist , in fact “Somebody Out There”.. Was my first choice for representing Israel at the Eurovision…
Yes i agree with u…. polish fans in control here 🙂
They have a enormous army ….
Thanks for your answer and keep writing great article’s:)

Glorious
Glorious
7 years ago

@OR

What Robyn told you is true, I am not Polish and I voted for her.

Amir
Amir
7 years ago

My favorites are Anja ,Wiktoria and Margaret <3 <3 😀

OR
OR
7 years ago

WOWW i guess the majority of wiwi readers are polish.. they control the votes big Time.. they are not objective at all.. that Margaret dont have a voice…
Ella Daniel is much more special then Margaret.. but no one votes for Israel.. Ashamed on you people!!

Iberian
Iberian
7 years ago

Poland’s Margaret obviously.

oooops
oooops
7 years ago

I voted for:
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Poland
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
UK
But there are 3 I like especially. Finland, Germany and Hungary

Bapak
Bapak
7 years ago

Germany ofc!
and Finland too

Aaran
Aaran
7 years ago

There should really be Laila for Norway and Oscar for Sweden. Otherwise I voted for Poland, Denmark and Austria.

Azaad
Azaad
7 years ago

how the hell did norway not send afterglow? do they not want to win?

Hugh
Hugh
7 years ago

Finland, Norway, Poland, Germany, Denmark from this list. But a few countries could’ve had much better choices 😛

youraveragebum
youraveragebum
7 years ago

How are they going to leave out Sweet Brains from Belarus this year! SWEET BRAINS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN IN THE BELORUSSIAN SELECTION! If anyone is wondering what Im talking about here is a link to the YouTube video of their audition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL9BtMYKvxQ

miguel
miguel
7 years ago

Why Laila Samuels from Norway is not here instead of Laika??????

Nenad
Nenad
7 years ago

Where is Serbia? Listen to Luke Black – Demons. He was shortlisted for the Eurovision Song Contest, but Sanja is selected.

CR
CR
7 years ago

Hungary by a mile for me – song not presentation.
Ukraine, Romania, Poland the other good ones.

Craig
Craig
7 years ago

I can only imagine “hosting” the contest the following year is more trouble than it’s worth for OGAE clubs, which is why so many countries have sent dreadful entries.

Gav
Gav
7 years ago

If love to give ‘cool me down’ my vote but the presentation was SO SO bad both vocally and staged I can’t. It still remains a firm favourite to listen to but EuroVISION it is very poor in my opinion.

Laika I think is a bit of a gem and clever it should be terrible but it’s brilliant from lyrics to the performance.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
7 years ago

Hungary and Poland.
Would have been Denmark if they had picked Simone.

Ben Rafter
Ben Rafter
7 years ago

Cool me down obvs. Colour of your boring came 8th, so cool me down easily won imo!

MrBrightside
MrBrightside
7 years ago

An awful choices. I’d like to see Oscar Zia from Sweden, Mick Pedaja from Estonia and also Sunsay from Ukraine.

_Peyton22
_Peyton22
7 years ago

I voted for Albania, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Denmark, Romania, Belgium, Austria, Malta, and Estonia.

Glorious
Glorious
7 years ago

OMG, bartosz is right, I hadn’t realized that Iceland is not taking part! Why? Why-y-y-y?

bartosz
bartosz
7 years ago

Oh I forgot about Laila Samuels from Norway. Her song was much better than “Laika”