Christmas came early this week when Sweden’s SVT unveiled the 28 acts who will compete for Melodifestivalen 2017 glory. And what a list of names, old Christer Claus Björkman was very good to us this year.
We had three-time MTV EMA winners The Fooo Conspiracy, UMK winner Krista Siegfrids, Sweden’s Got Talent winner Jon Henrik Fjällgren, and Swedish Idol winner Lisa Ajax. But from this list of champions, two names shone brightest — Charlotte Perrelli and Loreen, the winners of Eurovision 1999 and 2012 respectively.
Rather than walk off into the glittering horizon, both ladies are back for another shot at Eurovision glory. And they’re by no means the first to do so — Charlotte herself has already returned to Melfest twice since her 1999 win.
In honour of their return, we’ve decided to round up all the other previous Eurovision winners who attempted a song contest comeback via Melodifestivalen.
You can watch the attempts from all five of them — Elisabeth Andreassen, Carola Häggkvist, Katrina Leskanich, Charlotte Perrelli and Helena Paparizou — below. Then vote in our poll below. You can vote for as many comebacks as you like, but you can only vote ONE time. Be sure to check the box next to every comeback you want to support before submitting your votes.
Note: We’re only including Eurovision winners that have made competitive comebacks at Melodifestivalen after they won Eurovision.
Elisabeth Andreassen:
Eurovision win: As part of Bobbysocks, “La det swinge” for Norway at Eurovision 1985.
Melodifestivalen comeback #1: 7th in Melfest 1990 final with “Jag ser en stjärna falla”.
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Melodifestivalen comeback #2: As part of Kikki, Bettan & Lotta, 3rd in Melfest 2002 final with “Vem é dé du vill ha”.
Melodifestivalen comeback #3: 8th in semi-final 2 at Melfest 2011 with “Vaken i en dröm”.
Carola Häggkvist:
Eurovision win: “Fångad av en stormvind” for Sweden at Eurovision 1991.
Melodifestivalen comeback #1: Melfest 2006 winner with “Evighet”.
Melodifestivalen comeback #2: As part of Johnson & Häggkvist, reached Andra Chansen at Melfest 2008 with “One Love”.
Katrina Leskanich:
Eurovision win: As lead singer of Katrina and the Waves, “Love Shine A Light” for the UK at Eurovision 1997.
Melodifestivalen comeback: As lead singer of Katrina and the Nameless, reached Andra Chansen at Melfest 2005 with “As If Tomorrow Will Never Come”.
Charlotte Perrelli:
Eurovision win: As Charlotte Nilsson, “Take Me To Your Heaven” for Sweden at Eurovision 1999.
Melodifestivalen comeback #1: Melfest 2008 winner with “Hero”.
Melodifestivalen comeback #2: 5th in semi-final 4 at Melfest 2012 with “The Girl”.
Helena Paparizou:
Eurovision win: “My Number One” for Greece at Eurovision 2005.
Melodifestivalen comeback: 4th in Melfest 2014 final with “Survivor”.
The simple fact that everybody here is so damn obsessed with Helena Papa-whatever just makes me fear televoting even more and the nightmare that one day Eurovision will go back to being a show of novelty act and mockery moments instead of music … the way fans love so much, way too much … Too many gay millennials here who know nothing more but the last 15 years of Eurovision, when it came out of the closet coincidentally … or not. Many ask themselves “Who is Elisabeth Andreassen?” but all know who is the queen diva of lip sync …
@Polegend Godgarina: Our generation? What generation are you talking about and that supposedly we’re all part of? The Instagram look-at-me-all-the-time generation? Like-me-on-social-media-all-the-time generation? Or should you just speak for yourself and state (or tweet) that YOU like this particular track?
Wow I can’t believe I didn’t know Katrina was in Melfest. And I cant believe she did her comeback with this cheesy song and group… she is so much better than this! An ESC legend.
Carola 2006 is my personal favourite. Great song (Thomas G:son!), great energy, great outfit, uses all the stage and more – everything Melfest should be. 🙂
Charlotte Perrelli is awesome too.
(But I have a feeling Loreen in 2017 might be the best ever.)
Colin, Charlotte won twice, but Carola won three times!
The clear & only choice to win this poll must be Carola 2006.
“The Girl” by Charlotte Perrelli is the anthem of our generation, and y’all will deal.
I do think Charlotte had the best comebacks, but Hero has a quiet opening with weaker verses than chorus. I think she would have done far better at Eurovision if The Girl had been the 2008 entry, although the Swedes don’t seem very willing to give former winners who fail the second time around any further chances.
It’s no wonder Elena is first, it was a great song. My favourite that year!
Charlotte and Carola were better than the songs they competed with. They are good performers and were amazing that night but the songs weren’t really that great. it was typical standard schlager stuff. The performance is why they won it.
BWO and Sanna Nielsen should have won those years, they had better songs
Charlotte won twice, so it has to be her.
If Helena would’ve won the MF in 2014, she could’ve been tough act against the Queen of Europe, Conchita. Survivor could’ve won the whole thing.
Charlotte Perrellis 2008 comeback is for me the biggest. Closely ahead of Carolas.. That Elena is at number 1 is a joke. She did not even win MF.