If you traced the paths of Måns Zelmerlöw, Carola, Alcazar, Anna Oxa, David Bisbal and Nek, they’d cross at the OGAE Second Chance Contest. That’s because all six of those acts have previously won the fan event, which is now a rite of passage every summer.

Every year the Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l’Eurovision, or General Organisation of Eurovision Fans, has its national chapters nominate an act that didn’t quite survive national selection season and puts them head-to-head. This year 22 clubs have fielded songs

In some instances the clubs chose the runner-up from their 2017 national final, as with Kerli in Estonia and Zühlke in Finland. But other clubs have chosen acts that didn’t place second, including Sweden, who went with Mariette over Nano, and Italy, who went with Paola Turci over Fiorella Mannoia.

Ahead of the official reveal last this summer, wiwibloggs decided to go ahead an ask our readers who they want to see come out on top. After counting more than 9,000 votes the results are in and we have a winner. And she is Estonia’s Kerli.

Kerli, who has made a big name for herself outside of Estonia, entered Eesti Laul with the shaman-inspired song “Spirit Animal”.

A massive fan favourite, she ended up in second place at home — despite her string of international hits, some epic staging and plenty of eye-catching dancers.

Ahead of the Eesti Laul final she won a lot of fans with the Wiwi Jury, our in-house panel of music unprofessionals. Jason saw great potential for the Estonian star at Eurovision. He wrote:

I too was expecting a little something more, but there is no denying that Kerli and “Spirit Animal” would be a bankable decision on Estonia’s part. Catchy and slick with a seasoned professional, as an entry this would pack some punch. Yes, it is slightly repetitive but most successful Eurovision entries are built around a hook. And visually, this will undoubtedly be stunning.

In our poll Kerli earned 1,277 votes — or roughly 14.2%.

Sweden, always a contender at Eurovision and the OGAE Second Chance Contest, finished second in our poll.

Mariette earned 1,169 votes — or around 13% — which put her just behind Kerli.

Ahead of the Melodifestivalen final wiwiblogger Robyn gave the song and performer major props, writing:

It’s a question that’s been troubling me for a while: what do you do with a pop drop at Eurovision? Sweden, of course, has the answer: dancers on bungee ropes. That combined with clever camera work ensures that the performance never feels empty. Mariette always has something to do. And what she does is deliver a lovely pop song that makes me wish she was my BFF.

Slovenia’s BQL, Ukraine’s Tayanna and Poland’s Carmell round out our readers’ Top 5.

Who should win the OGAE Second Chance Contest 2017? (Poll results)

  1. Estonia: Kerli — “Spirit Animal” 14.19% (1,277 votes)
  2. Sweden: Mariette — “A Million Years” 12.99% (1,169 votes)
  3. Slovenia: BQL — “Heart of Gold” 8.85% (797 votes)
  4. Ukraine: Tayanna — “I Love You” 8.5% (765 votes)
  5. Poland: Carmell — “Faces” 5.92% (533 votes)
  6. Spain: LeKlein — “Ouch!” 5.59% (503 votes)
  7. Lithuania: Greta Zazza — “Like I Love You” 5.18% (466 votes)
  8. United Kingdom: Holly Brewer — “I Wish I Loved You More” 4.71% (424 votes)
  9. Hungary: Gabi Tóth & Freddie Shuman feat. Begi Lotfi — “Hosszú idök” 4.61% (415 votes)
  10. Malta: Janice Mangion — “Kewkba” 3.48% (313 votes)
  11. Greece: Demy — “When the Morning Comes Around” 2.85% (257 votes)
  12. Iceland: Daði Freyr — “Is This Love?” 2.84% (256 votes)
  13. Finland: Zühlke — “Perfect Villain” 2.62% (236 votes)
  14. Italy: Paola Turci — “Fatti bella per te” 2.53% (228 votes)
  15. Norway: Ella — “Mamma’s Boy” 2.53% (228 votes)
  16. Belarus: Nuteki — “Take My Heart” 2.51% (226 votes)
  17. Portugal: Pedro Gonçalves — “Don’t Walk Away” 2.4% (216 votes)
  18. Denmark: Ida Una — “One” 2.2% (198 votes)
  19. Albania: Dilan Reka — “Mos harro” 1.96% (176 votes)
  20. Germany: Axel Feige — “Wildfire” 1.42% (128 votes)
  21. Georgia: Maliibu — “We Live Once” 1.14% (103 votes)
  22. Latvia: My Radiant You — “All I Know” 0.98% (88 votes)

Total Votes: 9,002

That’s how our poll turned out. How do you want the actual poll to go? Do you think that Kerli or Mariette would have done better than either Koit Toome & Laura and Robin Bengtsson — the acts that beat them at home? Let us know in the comments box below. 

Vote in more Eurovision 2017 polls

29 Comments
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Hearts
Hearts
6 years ago

I think BQL should win. They were really robbed in Slovenian national final. Their song was a current vibes and it’s enjoyable. They are great singers and the song is catchier than Despacito. 🙂

Sophia Stedman
Sophia Stedman
6 years ago

I really liked Helppo elämä from Lauri Yrjöla. I wish it were included here, or at least the big fan favorite before the national final: Circle of Light

CookyMonzta`
CookyMonzta`
6 years ago

If not for the repetitiveness of the chorus (the same set of lyrics 4 times), Kerli might have had a better chance of winning Eesti Laul. Let us not forget, she lost in the TELEVOTE.

Once more, she should have hired Elnur Hüseynov’s stage director to put together a presentation to match the ferocity of her song, because if she had brought her Eesti Laul stage presentation to Kyiv, I’m afraid she too would have failed to make the Grand Final.

Kermit
Kermit
6 years ago

Great songs: Estonia, Slovenia, Spain, Germany, Albania, Portugal, Italy
Bad songs: Ukraine, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Poland

Napaw
Napaw
6 years ago

Can someone just clear me up on this: Why wasn’t Statements chosen to represent Sweden?

caracol
caracol
6 years ago
Reply to  Napaw

Because was eliminated early in Melodifestivalen, Sweden was not impressed, and many Europeans think the same. Nano was second.

CookyMonzta`
CookyMonzta`
6 years ago
Reply to  caracol

I would have picked Nano for the OGAE poll. Something entirely different from what they usually pick for OGAE. Even if Loreen had made the MF final and lost (though I think she would have had the international jury squarely in her pocket), picking her for OGAE would have turned the whole thing upside down, for who knows what chance there might have been of her blowing away the competition? Now, as for her failing to reach the MF final, again, if they had used the rules of 2011, she would have gone straight to the final, Jon Henrik and… Read more »

Kai
Kai
6 years ago

i like Portugal again 🙂

Melow
Melow
6 years ago

Some people here show they are really bipolar by bashing artists they once supported…

Kermit
Kermit
6 years ago
Reply to  Melow

Well, I am “cyclothymic” actually. Which is a “kind” person of bipolar. Some big mood shifts. But usually I am happy 🙂

But I don’t usually do what you wrote 🙂

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago

Mariette’s song is cute but super generic. Kerli’s is just ugly.

Hungary should win this easily: original song, Hungarian language, valorization of the Hungarian culture, modern+traditional beat.

CookyMonzta`
CookyMonzta`
6 years ago

Of all the entries in this year’s OGAE, Gabi’s was the one that got thrown under the bus in the worst way. She was the bookie’s favorite at A Dal, but what added insult to injury was that she was assigned to sing first in the final. At that point, it was obvious that she was getting the shaft. “Hosszú Idök” would have also finished in the top 10 in Kyiv, maybe top 5.

Ghostface
Ghostface
6 years ago

I have to agree…I love Origo, but Hosszú id?k was my favorite in A Dal. Gabi was robbed!

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

Iceland is my favourite. Very original and the staging is awesome. However, I’m sure a diva will win, probably Mariette or Kerli.

azaad
azaad
6 years ago

Given the fan love for it, I’m surprised that Hungary only came 9th- maybe in light of Joci’s success in Kyiv, people became less salty about his victory at A Dal.

YoungsterJoey
YoungsterJoey
6 years ago

So many songs are better than Mariette’s (still a fan of I Believe in You).

Give the victory to Spirit Animal! Estonians once again messing up their Grand Final opportunities.

Polegend Godgarina
6 years ago
Reply to  YoungsterJoey

You know Verona was 6th in televote… Spirit Rat wouldn’t even have qualified through televote, exactly like Latvia which had a similar song.

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
6 years ago

Given the fact that she has a successful singing career in the US and the fact she has a fan (not to mention how much of a fan favorite Spirit Animal was both inside and outside Estonia), should would have won both Televote and Jury in a landslide and would have qualified (remember that Verona got a low jury score.

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
6 years ago
Reply to  escphbelgium

*Given the fact that she has a successful singing career in the US and the fact she has a fan base (not to mention how much of a fan favorite Spirit Animal was both inside and outside Estonia), should would have won both Televote and Jury in a landslide and would have qualified (remember that Verona got a low jury score.

Evan
Evan
6 years ago

Duh!! Spirit Animal is no way like Latvia…..except for the fact that the lead singer of both seem high!!

CharlieChan33
CharlieChan33
6 years ago

Actually Kerli as a huge fandom in Europe, such as her uniqueness, which is also very liked by a lot of people, so she would have benn quite high in the televote.

AngieP
AngieP
6 years ago

I love “A million years” so much!!
But it’s not my winner. For me, there are other songs better than this.
Personally, I would go for BQL, Tayanna and LeKlein. I also love Janice from Malta.

I’m not a fan of “Spirit animal” but I can understand why it has so many fans all over Europe.

I’m still disappointed Italy didn’t choose Fiorella or at least Ermal Meta with this amazing song!

How the actual poll will go? I think it will be Kerli at the end.

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago
Reply to  AngieP

Such a shame the awful generic schlager won over “Spirit Animal”: However, justice won in the end..:”Verona” failed from making the the final 🙂

bella
bella
6 years ago

lee Adams when will wiwibloggs write an article about Melodifestivalen rumours (about possible participations)like you did every year?

escphbelgium
escphbelgium
6 years ago

My Top 10:
1st – Estonia [Kerli – Spirit Animal]
2nd – UK [Holly Brewer – Wish I Love You More]
3rd – Portugal [Don’t Walk Away – Pedro Gonçalves]
4th – Spain [Ouch! – LeKlein]
5th – Slovenia [Heart of Gold -BQL]
6th – Sweden [Mariette – A Million Years]
7th – Italy [Paola Turci – Fatti Bella Per Te]
8th – Belarus [NUTEKI – Take My Heart]
9th – Norway [Ella – Mama’s Boy
10th – Poland [Carmell – Faces]

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago

My top 7:

1. Portugal
2. Slovenia
3. Belarus
(Love this three songs!)
4. Estonia
5. Hungary
6. Lithuania
7. Leklein

I only hope Ukraine doesn’t win. Tayanna is just the typical shouty diva and her song is average at best.

Héctor
Héctor
6 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

7. Spain – Leklein* 😛

Music is the key
Music is the key
6 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

I Love you was awful! I agree. Painful to listen to…the voice, and all those cliches. Even worse than Contigo

Thankfully Time won A great rock song. Saved the ESC final, we needed some rock!

So when a woman wants my love, she better not SHOUT…..like Tatyanna did 😉

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
6 years ago

Greece should have been last here, that NF was awfull, This Is Love was the only good one.