OGAE Song Contest 2018: UK wins with Steps song “Scared of the Dark”

Eurovision 2019 is still months away, but the OGAE fan network has plenty of contests to keep fans occupied. Following the OGAE Second Chance Contest, the results of the 2018 OGAE Song Contest have now been announced. The competition was won by British pop group Steps and their dramatic comeback single “Scared of the Dark”.

The OGAE Song Contest is an annual event organised by OGAE — the Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l’Eurovision, or General Organisation of Eurovision Fans —  in which the members of OGAE compete with an original song released in their countries. The song has to have been released in the last twelve months and sung in one of the country’s national languages. This year OGAE Australia is hosting the contest after Dami Im took the title last year with “Fighting for Love”. The first ever OGAE Song Contest took place in 1986 and has been an annual event ever since.

The top three

Steps topped the poll — as voted by OGAE members — with 230 points. Their winning song “Scared of the Dark” was released last year and reached No.37 in the UK charts. The song remains a club favourite and was seen as an early frontrunner of the contest.

“Scared of the Dark” is the UK’s fifth OGAE Song Contest win. They last topped the poll in 2011 with Adele’s “Someone Like You”.

While Steps have been on many Eurovision fans’ wishlists to represent the UK at Eurovision, the group recently said they would never do it as it could ruin their legacy. However, the OGAE Song Contest win may convince them otherwise.

In second place was Eleni Fouriera with 171 points, this time representing Greece. The Eurovision 2018 runner-up had her 2017 single “Vasilissa”, her last big release before the “Fuego” fireball changed everything. While Eleni’s recent releases have explored Spanish lyrics, “Vasilissa” keeps it real in Greek.

Third place went to the Irish indie rock band Kodaline. They earned 154 points for their recent release “Follow Your Fire”. The uplifting track treads a different path to the first- and second-placed songs, but it represents a genre that always has a place at Eurovision.

The contest also featured entries from Eurovision alums Marco Mengoni (fourth place), Joci Pápai (seventh), Cleo (12th), Franka (2oth) and Lea Sirk (25th). Melfest regulars Samir & Viktor placed sixth, while OT2017 contestant Mimi was 15th with her group Lola Indigo.

Sadly Eurovision 2017 winner Salvador Sobral was not able to give Portugal another win. He placed second to last with only two points for his song “Mano a mano”.

The OGAE results differ from the favourites of wiwibloggs readers. In our Wiwi Poll, readers voted Spain’s Lola Indigo first with 24.96% of the votes. Malta’s Emma Muscat was second with 24.51%, while Bulgaria’s Dara was third with 18.21%.

OGAE Second Change Contest 2018 – full results

1. United Kingdom – Steps “Scared of the Dark” (230 points)
2. Greece – Eleni Foureira “Vasilissa” (171 points)
3. Ireland – Kodaline “Follow Your Fire” (154 points)
4. Italy – Giorgia & Marco Mengoni “Come neve” (131 points)
5. Belgium – Charlotte “Te peau” (110 points)
6. Sweden – Samir & Viktor “Put your hands up för Sverige” (89 points)
7. Hungary – Joci Pápai “Özönvíz” (85 points)
8. Australia – Troye Sivan “My My My” (83 points)
9. Cyprus – Michalis Hatzigiannis “Erotas agkathi” (74 points)
10. FYR Macedonia – Antonia Gigovska “Svetlina vo mrak” (73 points)
11. Russia – Lolita “Ranevskaya” (45 points)
12. Poland – Cleo “Łowcy gwiazd” (44 points)
13. France – Christophe Willem “Rio” (42 points)
14. Ukraine – Kazka “Svyata” (37 points)
15. Spain – Lola Indígo “Ya no quiero ná” (35 points)
16. Germany – Alina “Nie vergessen” (32)
17. Turkey – Aynur Aydın feat. Turaç Berkay “Bana Aşk Ver” (32 points)
18. Norway – Kari Bremnes “Det e min sønn” (30 points)
19. Malta – Emma Muscat “I Need Somebody” (30 points)
20. Croatia – Franka Batelić “S tobom” (28 points)
21. Andorra – Buhos “Volcans” (25 points)
22. Denmark – Rasmus Seebach “2017” (23 points)
23. Bulgaria – Dara “Все на мен” (22 points)
24. Serbia – Lena Kovačević “Cafe” (14 points)
25. Slovenia – Lea Sirk “Moj profil” (14 points)
26. Finland – Evelina “Tornado” (13 points)
27. Czech Republic – Mirai “Chci tančit” (10 points)
28. Portugal – Salvador Sobral “Mano a Mano” (4 points)
29. Belarus – Skynet “Кахaнaя” (2 points)

What do you think of the OGAE Song Contest 2018 results? What was your favourite? Share your thoughts below!