Winning the Eurovision Song Contest is a great achievement, but an artist’s music career doesn’t stop there. Soon enough, the champ will have another song to release, the follow-up single after their Eurovision win. Some might deliver a similar sound to their Eurovision hit, while others choose to show off a different side to the talents. But one thing’s for sure — this is one tough act to follow!

But from Eurovision winners of the past decade, who has the best follow-up single? Check out the 11 follow-up singles from the ten artists (yes, one artist released two follow-up singles!) and vote for your favourites. As always, you can vote for as many songs as you like, but you can only vote once — so make it count!

2010: Lena – “Touch a New Day”

Two months after winning Eurovision 2010 with “Satellite”, Lena released the sunny, laidback single “Touch a New Day”. The song featured on her debut album My Cassette Player and was written by Germany’s Eurovision boss Stefan Raab.

2011: Ell & Nikki – “Music’s Still Alive”

Two years after giving Azerbaijan its first Eurovision win with “Running Scared”, Ell & Nikki reunited for their second and so far only other single. Their song “Music’s Still Alive” was a tribute to Michael Jackson and was based on MJ’s single “Human Nature”. The song was released on what would have been the American singer’s 55th birthday.

2012: Loreen – “My Heart is Refusing Me” / “Crying Out Your Name”

Things are a little complicated with Loreen — but that’s how we like it. Five months after the international success of “Euphoria”, she released two follow-up singles simultaneously. For international markets, Loreen released a remixed version of her 2011 Melodifestivalen entry “My Heart is Refusing Me”, but for Sweden, her new single “Crying Out Your Name” was released.

2013: Emmelie de Forest – “Hunter & Prey”

Three months after her Eurovision win, Emmelie de Forest followed up with “Hunter & Prey”. The song had a similar feeling to her Eurovision entry “Only Teardrops”, serving a folk-pop sound with strong percussion. And in the music video, just like her Eurovision performance, Emmelie ain’t got no time for shoes.

2014: Conchita Wurst – “Heroes”

While Conchita gave Austria a Eurovision victory with the Bond-style song “Rise Like a Phoenix”, she went in a different direction for her follow-up single. “Heroes” was a modern pop anthem, released six months after her Eurovision victory. The single came with a stylish black-and-white music video and a title that was an uncanny prediction of the following year’s Eurovision winner.

2015: Måns Zelmerlöw – “Should’ve Gone Home”

Three months after his Eurovision victory, Måns Zelmerlöw showed a different style with “Should’ve Gone Home”. The electro-pop single is a sad lament at the consequences of cheating on a beloved partner. The music video was cleverly shot in reverse and depicts Måns walking back his fateful evening. ” The single has over 19.8 million listens on Spotify, making it the most-streamed follow-up single of the ten winners.

2016: Jamala – “Заманили”

Right after winning Eurovision 2016, Jamala was ready to go with her follow-up single “Заманили” (“Zamanyly” or “Lured”). The dark electro-pop song includes backing vocals from the Ukraine folk quartet DakhaBrakha, who bring texture and urgency to the song. Jamala also performed the song live at the 2017 Ukraine national final.

2017: Salvador Sobral – “Mano a mano”

While some Eurovision winners are eager to release their follow-up singles, Salvador Sobral was in no hurry — and for good reason. After recovering from his heart transplant, the Portuguese jazz singer released “Mano a mano” one year after his Kyiv Eurovision win. Salvador gave the song its debut performance at the grand final of Eurovision 2018.

2018: Netta – “Bassa Sababa”

Following her Eurovision-winning song “Toy” — and its subsequent international success — Netta came back nine months later with “Bassa Sababa”. The song was originally written as a potential song for Eurovision 2018, but the final studio version turned out to be just right for a follow-up single. With over 100 million views, the song has the most popular music video of the past ten winners’ follow-up singles.

2019: Duncan Laurence – “Love Don’t Hate It”

Six months after giving the Netherlands another Eurovision win, Duncan Laurence returned with “Love Don’t Hate It”. The song had a heavier sound than “Arcade”, with a message about not being afraid to fight for love. The simple music video focuses on Duncan with dramatic camera angles.

What is your favourite follow-up single from recent Eurovision winners?

[polldaddy poll=10587822]

What do you think? Do you like follow-up singles that are similar to the artist’s Eurovision entry? Or do you prefer something different? Tell us your thoughts below!

Check out more Eurovision polls here

14 Comments
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Monika Müller
Monika Müller
3 years ago

Hello, we cannot vote, there are still 274 votes for Conchita.

Monika Müller
Monika Müller
3 years ago
Reply to  Monika Müller

Other Conchita fans voted but still there are 274 votes since one week.

Veta
Veta
3 years ago

“Mano a mano”, extremely beautiful!

Stephanie
Stephanie
3 years ago

He didn’t won the eurovision song contest cause he was robbed that year. But Million Eyes by Loic Nottet is by far the best follow – up single that came out of the last decade. Non of those ten songs above comes even close!!!! Just wanna say that. And if I have to pick one this time I choose Loreen.

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

Lol you’re so funny! In which world Loic was robbed? He made the top 5, no need to complain.

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  Stephanie

And no sorry there is a world outside Mr Nottet, Million eyes was good, better than his esc song which I dislike anyway, but there are better follow up singles from esc participants in this decade, really sorry.

WannaEatMySpaghetti
WannaEatMySpaghetti
3 years ago

Duncan’s songs are on point. He deserves to be more known. It’s not normal that the Eurovision stars often struggle with their career even after winning…

Last edited 3 years ago by WannaEatMySpaghetti
Robert
Robert
3 years ago

My heart is refusing me, Love don’t hate it and Should’ve gone home.. In backwards order.. Love SGH more than Heroes dare I say

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
3 years ago

The best follow-up singles came from the two winners I actually liked, Salvador and Jamala.
If Emmelie’s follow-up had been “Rainmaker”, I would’ve included her. “Hunter and Prey” didn’t chart anywhere whereas Rainmaker was a Danish #1.

Ashton
Ashton
3 years ago

Netta, Duncan, and Loreen. Periodt

FanESC
FanESC
3 years ago

“Bassa Sababa” for me. By the way, I still cannot believe how Eurovision got popular in France after Amir. We had : – “J’ai cherché” as the most played song on radios during the 3 weeks following the contest. – the french version of “Should’ve gone home” (the music video disappeared from youtube) that was one if the most played on radios during summer, and the tenth most played song overall in 2016. – and even “If I were sorry” got to be played on NRJ but barely a few times. Crazy, I hope the contest will get popular in… Read more »

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

“J’ai cherché” was the most played song on french radios in 2016 overall, but Mans managed one week to be the second most played, it’s not the same thing….. of course Amir is so eurovision related in France, but Mans in France not at all, only for the eurofans, so his french success has nothing to do with the popularity or not of the contest in France.

FanESC
FanESC
3 years ago
Reply to  Esc addict

I know SHGH’s success has nothing to do with Eurovision but still, it remains the 10th most played song on french radios in 2016.

Esc addict
Esc addict
3 years ago
Reply to  FanESC

The success of Mans in France has nothing to do with the popularity or not of the contest in France. Btw “j’ai cherché” was THE most played song on french radios in 2016 overall.