Loreen of Sweden is the 15th previous Eurovision song contest winner who has decided and/or managed give it another try. Only Ireland's Johnny Logan has managed to win twice, as we all know. One can't really do a ranking however as the contest had changed so much from the 1950's with maybe a dozen songs to the approx 40 we have these days. In coming days I will feature the winners who decided to come back after winning the contest as there also many winners who have won with their second or third try.
Alexander Rybak (36) came back in 2018 and so insignificant his comeback was that I had already completely forgotten about it! This said, he scored one of the biggest and most memorable wins in modern times with his Fairytale in 2009. Just like he had done in the Norwegian final. After winning he kept busy performing, releasing songs, collaborating with other (Eurovision) artists in various countries, even wrote a few songs to various national finals. He was working in Norway, Belarus and Russia, a bit too much maybe as he was reported of having some anger management issues (totally against his smiley boy image) and eventually after his second Eurovision he was diagnosed with hypochondriasis, and he went to rehab in 2020 after admitting he had been addicted to sleeping pills and antidepressants for over 11 years. After that he moved to Chicago and studied in Columbia Collage graduating in July 2022. Maybe too much work, and too much Eurovision in the end? Especially the second time?
Oh the second time. That's how you write a song got mixed opinions but stormed to victory in the first semi-final. The cold shower came in the final: Only 15th. That maybe the biggest semi-final/final difference to date I suppose. Can't he do anything with moderation?
2009 Norway - Alexander Rybak - Fairy tale 1./25
2018 Norway - Alexander Rybak - That's how you write a song 15./26
Comments