They came, they sang, they danced, they conquered. They raised the trophy and earned a place in Eurovision history. But what happens when a former winner says, “Let’s do that again”?

Over the years, a few Eurovision champions have tried to relive their glory days by returning to the competition. While some came close to replicating their past success (Johnny Logan, for instance, famously won twice), others faced disappointment that left a bitter aftertaste.

As Greece prepares to send Klavdia to the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, here’s a look back at some of the most memorable – and unsuccessful – comebacks in Eurovision history.

Niamh Kavanagh (1993 – 2010)

A Eurovision superfan herself, Niamh Kavanagh first represented Ireland in 1993 with the ballad “In Your Eyes.” She not only won, but also contributed to Ireland’s impressive streak of victories in the 1990s – the country’s seventh win overall.

Fast forward to 2010: Niamh decided to give it another go, representing Ireland once more in Oslo with the song “It’s for You.” Despite strong reviews ahead of the contest, the performance landed her in 23rd place – second-to-last in the grand final.

Dana International (1998 – 2011)

Dana International made history and wowed audiences with “Diva” in 1998, securing Israel’s third Eurovision win at the contest in Birmingham.

Following that success, she enjoyed a solid musical career, releasing several albums including Free (1999), Yoter Veyoter (2001), HaHalom HaEfshari (2002), and Hakol Ze Letova (2007).

In 2011, Dana returned to represent Israel with “Ding Dong.” The choice of song raised eyebrows and unfortunately, the comeback was a complete failure – she didn’t even qualify for the final.

Israel has won Eurovision four times:

  • In 1978 with “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” by Izhar Cohen and Alphabeta
  • In 1979 with “Hallelujah” by Gali Atari and Milk and Honey
  • In 1998 with Dana International’s “Diva”
  • And in 2018, after another 20-year wait, with Netta’s “Toy,” which scored a record-breaking 529 points for the country.

Charlotte Perrelli (1999 – 2008)

Charlotte Perrelli became a household name in Sweden after winning Eurovision in 1999 with the catchy tune “Take Me to Your Heaven.”

In 2008, she returned to the Eurovision stage in Belgrade, this time with the song “Hero.” Despite being a favorite and coming from a country with a strong Eurovision legacy, her second appearance didn’t live up to the hype. She finished in 18th place.

Alexander Rybak (2009 – 2018)

In 2009, Alexander Rybak won Norway’s national selection and then the Eurovision Song Contest with “Fairytale,” a song inspired by both Russian and Norwegian folk music, which he wrote himself.

Performing alongside the contemporary folk-dance group Frikar, Rybak achieved a then-record-breaking victory with 387 points, far surpassing the previous record of 292 set by Finland’s Lordi in 2006.

He returned in 2018 with the song “That’s How You Write a Song.” Despite his popularity and name recognition, his second Eurovision journey ended with a 15th-place finish.

Lena (2010 – 2011)

On March 12, 2010, it was announced that Lena would represent Germany in that year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo with the song “Satellite.” As a member of the “Big Five,” Germany automatically qualified for the final.

Lena won the contest with 246 points – 76 more than second-place MaNga from Turkey and 84 more than Romania’s Paula Seling and Ovi, who came in third. She brought Germany its first Eurovision win under the rule allowing the Big Five to bypass the semi-finals.

Encouraged by her recent win, German public broadcaster ARD selected Lena to represent the country again in 2011. This time, she performed “Taken by a Stranger” and finished in 10th place.

While this wasn’t a total disaster, her follow-up performance felt underwhelming given how fresh her victory was the previous year.